Profile Evaluation for Fall 2021 Statistics Phd (Maybe Biostats?)

[Keep Calm and Stat On]

Hi, y'all! Long time lurker here looking to get some advice/quell some of my qualms on applying to statistics Phds (maybe biostats) this coming fall. Would appreciate any thoughts!

Undergrad: Top 60 National University

Majors: Mathematics, Statistics (Honors)

Minor: Computer Science

GPA: 3.915

GRE General: 161V, 166Q, 4.0 W

Student Type: DWM

 

Math Courses (all A):  Calculus II III,  Linear Algebra, Probability , Differential Equations, Intro to Proofs, Abstract Algebra I, Analysis I

Stat Courses (all A unlesss specified): Intro to Stats II, Stat Methods, Analysis of Experiments,  Math Stat I II (Not Berger/Casella), Applied Stats I II (A-, B+, Graduate Level)

CS Courses (all A): Intro to CS (Python), Intro to Principles of Programming, Data Structures and OOD, Intro to Discrete Systems

Courses I'm taking this fall: Algorithms and Comlexity, Stat Research, Stat Writing Course, 2 Gen Eds, and either Numerical Analysis I or Probability/Stochastic Processes (Graduate Level).

 

Research: Last summer I did a Math REU on Stocastic Differential Equations. Publication is under preparation to be submitted to lower-mid-tier stat journal/premier undergrad journal.

This summer I'm doing a Math/Stat REU on a Nonlinear Schodinger Equation. Touches on a variety of topics but is generally applied math research. Work should be publishable.

This coming fall/spring I'll be completing my statistics thesis on bayesian latent variable modeling for children's reading ability. Don't really know if it will be publishable.

I might also work for a neuroscience lab on campus performing some statistical analysis for them. No idea if anything concrete will come from it and depends on if I can fit it into my schedule.

Presentations: I've presented my research last summer at an undergradute math conference last summer (Talk with slides) and JMM this past winter (Poster).

Honors/Awards: Honorable mention for JMM poster competition.

Dean's list for Fall 18, Sping 19, Fall 19.

Work experience: Tutored math/statistics since last fall.

Letters of Recommendation: One from REU last summer.

One from REU this summer.

One from either thesis advisor or undergrad advisor that taught the graduate courses.

All should be strong/pretty strong.

 

Programs Applying to: Statistics PhD (Maybe Biostats)

Interests: Stochastic Processes, Bayesian Statistics, Latent Variables, Statistical Learning, Biostatistics, Statistics Education. Not sure exactly what I'll research in grad school, but generally lean more towards applied/methodological research.

Considering to Apply to:  CMU, Duke, UNC, NC State, Texas A&M, UCLA, UC Davis, UF, UT Austin.

 

Notes: I'm aiming to become a professor eventually. I'm mostly interested in the teaching/education side, but also have enjoyed my research experiences so far. 

As you may be able gather from my list of schools (besides CMU), I have a strong preference for warmer climates.

Plan to apply to NSF Graduate fellowship thsi fall.

Questions/Concerns: I'm moderately concerned about how Covid-19 is going to affect cohort size and funding for Phd programs. The schools I listed were the ones I was planning to apply to pre-pandemic, but now I'm not sure. Should I be aiming lower?

Also due to Covid-19, I have grown an ever-stronger interest in biostat programs. However, my concerns are that they will be limited in courses/context in which (bio)statistics is taught, and most biostatisticians in academia usually have to apply grants for funding instead of having a salary, which is not something I'm interested in doing for the rest of my life. Are my concerns unfounded? 

Do you think numerical analysis or graduate level probability would be more favored in graduate admissions?

The B+ I got in Applied Stats II was from this past spring semester when all the classes got thrown online and teaching quality (for me) was significantly reduced. Should I mention something in my SoP/PS or should I not worry so much?

Lastly, are there any schools that I am forgetting about that would fit my preferences/interests/goals? 

 

Thanks for reading my long post and any advice you share!

[bayessays]

46 minutes ago, Keep Calm and Stat On said:

Should I mention something in my SoP/PS or should I not worry so much?

Not a big deal. 

46 minutes ago, Keep Calm and Stat On said:

Do you think numerical analysis or graduate level probability would be more favored in graduate admissions?

I think the difference will be small enough where you should take what you want. Probability is obviously more important in general though, but since you have a probability class, this choice matters less. 

Your math background is strong, and your research experience is definitely above average.  I think you have a good shot at getting into a few of these programs - I would be especially surprised if you didn't get into TAMU so I don't think you necessarily need to have any safeties. I would look at FSU and UCSC as schools that are safer and also fit your research interests (UCSC is strong Bayesian focused program).  Also definitely look at UC Irvine. 

You can do the correct research and everything in a Biostatistics department, but the environment is different and you'll likely get less teaching experience depending on department (it's in a school of public health, so there are often no undergrads to teach).