PhD/MS BIOS Profile Evaluation from a non-statistics/major major

[JayLunq_]

My undergrad degree is in Public Health with a minor in Sociology from Baylor university in 2015 where I had a bit of a rough start mathematically. I was originally a MechE major where I failed out for failing Calculus-based physics 3 times in a row and getting a D+ in Calc II in 2017 and an F in 2018. I was in a bad place at the time and took a lot of time for self discovery for different majors. To graduate on time I ended up taking up Public Health as a major instead of statistics since my advisor had concerns of my completion date due to my previous math courses. It wasn't till 2020 that I started turning my life around I had a great mentor in the sociology department who I did my first independent research and ended up getting a minor taking courses like social statistics. From there I decided to go to grad school and gain some experience to see what I would like and not like to do. 

I decided, based on my GPA (3.21 overall, below 2.5 quantitatively) I applied to MPH in Epi programs with the hope I would get accepted somewhere. I ultimately ended up going to Emory University. My last semester at Baylor, I did an internship at my local health departments with their epidemiologist to see what its like working in that field. I enjoyed the people but I realized very quickly that I would reach the ceiling even with an MPH in Epi. To be able to accurately answer peoples, which I would enjoy. That ended up me retaking Calc II that summer at Baylor and took Linear Algebra at a Community College which I got an A on both. 

During my MPH I tried to internally transfer to the BIOS MPH program since I realized I wasn't going to get the sufficient statistical training but was rejected since I was taking Calc III that same semester and it was a pre-req for admission. During these two years I focused solely on programming courses in everything they offered in R, SAS, GIS, Python, and SQL. I tried to get as much experience as I could and find as many good mentors since I was set in getting a PhD in BIOS. I also took undergraduate courses in Genetics, ODE, and Foundations of Mathematics during this time. 

Currently I am completing a postbacc in CS at a university online. Since Real Analysis and Numerical Analysis aren't offered at a community I want to take this opportunity to take it here. I've only completed Intro to CS I and Discrete Math but I do plan to take advance courses in ML, AI, DL, and Computational Biology. 

 

Undergrad Institution: Baylor University
Major(s): Public Health
Minor(s): Sociology
GPA: 3.21/4.00
Type of Student: Hispanic Male

Graduate Institution: Emory University

Major(s):  Epidemiology
Minor(s): N/A
GPA: 3.71/4.00

Undergrad Institution: Online University
Major(s): Computer Science
Minor(s): N/A

GPA: 3.8/4.00

Programs Applying: PhD/MS in Biostats

Research Experience: 

• Undergrad Sociology independent research (not published)
• Graduate thesis with HAPIN in the Environmental Health department (not published)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: N/A

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

1. Worked as a data analyst with the CDC

2. Interned as an Epidemiologist with local health department

3. Did a summer internship with a group in the biostats department

Letters of Recommendation: 

1. Sociology Professor(PhD) - Knows me very well, took intro to sociology and independent research with him, strong rec
2. Biostats Professor(MS) - Did my summer internship with him, took BIOS Methods II with him, and TA'd for his BIOS Method I course, decent rec
3. CS Professor (PhD) - Worked in the BIOS department and took all his programming courses, strong rec
4. Math Professor(PhD) - Took his Foundation of Mathematics course, small class so we got to know each other, decent rec

Math/Statistics Courses: Calculus I(W, B), Calculus II(W, D+, F, A), Calculus III(A), Ordinary Differential Equation (A), Linear Algebra (A), Foundations of Mathematics (A), Discrete Math (B), Statistical Methods I-II(A-)

Programming Courses: Statistical Programming, Intro to R, Intro to GIS, Advanced GIS, SAS Programming, Python Programming, Database in SQL, C++ programming, Java programming. 

Planning to take: Real Analysis I-II, Numerical Analysis, Computational Biology, Probability Theory

Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: Took multiple courses in and got practical experience in SPSS, R, SAS, Python, GIS and SQL. Also took courses in C, C++, Java, Python, and C#. I've also taken General Biology, Chemistry, and Genetics in case some schools are big into bioinformatics or statistical genetics. 

Applying to Where:
UW- PhD BIOS, maybe MS
Harvard - ScM 60 BIOS
John Hopkins- PhD BIOS
UNC - PhD BIOS
Brown - PhD BIOS
UPenn - PhD BIOS
UPitt - PhD BIOS

[bayessays]

Even with your experience, PhD programs are going to value math training very highly, and you are facing an uphill battle with the low grades and online courses.  Pitt is the lowest ranked school on your current list, but I really it should be where your list starts (#18 on US News Biostat rankings).  

[JayLunq_]

1 hour ago, bayessays said:

Even with your experience, PhD programs are going to value math training very highly, and you are facing an uphill battle with the low grades and online courses.  Pitt is the lowest ranked school on your current list, but I really it should be where your list starts (#18 on US News Biostat rankings).  

No doubt I will have a rough time getting accepted. However, most the schools I'm applying to will be ranked higher than Emory. I don't want to just complete the degree, I want an intensely rigorous program. 

I got two years until I finish this BS in CS degree. I can't change the past but I am grateful for the lessons I've learned in the process. 

What can I do now to prepare myself for the programs I'm applying for? how can I make myself stand out? If its more math classes, then list them, I can get through any of them. 

Edited October 31 by JayLunq_

[bayessays]

I think your profile will look a lot better when you have As in real analysis+probability on your transcript and that will be enough math.  You can overcome the undergrad grades - I think people will actually be pretty understanding, but it's hard to evaluate your math ability when there's just so few classes right now.  I know you don't have a lot of research, but I also think people will find your CDC/health experience interesting.

I'm not suggesting that you apply to bad programs, or that you don't apply to top 10 schools at all.  But I think Pitt/Emory/Vanderbilt/Duke/Iowa level is respectable and you should consider more schools in that range.

[JayLunq_]

7 hours ago, bayessays said:

I think your profile will look a lot better when you have As in real analysis+probability on your transcript and that will be enough math.  You can overcome the undergrad grades - I think people will actually be pretty understanding, but it's hard to evaluate your math ability when there's just so few classes right now.  I know you don't have a lot of research, but I also think people will find your CDC/health experience interesting.

I'm not suggesting that you apply to bad programs, or that you don't apply to top 10 schools at all.  But I think Pitt/Emory/Vanderbilt/Duke/Iowa level is respectable and you should consider more schools in that range.

I appreciate it, I recognize that its hard to gauge my math capabilities especially considering my early grades. I've tried really hard for 4 years to make up and showcase that I'm not the same person as I was 6-8 years ago. 

Im not saying those below the top 10 are bad, its just difficult to find information about them outside of word of mouth. Only reason I know about the BIOS programs in Duke, Pitt, Penn, and Emory is cause I personally knew people that went to the program and could speak honestly about their experience. Other aspects matter to me outside of rank such as opportunities with local companies, funding for research, and choice of electives within the BIOS department.

If you have any reccomendations of other schools you think are good programs id be happy to learn more about them. 

Edited November 1 by JayLunq_