Provile eval - PhD Biostatistics

[ggtp17]

Hi everyone, I am planning on applying to statistics/biostatistics PhD programs for Fall 2021 matriculation. I am feeling a bit uncertain about the schools I am applying to and what would be good “safety” options. I have spent the last three years since graduating working in quantitative finance, which I am concerned about, but I hope to leverage the quantitative aspects of my job. (Frankly, I wasn’t certain of what I wanted to do at the start of my senior year, so I got someone to pay me nicely while I figured it out. Don’t worry, I am certain now.)

Student Type: Domestic female
 

Undergrad: Top 20 Undergrad (USNWR)
 

Majors: Applied math, neuroscience
 

GPA: 3.96 (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
 

Math courses (A in each): Calc III, differential equations, linear algebra, probability, stat methods & data analysis, mathematical modeling, scientific computing/C++, mathematical modeling in neuroscience, numerical analysis, data mining, advanced biostats
 

GRE: Q: 167 (90), V: 169 (99), W: 5.5 (98)
 

Research: Summer in an ecology lab resulting in 1 publication (not first author); two years as research assistant in developmental psychology lab; wrote senior honors thesis in computational neuroscience
 

Letters of Recommendation: Thesis advisor, PI of psych lab, professor I had for intro bio and then served as a TA for
 

Work experience: 1 semester as a TA, two semesters of math tutoring (for undergrads), three years as a quantitative investment analyst
 

Schools: Vanderbilt, Emory, NC state, UNC (I know that one is a reach), Duke, ASU
…and I am not sure where else. I would appreciate any advice in classifying schools as target/reach/safety, or just any suggestions on where I might consider applying. Thanks so much!
 

[bayessays]

I don't think UNC is a reach at all, even without real analysis. I wouldn't be surprised if you got into all those places.

[ggtp17]

14 hours ago, bayessays said:

I don't think UNC is a reach at all, even without real analysis. I wouldn't be surprised if you got into all those places.

Thanks for the feedback! My other concern besides my time in finance was the lack of real analysis, since I've seen it mentioned a lot on "prospective student" pages, so it is helpful to know that I might be OK without it. Do you have any suggestions for what might be an acceptable "reach" school for me?

Also, wow just noticed my typo in the title. Awkward.

[bayessays]

I don't think any *bio*statistics program is a big reach for you. If I were you, I would absolutely apply to all the top programs.

 

[StatsG0d]

16 hours ago, bayessays said:

I don't think UNC is a reach at all, even without real analysis. I wouldn't be surprised if you got into all those places.

Agreed. There are many applicants with weaker backgrounds that have gotten into UNC. Taking real analysis will help though.

 

1 hour ago, bayessays said:

I don't think any *bio*statistics program is a big reach for you. If I were you, I would absolutely apply to all the top programs.

 

I would probably say Washington biostats is a reach without taking real analysis as they do cover some measure theory.

[ggtp17]

53 minutes ago, StatsG0d said:

Agreed. There are many applicants with weaker backgrounds that have gotten into UNC. Taking real analysis will help though.

 

I would probably say Washington biostats is a reach without taking real analysis as they do cover some measure theory.

Thanks for the input! Over the last couple years I did check schedules at nearby universities to see if I could take real analysis as a non-degree student, but unfortunately nothing ever lined up with my work schedule. I suppose everything is online now, but it's probably a bit late...

[bayessays]

2 hours ago, StatsG0d said:

I would probably say Washington biostats is a reach without taking real analysis as they do cover some measure theory.

Washington's website does say they encourage real analysis and most successful applicants have it.  I think Washington is a reach in the sense that admissions are very competitive and by no means guaranteed, and not having analysis doesn't help.  But they explicitly say on their website you can take it after admissions, and considering the OP has a 3.96 from a top schools, a pretty strong math background, and fantastic GREs, I think they should be encouraged to send applications to any potentially interesting biostatistics program because I think they have a shot and people should apply to some "reach" schools as long as they are somewhat realistic.

[ggtp17]

19 hours ago, bayessays said:

Washington's website does say they encourage real analysis and most successful applicants have it.  I think Washington is a reach in the sense that admissions are very competitive and by no means guaranteed, and not having analysis doesn't help.  But they explicitly say on their website you can take it after admissions, and considering the OP has a 3.96 from a top schools, a pretty strong math background, and fantastic GREs, I think they should be encouraged to send applications to any potentially interesting biostatistics program because I think they have a shot and people should apply to some "reach" schools as long as they are somewhat realistic.

Thank you, that is helpful to hear! I won't expect any guarantees, but I will take a shot and see how it goes!

[cyberwulf]

Yeah, that list is way too bottom-heavy. With non-disastrous letters, you're almost certain to get into most biostats programs ranked #4 and below. With strong letters, you have a very good shot at one of the top 3 places.