My chances? (M.A. in Stat)

[hola16]

Hi I am planning to apply to a bunch of grad schools for a Statistics master's program, and I am not sure whether my scores and other credentials are good enough for top schools.

Undergrad: Top 10 Private Ivy in the East Coast
GPA: 3.83/4.00
Major: Econ
Minor: Math
Took all of the Math courses required for MA admission, like linear algebra, advanced calculus, etc. and received all As on them.
GRE:
V 162
M 165
W 5.0
(Didn't take the GRE math subject test.)
RA/TA experience: worked under a Business/Management professor as a RA for a semester
Work experience: internships in consulting, economic research, etc.
Not URM
Recommendation letters: two-excellent, one-pretty good I guess?

How are my chances for Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, and other top schools for Stat MA? 
Also, what other schools do you recommend for Stat MA? My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. afterwards.
Thank you so much!!

[cyberwulf]

With a 3.8+ from an Ivy league school, you are in good shape for admission to all the top M.A. programs. Have you taken any math beyond the pre-reqs? That seems to be your only potential weakness.

 

Even without much math beyond the pre-reqs, you'd likely be competitive for a lot of good PhD programs -- if your eventual goal is a PhD, why aren't you applying right now? 

[hola16]

With a 3.8+ from an Ivy league school, you are in good shape for admission to all the top M.A. programs. Have you taken any math beyond the pre-reqs? That seems to be your only potential weakness.

 

Even without much math beyond the pre-reqs, you'd likely be competitive for a lot of good PhD programs -- if your eventual goal is a PhD, why aren't you applying right now? 

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

One reason is that I want to have more research experience and take more advanced math/stat courses. Since I already graduated, I can't take independent research or advanced courses at my undergrad institution anymore. 

 

Beyond the pre-reqs, I took a few Stat and Econ+Stat courses like Forecasting Methods (using JMP), Quantitative Data analysis course (Econ+Stat), Econometrics, Probability/Random signal.. I don't know if this would help though. But I didn't take any advanced math courses beyond what's required for Math minors, and that is my concern too...

 

Thanks for your advice!

[cyberwulf]

OK, well, if your target for PhD study is a top-shelf school like Stanford/Chicago/Harvard, then doing really well in a top Masters program is probably your best bet, since you might be a tad "math-light" for direct entry to the PhD program at those places. But I like your chances of direct admission to most PhD programs outside the Top 5-7 departments.

[hughwu]

I think you could apply for PhD of top schools directly, and there is big chance that you will be admitted by some of them

[Igotnothin]

Are admissions committees really this formulaic? A's in math from a good school and you're in?

 

With a 3.8+ from an Ivy league school, you are in good shape for admission to all the top M.A. programs. Have you taken any math beyond the pre-reqs? That seems to be your only potential weakness.

 

Even without much math beyond the pre-reqs, you'd likely be competitive for a lot of good PhD programs -- if your eventual goal is a PhD, why aren't you applying right now? 

[cyberwulf]

Are admissions committees really this formulaic? A's in math from a good school and you're in?

 

And what other formula would you suggest that we use?

 

Getting excellent grades from a good school is a pretty strong indicator that a student is smart and talented. Yes, of course, there's more that goes into making a researcher than stellar grades (that's why we look at letters, test scores, and to a much lesser extent personal statements), but admissions committees are in the business of taking bets on who's going to be most successful, and a student with a proven track record of academic success is usually a pretty safe bet.

[Igotnothin]

If I was on a committee choosing the 10 or 15 students to join my department for the next 5 years (or 2 for MS), I would look for more than an A in real analysis. Research experience, programming, personal statement, publications - some evidence that you can do more than get A's in math classes.

 

 

And what other formula would you suggest that we use?

 

Getting excellent grades from a good school is a pretty strong indicator that a student is smart and talented. Yes, of course, there's more that goes into making a researcher than stellar grades (that's why we look at letters, test scores, and to a much lesser extent personal statements), but admissions committees are in the business of taking bets on who's going to be most successful, and a student with a proven track record of academic success is usually a pretty safe bet.