Questions about U Washington biostat program

[dmsquf]

Hello, I know this is still early in the admission season but I need some advice and

information about U of Washington Biostatistics program.

 

Since I really wanted to attend U of Washington Biostat program, I applied to their Masters instead of PhD even though my final goal was PhD. I was worried that U washington biostat program would be too competitive for me since I'm applying straight out of undergrad. Also, I read from their website that there is PhD pathway for MS students so I decided to apply for MS program and then try to continue Phd degree at U of Washington through phd pathway.

 

I recently got admitted to U of Washington biostats MS program and as expected there is no funding guaranteed.

Since I also got offers from Top 5-6 Biostatistics PhD programs with full funding, if I cannot get funding from Washington,

I have to decline this offer.. (Funding is a critical factor in my case)

 

Is there a possibility that Biostats Masters student at U Washington can get any funding(any assistantship) in their first year?

It would be great if anyone already attending U washington biostat program(or anyone who have heard of this kind of information) can give some information about what percentage of the MS students get the funding from RA/TA position in their first year. Any information regarding funding for MS students is appreciated.

(I am going to contact the department about this after this weekend but I also want to hear from people on this forum.)

 

Also, does anyone know how many % of MS students get accepted to U of Washington PhD program through their Phd pathway?

I couldn't find any detailed information about PhD pathway on the website.

If I can get funding as MS student and I can pursue PhD degree through PhD pathway, I would like to consider U of Washington as one of my options along with other PhD offers.

I appreciate any advice. Thank you!

[Lelouch Lamperouge]

First, congratulations to your offers!

 

I am a first year PhD at UW Biostats now.  I'd like to provide you with something I know.

 

In my year, there are 5 masters and 2 out of them are funded now (1 for TA and 1 for RA). The guy who is doing RA once told me that he contacted one of the professors and after several talks he got that position. I don't know how another guy got his TA. 

 

I guess the likelihood of you getting funded depends on how many PhD at last enrolled in this year. First-year PhD students have priority to get funded for sure.

 

As for the PhD pathway you mentioned, I am sorry that I am not quite familiar with this part. I don't know any 2nd-year or 3rd-year PhD student here who was first admitted to our master program then got into our PhD program. You'd better to ask this from department directly.

 

Hope this is useful. 

[wine in coffee cups]

As for the PhD pathway you mentioned, I am sorry that I am not quite familiar with this part. I don't know any 2nd-year or 3rd-year PhD student here who was first admitted to our master program then got into our PhD program. 

There is a current 3rd year biostat PhD student who was admitted off the master's pathway at the end of her first year. I'm pretty sure there is another who was also admitted to the PhD off the MS and would be a third year, but she took a job in Seattle a few months ago and I think is returning at a later point.

 

One thing you have to do to get accepted off the pathway is pass the master's exam at a designated PhD level. I don't know about the most recent exam, but in 2012 and 2013 only about 60% of statistics and biostatistics graduate students taking the exam passed at the PhD level.