Biostatistics/Statistics PhD profile evaluation Fall'21 - not stat/math major in undergraduate

[heeddoo]

Hey guys! I I got my M.S. in Biostatistics this May, and before that I worked slightly over 2 years in the pharmaceutical industry. I am a licensed pharmacist in one of the East Asian countries. Given my background, I am wondering if you can give me a rough idea of what range of schools I should be aiming for, or, if I have a chance at all. Thank you!

 

 

Undergraduate Institution: Rank around top 50 University in QS Asian University Ranking

Major: Pharmacy 

GPA: 3.90/4.3

 

Graduate Institution: Rank around top 10 University in QS Asian University Ranking

Degree: MS in Pharmacy

GPA:  4.09/4.3

 

Graduate Institution: One of the Yale, UPenn, Columbia and UNC

Degree: MS in Biostatistics

GPA:  4.13/4.3

 

GRE General Test: 170Q/155V/3.0W

Type of Student: International Asian female

 

Math classes: Calc (A), Real Analysis I (A+), Linear Algebra (A+)
Stat classes: Probability (A+), Intro to Biostatistics I (A+), Biostatistical Methods II (A), Statistical Inference (A+), Analysis of Longitudinal data (A+), Survival Analysis (A)

Misc classes: Epidemiology (A-), Statistical computing (P), SAS (A+), R(A-)

 
Research Experience:

1.     Working in progress focusing on causal inference

2.     Working in progress focusing on applied longitudinal analysis

3.     Three published papers in biology (during master’s program in pharmacy)
 

Work Experience:
worked in one of the leading pharmaceutical companies (not as a statistician)


Letters: 
Three professors in biostatistics and one professor in epidemiology who I am working with right now.

Two of three professors in biostatistics are junior professors and the other one is senior.

Schools:

Biostatistics PhD:

Harvard, Johns Hopkins, UW, UNC, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Columbia, UCLA, UPenn, Yale, Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt, BU

Statistics PhD:

UConn, Texas A&M

Edited October 27, 2020 by heeddoo

[StatsG0d]

First, Yale, UPenn, and Columbia are not really in the same league as UNC for biostatistics, but the latter does not compute GPAs so it's fair to assume that you went to one of the former 3. 

Second, your math background is relatively shallow for an international student. Because of this, I do not think you have a good chance at either UConn or TAMU for stats. For biostats, I do not see you getting into Hopkins, Harvard, or UW at all. I think you have a slim chance at UNC. The rest of the programs on your list are considerably less theoretical, so you might have a better shot. However, the ivies on your list will be a challenge for you to get into because, despite their ranking, they are viewed upon favorably by international students who want the ivy prestige, even if it means sacrificing department/program prestige. 

[heeddoo]

Thanks for your response. I don't really care about the prestige, and just want to continue doing research in biostatistics. Considering this, are there other solid programs I am missing? I do want to make sure I get into somewhere I apply. I understand that my chances for the stats programs are low, but there are family-related/geographical issues that I'm applying to these schools. Thanks again.

[StatsG0d]

I think maybe Pitt would be a good option. NCSU would be somewhat of a reach, but they have some faculty doing research in biostatistics. As they are a larger program, there's a nonzero chance you could get in. Drexel (in Philly like UPenn) has a PhD in biostatistics, although I cannot attest to its strength. If your goal is industry, then where you do your PhD does not really matter all that much. GWU might be a good option if you could consider the DC area. They have PhD programs in both stats and biostats.

In general, I think you should target the larger, more applied programs. 

[Euler17]

If you are applying to TAMU because it is in Texas, I would also look at UT MD Anderson's biostatistics program. They have a solid reputation and most of the talks I have heard from faculty from their have been interesting. 

[heeddoo]

Thanks again everyone! So is the consensus that I should apply to more programs? Am I aiming too high? 

I know my math background is on the shallower side (because I started late), but I was hoping that I can demonstrate that I have the quantitative skills and can learn fast by mentioning my Linear Algebra and Real Analysis grades, along with my quant score. My stat class grades are good too. Is there really no way that an international student without a math/stat undergrad degree can signal that "I'll be able to follow and more"? Thanks a lot! This is very helpful.

To add, three of my letter writers are biostat faculty at my masters institution, and I have been working on research projects with them, making fair progress. 

[StatsG0d]

5 hours ago, heeddoo said:

Thanks again everyone! So is the consensus that I should apply to more programs? Am I aiming too high? 

I know my math background is on the shallower side (because I started late), but I was hoping that I can demonstrate that I have the quantitative skills and can learn fast by mentioning my Linear Algebra and Real Analysis grades, along with my quant score. My stat class grades are good too. Is there really no way that an international student without a math/stat undergrad degree can signal that "I'll be able to follow and more"? Thanks a lot! This is very helpful.

To add, three of my letter writers are biostat faculty at my masters institution, and I have been working on research projects with them, making fair progress. 

Yes, I think you are aiming too high. This does not mean that you’re not a qualified candidate. You have a strong profile, it’s just that the average international student’s profile is significantly stronger. It has nothing to do with your degree but just your math background. I did not major in math or stat but still had several more math courses than you have taken.

You have to put yourselves in the shoes of the adcoms and ask “should we admit this student when there are several students (both domestic and international) who have A+ grades in complex analysis, measure theory, etc. who also got a perfect GRE Q score. The reality is that international student admissions are very competitive. All else being equal, departments will prefer domestic students because they are cheaper to fund. That’s one reason why the competition for international students is so stiff. 

The letters may significantly boost your profile, but I still do not think you have much of a chance to get into a top-30 statistics program or a top-4 biostatistics year program (unpooled).

I think you should ask your advisors where they think you should apply, mentioning that your math background is significantly shallower than both domestic and international students. 

[heeddoo]

Thanks again. This is very helpful because it's hard to casually chat with people these days. My advisors are the only people I talked with about my list, and they just gave generic comments like "this looks like a good list" and I'm not sure what to infer from that.

Anyhow, I've added those top biostat programs because this is my only chance ever to take a shot, and so, why not? As you can see, I'm applying to 10 more biostat programs apart from the top 4. Given that I'm more interested in biostat programs than stat programs do you think I should more to my current biostat list, "University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Columbia, UCLA, UPenn, Yale, Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt, BU"? Again, thanks a lot!

[StatsG0d]

I absolutely agree that you should apply to as many schools as you can afford. It's always best to cast a wide net, but many people tend to have financial constraints that preclude them from applying to more than say 7 schools.

Michigan is worth adding only if you're surely interested in genomics. If you're not set on it, I don't really think Michigan is a good place to be. Their placements are great, but I feel this is more of a function of the fact that genomics is very hot right now, and UMich is probably the best in the world at it.

I think the school list seems pretty reasonable. Again, I think that the Ivies will be tough, but I would be surprised if you weren't accepted to at least one of those programs.

Also, I'll say that I don't think departmental prestige really matters much. There are benefits to being a big fish in a small pond--being the standout student, getting to chose whomever you want as your advisor, etc. So don't feel like you absolutely have to break into one of the best departments. I'm not saying that the rankings don't matter, going to a higher ranked department has its advantages, but it's far from a deal breaker to go to a lower ranked department.

[heeddoo]

Thanks again! That was very, very helpful. I'll think about dropping the stats schools because I'm definitely more interested in biostats and you mentioned that my chances are low anyway. I'll keep the top 4 because I think I'd regret it if I don't even give it shot, and hopefully somewhere from the rest of list will take me  Also, thanks for your comment on Michigan - I'll take a closer look at their faculty and make a decision. Thanks. Good luck with your research.

If anyone wants to give more advice, please jump in!