MS admissions process

[TheCommodore]

I've applied to some MS statistics programs and I'm curious as to what happens next.

The only experience I have with graduate admissions are from friends who go to small state universities and were admitted without any question and other friends who entered competitive biology PhD programs and went through rigorous interviews and in-depth sessions of questioning. I figure these are opposite ends of the spectrum, but I have no clue what to be ready for. First of all, should I expect responses on the late end of the ranges, after the PhD letters go out? Are there usually rounds of interviews or other methods of testing your competence? How much do those matter compared to application stuff, cause I'm historically terrible at interviewing. And is there anything else I should know about/be prepared for?

I'm really hoping to get into a program cause my alternative might not include cycling back around to re-apply next year, so I really appreciate any advice you can give me.

[PittPanther13]

Usually, at least in my experience, the MS decisions go out right around the same time as the PhD programs.

I have not heard of any masters programs in Biostatistics or Statistics which have asked for an interview, I believe that is primarily for PhD candidates to help make funding decisions and sometimes make final decisions on decisions. I have definitely never heard of any other sort of testing required for any stats or biostats program, so you won't have to worry about some pop quiz or oral assessment of your abilities. 

 

The application stuff (transcripts, recommendations, and statement of purpose) is really what makes or breaks the application. If you are good in that category, you have nothing to worry about. I would just focus on getting applications done early, the earlier you get them the better chance you'll have at some schools, especially if they have rolling admissions. Plus this gives you more time to make sure all your materials were received, and that you didn't rush your Statement of Purpose and your recommenders didn't rush their letters.