Math pre-requisites for ph.d. stat

[StatlyDude]

I don't have an UG math or stat background. I have a business degree from the Wharton School (Penn), I only took up to Calc III and 2 semesters of business statistics.

So I plan to enroll in in UG math program to take math, stat and CS classes to prepare for grad school. I have already decided that the following are essential (these are from the University of Houston course catalogue):

vector analysis, intermediate analysis, linear algebra, stat for science, C programming, diff eq., adv. multivariate calc, discrete, applied probability, CS I

These I plan to take in the first year; for the second year I will take at least the following:

Real analysis (2 sem.), Mathematical statistics (2 sem.), CS 2, C++, Data Structures, Organization of computer programming.

Some of the optional courses are: Abstract, Topology, Complex analysis, Numerical analysis, PDE (1 or 2 sem. sequence), Stochastic processes, Nonlinear/Chaos, computer architecture.

Which among the optional courses should I take before a ph.d. program? I would rather take those classes in a funded ph.d. program if I could get into one. I plan to shoot for 4.0 GPA. (I got A's on all the math classes I took in UG.) I haven't taken the GRE, but recently I took the SAT again as an older person: 800 math, 740 reading.

Edited July 17, 2010 by StatlyDude

[StatlyDude]

Also, I may take some of the UG-level math classes, especially the CS ones, from a community college (to minimize the financial cost); do grad schools frown upon CC classes?

Edited July 17, 2010 by StatlyDude

[OH YEAH]

What's the point of learning C programming? You aren't going to be writing systems software. You should be focusing on fundamentals if you're new to CS...

Also, you might lose your "elite undergrad" points if the majority of your mathematical education is at the University of Houston. Not critical, but be aware?

Edited July 17, 2010 by OH YEAH

[StatlyDude]

Also, you might lose your "elite undergrad" points if the majority of your mathematical education is at the University of Houston. Not critical, but be aware?

U of H is the best I can do. I received financial aid for my first UG at Penn, but if I want to take UG classes at low cost now (I have to pay full-freight for a second bachelor's program), I'll do it at U of H because the tuition is among the lowest in Texas for in-state students. Plus, I don't want to move and incur relocation cost just to take some UG classes at someplace more selective; if I have to pack up and move, it'll be for the grad school.

Frankly, I was not impressed with the UG classes or the caliber of the students at Penn (Some of the professors and grad TA's were making obvious mistakes, even in intro. math and physics classes.); I think many brand-name schools charging high tuition are a scam. I hope I could still get into a top 30 program if I do well at the U of H: as long as I can come out at the end with a pretty decent job I'll be content, I'm not trying to become the most brilliant statistician of our time.

Edited July 17, 2010 by StatlyDude

[statsguy]

U of H is the best I can do. I received financial aid for my first UG at Penn, but if I want to take UG classes at low cost now (I have to pay full-freight for a second bachelor's program), I'll do it at U of H because the tuition is among the lowest in Texas for in-state students. Plus, I don't want to move and incur relocation cost just to take some UG classes at someplace more selective; if I have to pack up and move, it'll be for the grad school.

Frankly, I was not impressed with the UG classes or the caliber of the students at Penn (Some of the professors and grad TA's were making obvious mistakes, even in intro. math and physics classes.); I think many brand-name schools charging high tuition are a scam. I hope I could still get into a top 30 program if I do well at the U of H, as long as I can come out at the end with a pretty decent job I'll be content, I'm not trying to become the most brilliant statistician of our time.

Your two year plan seems really solid. With an undergrad degree from Penn and two years worth of Math/Stats classes at U of H (not at all a bad school) you can definitely get into top 30 programs (assuming your grades are pretty good at U of H.) Lots of people do their entire UG at schools much worse that U of H and get into good grad schools.

I would personally skip the CS courses; maybe take a one semester introductory course in programming just to learn some basics (ie while/for loops, if/then statements, etc...) which will help, but any more than that is overkill.

Skip the other CS classes and take as many upper level / graduate level Statistics classes as possible (Regression, Time Series, Stochastic Processes, Design of Experiments, etc...) This will definitely make your application look good. Do not take any Algebra/Topology/Number Theory/Complex Analysis. You will absolutely be wasting your time (I took all those in UG) unless you really enjoy the subject. You may be able to get away with skipping Diff Eq also.

Also, you should be able to pick up an MS in Stats in 2 years, you may want to look into that. Again, another plus on the application.

Also, if possible, try to get involved in a small research project while you are there. It will give you something to write about in your personal statement. Letters of recommendation are extremely important; make sure 3-4 professors know your name and like you. Do well in their classes.

[StatlyDude]

"Also, you should be able to pick up an MS in Stats in 2 years, you may want to look into that. Again, another plus on the application."

I think the most efficient approach would be to take the bare-essential pre-req's in one year, then move to a master's program.

The University of Houston has an MS in math with a stat focus. What would be the bare essential UG classes to apply to a master's in stat? I would think: Linear, Intermediate and Vector Analyses, Intro. Stat (Calc-based), and Probability. I suspect that I can take Real Analysis at the MS-level. What do you think?

[hubris]

UH is fine and less costly than Rice.

They do some decent math there.

However, I think you making things too hard for yourself. Might need to think about that.

Also, the suggestion for the MS at UH seems more plausible.

But you should ask someone at UH what the requirements are (big boy/girl now).

Edited July 18, 2010 by hubris

[rockrs]

Hello,

I would like to ask for a little advice on my profile:

My BSc is CS and Master's is Probability and Statistics in math faculty, both international institutions. My issues is that I have bad grades in algebra(both linear and abstract) and analysis in my first year. From there on my math gpa is high - next 4 undergrad courses, then in MSc - grad courses - I selfeducated on the way.... I want to apply to a top 20 stat/biostat PhD. Is that reasonable/realistic if I wait another year and get the gre subject test and supposedly score 80 percentile or whatever advice to me you may have? Do I get credit for proffesional statistician experience for 2.5 years and TA in applied and MV stat for 2 years as for the bad core math grades?

Thanks,

Rockrs

[statsguy]

UH is fine and less costly than Rice.

They do some decent math there.

However, I think you making things too hard for yourself. Might need to think about that.

Also, the suggestion for the MS at UH seems more plausible.

But you should ask someone at UH what the requirements are (big boy/girl now).

I took a look at the UH Math page and would recommend the MS in Applied Mathematics (MSAM). I recommend the MATH 6382;6383 and MATH 6360;6361 sequences. You may need to take some pre reqs your first year for that. For all of your electives, take courses in Probability and Statistics. You should be able to finish in 2 years if you are motivated.

[StatlyDude]

I took a look at the UH Math page and would recommend the MS in Applied Mathematics (MSAM). I recommend the MATH 6382;6383 and MATH 6360;6361 sequences. You may need to take some pre reqs your first year for that. For all of your electives, take courses in Probability and Statistics. You should be able to finish in 2 years if you are motivated.

Thanks, Statsguy and hubris. I'll look at the courses you mentioned.