Profile Eval for Stat PhD (with a background in physics)

[taoli29]

Hi, I'm a rising senior and planning to apply for PhD programs in the coming fall. My main focus will be Applied + Computational Mathematics programs. I also want to apply for several Statistics programs since I like working with analysis, though my background in statistics is weak (have not even taken Intro to Stat yet ).

Undergrad Institution: Johns Hopkins
Majors: Physics, Mathematics, Applied Math & Stat  

(I'm in a BAMA program, so I will graduate with a MS in Math)
GPA: 4.0 / 4.0

Type of Student: International Asian Male

GRE General Test: 
Q: 170
V: 155
W: don't know yet

GRE Math Subject: will take it in Sep

 

Relevant Courses (all A but few A+):

Basic:  Calculus III,  Linear Algebra,  Differential Equations,  Discrete Math

Pure Math:  Honors Analysis I,  Honors Analysis II,  Honors Algebra I,  Honors Algebra II,  Complex Variables (grad),  Functional Analysis (grad),  Riemannian Geometry (grad)

Applied Math:  Numerical Analysis,  Intro to Optimization,  Intro to Probability,  Data Mining

Physics:  Electromagnetic theory,  Quantum Mechanics I,  Quantum Mechanics II,  Statistical Mechanics

 

Research Experience: 

1.  Experimental condensed matter physics during freshman/sophomore. 

      Result in a 3rd author publication on a decent physics journal.

2.  Summer research at Germany in applied physics on communication technology.

      Result in a 2nd author publication on a well-known journal.

3.  Current research in numerical simulation in general relativity starting from junior year, mainly about PDE, differential geometry, and C programming.

      Hopefully get a first author paper on arXiv before submitting my application.

 

Letters of Recommendation: 

This is what I'm worried about. I can secure three strong letters from three professors I have done research with. But they are all physics professors, probably not known by stat departments. If I choose math professors to write the letters, it's going to be relatively weak since I have never done research or directed reading with them.

 

Questions:

Any school recommendation?

Is there any chance for me to get in a top program in Statistics?

 

[Stat Assistant Professor]

Your profile is very strong, and I think you can get into top Statistics programs if you secure strong letters of recommendation. A triple Math/Stat/Physics major with a 4.0 from JHU will look very impressive to admissions committees, and your research experience is also a plus (especially in a subject as difficult as physics). 

I would recommend getting at least one letter of recommendation from a math professor. You don't need to have conducted research or independent study with them. They just need to say that you are a very strong student with high mathematical aptitude. I would go with one letter from a math professor, one from one of your physics research advisors, and one from your applied math research advisor (the one with whom you're working on PDEs/differential geometry).

Edited July 10, 2020 by Stat Assistant Professor

[taoli29]

21 hours ago, Stat Assistant Professor said:

Your profile is very strong, and I think you can get into top Statistics programs if you secure strong letters of recommendation. A triple Math/Stat/Physics major with a 4.0 from JHU will look very impressive to admissions committees, and your research experience is also a plus (especially in a subject as difficult as physics). 

I would recommend getting at least one letter of recommendation from a math professor. You don't need to have conducted research or independent study with them. They just need to say that you are a very strong student with high mathematical aptitude. I would go with one letter from a math professor, one from one of your physics research advisors, and one from your applied math research advisor (the one with whom you're working on PDEs/differential geometry).

Thank you! This is very helpful.

Another thing I'm worried about is that I have taken very few courses in statistics (not even Intro to Stat). Will this weakness concern the admissions committees?

[Stat Assistant Professor]

Lack of statistics courses is not an issue for admissions to graduate school in Statistics. Math courses are much more important, and programming skills are helpful. You've got those covered quite well. I would recommend applying to mainly top 20 programs. I foresee you being admitted to a very good school.

[taoli29]

20 minutes ago, Stat Assistant Professor said:

Lack of statistics courses is not an issue for admissions to graduate school in Statistics. Math courses are much more important, and programming skills are helpful. You've got those covered quite well. I would recommend applying to mainly top 20 programs. I foresee you being admitted to a very good school.

Got it. Thanks!