Biostatistics PhD Profile Eval

[trickyager]

Undergrad:

Major: B.S. in Biochemistry

Minor: Mathematics

 

Overall GPA: 3.40

Major GPA: 3.20

Last 2 Years: 3.66

 

GRE (V/Q/AR): 161/159/3.5

 

Relevant Coursework:

Calculus I ( B ) 

Calculus II ( B )

Calculus III (A)

Statistics (AP)

Linear Algebra (B+)

Mathematical Proof (A)

Biological Data Analysis ~ Biostatistics (B-)

Modeling Biological Systems ~ Advanced Biostatistics (A)

 

Research Experience:

Stochastic model of plant-pollinator mutualism.

Disease propagation within an individual-based metapopulation network.

  -  Presented at a regional conference.

  -  Has positive prospects of getting published.

Markov state model for molecular dynamics simulations.

Computer vision algorithm to locate and count chromosomes in fluorescent microscopy stacks

  - In press as a coauthor.

Immersive technologies for visualization of high-dimensional data.

 

Relevant Skills:

Proficient in R, Python, C, and Java.

 

Letters of Recommendation:

Chair of the mathematics department with whom I've done research. (Excellent)

Biology professor with whom I've done research. (Excellent)

Biophysics professor with whom I've done research. (Excellent)

My academic advisor. (Good)

 

Research Interest:

Application of causal inference and machine learning with biosignals for rapid and reproducible diagnosis technologies.

 

Considering applying to (PhD):

Johns Hopkins University (Reach)

University of Rochester

Harvard University (Reach)

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

Boston University

University at Buffalo 

Yale

Vanderbilt (Reach)

 

Are my goals too lofty?

Edited November 8, 2014 by trickyager

[cyberwulf]

Your GPA is fairly low, so it will be tough for you to get into places like Harvard and Johns Hopkins. Your other options are certainly worth a shot, though by no means a sure thing. By the way, I would consider UPenn to be a much bigger reach than Vanderbilt; indeed, Vanderbilt might be one of your better bets.

[Igotnothin]

I think the low GPA and non-math/stats major will really hurt your chances at getting into a PhD program. If you do apply, I would drop Harvard and Hopkins due to their rankings and Penn and Yale since they are really small programs. I'm not familiar with the others but my sense is that some of them are also pretty small (Rochester, Vanderbilt, Buffalo, BU), which makes it unlikely to get an offer. Michigan and UNC are highly ranked but accept a lot of students - might want to add those two.

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Similar application profile to what I had, however, my GRE and GPA were a little higher. I did get into PhD programs and some highly ranked MS programs. With that said, unless the admissions process is far less competitive than it was two years ago, I'll be blunt, you're not getting into Harvard or Hopkins and I'd advise not throwing away the $150-$200 in application fees to apply to those two places.

 

Your shot at a funded PhD at the places in the top 8-10 is less than 50%. Admissions are getting increasingly competitive each successive year, and being a current grad student knowing what I know about applicant acceptances in recent years, it's just not likely. However, outside the top 10 is a possibility for you. I'd throw at least 5 apps at places outside the top 10 if I were in your shoes with my knowledge. 

 

In doing this, my BEST advice for you is to take into careful consideration who you would like to work with at these schools and see if they have availability to mentor students in the coming years. Cyberwulf and Biostatsprof have been here for years giving good advice, and I used their advice when I was applying a few years back (I've changed my display name since then), and they will probably back me up with what I'm about to say -- your advisor/mentor is the most important part of your individual grad school experience. Top programs are at the top because they have a large number of faculty doing high quality, high impact work in various and  diverse areas of research. At the top schools, your chances of working under a good, highly regarded mentor is greater than at lower ranked (and typically smaller) departments. This in turn leads to better publications, networking experience, and dissertation work, which will lead to more promising possibilities of a career in academia. There isn't much you can do at this point to get in at Hopkins or Washington or Harvard, but departments outside the top 10 do have well regarded faculty to choose from, there are just fewer. You're looking at maybe 1 or 2 high quality faculty members at these schools that are on the same level of many of the faculty at the top schools. It's tough without having experienced different areas of biostatistical research yet, but if you have an idea of the area your interested in, and find schools with a well regarded faculty member doing research in that area, then that would be extremely beneficial in helping you choose among the lower ranked programs. 

 

Overall, you have a realistic shot at PhD programs, but you won't be at at top program. I don't share too much about where I'm at, but I will say I'm not in one of the top 5 departments... But I have seen first-hand that you can get an academic position at a well-regarded (i.e. top 10 department) coming from a lesser ranked school, and am personally friends with a people that have. With the right adviser, even at a lower ranked school, you can make connections to some of the top researchers in the field, and more specifically, researchers from your areas of interest (and I know this because I've been fortunate enough to do it). The opportunities may come easier for the Harvard students, but if you work hard enough, find the right opportunities and take advantage of them when they come, you can make it to the same places. 

 

That's about all I got. I'm not going to list where I go or name drop the people I've met and have made connections with publicly, but I'll be happy to provide more info in a message if you PM me.

Edited November 10, 2014 by Biostat_student_22

[sild]

I think it would be hard to get into Michigan or UNC doctoral programs without a higher GRE quantitative or an A in real analysis to shore things up.  You would have a great shot in the MS programs though, and if you do well you could transfer to the PhD.