Non math major prepping for ms in stats

[runningincircles]

Hi all,

So I'm not a math major. I have a ba and ma in social sciences from the uk. Plus I have a community college teaching certification from sac state. Originally wanted to try to do a phd in social sciences, but for personal reasons can't.

So, trying to retool myself for a career/ job that has decent prospects and good pay. I love research and analysis, so thought stats would be a good way to go.

Currently moving through math courses with an eye on doing linear algebra, a year of calculus, and some upper division stats courses at uc davis ( one of the colleges I plan on applying to.) I plan on only applying to 2 colleges, ucd and csu Hayward. I can't apply to any others due to family commitments.

I plan on doing some SQL courses and basic c++.

My main question is: what do you think a student in my position should do. Is it reasonable to think I might get in to these programs without an undergrad degree in math, or am I just kidding myself? I have a great gpa right now. (4.0) and have good gpa's from my undergrad and graduate degrees. All my courses in the U.S. are 4.0

I have twin toddlers that are 18 months, so I'm taking my time and will be applying in the next year to grad schools.

Any advice and recommendations would be much appreciated.

[JZappa]

You definitely need linear algebra and a real analysis course (sometimes called adv. calc) to be on the safe side. Also a course in probability would be really helpful as well. If you can get those classes in and do well in them I don't see why you wouldn't have a good shot at getting in... Stats is very interdisciplinary so I think a fair number of stats students don't have a math background. I know one PhD student at my school who got his undergrad in some kind of political science and then worked for Oracle for a few years before enrolling in the program here so it is most definitely possible.

[tabis]

If your goal is only to get an m.s. at one of those schools, then linear algebra, multivariate cal., intro probability, and an applied stat course should suffice.

 

However if you also take real analysis plus a few more math/cs courses and do well, that could get you into a fully funded PhD program with the option of leaving with just an m.s.

Edited March 4, 2013 by tabis

[biostat_prof]

In my department (which is usually ranked highly) we admit MS students without strong math credentials all the time. I know of one case where someone was admitted to the PhD program in one of the very best departments in the country with an undergraduate degree in archeology (or something like that) and had only had one or two math/stat courses. It certainly happens if your credentials are strong (and most MS programs aren't that competitive). If you take the math classes you listed above and combine it with solid references and GRE scores, my guess is that you are admitted to both programs without trouble. Taking advanced calculus would help, but it's doubtful that not taking it would get your application trashed if it is otherwise solid.

 

As an aside, if you are tied to the Bay Area for family reasons, is there some reason you don't consider Berkeley and Stanford? I guess Stanford is further away if you are currently living near Davis or the East Bay, but I don't know where you could be living such that CSU Hayward (or CSU East Bay or whatever they call it nowadays) is closer than Berkeley. With your GPA and a few more math classes you should be competitive for the MS programs at both schools, assuming your recommendations are solid and your GRE scores are acceptable.

[dman1]

I have a BA in philosophy and am finishing an MPP (master's in public policy) at the University of Chicago.  I just got into Chicago's MS in statistics program.  At the time I applied, I had a total of six math/stats courses courses on my transcript (Calc. II, multivariable calculus, intro to real analysis, mathematical statistics I, econometrics, and longitudinal data analysis).  If you take the courses you listed above and do well on the GRE, you should be fine.