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I am currently applying to grad school at UCSD, where they have a PhD in Math (specialization in Statistics) and a newer PhD in Data Science. While my original inclination was for the Math PhD, I have last minute started to lean a bit towards the new Data Science program.

While I know more about the Math PhD program, as the department has been there much longer than the Data Science school, I realize that my time there might be very math theory-strong; I still have to take those famous math qual exams in algebra and topology. I still want to understand some theory, as research is an interest, but my aim is not to be a professor. I also know that UCSD has a pretty reputable data science program, so the PhD program, even while not as established, likely will be recognized as a strong program.

One other thing I consider is that some of the faculty in the data science institute are also faculty for the math department.

The deadline for math is Dec 6 (Wednesday), while the deadline for data science is Dec 15 (Friday after next)

If you know anything about UCSD and these departments, or just stats/data science PhD programs in general, your input would be appreciated!

Posted

From their website, it seems like Math PhD students on the stats track would only have to take exams in Mathematical Statistics and Real Analysis, but do you really want to be taking a real analysis qualifying exam at a top 20 math department? Do you want to be wasting your time studying for PhD Math classes?

Personally, given my preferences, it would be a no-brainer to choose the data science program because I don't want to do that much math.  If you don't want to be a professor, I don't see many advantages unless you feel like you would get a lot of personal enjoyment and satisfaction from completing intense math classes.  I'd rather spend that time taking stats/data science electives and getting research experience, so I'd go for the data science PhD.

(There may be some areas/professions where the Math PhD will help you a lot in getting a position - for instance, maybe if you wanted to go into some type of quantitative finance position.  But for biostatistics or technology jobs, I don't think the difference between these programs would matter at all, and I think you could get a lot more research done/learn more practical stuff without the distraction of hard math classes that have nothing to do with statistics)

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