PhD applicant doing a MS in Stat but with no real analysis/advanced calculus on transcript?

[Stats MS to PhD]

I'm a first-year (second-term) MS student in Statistics looking to apply for PhD programs in Statistics. Unfortunately, I don't think I will have Real Analysis on my transcript by the time I apply (right now I can - and will - only take those classes next year - 2021). What type of universities/programs do you think will admit someone like me? Maybe programs that focus on applied stats/data science? Should I go to work first for 1-2 years and then apply with Real Analysis on transcript?

A little bit about my background (I will post much more detail come the Fall term): I currently have 4.0 GPA with classes on Casella & Berger, Multivariate Statistics, Information Theory and I'm also pursuing a minor in CS. My letters should be fairly strong: a Stat prof I'm doing research on Information Theory with; a Stat prof who will have taught me 3 classes in which I will likely all have A's; and my CS minor advisor. GRE is 167Q-162V. My MS Stat program is ranked around 70 according to USNews stat&biostat rankings.

Edited March 15, 2020 by Stats MS to PhD

[bayessays]

Can you take the class in the fall?  If you can take it in the fall, it will at least be in progress and you can send updated transcripts if the school requires it and then I wouldn't worry about it as much.

[Stats MS to PhD]

3 hours ago, bayessays said:

Can you take the class in the fall?  If you can take it in the fall, it will at least be in progress and you can send updated transcripts if the school requires it and then I wouldn't worry about it as much.

Thanks for the reply! So do you think if I don't have Real Analysis I'm basically screwed?

[jelquiades]

I recently went to a visit day for a department ranked in the 60s in us news (though I hate ratings and think this department is underrated).

There were a couple people who have never taken real analysis, so I wouldn't say you're screwed. Presumably they had something else that indicated their mathematical skills to the adcom.

[bayessays]

Yeah, lots of departments have real analysis as a planned course for first year students that don't have it.  You have to convince a department that you'll succeed in their program.  A domestic student with a 4.0 in physics from Harvard without real analysis will probably get into top 10 programs.  It's impossible to even guess how you'll do without a full profile, but I would not despair if you're missing this one class especially outside the top 50.

[Stats MS to PhD]

2 hours ago, bayessays said:

Yeah, lots of departments have real analysis as a planned course for first year students that don't have it.  You have to convince a department that you'll succeed in their program.  A domestic student with a 4.0 in physics from Harvard without real analysis will probably get into top 10 programs.  It's impossible to even guess how you'll do without a full profile, but I would not despair if you're missing this one class especially outside the top 50.

Real analysis has time conflict with one of my core classes in the fall unfortunately. Do you think a class on point-set topology will suffice to show that I can do math?

[bayessays]

20 minutes ago, Stats MS to PhD said:

Real analysis has time conflict with one of my core classes in the fall unfortunately. Do you think a class on point-set topology will suffice to show that I can do math?

If you can get an A, I think having topology would probably help quite a bit.  A lot of topology courses have huge overlap with a first class in analysis anyways, so I think that would help even more than other proof classes like abstract algebra/number theory.  Every person on an admissions board is going to be different, and some will be sticklers for certain classes and you can't really control for people's crazy preferences -- I still remember an admissions chair calling me up and asking if I had taken multivariable calculus before letting me into their top 20 program, even though I was a math major with real analysis and many other advanced courses.  But yes, if I were you, I would feel much better about my chances having some proof-based classes like topology on your transcript if your current math background only goes through linear algebra.