Profile for Biostat MS Applicant?

[jpmangogg]

 

Hi I am going to be starting my junior year in the Fall. Originally I am a Biochemistry major, however after considering the career prospects for that, I decided to add a math minor and pursue a career in biostats. The minor shouldn't extend my schooling by that long, maybe at most an extra semester But here are my stats:

Undergraduate school: Wisconsin-Madison
Major: Biochemistry major, Mathematics minor
GPA: 4.0 (Biochemistry); (I haven't started most of the mathematics classes yet)

Math classes already taken: 
1st semester Calc (AP credit)

2nd semester Calc (A)

Intro Statistics (A)

Math classes I will take for the minor: 
3rd semester Calculus (functions of several variables)
Elementary Matrix & Linear Algebra
2 semesters of probability and mathematical statistics
Theory of single variable calc (it's like calculus but teaching about proofs)

Math/stats electives I will take:
Intro to Programming
Intro Data Analysis/Learning Statistical Language w/ R
Analysis I (I think this covers real analysis) - not sure if I should take this class as it would push me to do another semester beyond my 4 years (although I have a full tuition scholarship that covers my first 4 years, so its not incredibly bad if I have to do another year, especially if it will get me access to a good grad program)

GRE: haven't taken yet but on practice tests, it has been above 160 Q, above 150V (hoping to increase this)
Experience: Since I am a biochemistry major, I only have lab experience with biochemistry and genetics. I do a little data analysis, but it is very basic (graphing and standard error bars)
I'm a US citizen, female and a minority (Southeast Asian: Vietnamese) if that matters


So I want to apply to masters programs in biostatistics. Will my emphasis on biochemistry be a disadvantage? I'm worried that as only a math minor, I will not be as competitive as math/statistics majors. Should I take any additional courses or experiences to make up for this?

I would like to apply to Wisconsin-Madison's program since I love the city and living here. But am open to applying to other programs as well. Any ideas on some programs that would be good for me? It doesn't have to be any of the top ones, just ones where I will have a good chance.

[cyberwulf]

If you continue doing well in your classes (especially your math classes), you will be a lock for any biostat Masters program. And, if you keep up a GPA near 4.0, you will be pretty competitive for many top biostat PhD programs.  You might consider checking out the SIBS program next summer to get some more biostat exposure -- there's one at Wisconsin, and a couple of others in the Midwest if you're not looking to venture too far afield.

[LittFox]

You could go for ANY biostat MS program. My friend (from a large state university which ranks around 60) has a 3.5 GPA and she got into Columbia and Duke.