Biostat/Stat PhD profile evaluation

[biostat_applicant]

Hi everyone, I was hoping you guys could look over my profile and suggest some schools to apply to.

 

School: US, Top 20 department statistics.  Should have my MS by the end of this year.  I'm in the PhD program, but I'm transferring for personal reasons (trying to move closer to my wife; due to her work, I'm a bit geographically limited in the programs I'm considering).  GPA: 3.89.  Currently working on a CRAN package.  Here are my results from the first year grad classes:

 

Stat Theory I and II (Hogg and Craig / Casella And Berger level): A-

Stat Methods I and II: A

Introduction to Computing (mini course): A

Computational Statistics: A

Computational Statistics reading course: Pass

Data Structures (undergrad, summer course for fun): A

 

Undergrad: US State School, GPA: 3.93 in math/stat/compsci courses, I transferred schools so I don't quite know the overall GPA.  Here's a list of the math courses I took along with grade.

 

Calc II: A

Calc III: B

Calc IV: A

Lin. Alg: A+

ODE: A+

Probability I: A+ 

Probability II: A+

Numerical Analysis I: A+

Numerical Analysis II: A+

Math Stat: A

Real analysis: A

Abstract Algebra: A+

Advanced Calc I: A+

Advanced Calc II: B (I got accepted to my current program during this semester and got distracted with getting ready to move etc.)

Pattern Recognition (grad, CS): A

Graduate Reading course (Advanced linear algebra): pass

 

GRE: About 2 years old, 790 Math, 650 Verbal, 5.5 writing.

 

LOR: Not sure yet.

 

Potential Schools: U Berkeley (Biostat), U Washington (Biostat), UC Davis (Stat), UCLA (Stat).

 

So what do you think my chances are at those schools?  I'm interested in computing, machine learning/data mining and bioinformatics.  I'm trying to focus on the West Coast, due to my wife's work.  She said she's willing to entertain moving to the east coast, but I'd primarily focus on the west coast for now.  

 

Unfortunately, many of the UC schools you can only apply to one of their programs, so I can't apply for both stat and biostat.  Does anyone know of any major stat/biostat/bioinformatics programs that I've missed on the west coast?  Or suggest more schools in general?

Edited September 20, 2013 by biostat_applicant

[biostat_applicant]

Any feedback is appreciated!

[cyberwulf]

I think that list of schools is reasonable; you've pretty much covered the major programs on the West Coast other than Stanford. Are you sure that you can't apply to both stat and biostat at Berkeley and UCLA? That seems hard to believe. USC biostat may also be worth checking out.

[biostat_applicant]

Thanks for the feedback Cyberwulf.  I believe it's a university wide policy that you can only apply to one program during an application cycle at the UCs.  I would've considered stanford for biostats but it appears biostats is handled in the stat department and I'm sure that's a very long reach for me.

 

Although we prefer to stay on the west coast, my wife's firm has an office in PA and CT she would consider transferring to, do you know anything about Stat/biostat/ML programs at penn state, u penn and CMU or any universities in CT?  What do you think my chances are there?

[Lelouch Lamperouge]

I think that list of schools is reasonable; you've pretty much covered the major programs on the West Coast other than Stanford. Are you sure that you can't apply to both stat and biostat at Berkeley and UCLA? That seems hard to believe. USC biostat may also be worth checking out.

Hi Cyberwulf,

 

what do you think about the biostats program in USC? I am considering to apply for the biostatistics PhD program there. Since you are a biostats prof, i'd like to see your comment for this program. Thank you!

[Funkoverload]

UC Irvine (Stat), USC (Marshall, Stat, or Keck, Biostat)