Biostats - what are my chances?

[K_C_1987]

I plan on applying to biostat programs in fall 2012, to be in the fall 2013 incoming class. Right now I am considering masters and PhD programs, and I am wondering what my chances of getting in are like. I am trying to figure out how many programs to apply to, and if it's worth my while. Here is my background:

- Undergrad at a large state school

- BS Biology, minor statistics

- BS Psychology, minor biology

- GPA: 3.9, math GPA (excluding stats): 3.65, math GPA (including stats): 3.8

- GRE: Quant-770, Verbal-640, Writing-5.0

- Math courses - Calc III (, Probability (A), Linear Algebra (A)

- Research experience - psych and bio honors theses, psych thesis won "Best undergrad honors thesis" in my year

- Summer program in the Quantitative Sciences at Harvard, similar to SIBS from what I gather

- Letters of rec: one from the prof I did research with at Harvard, one from a math prof at my undergrad institution, one from my psych honors thesis advisor. All of them will be excellent.

I am planning on applying to a breadth of schools in terms of their rankings, so here is what I was thinking:

Emory

Florida State

Harvard

Medical University of South Carolina

Rice

Colorado

Kansas

Minnesota

UNC

Pittsburgh

UT-Houston

Vanderbilt

Virginia Commonwealth

Does this seem like a good spread? Any thoughts on where I should apply for Phd v. Master's, given my background and my chances of getting in? Most of the info I have on admissions comes from Harvard, so I'm not terribly hopeful. But I would imagine that at other schools I would have much better chances.

[mathgeek282]

That does seem like a nice spread. What level of math did you reach? If you are set on going to a top school u might want to go for the masters. It seems that the only real thing you lack might be math classes. Although i don't know if it will be worth the money. I think if those are all phD you have a good shot of getting into quite a few. Good luck!

[K_C_1987]

Thank you so much, mathgeek! I think I psych myself out seeing everyone's GRE quant-800 scores and degrees from Ivy League schools.

I took calc 3 (obviously calc1 and 2 as well), and that probability class was a 400-level, cross listed as a grad class, and had calc 3 as a pre-req. I don't plan on taking real analysis, as none of the schools I am applying to require it, and few even recommend it.

[cyberwulf]

I think you'll have a good chance at admission at most of the places on your list. Harvard might be a stretch because their applicant pool is so large and strong, but everywhere else is within reach.

[K_C_1987]

Thank you, Cyberwulf. I'm really looking forward to applying and I am feeling more confident at this point

[cyberwulf]

By the way, the above advice applies to PhD programs. You should probably apply for PhD instead of MS for funding reasons.

Edited May 22, 2012 by cyberwulf

[K_C_1987]

Even better, thanks Cyberwulf