Possibility of MS Biostat?

[statlover]

Greeting to gradcafe!

As I looked through the thread that has been posted relating MS Biostat, it was very interesting and I really want to hear about my chance to get into MS in Biostat.

Before I want to hear from you, giving my information probably good idea to start

I am (International student) currently junior at Penn State, double majoring in Actuarial Mathematics & Applied Statistics, plus Econ minor.

At the end of this semester, I probably ends up with cumulative GPA of 3.72/4.00. (Math major GPA 3.78/4.00 Stat major GPA 3.85/4.00)

And here is courses that I have been taken, and will be taken by graduation.

Taken

(Math)

Calculus 1,2,3 (including Vector Calc)

Matrices

Differential Equation (Ordinary)

Discrete Mathematics

Real Analysis

Linear Algebra

Linear Programming

(Stat)

Probability theory

Mathematical Statistics

Stochastic Modeling

Intermediate Applied Statistics

Applied Regression analysis

Applied Time Series analysis

Intro SAS

Intermediate SAS

Advanced SAS

Will be taken

(Math)

Game Theory

Numerical Computations

(Stat)

Surveying Method

Statistics Consulting

Analysis of Variance and Design of Experiments (Graduate Course)

Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials (Graduate Course)

Regression Analysis and Modeling (Graduate Course)

Design and Analysis of Experiments (Graduate Course)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Those plus,

Not related courses (Financial Mathematics in actuarial science, Life contingency in actuarial science, (Intro & intermediate ) (Micro&Macro Econ), Mathematical Economics, Corporate Econ, Some biological science courses (not for bio major))

Internship in direct field (will work on drug discovery modelling in governent funded research facility)

Various club activities (major related & religious )

Programming skills (C++, R, SAS, Minitab, Stata)

Misc.

Planning to take GRE this summer.

Recommendation from internship (hopefully) & Stat professors

SOP at my best.....

As I desire, I really want to go to top school to learn more about Statistics.

I wish I want to take more graduate courses because materials look soooooo interesting..

Therefore, I am aiming one of top five schools + some reputational schools.

Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkely, UWashington, Yale in all Biostatistcs at this moment.

Stat program in Penn State is also excellent, but I do not want to spend another 2 years in State College, PA.... (had too much fun )

Even though my GPA is not suitable for top schools, I want to appeal them by showing how much I love Stat and various course selection.

So...........

How do you see my chance on schools that I want to go? plus any suggestions? (btw, I am planning to go Phd sometime in my life..)

Please,, I know most of member does not reply to noob, but I really need your advice and option on this matter.... (Of course, I will help prospectives after I get in Grad school )

I appreciate your time for reading this long & long my post. I will look forward hear from specialist, who is you!

Thanks! have a wonderful day.

Edited April 27, 2011 by statlover

[kash]

Greeting to gradcafe!

As I looked through the thread that has been posted relating MS Biostat, it was very interesting and I really want to hear about my chance to get into MS in Biostat.

Before I want to hear from you, giving my information probably good idea to start

I am (International student) currently junior at Penn State, double majoring in Actuarial Mathematics & Applied Statistics, plus Econ minor.

At the end of this semester, I probably ends up with cumulative GPA of 3.72/4.00. (Math major GPA 3.78/4.00 Stat major GPA 3.85/4.00)

And here is courses that I have been taken, and will be taken by graduation.

Taken

(Math)

Calculus 1,2,3 (including Vector Calc)

Matrices

Differential Equation (Ordinary)

Discrete Mathematics

Real Analysis

Linear Algebra

Linear Programming

(Stat)

Probability theory

Mathematical Statistics

Stochastic Modeling

Intermediate Applied Statistics

Applied Regression analysis

Applied Time Series analysis

Intro SAS

Intermediate SAS

Advanced SAS

Will be taken

(Math)

Game Theory

Numerical Computations

(Stat)

Surveying Method

Statistics Consulting

Analysis of Variance and Design of Experiments (Graduate Course)

Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials (Graduate Course)

Regression Analysis and Modeling (Graduate Course)

Design and Analysis of Experiments (Graduate Course)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Those plus,

Not related courses (Financial Mathematics in actuarial science, Life contingency in actuarial science, (Intro & intermediate ) (Micro&Macro Econ), Mathematical Economics, Corporate Econ, Some biological science courses (not for bio major))

Internship in direct field (will work on drug discovery modelling in governent funded research facility)

Various club activities (major related & religious )

Programming skills (C++, R, SAS, Minitab, Stata)

Misc.

Planning to take GRE this summer.

Recommendation from internship (hopefully) & Stat professors

SOP at my best.....

As I desire, I really want to go to top school to learn more about Statistics.

I wish I want to take more graduate courses because materials look soooooo interesting..

Therefore, I am aiming one of top five schools + some reputational schools.

Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkely, UWashington, Yale in all Biostatistcs at this moment.

Stat program in Penn State is also excellent, but I do not want to spend another 2 years in State College, PA.... (had too much fun )

Even though my GPA is not suitable for top schools, I want to appeal them by showing how much I love Stat and various course selection.

So...........

How do you see my chance on schools that I want to go? plus any suggestions? (btw, I am planning to go Phd sometime in my life..)

Please,, I know most of member does not reply to noob, but I really need your advice and option on this matter.... (Of course, I will help prospectives after I get in Grad school )

I appreciate your time for reading this long & long my post. I will look forward hear from specialist, who is you!

Thanks! have a wonderful day.

Well your profile looks pretty good if you want to get into a MS program. You mentioned your GPA and listed your math and stat classes but what were your grades in those classes. As for classes you should definitely take a second semester of real analysis, and if you want to eventually get a PhD think about taking graduate level analysis. For the statistics classes, you have math stat, probability theory which are the most important, some of the other classes seem to be very applied, and that might be looked down upon since the applications are easy to teach and the the theory is valued higher. There was a post a month ago in which a bio stat professor said about the same thing. And for graduate level stat classes you should think of taking grad level probability, math stat, and a course on the theory of the linear model(i am not sure if that is the one you listed). You mention that you are very interested in this field but you dont seem to have any research experience, although you mention an internship you are planning on completing. If you eventually want to pursue a research career and you indicate that on your SOP people will want to see evidence of that. Also you havent mentioned if you can get good recommendations, do you have professors who know you really well and are impressed with your abilities. If you only took a class with them that is hard to achieve, however if you have worked under them then they can be able to speak about your abilities.

[Arn]

The most important part of the application for you in is the SOP. Ask yourself: why do you want to study Biostatistics? This answer is what will set you apart from other international students whom you are competing for the ultra limited admissions spots. I'm sure you'll ace the GRE and you really don't need anymore coursework, you need to figure out a way to set yourself apart. Seriously, a lot of people undervalue the importance of the SOP but I guarantee that my SOP is the reason I was accepted to all 8 schools I applied to, including 2 schools on your list.

Also, consider applying to more schools. UNC Chapel Hill, University of Minnesota, and University of Michigan are great schools. Additionally, I don't think Stanford has a Biostatistics program and reconsider applying to a school in the UC system - budget cuts are unpredictable in the west these days.

[statlover]

Well your profile looks pretty good if you want to get into a MS program. You mentioned your GPA and listed your math and stat classes but what were your grades in those classes. As for classes you should definitely take a second semester of real analysis, and if you want to eventually get a PhD think about taking graduate level analysis. For the statistics classes, you have math stat, probability theory which are the most important, some of the other classes seem to be very applied, and that might be looked down upon since the applications are easy to teach and the the theory is valued higher. There was a post a month ago in which a bio stat professor said about the same thing. And for graduate level stat classes you should think of taking grad level probability, math stat, and a course on the theory of the linear model(i am not sure if that is the one you listed). You mention that you are very interested in this field but you dont seem to have any research experience, although you mention an internship you are planning on completing. If you eventually want to pursue a research career and you indicate that on your SOP people will want to see evidence of that. Also you havent mentioned if you can get good recommendations, do you have professors who know you really well and are impressed with your abilities. If you only took a class with them that is hard to achieve, however if you have worked under them then they can be able to speak about your abilities.

I really appreciate your critique on the course work. I believe my grade for major courses are fine enough; mostly filled up with A's. Some A-'s. One B+...Unfortunately, since Statistics program for Penn State is leaning toward applied area, there is not much theory classes to take... however, I can fit in one more real analysis course next semester, which I do not know if I do well.. Do you think more theoretical courses are helpful even if I decide not to go for PhD? I think SOP will be fine since I have half years to write up . The problem is about research experience. Offers are very limited to Undergraduate international student since most of research requires at least MS course work. Do you have any recommendations regarding doing research? (i.e. solo research, perhaps?) Again, thank you for your kind advice!!

[statlover]

The most important part of the application for you in is the SOP. Ask yourself: why do you want to study Biostatistics? This answer is what will set you apart from other international students whom you are competing for the ultra limited admissions spots. I'm sure you'll ace the GRE and you really don't need anymore coursework, you need to figure out a way to set yourself apart. Seriously, a lot of people undervalue the importance of the SOP but I guarantee that my SOP is the reason I was accepted to all 8 schools I applied to, including 2 schools on your list.

Also, consider applying to more schools. UNC Chapel Hill, University of Minnesota, and University of Michigan are great schools. Additionally, I don't think Stanford has a Biostatistics program and reconsider applying to a school in the UC system - budget cuts are unpredictable in the west these days.

Thanks for your advice. Since I do not have enough research experience, I will have to do my best on SOP to make it FLASH. (I will probably more focus it on area that I am interested in, which I am still looking for...) I also noticed that this is only part that will make me unique from other applicants.

Does budget crisis in the UC system that bad? Thanks for the info.! I probably have to focus on college in East.

[kash]

I really appreciate your critique on the course work. I believe my grade for major courses are fine enough; mostly filled up with A's. Some A-'s. One B+...Unfortunately, since Statistics program for Penn State is leaning toward applied area, there is not much theory classes to take... however, I can fit in one more real analysis course next semester, which I do not know if I do well.. Do you think more theoretical courses are helpful even if I decide not to go for PhD? I think SOP will be fine since I have half years to write up . The problem is about research experience. Offers are very limited to Undergraduate international student since most of research requires at least MS course work. Do you have any recommendations regarding doing research? (i.e. solo research, perhaps?) Again, thank you for your kind advice!!

if you don't plan on going for a PhD later on then your coursework is fine, you can take a second semester of real analysis if you want. The problem with your personal statement isn't the amount of time you have to write it, it is about having experiences that you can speak about. For example if you have done research under professors, or done an independent study under a professor on a topic that really interests you then you be more specific about what you like about statistics and why you want to pursue graduate school.

[Bruin123]

Thanks for your advice. Since I do not have enough research experience, I will have to do my best on SOP to make it FLASH. (I will probably more focus it on area that I am interested in, which I am still looking for...) I also noticed that this is only part that will make me unique from other applicants.

Does budget crisis in the UC system that bad? Thanks for the info.! I probably have to focus on college in East.

When considering the budget crisis, keep in mind that biostats departments are fairly resilient to the fluctuations and have steady sources of funding. The out of state tuition is still cheaper than an east coast private school, and (at least from my experience at UCLA) there have been lots of opportunities for TAships and research positions that cover the in-state portion of tuition for masters students (PhD programs generally won't accept anyone they can't fund). The budget crisis mostly affects arts and humanities, not as much science, math, and health related fields.