Sanity Check between PhD in Math/Statistics/Biostatistics

[Naive2008]

Hi Everyone!

I hope y’all doing great amidst what’s going on the world right now —COVID 19. I have a couple queries that I need help unpacking their answers so that I can be able to make sound decisions when grad school applications come around.

A little background about me: I am a junior international student majoring in math at an average school academically (the school is mostly famous for its military focus, for the most part and it’s top 75 engineering undergrad  program). Prior to that, I went to a LAC in my freshman year, where the focus was on the Great Books Curriculum (Philosophical kind of studies) without any Math classes except Euclidean Geometry. Upon transferring schools in my  sophomore year, it’s when I started taking Math classes. Since I had no prior experience with math, I began with lower math classes. So far the only math classes I have taken:

Pre Calc (A), Calc I (A), Calc II (A), Calc III (A), Discrete Math (A), Math Computation and Modeling (C), Statistical Methodology (A), University Physics (A) and Abstract Theory/ Algebraic Structures (A)

I plan on taking classes like Linear Algebra, Vector Analysis, Differential Equations, Theory of Computation etc in the fall.

I understand I have a lot to catch up, but my interests are more on Mathematical Biology when it comes to PhD programs. I have a CGPA of 3.80 and some summer research experiences on mathematical biology. However, I’m highly debating which PhD program I should apply for. I am currently focusing on a PhD in Statistics and a PhD in Biostatistics and on a small chance PhD in Applied Math.
 

1) Yet, I feel like I do not have enough upper level math classes to qualify me for any of the PhD programs above i.e Biostatistics / Statistics / Applied Math... (someone please correct me if I’m wrong cause I am sometimes my own destruction). But I really love working with numbers and I want to pursue a PhD in such field. 

2) I am also skeptical about whether I should focus on applying for a PhD in Statistics and PhD in Biostatistics considering the math courses I have taken so far (the likelihood of getting accepted to good programs is on which of the two? ) and also between the two which program has a HIGHER chance of getting a job in the Industry. 
 

3) Any suggestions of the list of schools I should consider based on my background and experience for either a PhD in Statistics or a PhD in Biostatistics ? 

[bayessays]

1. For statistics/biostatistics, you'll absolutely need to do well in a linear algebra class and preferably take a real analysis class.  You should prioritize these classes over others.  A probability class would be nice too.  This is all you need and you'll be well-prepared. I'm not super familiar with applied math, but DiffEq would be more important there.

2. Generally (with many exceptions), biostatistics programs are a little more lenient with math requirements because their focus is on methodological and applied problems, rather than more theoretical stuff.  Based on your post, I'm guessing you're more interested in solving applied problems in biology using math and statistics, so biostatistics would probably be a good fit.   There is still PLENTY of math, but you won't be doing tons of theoretical proofs.  Statistics and biostatistics PhDs are both great for jobs and are virtually interchangeable.  Again, I'm not super familiar with applied math, but I don't think the job market is quite as good (because there are so many data science jobs now that like statistics PhDs).

3. A ton depends on your grades in linear algebra, real analysis, and if you can get a very high score on your GRE Q (167+ is ideal).  The top programs (UW, Hopkins, Harvard) are probably out of reach since they can fill their spots with people with good grades from elite schools and research experience (which you should get if possible), and other Ivy League schools (Penn, Yale, Columbia, Brown) are pretty competitive, but there are many other good biostatistics schools to look at.  I'd probably start by looking at schools from Emory down to UC Denver on the US News rankings, but you should post your profile here again after taking more classes and the GRE and people will be able to give you a more accurate estimate.