Biostatistics PhD offer advice

[Guest dot.matrix]

It seems that it has been a tough application year, and I think I miscalculated the level of competition and necessary preparation.  After receiving rejections from UW, Emory, Boston University, Harvard, Columbia (asked me if I wanted to be considered for DrPH in Biostat, I said no thank you because I want to learn more stat theory beyond my MS), Hopkins, and UNC, I decided that I would need to take a year to work on my math background and reapply, so I contacted a math advisor at my local university and worked out the following plan:

 

Linear algebra this spring quarter, advanced calculus 1 in summer, sitting in on real analysis 1 course in the fall (this covers measure theory but I won't be able to officially enroll in this course since the prereq is advanced calc 2), and taking advanced calculus 2 in the winter. I will also be finishing my MS in biostat this spring with anticipated > 3.8 GPA and perhaps submit my master's thesis to journals so maybe will have a publication.  

 

Then I was very fortunate to get a fully funded offer from UPitt.  (I am still waiting on UCLA (waitlisted) and UC Berkeley, but not very hopeful about these.) I will be visiting this week.  

      

I think, given the number of applicants this year, that I would be crazy to turn down Pitt's offer, as admissions will probably be even more competitive next year, and even though I expect to be a more competitive applicant in a year, it would be something of a gamble.  Also, I am very excited about the prospect of collaborating with researchers at the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition at Carnegie Mellon, particularly on fMRI/PET studies, and I know there are faculty at Pitt working in statistical genetics/genomics, so I don't think I will have too much trouble finding an advisor at Pitt who is working in my areas of interest (I not very familiar with the individual reputations of the faculty, though).  Pitt receives a lot of NIH funding overall and they are particularly well-funded for psychiatry, which I was previously considering as a career path, and I know that cyberwulf previously told me to not worry about the funding of other departments (and thanks again for your previous advice, as you can see I decided to stick with the biostatistics route), but I think that the large amount of funded psychiatry research going on at Pitt must be directly connected to the number of biostat faculty who are collaborating with researchers in psych.  Also, Pitt has a top-notch philosophy of science department, in fact probably the best in the US, and I would love to take one or more of those courses. I am pretty sure I would be able to take courses at Carnegie Mellon as well, and if I want to learn stat theory at a more rigorous level than is offered in Pitt's biostat PhD, maybe I will be able to take some additional theory courses either at UPitt or CMU.  

 

So, as I learn more about the program it is growing on me and seeming to be a reasonably good fit, and I maybe would even prefer certain aspects of it to UC Berkeley or UCLA or the other schools I applied to.  But I am a little concerned about what has been said on this forum regarding the opportunities for employment for students graduating with a PhD from low-tier schools. How much would I be limiting my options with a degree from UPitt?  I have seen that Pitt has placed one student at UMich as an assisstant professor.  Also at least one postdoc at Harvard and one at Yale. I will be asking more about their placement record when I visit.

 

Also I am interested to know what a student would be missing out on, in terms of training, when attending UPitt versus UW or Hopkins or even Columbia's program.  Columbia was kind enough to send me a list of textbooks they recommend for the PhD qualifying exam, and I was thinking of comparing this against a similar list for UPitt, if they have one.  I'm curious about whether it would be possible for a student at Pitt to achieve the same level of education as, say, Columbia's PhD program, by taking extra courses in theory or something.

 

So, if anyone has any advice to offer - Assuming the likely possibility that I am also rejected from UC schools, should accept this offer at UPitt, and hope that I can do very well there and possibly obtain a post-doc position at a higher-ranked program, or should I take another year to strengthen my math background and attempt to get into one of my "dream schools" next year (such as Hopkins, Columbia, UW, UCBerkeley, Emory, UNC)?  Thanks.  At this point I am leaning toward the former option, but I just want to know that I am not going to be limiting myself terribly in the future.

[cyberwulf]

Pitt is certainly not on the level of most of the other programs you list, but they seem to be gaining some strength and have had success placing students recently. Whether or not it's a good idea to wait a year depends on your current academic record and other factors: Are your grades stellar, but you simply lack key math prerequisites like linear algebra, or are they more "solid"? How strong is your undergrad school and your Masters program? Are you domestic or international? Do you think your letters will be strong? How are your test scores? etc.

 

I think I would lean towards taking the offer from Pitt unless you're quite confident that you are likely to be admitted to places like Berkeley/UNC/Emory/Columbia next year after having taken the additional math courses. It sounds like Columbia's been happy to communicate with you; you might want to see if someone there can give you an honest assessment of how far off you were from being admitted, and whether taking more math would dramatically improve your chances.

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Ultimately, this is a decision you need to make for yourself and do what is best for your career goals. 

 

With that said, I'll still weigh in because you asked.... I've been put in a similar situation this year. I wasn't admitted to the higher ranked departments I applied to (UW Seattle, Minnesota, Emory, Brown), I'm still waiting on UNC (but things aren't looking good this late in the game, especially for a funded offer, so I'm assuming a rejection). So, I've been left with choosing between an unfunded Michigan MS/PhD fast track, a funded PhD offer to a departments outside the top three tiers, or postponing a year.... Unless by some miracle I manage to get a funded offer at UNC in this last month, I'm choosing the funded PhD offer at a lower ranked department (I would guess to be around the ranks of Pitt).

 

The reason for my choice are based on these things: 

- I don't see next year getting easier. If anything, it'll get harder... Last year, I followed the application process pretty closely, taking note of where applicants were accepted given their credentials, all to get an idea of where to apply this year. Well, this year has been more competitive than last, and based off observations from 2011, 2010, and 2009 submissions on this forum, the trend seems to indicate next year will get even harder... I doubt my luck would be much better next year. 

 

- My interests are very applied and I don't have any goals to get an academic position at a top tier university (I'm interested in an industry position in Pharmaceuticals), so while I wouldn't turn down a top ranked school, ranking matters less to me and I think I'll be fine at a lower ranked program.... So ask yourself, do your career goals require a degree from a top ranked place?

 

- Stemming from my last point, I'll take the lower ranked funded PhD offer vs unfunded UMich offer because I can't rationalize the $80k+ in debt for the higher ranked program..... So ask yourself, what is the best decision to make financially? Is it worth taking the time and money to apply again next year just hoping for better offers, or is it better to accept an already funded offer for next year?

 

- Lastly, and this is one of the biggest, is that when I visited the department I'll probably attend, I really felt like I would fit well there. It is smaller than most, but there are a lot of faculty working in clinical trials, which is what I'm interested in most. I looked at the placement of recent graduates and I'm happy with what I saw..... So, I'd advise visiting Pitt and seeing how you fit. Like I did, you may find that you click with the department and will be happy there, or on the contrary, may find you don't like it there and want to wait...

 

Anyways, good luck to you. 

[Agun]

Sorry for digressing  from your question, but did you hear from UC berkeley biostat or stat for phd?

[mtzh4]

I got the offer from Pitts as well and still hesitating whether I should go or not ? Did they also tell you to reply by March 29th? I am trying to extend the deadline, but their chair is travelling these days and will not likely to give me permission within this week. I actually prefer Boston University more but they have not updated my status yet (probably waitlisted...), this year was a disaster, I guess the competition is getting more and more severe for the coming years, so I would suggest you take at least one. GPA, GRE, LOR, Publication, ... nothing can ever guarantee you to get into those top-tier programs of the nation.  

[Guest dot.matrix]

Cyberwulf - My undergrad GPA is 3.55, biochemistry major GPA is 3.8, math GPA is 3.8. I think I could get As in linear algebra and advanced calc 1&2, though I would probably be taking them at not incredibly impressive large state university where I did undergrad. My master's program is probably not well known; it is very new. I am a domestic student. My GRE was fine (165V/170Q/4.5). I think that asking schools e.g. Columbia about my likelihood of admission given additional math courses is a good idea. Thanks.

 

Noco - It is helpful to hear about how you went through the decision process.  Thank you for sharing that.  I think I am going to have to do some work to find a situation that fits with my interests at Pitt, but it could be possible.  I have had a hard time identifying a biostat faculty member who would be most appropriate dissertation advisor for me.  

 

Agun - I did not get a response from Berkeley regarding a decision, just a note that all applications had been reviewed and everyone would know on or before April 15.    

 

Mtzh4 - Yes they did tell me to respond by March 29. Have you made any decision yet?  

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Cyberwulf - My undergrad GPA is 3.55, biochemistry major GPA is 3.8, math GPA is 3.8. I think I could get As in linear algebra and advanced calc 1&2, though I would probably be taking them at not incredibly impressive large state university where I did undergrad. My master's program is probably not well known; it is very new. I am a domestic student. My GRE was fine (165V/170Q/4.5). I think that asking schools e.g. Columbia about my likelihood of admission given additional math courses is a good idea. Thanks.

 

Noco - It is helpful to hear about how you went through the decision process.  Thank you for sharing that.  I think I am going to have to do some work to find a situation that fits with my interests at Pitt, but it could be possible.  I have had a hard time identifying a biostat faculty member who would be most appropriate dissertation advisor for me.  

  

I'd like to add. I had a comparable application this year to you: domestic student, 3.55 GPA (Biology major), lack of math classes (that I was currently taking and signed up to take), and a tad lower GRE scores (158V, 162Q)..... I definitely think it hurt me not actually having calc II or linear algebra on my record for the applications I sent in before grades in those classes were official, as well as having only signed up for Calc III in the spring.... I'm saying this only because you mention you won't have Calc II until winter (when apps will be due again)..... The one advantage you have is an already completed MS, however, I've heard that MS's don't really help your admission chances unless they were from one of the top place, and it doesn't sound like yours is..... Because of all this, I would honestly take the Pitt offer if I were in your shoe because for me, the pros outweigh the cons.

As for advisor, in a field like Biostats, I don't think it's necessarily important for you to nail down one single individuals with whom you'd like to work, but rather a couple different groups of people working on something you find interesting and make sure some of the faculty within that group will be able to mentor you (Ex. For me, I have an idea of 5-6 faculty members I'd like to have as an advisor, but won't decide until after the first year of coursework when Im completely sure what I want to further specialize in)

[Guest dot.matrix]

Hi Noco, I have had calc I-IV on a quarter system, which is through vector calculus.  I am planning on taking advanced calculus 1&2, which is the prerequisite for into to real analysis at this school.  I think there may be a lot of variation in the meaning of "advanced calculus" in various places.    

 

I am meeting with several people from the Center for Neural Basis of Cognition today, and I hope to learn more about the possibility of doing a research assistantship in one of the labs there.  I think I would be very happy if I could get involved with research there and possibly find additional mentors. The research they are doing there I think is fascinating and exactly what I want to get involved with.  

 

If I do not hear anything from UCLA and UC Berkeley (still no word from either yet), and it looks like things might work out with CNBC, then I will probably lean towards accepting the offer.  I have already postponed my application to medical school a couple of years, (this was my plan prior to biostat), so I could strengthen my application, and I am not really looking forward to doing that yet again.