Statistics/Biostatistics PhD Evaluation

[suncertainty]

Hello, I'm currently a junior in college planning to apply to stats/biostats PhD programs in the next cycle (starting Fall 2025). I just wanted to get a blunt assessment of my profile and some advices on what courses to take and what initiatives I should take beforehand.  

 

Undergrad Institution: USNews Top 50 (one of public ivys)

Major(s): Applied Mathematics
Minor(s): Data Science
GPA:  3.97/4.00 (Major GPA 4.0)

Type of Student: Domestic Asian Male

GRE General Test: Haven't taken yet

GRE Subject Test: No plan to take it
TOEFL Score: N/A
Grad Institution: None

 

Current Research Interests: Past experiences are all data sciency works like building neural nets and ML models. But I'm also interested in more theory side of statistics. 

Research Experience:  

• Funded summer research experience at my home institution (worked with a stats professor on building regression model for aerospace engineering problem, no pubs)
• Secured a year-long research position (starting next semester) in conservation field (most likely will be building CNN model for object counting)
• Will probably work on an undergraduate honors thesis on the topic above 

 

Coding Skills: 

Python, R, SQL

 

Other Activities or Jobs: 

• Undergraduate TA for the two following courses: Intro to Data Science, two sections of Probability (proof-based)

 

Math/Statistics Grades:  (T - transfer credit (AP Exam), P - pass/fail)

Elementary Statistics (T)

Calc I (T)
Calc II (T)
Calc III (A)

Linear Algebra (A)

Foundations of Math (P) -> pass/fail during covid, i hope i can remedy this with my real analysis grade

Probability and Statistics for Scientists (A)
Probability (proof-based probability theory) (A)

Regression Analysis (A)

Real Analysis I (A)

Intro Data Science (A)

Intro CS (A)

Databases (A)

Data Visualization (A)

Applied Machine Learning (A)

 

Plan to take (courses that will have grades by the time i apply):
Mathematical Statistics

Survival Analysis
Real Analysis II (basically intro to measure theory, will discuss about measures and integration theory)

 

Plan to take (wont have grades in, senior 1st sem):
Advanced Linear Algebra

Complex Analysis

Operations Research

Statistical Learning

 

Programs Applying: 

Primarily statistics and biostatistics PhDs. My dream is to get into one of the top 5~15 schools in usnews, but I will be applying to mixtures of schools.

 

Letters of Recommendation: 

I expect to have one from my research advisor (stats prof), one from a professor who taught me probability and math stats (also stats prof), and one from a professor in pure math who will teach me measure theory. 

 

General Questions: 

1. I heard that stats and biostats programs are essentially equivalent, except that stats are more competitive and theory-heavy in courseworks. I'm wondering how huge the gap is in terms of admissions difficulty. Also, based on my profile would you recommend applying to more biostats or stats program?

2. What do you think about contacting professors at the programs I'm interested in to ask about whether he/she will have spots during that cycle? I heard that in the field of statistics, this is a bad idea but just wanted some thoughts.

3. I'm afraid I havent taken enough math classes to be competitive (such as ODE, PDE, second-semester linear algebra, etc). Would there be any way to remedy this? 

 

Thank you so much in advance, and any feedback will be appreciated.

 

[bayessays]

I think you'll be in good shape.  Focus on getting strong letters from your research advisors.

5-15 on US news is doable, but I'd apply to plenty of programs in the 15-30 range as well.

Your questions:

1. First, I don't really think they are essentially equivalent for everyone - they are for most students though.  If you want to study probability theory or extremely theoretical statistics, you will want to go to a statistics department.  If you only want to do applied research (not be a professor) and don't really like hard math, you will want to go to a biostatistics department.  If you're in between, it probably doesn't matter much.

Your profile will be very good for either type of program, but I certainly think you have a much better shot at Harvard/Washington/Michigan if you apply to their biostat programs rather than their stat programs.

2. Most statistics students do not do research their first year, so I wouldn't bother. This may vary for certain programs, but most students will probably not be doing this and it is not expected.

3. I would not worry about this at all.  Differential equations is irrelevant, and one semester of linear algebra is fine.  Your math background is sufficient.  The only thing that could improve it really is to take lots of difficult proof-based classes/graduate classes to boost your profile for top 10 stat programs, and this is definitely not worth the effort.

 

[suncertainty]

Hey @bayessays!

Thank you so much for the kind reply. I really appreciate your feedback. I would love to could get a brief feedback on my potential lists of schools.

Biostatistics PhD:

Harvard University 

Johns Hopkins University

University of Washington

University of Michigan

Columbia University

Duke University

University of Pennsylvania

UC Berkeley

Emory University

Brown University

Statistics PhD:

NC State

UNC Chapel Hill

Cornell

University of Minnesota — Twin Cities

Yale University

University of Wisconsin — Madison

Iowa State

UCLA

Northwestern University

Texas A&M

UIUC

Purdue

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I know there are lots (hopefully will be able to cut them down) and much more reaches, but I want to get a general feedback of the list. Also, I might not take the general GRE, so I chose schools that have them optional. I also put a lot of reach schools to biostatistics assuming I will have a better shot as opposed to statistics. Would there be any schools you would get rid of / add onto the list, and schools that you recommend switching programs (either way)? I also have in mind doing a MS-degree first, if I don't get into one of these above. 

Again, thank you so much and I appreciate any words!

[bayessays]

Honestly I think that's a great list for you - I think about half of those schools are strong matches and then a lot of (realistic) reaches that are reaches for almost everyone.

As for digging into the stat vs biostat choice, I sort of wonder about your choices for Duke, UNC, and Yale.

For Duke, their biostat department is relatively new (I think this is one of the safer options on your list along with Emory and Iowa State) whereas their statistics department is elite. But for Yale, you made the opposite choice of Duke - choosing the elite stats department over the relatively middle-of-the-road biostat program.  

For UNC, I don't think you can go wrong with either department, but UNC's stats department is sort of unique in having a big probability focus.  This might be a pro or con depending on your interests.  I don't think you can go wrong either way, really.

 

[suncertainty]

Hey @bayessays,

Thank you again for the response! I chose Duke biostats because they didn't require GRE whereas Duke stats requires. The same reasoning was for Yale (their stats didn't require GRE). Apparently Emory requires GRE, so I probably won't be applying to their program. Would you say I have a decent shot at getting into one of those biostats programs (now that Emory is out of list)? 

Also, despite being a citizen, would being east asian male put me in a disadvantageous in stats/biostats programs, just out of curiosity. 

In all, thank you so much again for your honest feedback. I feel a bit relieved after having stressed about for a while.

[bayessays]

I'd say you have a decent shot, yes.  They're all prestigious schools, so I don't think any of them is a guarantee, but I think the types of schools you're applying to are appropriate for your profile and I don't think you should go much lower for biostat.  I feel like switching Minnesota from stat to biostat would make your list feel much safer to me. (But they're incredibly different programs, so this is up to you and your preferences for research)

As for being an east Asian male, I can only say that each person on an admissions committee is just a person making a somewhat arbitrary decision from a pile of great candidates, and their own personal views may consciously or unconsciously affect their choices.  Overall, I'd say you are basically in the same position as domestic white male applicants.