PhD Biostatistics Profile

[baller90]

Undergrad Institution: Large state school (Great stat and math program)
Major: BS Statistics BA Mathematics 
Minor: Business Administration, Information Systems, Actuarial Science 
GPA: 3.5 Overall (Lower Math GPA, with explanation)

Type of Student: White Male

Courses/ Background:

I changed majors multiple times in college. Finally settled on a double major in mathematics and statistics in the pursuit of a PhD. I took all the math classes I could in 2 years.

My GPA is low because I took all these courses on an advanced schedule. I finished the mathematics major in under 2 years, and my grades suffered. I was combating a disease which should have kept me out of school. I plan on explaining this in my strong personal statement. I received 4 C's among A's in my math classes due to this.

GRE: 163Q 157V, taking again in October. I took it blind the first time.

I plan on taking the GRE Math Subject test and plan on doing well which should balance out my C's.

Research Experience: 2 research projects in school with professors where I am listed in the acknowledgements. Chi squared tests and exploratory data cleaning, respectively. 

Summer Institute for Biostatistics at Emory (department loves me).

I have spent the last 3 years at a large research institution where I am second author on one paper, first author on a soon to be published paper, and more (2+, most likely second author) in the coming year. My research experience involves big data. I am extremely proficient in R; I would call myself a top coder.
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Made a Shiny App for a very successful startup influencing exponential growth. This was a fun project and looked well upon by a Google data scientist.

Letters of Recommendation:

-Research PI at research institution

-Research supervisor at same research institution

-Professor who helped me discover biostatistics. I have kept in close contact with her and visited her office regularly. 

All strong letters.

Thinking of applying to:
PhD:
Stats: Stanford, Penn
Biostats: Harvard, Hopkins, UCLA, Penn, Emory, UNC, Michigan, UW

I have connections to Hopkins, although Baltimore is a question. I have visited all these schools, and each department has loved me. I plan on making up for my poor grades with excellent research experience (could not be better), letters, and GRE scores.

Ideally, I would get into Harvard's PhD program (who doesn't say that?). I say I would only do a PhD due to funding. I would accept a Harvard Master's position with the hope of receiving a PhD. 

My best attribute is my personality. If you see me in person, you will understand I am a statistician. If I get an interview at places, I have no doubt I will be accepted.

What do ya'll think? 

Edited September 7, 2016 by baller90

[GoPackGo89]

What were the courses you took and which did you earn Cs in?  I would guess if your research contributions are as impressive as you say then your letters will also be outstanding. I am only a fellow applicant so the only advice I feel I can give you is to hold back on mentioning how much everyone loves you in your personal statement. Your letter writers will attest to that and it'll mean more coming from them. Good luck on your application/admissions!

[cyberwulf]

Is this a joke?

If not, you should be aware that this post comes across as extremely arrogant ("excellent research experience (could not be better)", "I have no doubt I will be accepted", etc.), which is not going to play well in a personal statement or at in-person interviews.

As far as target schools go, you need to revise your expectations - a lot. A 3.5 GPA (especially driven by low math grades) puts you pretty far behind the typical admit at most, if not all, of the schools on your list. You need something exceptional to overcome that deficit, and frankly I don't see anything in your record (beyond your claim that people will be blinded by your genius if they meet you in person) that fits the bill. Not to be overly blunt, but Stanford, Wharton, Harvard, Hopkins, and UW are total pipe dreams. UNC and Michigan are pretty big reaches. You might have a better shot at UCLA and Emory, but I wouldn't bet on you being admitted there either.

[Residuals]

I am with you cyberwulf. This is a strange post on so many dimensions. Yes, it oozes "arrogance" (everyone loves me, research experience can't be better, top coder, etc.). It is all good and dandy to have a confident attitude but this tone will be an immediate turn off. By the way, what does it mean that if we saw you in person, we would know you are a statistician? Seriously? That is actually quite insulting to statisticians.

Recognize that top departments don't expect high-level of coding abilities. So, that skill is not a deal breaker. Good coding would play more well for a MS in data science application. Your poor math GPA along with so-so general quant GRE score is not suggestive of easily getting a high math subject GRE score. Put that aside, your general GPA along with with your weak math GPA would put you more realistically for a top 30-40 department.

[a563]

On 9/9/2016 at 2:49 PM, arima said:

Put that aside, your general GPA along with with your weak math GPA would put you more realistically for a top 30-40 department.

yeah but your shit personality will probably exclude you from them too 

[Residuals]

19 minutes ago, a563 said:

yeah but your shit personality will probably exclude you from them too 

Ok, tell me how my comment is off the mark? You have no clue as to my background so I would suggest you chill.

[GoPackGo89]

I think he was talking about OP. Just a guess