2020 Fall Stats/Data Science Master Profile Evaluation

[Edd]

Hi,

I am looking for Master Program for Statistics or Data Science. Please take a look and share some experiences!

 

School: University of California, Irvine

Major: Applied Math

GRE: 148+168+3(will retake)

GPA: 3.54 (Major GPA: 3.56)

Relevant Courses:

          (Undergrad): PROB&STOCH PROCESS A, B( A, A), 3 Python Courses( A-, A-, A-), Numerical Analysis A, B (A, A), Machine/Data Mining (A-),Numerical Deferential Equation(A),  Real Analysis A, B (C, A), Linear Algebra A, B(A, B-), Topology(A+), Group Theory A, B(A-, A)

          (Grad): Honor Grad Algebra(3 courses: B+, A-, A), Honor Grad Analysis(1 couse: C-) 

          3 Supervised Reading Courses (3 Quarters): Study the mathematical theory behind Deep learning. Also construct DNN and CNN using only Numpy library. Applied Monte Carlo Tree Search to Othello (not Go ...) then applied CNN to improve the results. It basically applied the methods of AlphaGO to Othello. 

Research experience: 1 year of research experience under CS department: Generating synthetic networks for Protein-protein interactions (PPI) networks using Python, Matlab, and Unix. It also involves data cleaning, visualization, and analysis. One publicaiton (second author) is under reviewing.

Coding: Proficient in Python, Matlab. Basic in R and Unix environment. 

Letters of Recommendation: one from professor(CS department) that I am currently doing research with; one from reading courses( Math Department); one is undecided( probably, the postdoc from the research or the professor from the graduate algebra course)  

 

Although my major is applied math, I personally prefer pure math staffs especially Algebra. I know Analysis is important and elementary in graduate math program, and I won't go too far with bad Analysis scores. So I decide to try something else. After few courses of Deep Learning, I have some interests in Machine Learning. But the most master programs of Machine learning are under CS department, so it requires solid coding skills like courses Data Structure, Algorithms, and C++.  On the other hand, the master programs of Statistics/Data Science require less computer science background  and also provide the courses related to Machine Learning. Therefore, I decide to go MS in DS/Stats

I am worrying about my GPA because 3.5 is not a competitive GPA for the Top 10 programs I think. Also, I got very bad grades(C, C-) in two important math courses(real analysis). I am not sure if it hurt my application a lot.

I am currently considering programs: NYU@DS, Columbia@Stats, UCLA@Stats, UCI@Stats

Are these programs too competitive for me? Do you have any recommend program for me based on my background?

Please give me some suggestions!