2024 Application for PhD Statistics Programs

[ergodic_enthusiast]

I'm looking for an honest assessment of my chances of being admitted to some PhD statistics programs ranked in 10-40 range. 

Undergrad Institution: Top 10 undergrad in US -- not Ivy
Major(s): Statistics and Mathematics
GPA: 3.93 in Statistics, 3.1 in Math (some honors courses)

Type of Student: Domestic white male

GRE General Test:
Q: 170 (92%)
V: 165 (95%)
W: 5 (92%)
GRE Subject Test in Mathematics:
M: N/A (max score probably around 80th percentile with proper prep -- should I take?)
 

Programs Applying: PhD in Statistics -- probably with concentration in neuro or bioinformatics

 

Research Experience:

• 1.5 Years working full-time as a data scientist in a computational neuroscience lab at top 10 university
  • Will be first author on paper analyzing population level neural dynamics of decision-making
• Semester-long one-on-one study with Math Department professor on mixing times for random walks on groups (hypercube, torus, binary trees, permutations, etc.)
  • Presented solutions to exercises and theory to professor -- used both probabilistic and spectral techniques to bound mixing times
• Semester-long project in measure and ergodic theory with math PhD candidate
  • Gave presentation to math department showing that 2x mod 1 on the interval [0, 1) is isomorphic to left-shift on countably infinite sequence of iid coin flips
• Semester-long project on solving Dirichlet problem for heat equation with Brownian motion with math PhD candidate
  • Gave presentation on solution to math department with coded simulations and graphics 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Received small scholarship for outstanding work in extracurricular math (for my independent study in rates of convergence)
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA for 2 intro stats/programming classes, will TA an upper level stats course this fall, will grade for an analysis class this fall

Letters of Recommendation:

1. "Very strong" letter from my PI who is well-published in computational neuroscience at top 10 university
2. Anticipating strong letter from math professor that I studied rates of convergence with -- well-published in math, chair of undergrad studies
3. Strong letter from another PI who collaborates with our lab -- well published and well connected in stats and comp neuro

Math/Statistics Grades:  

1. Statistics: All A's in Statistical Theory, Bayesian Stats, Computational Stats, Grad Bioinformatics, Nonparametric, Regression Analysis, Machine Learning
2. Mathematics: Got A and B in Honors Probability/Stochastic Processes I and II, B- in Advanced Linear Algebra, A- in Math Finance, B's in Calculus, no grade in Real Analysis but have done lots of analysis outside the classroom, particularly in extracurricular projects and reading/working through Rudin diligently

Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: Strong writer (especially compared to math students). Statement of purpose has received very positive reviews. 

Applying to Where:  

• PHD programs: Cornell, Yale, Wisconsin, UNC, UCLA, Purdue, UC Irvine, Texas, Northwestern, New York, Rice, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Iowa, UConn
• Masters programs: Harvard, Columbia, Penn, Duke, Michigan, UChicago

My biggest question is how my three undergraduate one-on-one studies--more advanced/rigorous than regular undergrad classes--will help me out for my not so great math grades. I realize it's asking a lot for someone to believe in my high level math skills when I don't have the grades for it, but the work I did outside the classroom was graduate level work and a reputable professor (and two PhD's) can attest to that

[bayessays]

I think you'll probably be fine.  We have extremely similar profiles (Bs in calc, B- in linear algebra, very high GRE, good undergrad school, good research experience).  My results out of undergrad were a little all over the place though, where I got into some top 10 schools I didn't expect but was rejected from schools outside the top 40.  So I think it's good that you're applying widely - I think you have plenty of safer options on your PhD list, so I'd feel pretty comfortable you'll have some options with your current list.  I understand you have an extremely niche research interest, and it seems like your schools are targeted for faculty in a specific area.

[PhysicsKid]

Any reason in particular you aren't applying to the Stanford Masters (or the PhD with option to apply to Masters). When I was applying to masters programs, the Stanford Stats one was one of the cheapest (even after Duke and UChicago's "scholarships"), relatively small, and least restricted in terms of courses (you can take any of the PhD classes or do more industry oriented classes). It might be a stretch for the PhD but the masters cares more about GPA and GRE, which seem good in your case!