Profile Evalulation for Fall 2021 - Phd Stats/Biostats

[tostats]

Undergrad Institution: Generic state school without a PhD program in mathematics or statistics

Undergrad Major: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Minor in Statistics

Grad Institution: Larger state school, USNews ranked for mathematics/applied mathematics PhD, but on the lower end.  No statistics program at all.

Grad Major:  Master of Science in Applied Mathematics

GPA(Undergrad): 3.57

GPA(Masters): 3.87

Type of Student: Domestic

Relevant Courses(Undergraduate): 
Calculus 1-3, Abstract Algebra I,  Real Analysis I, DiffEQ, Linear Algebra:  All A-'s

Abstract Algebra II, Real Analysis II, Topology, Comp Sci courses:  All A's

Several generic statistics courses with A to A-'s

Relevant Courses(Graduate):

Probability I had a B and this was my only sub-A grade.

Mathematical Statistics I, Mathematical Statistics II, Probability II, Sequential Analysis:  All A's

Some other applied mathematics, statistics, and computer science courses.

My classes were all measure theory and used Cassella Berger for the statistics.  Probability was a mix of books.

GRE General: V/Q/A: 157/162/5

GRE Math Subject: I don't think this is worth even taking, no?

Programs Applying: Statistics/Biostatistics PhD

Research Experience: Master's thesis with regression/high-dimensional statistics topics.

I'm hoping Ohio State isn't a complete reach.  Ideally I'd probably like to applying from there down, in terms of rankings.

Worth retaking GRE general for 160+/160+?

I have two strong LOR's from active-in-research, have-graduated-PhD's faculty.  Most of my masters program were between two professors, and one was my advisor.  My third letter while strong isn't from anyone in active research/advising PhD's.

Edited May 3, 2020 by tostats

[bayessays]

I think you would definitely improve your chances if you could get that GRE Q up to a 165+, but your verbal is fine.  If you do, I don't think it's a big reach, but I don't think it's a safe option either. I think you have the right idea with OSU and down being where you should start the search. There are plenty of good programs even down in the 60s/below.

[tostats]

4 minutes ago, bayessays said:

I think you would definitely improve your chances if you could get that GRE Q up to a 165+, but your verbal is fine.  If you do, I don't think it's a big reach, but I don't think it's a safe option either. I think you have the right idea with OSU and down being where you should start the search. There are plenty of good programs even down in the 60s/below.

Is applying to biostats similar to stats/math, where the idea is to apply at an interval and see what best sticks?  Most biostat programs seem more specific than math/applied math/stats.  Any recommendations with those programs?

I don't really intend to pursue academia.  I'm hoping for a more traditional statistician role in the long-run.

And another quick edit/question, what programs do you think stick out at the 60s and such?

Edited May 3, 2020 by tostats

[bayessays]

What do you mean by more specific?  Stats and biostat admissions are mostly the same, except some statistics departments like people with stronger math backgrounds (you have plenty of math for either).  There are also some funding differences (statistics departments fund through TAs for the most part, while biostatistics is more RAs, though lots of exceptions).  I'm mostly familiar with stat/biostat, and somewhat CS/econ, and for all of those it is usually suggested to apply to some matches you think you'll get into, along with a couple dream schools that are still realistic, and a couple safer options just in case.  Ranking doesn't exactly correspond to ease of admission due to factors like department size and location.

If you don't intend on pursuing an academic job (and specifically, a tenure-track professor job), ranking becomes much less important.

University of Virginia (69) and University of South Carolina (74) are examples of 2 schools in that range that have good programs.  There are many though.  If you have a certain region of the country you'd like to live in, you have a lot of freedom by not being (overly) constrained by a desire to go to a top-ranked department.

[tostats]

6 minutes ago, bayessays said:

What do you mean by more specific?  Stats and biostat admissions are mostly the same, except some statistics departments like people with stronger math backgrounds (you have plenty of math for either).  There are also some funding differences (statistics departments fund through TAs for the most part, while biostatistics is more RAs, though lots of exceptions).  I'm mostly familiar with stat/biostat, and somewhat CS/econ, and for all of those it is usually suggested to apply to some matches you think you'll get into, along with a couple dream schools that are still realistic, and a couple safer options just in case.  Ranking doesn't exactly correspond to ease of admission due to factors like department size and location.

If you don't intend on pursuing an academic job (and specifically, a tenure-track professor job), ranking becomes much less important.

University of Virginia (69) and University of South Carolina (74) are examples of 2 schools in that range that have good programs.  There are many though.  If you have a certain region of the country you'd like to live in, you have a lot of freedom by not being (overly) constrained by a desire to go to a top-ranked department.

That helps!

I was just curious on how certain programs stick out to have a better idea on what else I could be personally looking for.

[bayessays]

For PhD programs, you'll want to look through the faculty/research pages on the departments and find people doing work that interests you.  Generally, if you're interested in academia, you want to look for people who are actively publishing in top statistics journals.  For academic jobs, the top theoretical journals are Annals of Statistics, Journal of the American Statistical Society (JASA), JRSS-B, and Biometrika.  Since you're not interested in academic jobs, you don't have to publish in theory journals like this, and you might find professors that publish in methods journals like Stats in Medicine, Environmetrics, Bioinformatics, Epidemiology or a wide variety of others - I'd recommend just looking at their pages and seeing what sticks out and is recent (it doesn't help you if you person stopped publishing papers 20 years ago).

I'd also look at the department funding.  Some lower ranked departments stick out to me as giving very generous funding (Medical College of Wisconsin gives a nice $31500 stipend) while some schools like FSU and Georgia give quite a few unfunded PhD offers.

[tostats]

20 minutes ago, bayessays said:

I'd also look at the department funding.  Some lower ranked departments stick out to me as giving very generous funding (Medical College of Wisconsin gives a nice $31500 stipend) while some schools like FSU and Georgia give quite a few unfunded PhD offers.

Is there a resource to check through these, or is it just a school-by-school search on those that make public these details?  I notice this doesn't always seem available online.

Edited May 3, 2020 by tostats

[bayessays]

1 hour ago, tostats said:

Is there a resource to check through these, or is it just a school-by-school search on those that make public these details?  I notice this doesn't always seem available online.

There are some websites that aggregate PhD stipends but they're not always accurate.  Best bet is looking at the department website (most will have it there) and then looking at the gradcafe survey results (which often include funding info) and then, if all else fails, googling "University of X phd stipend."

[BL250604]

4 hours ago, bayessays said:

There are some websites that aggregate PhD stipends but they're not always accurate.  Best bet is looking at the department website (most will have it there) and then looking at the gradcafe survey results (which often include funding info) and then, if all else fails, googling "University of X phd stipend."

Can't agree with this more. That being said, there are very good cost of living calculators. For instance, the south is incredibly cheap compared to the north east and west coast. A stipend of $1800 - 2500 can get you a very nice apartment (without roommates) and gives you money for things you enjoy down south, while in other places, that can barely cover housing. Just another thing to think about, while you're looking into the matter.