US Statistics/Biostatistics PhD program suggestions

[t6918t]

Hi everyone,

I will be applying to PhD programs this fall. I already have a list of Canadian schools that are mostly on the safer side, and I would appreciate any feedback on my list of U.S. schools, which is more reach-heavy. Is this list too unrealistic, or does it seem fine?

Undergrad Institution: Top Canadian school
Major(s): Statistics
GPA: 3.0 (Upper year 3.6)

 

Grad Institution: Another top Canadian school
Major(s): Statistics
GPA: 3.93

 

Type of Student: International 

 

Programs Applying: Statistics/Biostat

 

Research Experience: Master's research resulted in a paper currently under review at the Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation. Currently working on another research project, but it won't produce anything meaningful before the application deadline.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Some statistics related internships during undergrad, and TA for multiple undergrad Statistics course.

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters from profs who I did research with (strong) and one TA prof (positive but not very specific, so should be average) 
 

Math/Statistics Grades:  A-/A/A+ in many statistics courses, ranging from theoretical to applied. However, no real analysis or other pure math courses.

Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: 

My first concern is my undergrad GPA even though my academic record in undergrad shows a strong upward trajectory. While my early math grades were weak, hopefully my grades in upper year and graduate level statistics courses can compensate for that. Second is the lack of real analysis which is why I'm targeting biostatistics programs as well. 


Applying to Where: 
UCLA statistics, Washington statistics, Washington biostatistics, Columbia biostatistics, USC biostatistics