Columbia MA Stat/Cornell MPS Stat - do i have a shot with unrelated majors?

[billythegoat]

Hi guys,

 

So i'm looking for a MA in Stat that can be completed in a year (or a year and a summer), and funding is not an issue. I've narrowed it down to Columbia and Cornell (MPS, not MA). Do any of you have any feedback on these programs?

 

More importantly, do I have a shot at getting in to Columbia? My undergrad major is not math/physics/stats, and I have no research/related internships.

 

Background:

Senior in an Ivy League

Double major in Psychology and Economics

GPA 3.78 (major GPA 3.83) with one more semester to go

 

Relevant coursework: Calculus III (A), Intro Stat (A), Linear Algebra (A-), Taking Probability next semester (but too late for grades to be reflected to adcom)

Other math-related coursework: Econometrics (A-), Corporate Finance (A), Financial Economics (A)

 

RA/TA experience: TA for psych for one semester

Internship: Did an internship last summer, unrelated as well.

Research/Thesis: None, except for term papers...

 

Letters: One positive, two probably neutral

 

GRE: 163V 169Q (preliminary), i'm guessing at least a 5 for essay

 

 

 

As you can see I should have no problem with my prerequisites. What i'm worried about is that I won't stand out enough or demonstrate why I want to take up an MA in Stat, since my research/other stuff are pretty lacking and are not related to Stat at all. Could i possibly make up for this with the personal statement?

 

Thanks!!

Edited January 5, 2014 by billythegoat

[billythegoat]

anyone?

[billythegoat]

noone?

[Stat Assistant Professor]

It seems as though you will have met the minimum math requirements for virtually all Master's programs in Statistics, so it's not impossible. However, if you want to be slightly more competitive, maybe you could take a few more math and/or stat classes in the fall. In your application, you should clearly indicate that you are currently taking probability and [other math or stat class] and that in the spring of '15, you plan to take [this math/stat] and [that math/stat] as preparation for the MA.

 

However, chances for Columbia specifically, I can't say... Apply all around, I think you may have a decent shot getting in somewhere. Full disclosure: my undergrad was also unrelated to my Master's (undergrad in social science, MS in Applied Math). I think taking some more upper division math classes to show I was capable really did the trick in helping me to get admitted to the MS program.