Physics Major Applying to Stats Admission Profile

[itbeliekthatsometimes]

Undergraduate - BA in Physics (Mathematics Minor) 3.7/4.0 GPA

Race: Asian (male)

GRE - Not taken yet (plan to take soon)

Research Experience: two years research in physics (chaos theory/computational fluid mechanics) during undergrad - no publication yet though

LOR: one math prof and two physics profs (one research advisor and one academic advisor)

Awards: dean's list all semesters, honors bachelors thesis on research, Sigma Pi Sigma

RELEVANT Math Courses Taken: Introduction to Statistics, Advanced Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability, Ordinary and Partial DE, Computational Mathematics (somewhat similar to numerical analysis).

Maybe Relevant Physics: Statistical Physics, Mathematical Physics, Quantum Mechanics??

Concern: I heard Real Analysis is essential for applying to Statistics graduate programs, but I was not able to fit it in my schedule when I decided to pursue Statistics grad school... I also did not do too well in Probability course (B+) due to a health issue during finals... Would it be better to do a masters to improve my GPA and research experience in Applied Probability/Statistics? I just don't know how I will be compared with others coming with math and statistics degrees.

Tentative List of Programs (Statistics PhD):

Stanford 

UC Berkeley

U Michigan 

UIUC

U of Washington

StonyBrook (SUNY)

UCLA

UCSB

UCD

UCSD

UCI

(most of them are UCs since I want to stay in Cali if possible) I would appreciate any recommendation to the list or if I should pursue Masters or PhD 🙂 Thanks.

[bayessays]

"Advanced calculus" and "real analysis" are the same thing to most people - if you have done epsilon-delta proofs extensively, that's basically what they want.  I don't think it's worth applying to the PhD programs at Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, and Washington (these would be huge reaches with your profile).  I think the other schools are worth a shot but not guaranteed.  I think a master's could improve your profile for sure, but I think it's definitely reasonable to apply to some PhD programs to see if you can get in and take the more direct path - a lot of schools will offer you master's admission if you don't get into the PhD program.

[itbeliekthatsometimes]

Thank you so much for the reply. 

I made a mistake in my course list, its multivariable calculus, not advanced calculus, so it seems like I do not have any proof-based math courses besides Linear Algebra and some from math methods for physics. It also seems like most requires Real Analysis/Advanced Calc as prereq... Do you think taking real analysis, say through UIUC's netmath, in spring or summer make up for it even if it's after the application deadline? 

 

 

[PhysicsKid]

I would say it could be worth applying to the PhD programs that let you transfer your application to the masters program. If you don’t get into programs that you want to and think that a large part of it was lack of math (was an issue for me the first time i applied) could be good to do a masters (if financially possible/you can get a TA or RA job) and get more math and possibly more applicable references.