Profile Evaluation for a Rising Senior with 'Colorful' Records

[Onsemiro]

Hello everyone,

 

I just finished my junior year and am interested in going to graduate school. As my academic record is rather 'colorful', I wanted to ask for some advices and what schools that I should reasonably aim to apply.

 

Ethnicity: International (Asian) Male

 

Education: Big 10 institution, Statistics Major. (Cumulative GPA: 3.28, Major GPA: 3.50), I also went to a semester exchange to a lesser known state university twice (I went there due to personal and financial reasons).

 

Some Relevant Courses:

* after the course name indicates a course transferred from  a community college.

** after the course name indicates a course transferred from the lesser known state university from the exchange.

 

Freshman: Calculus I* (A-), Calculus II (A-), Algebra based intro to stats (A)

Sophomore: Lin Alg & Diff Eq (D, then I retook it and got a B-), Multivariable Calculus** (B+), Calc Based Intro to Prob&Stats (A-)

Junior: Introduction to Proofs (B+), Probability Theory (B-), Advanced Linear Algebra** (A, it was very theory oriented), Data Analysis** (A, basic statistical computing course with some linear regression and anova), Intro to C++ (A)

Senior: I plan to take Analysis (Rudin) I, Stochastic process, Nonparametric Stats, and Regression analysis courses next semester. For my final semester, I would probably take Analysis (Rudin) II, Experiment Design, Senior Project, Mathematical Statistics courses. I really need to get A's in all of these courses, don't I?

 

Research Experience

During exchange, I did some experiment and did lots of statistical tests. Nothing theoretical or deep. I got an A for the independent study for it though. I will try to get it published but I will see about that.

I will also have my senior paper in my last semester (it's required).

 

Internship

I'm doing an unpaid internship from a nonprofit organization. What I do is basically get all the raw data they have from their program and produce a quality Statistical analysis report. (Thankfully, they didn't ask for my GPA when applying.)

 

GRE

I took it after sophomore year just for a heck of it and got murdered at the verbal section.

V: 149 (40%)

Q: 165 (91%)

AWA: 3.0 (14%)

I will definitely retake this to get at least a moderate verbal and writing along with perfect quant score. Also, I think other Asians (Chinese, Korean, etc.) set the bar for GRE too high which I am really not pleased with.

 

LOR

I think my advisor for the independent study from an exchange school can give me a fairly good letter, he also taught the data analysis course in which I got an A. Also, I think I can ask my degree advisor in my home university can give me a mediocre letter. I will need to impress at least one (hopefully 2) professors in my senior year.

 

Places in mind

I would really love to go to the U of Washington. But realistically, I would be happy to go anywhere west coast and Rockies (California, Colorado, Oregon, etc.).

 

 

I know that I don't have a stellar academic records. After freshman year, I kind of stopped caring too much and practically screwed up my 3 semesters. During exchange this Spring, I learned a lot and (hopefully) got my head straight (I got a straight A this semester which I never did after freshman year, so I hope it's a good sign).

 

Just one concern is that I did everything worth mentioning during my exchange, NOT in my home university. I really hope that will not be a big problem.

 

I would greatly appreciate your advices and some recommendations of places that I can realistically aim for.

Thank you very much for your time in advance.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Onsemiro

[cyberwulf]

Are you looking to apply to stat or biostat? Regardless, you will need to have reasonable expectations, as "good" places (top 10-15 biostat, top 20-30 stat) are probably out of reach for you with your current record. To have any chance at these places, I think you would have to make it into a decent Masters program (which may be possible) and perform excellently there.

[Onsemiro]

Thank you very much for the reply, cyberwulf. I should have mentioned that I am interested in Statistics program. At best of my knowledge, masters programs are generally not funded, and I don't think I will be able to afford to pay tuition any more after graduation. In that case, (assuming that my qualification stays about the same upon graduation) should I have somewhat decent places such as top 30+? Thank you again.

Edited May 23, 2014 by Onsemiro