Is there hope for <3.5 GPA Student at a decent Stat program?

[pattywagon]

Hello, I'm currently an undergrad Statistics major at UC Davis, and I was interested in applying to a Statistics or Biostatistics graduate program in a couple years. However, after reading all these threads and profile evaluations, I'm kind of discouraged... Everyone here seems to have near perfect GPA, and I don't see any profiles here with GPAs less than a 3.5.

I'm an A and B (mostly Bs) student and my GPA is a little less than a 3.5. I'm currently looking for research experience, as I know this is important, and I'm trying to talk to my professors for research assistant positions. My question is, if I maintain a GPA around a 3.4/3.5, do I have a shot at a decent Stat/Biostat PhD program? I was thinking schools around the caliber of my own institution. Do you think going to a Masters program will give me better chance at these schools? Thanks.

Edited November 17, 2015 by pattywagon

[Severina]

Yes, you still have a shot, especially at a masters program. My undergrad GPA was 3.52 and I got accepted by all seven biostat/stat masters programs to which I applied, including UC Davis, UCLA, and UC Berkeley.  I can decide along the way whether to continue on to PhD.  I had solid undergrad research experience, so maybe you should work hard to achieve that and also try to get your GPA up to 3.5.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Severina

[pattywagon]

On 11/18/2015, 4:23:49, Severina said:

Yes, you still have a shot, especially at a masters program. My undergrad GPA was 3.52 and I got accepted by all seven biostat/stat masters programs to which I applied, including UC Davis, UCLA, and UC Berkeley.  I can decide along the way whether to continue on to PhD.  I had solid undergrad research experience, so maybe you should work hard to achieve that and also try to get your GPA up to 3.5.

Thank you for your response. When you decided to apply for graduate programs, did you only apply to Masters programs because your GPA was around a 3.5 or did you apply because you weren't interested in PhD programs? 

[Severina]

I was generally interested in PhD programs but I applied only to master's programs for several reasons:

1.  Most people are able to get a good job with only a master's in stats or biostats.  (This is not true for all branches for all branches of science - for some fields it is basically PhD or nothing)  A stats/biostats PhD is a requirement only for an academic career, and a PhD is probably better career-wise in the long run in industry as well, but career prospects for masters are still pretty good.

2.  My grades were good enough for masters' programs but getting into a selective PhD program probably would have been tough with a 3.5.  However, if I do well in the master's program and wish to keep going, my masters performance will likely get me into a good PhD program.

3.  You never know how much you will enjoy grad school (or not) until you get there, and at the outset signing on for a two year program is a lot less daunting than committing to 4-6 years required for PhD.

 

If you are borderline for PhD programs you may wish to do what one of my friends did .  He applied primarily to MS programs (in Biochem) but he also took a shot, however long, and tossed in a couple of PhD apps as well.  And, mirabile dictu, one of the PhD programs accepted him.  He's now in his second year of that PhD program.

Edited November 20, 2015 by Severina