Undergraduate Advice for Stats PhD

[dirichletprior]

Hi everyone,

I am a current junior at my undergraduate institution and have my sights set on pursuing a PhD in Statistics after my graduation. Unfortunately, I don't have much guidance on this process, and so I'm looking for some advice regarding what I can do in my last three semesters to prepare. Although I know it's ambitious (and unlikely), I'm excited by the programs at the high-ranked west coast schools (Stanford, Berkeley, UWashington).

First I'm including a short profile for context:

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 USNWR 
Majors: B.S. Statistics and B.A. Mathematics
GPA: 4.0/4.0 (major), 3.95 (cumulative)

I'm anticipating that this will drop, but should stay > 3.85

Type of Student: Domestic Male

Programs Applying: Statistics

 

Research Experience:  

Led a self-developed research project with a team of graduate students at the Department of Communication of a peer university. Project focused on the applications of statistical methods and machine learning to political science. Although the research wasn't directly related to statistical theory, it was a good experience gaining exposure to data mining and cleaning, ML methods, implementing GLMs, time series analyses, etc. 

 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 

Will hopefully graduate cum laude (perhaps magna cum laude)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

• Oversaw data on 2020 campaign--worked for a year as the sole individual analyzing constituent demographic and support data for a local candidate in a sizable district; directed targeted outreach efforts; basic analysis of campaign statistics
• Politics and data on campus-- analyzed past voting turnout statistics to discover discrepancies in student turnout across academic disciplines (presented to university Dean, administrators); scraped thousands of student records to create a targeted voter outreach push across campus
• Undergraduate TA for Introductory Statistics course

Coding Skills: 

Python, C, SQL,R

 

Relevant Classes, Grades:  

Machine Learning and Data Mining, Probability Theory I & II, Multivariate Statistics, Computation for Data Science, Calculus sequence (II, III), Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory, Vector Calculus, Real Analysis I, Introduction to Computer Science, Data Structures (all proof-based except calculus II & III, all A's)

*many of these are cross-listed as graduate courses

 

Will take: Real Analysis II, Deep Learning, Abstract Algebra I & II, Discrete Math, Advanced Combinatorics, Stochastic Processes, Advanced Probability, Causal Inference I & II, etc.

 

And for my questions:

1.  As for my courseload, I'm very much interested in more advanced courses in the computer science department. Would it be better to buckle down and focus on completing as many advanced math classes as possible, or doesn't this matter as much? I'm wondering if focusing on one area would be better than diving into CS as well.
2. I'm kinda conflicted with what to do this coming summer: many of my friends have internships lined up, and so I'm unsure whether I should go this route or strengthen my research background instead. This is what I'm struggling with most. Ideally, I'd like to gain more exposure to research in theoretical statistics, but I'm afraid that I won't have time with my heavy courseload during the academic year. I'm not too sure what the admission committees are looking for research-wise.

Would also appreciate any general suggestions related to what I should pack into my last year and a half! 

Thank you for helping me out with this! I've enjoyed stalking this forum and reading about all the great things everyone is doing.

Edited November 13, 2020 by dirichletprior

[Stat Assistant Professor]

Given your academic performance and your pedigree, your profile looks very strong. Even if you didn't get additional research experience, I would anticipate that you would be able to get into some very good PhD programs -- you have a great shot at programs in the top 15. With great letters of recommendation, you should be in very good shape.

Re: research. Adcoms probably won't expect most undergrads to have research in theoretical statistics (it happens occasionally, but is quite rare). However, your research experience with the Department of Communication at a peer university is definitely a plus. The main benefit of research experience is getting good letters of recommendation. Therefore, it might be beneficial for you to get involved in some applied statistics research or interdisciplinary research in related fields, e.g. epidemiology, public health, etc. That way, you can obtain a good letter of recommendation from a research supervisor. If you can get a good letter from a professor who supervised your work on applications of ML and statistics to political science, then you might not need to do other research. 

[dirichletprior]

Thanks @Stat Assistant Professor for your detailed and helpful reply! One additional question I forgot to add in my additional post: is taking a year or two off in between undergraduate frowned upon? I'm not planning on applying my senior year and ideally would like to spend some time not in school before I dive into a graduate program. 

[bayessays]

58 minutes ago, dirichletprior said:

is taking a year or two off in between undergraduate frowned upon?

Definitely not an issue.