How much does field of undergraduate research matter in PhD admissions?

[thatonenerd]

Im applying for statistics PhD programs next year and I have a lot of undergrad research experiences but in different fields (biology, statistics, and computational social science) due to different summer research programs and transferring from a junior college. I have been responsible for statistical analysis and computational modeling in all experiences, and can demonstrate skills relevant to statistical research in my SOP, but I’m curious to know if I might be at a disadvantage compared to other applicants with more focused research experience?

[Anonymous Dino]

Speaking in no way authoritatively, but I also have had diverse research experiences (biology, computational neuroscience, computational statistics) and am applying to Biostats / Stats PhD programs. Applying for the first time this cycle and I’ve gotten interviews and even an acceptance thus far to show that you can get your foot in the door / it can work out, but I can also tell you that in my most recent interview, my interviewer directly asked why I was applying to their program and not a Biology PhD per say given my research experience, so just be prepared for this. 

Overall: I think you can still be a competitive applicant, but might need to address how these experiences have helped you grow and how this growth will relate to a stats PhD. You might also want to make sure that your interest in the field (stats) is well established in your SOP.