Advice on Statistics MS/ PhD Application - Fall 25

[htm1115]

Hi Everyone,

I am currently looking into Statistics Graduate programs and hope to get some advice on where I should apply and what I need to work on in terms of my profile. Please let me know what you think, my profile is below

Undergrad Institution: TCU - US Top 100 with no name math department

Major(s): Mathematics but the majority of my courses were geared towards actuarial
GPA: Major GPA 3.77, Overall GPA: 3.67

Type of Student: International Male Asian

Research Experience: None. I wanted to do actuarial work after graduation so I have been working in industry (actuarial analyst for insurance company) for 2 years now.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Actuarial Analyst at a Fortune 100 insurance company for 2 years from graduation, 1 Summer Data engineer Internship.

Letters of Recommendation: I'm expecting to get 3, 1 from my academic advisor who I took 4 classes with, 1 professor I took 2 classes (Diff Eq, Discrete 2) with, and another one who I took 1 class with (Applied Linear Algebra)

 

Courses & Grades: 

Statistics: Applied & Traditional Statistics Methods (A- for both), Predictive Modeling (B), Time series & Regression (A)

Math: Calc 1-3 (all As), Real Analysis (B+), Probability (B+),  2 Linear Algebra classes (Intro B+, Applied A), Proof (A), Diff Eq (A), and some other classes (Number theory - A, Discrete 1,2 - A's)

 

Programs Applying: Statistics PhD & Masters (I am not sure if my profile is good enough for a PhD application since I dont have any research experience so hoping to apply to masters as well, hopefully to a funded program)

 

Schools in mind:

- Masters: Wake Forrest, NCSU, UGA

- PhD: TAMU, Ohio State, GA Tech

 

I'm hoping to get into a program with funding. Do you think these programs are feasible? If not, I'd appreciate any other program recommendation or other things I can work on for my application! 

 

Thank you and have a great day!

[bayessays]

I think you're shooting way too high with the PhD programs with TAMU and Ohio State (I can't speak to GA Tech's admissions as it's not a statistics program, though, and I have no idea how competitive master's programs are).  They're ranked #13 and #24 in the US News.  I think you should be looking more towards the 50s and below.  You'd probably benefit a lot from a master's in terms of admissions.  Your math background is fine, but the grades aren't ideal, and since you're coming from an average school with no research, I can't really see a top 50 program accepting you.