Look for Biostats PhD

[xujoine]

My background:

College: U of Toronto Human genetics with high distinction. Gpa: 3.9

Grad school: Yale MS in biostatisticis Gpa: 9 Honors (90+) + 1 High Pass (80+).

Courses: 1 yr of Calculus. Linear algebra. Linear model. Linear regression. Probability. Stat theory. Stat inference Categorical analysis. Survival analysis. Epidemiology. Longitudinal studies. Clinical Trials. Etc. Most taken in grad school.

Research exp: summer intern + half year part-time research assistant at Yale Center for Analytical Science. Plus some TA experience.

Gre 710+800. Mcat : 29q (did so badly in verbal)

Referees: one stats prof. One biostatisticis prof. And director.of YCAS where I have my intern

Paper: almost none. Only 1 or 2 co-author with some physicians.

My school list for biostatisticis phd is:

Reach (Unrealistic):

Yale

U Penn

Brown

UNC

UCLA

Columbia

Realistic:

Michigan U

Emory

U of Texas

USC

NYU

Boston U

Ohio state

U Florida

Safeties:

U pittiburgh

Penn state U

U of Iowa

U of Illinois at Chicago

Since Im not from a math background. So I took away u Washington or JHU or Harvard ( and maybe UNC as well. I heard they will only give phd admission w/o money to guys like me. )

Can anyone give me any comments?

[cyberwulf]

Two things:

1) I think you may be underestimating your chances somewhat. It appears that you have a pretty strong background, though of course without seeing letters it's hard to get the full picture. If you're already at Yale, and apparently doing very well, is it really unrealistic to think that you will be accepted into the PhD program? Have faculty members told you this?

2) Your rankings are a little odd to me. If Michigan is 'realistic', then Brown and UCLA (which almost certainly have a lower admissions bar) aren't 'reaches'. And why are Ohio State, NYU, USC, and Texas 'realistic' while programs of similar quality like Pittsburgh and Iowa are listed as safeties?

3) I wouldn't write off UW, JHU, and Harvard just because you don't have a degree in math. Since you have a masters degree, you have had at least as much statistical and mathematical preparation as most students applying to those departments. I'm not saying they're not 'reaches', but if I were you I'd consider applying to a really big program (both in reputation and size) like Washington.

So, if I were advising you, I think I would build a list as follows:

- One of: Washington, Johns Hopkins, Harvard

- Pick your favorite 4-6 from among: UNC, Michigan, Minnesota, Berkeley, Columbia, Penn, Yale, Brown, UCLA, Emory

- A few 'safeties' from the remainder on your list

Edited October 10, 2012 by cyberwulf

[xujoine]

Thanks for your suggestion,

I listed as above just based on some advices from peers, my professor at Yale told me that a master did not guarantee a PhD and it was really competitive in the program nowadays. I put Michigan in realistic just because I received their master offer a year ago and it seems they accept more PhD students by looking at their website. Though I got the master offer from Brown as well, but since it was really small and has a relatively small biostats department and I am afraid it will be hard for me to get in. I heard from others that UCLA was really good and also the location is good thus making it more competitive (good in Stats as well). I really don't know whether OSU or BU or USC are harder to get in than Pitts or Iowa。。。 I ranked in this way just due to their overall ranking and reputation

Quoted : "Pick your favorite 4-6 from among: UNC, Michigan, Minnesota, Berkeley, Columbia, Penn, Yale, Brown, UCLA, Emory"

Thanks so much for your advice and your encouragement as well, I will definitely try out those.