Advice in shortlisting right course/schools.

[priyanka1793]

Hi,

I graduated with a bachelor of technology degree in Electronics from VIT Vellore, India in 2016 and have been working in statistical modelling/predictive analytics related profiles since then. I took various mathematics electives in college and enjoyed learning about different branches, and their applications in industry.

I enjoy working on lot of versatile projects but over time, I realized that I am not learning anything in depth. Online courses related to statistics touch topics in a superficial way (no offence) and I would want to study some topics in depth, and pursue research. hence I am interested in applying for masters (thesis based) in statistics/PhD in statistics, starting fall 2022.

Interest area -  Missing data and methods of imputation, Parametric Methods

 

BTech GPA: 7.92/10

GRE: 165Q, 159V, 4 AW

Relevant Courses:

Probability and Random Processes (calculus based) - S: Department topper for the course, also worked at TA with a professor in this course

Multivariable calculus and differential equations - B

Differential and Difference Equations - A

Complex Variables and PDE - B

Information Theory and Coding - B

Applied Numerical Methods - B

Numerical Analysis - B

 

As you can see, my grades are average. Back in college I was not planning to study further and did not do much to improve GPA, focused more on only the courses I really liked.

 

Research:

- One research internship at a medical devices private firm for 4-5 months post college. It was in their R&D wing, worked on applications of statistics in diagnostic imaging. Not published.

 

Projects:

- Plenty of projects related to statistical methods, mostly around building parametric models. Some in traditional ML methods (Not Deep Learning).

All done while in industry. None published.

 

Other skills:

Python, SQL, R, DBMS,SAS, 

Implementing models using Python.

 

Remarks:

Currently working in the same role.

Realistically, I would not be getting a direct PhD (partially or fully funded) because of lack of solid background and no research work. 

 

Ques 1 - I'd like to get some input on my decision to start with MS in statistics with thesis work. I am not interested in Business Analytics/Data science programs as I looked at their courses and I have already self-studied most of it during my industry stint, it won't add much. I eventually plan to moving to a PhD in the same (unless I realize I am pathetic at it, then I could try for industry jobs).

 

Ques 2 - I have put together a list, where I have looked into schools' research and their faculty profiles. I liked some good ones but they are out of reach, like UoW.

              Please suggest some schools accordingly too: My list so far is A - TAMU, Ohio State, UNC chapel hill, NCSU;      M - UTD, ASU, Oregon State, Oklahoma State;                                                    Safe - Univ of Kentucky Lexington, University of Houston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 

Its not a pretty profile but there are all kinds of people in the world, some of us wake up late but we try. I tried asking this ques in other places and got bashed for some reason.

 

Thanks.