MS Stats Profile Evaluation

[SealyGosset]

I'm currently a junior in undergrad considering applying to some MS stats programs this fall, or potentially after a year or two of work. I know very little about graduate statistics programs beyond some Googling so any/all advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Undergrad Institution: Regional public school, not particularly well known. Probably comparable to ~125-150 ranked undergrads in USNWR

Majors: Statistics & Economics

GPA: 3.73 Cumulative

Type of Students: Domestic white guy

GRE: Haven't taken

Courses: 

• Math courses: Calc 1a (B), Calc 1b (A), Calc II (B+), Calc III (A-)
• Stats courses: SAS Programming (B+), Applied Nonparametric Stats (B+), ANOVA & Exper. Design (A), Applied Linear Regression (A), Intro to Probability and Theoretical Statistics (A)
• Other relevant/semi-relevant courses: Econometrics (B), Business Analytics I & II (A, B), Intermediate Macroeconomics (A), Intermediate Micro (Pass)
• Currently taking: Linear Algebra & Diff eq, Categorical Data Analysis, Advanced Econometrics, Advanced Macroeconomics (not really relevant but has a little bit of math at least)
• Planning to take in future: Probability & Mathematical Statistics I, Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis, Discrete Math, Advanced Calc I, Statistics elective (probably either Probability & Math Stats II or Statistical Decision theory)

 

Research Experience:

• None

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

• Dean's/President's list every semester but nothing beyond that

Work Experience:

• Just some summer jobs, either another summer job or an internship this Summer depending on how things go

Recommendation Letters:

• Likely pretty average. Looking to get 2 from math/stats professor and another from an econometrics professor I'm pretty close with

My Concerns/Questions:

• I kinda screwed myself by not taking discrete math yet since it's a prereq for Advanced Calc I. Would it be worth it to take a discrete math class over the summer so that I can take both Advanced Calc I & II before I graduate? Feel like it would also be good to have a grade down for Advanced Calc I if I do apply this fall
• Do most people do an MS in Stats right after undergrad? I know it's very common for PhD students to enroll immediately after undergrad but I'm a little unsure for masters.
• Any recommendations for schools? I know it's hard to gauge given I've got quite a few important courses left to take but any general idea would be appreciated. I'm open to pretty much any program other than the Stanfords and UChicagos of the world since that'd just be a waste of time/money
• Anyone heard anything about the UVA MS in Stats? Some family went to UVA and I like the campus so that will definitely be one of the schools I apply to.

Thanks in advance. Best of luck to anyone who has recently applied or will be applying in the future!