Biostat PhD: UNC/UW/Duke/JHU/Umich/Davis stat

[Kunn]

Hey this is my first post after wandering in this forum so far.... I am really stuck as to which program I should go. Definitely UW and JHU are big names, but I do not wanna just blindly head to the fame.

Here are some of my thoughts:

my plan is to go to industry after graduation: hear that UW tend to send grad to academia, and Duke looks to be very applied biostatistics...

I dislike the rainy climate in Seattle..... I really love CA weather, and I hear North Carolina is pretty much similar; while safety around JHU also another concern....

I know genetics is promising but I have absolutely no bio background, maybe it is hard to pick up genetics I guess... I tend to choose between clinical trial and neuroimaging statistics, but maybe can explore more choices; 

Duke is pretty new, not much discussion found. but I am impressed by their effort put on student development through interviews and communication.... wonder if it is really a decent program and worth to go?

Davis Stat seems to be bit lower in rank, but there are also great faculties like Jane and Jie. Wonder if this is a good choice compared to others....

I would really appreciate it for any advise!!

 

[deptbios]

To sum it up your opinion, how about Umich? I think michigan is one of best solution in terms of your considering regional environment, biostatistical study without biological background, and future career in industry after your PhD. Even though UNC and UW are very excellent schools in biostatistics, they almost tend to stay academia after PhD we know. I saw your post and there are some disadvantages in your mind, but for Umich, there is no reason why you can't go there. In addition, biostatistics graduate program in Umich is quite good! I got rejection from them....T^T. I'm zealous of you caz you have lots of offers from reputational school. Anyway, I hope you make the best decision!.  How about other source such as funding?

[Kunn]

5 hours ago, deptbios said:

To sum it up your opinion, how about Umich? I think michigan is one of best solution in terms of your considering regional environment, biostatistical study without biological background, and future career in industry after your PhD. Even though UNC and UW are very excellent schools in biostatistics, they almost tend to stay academia after PhD we know. I saw your post and there are some disadvantages in your mind, but for Umich, there is no reason why you can't go there. In addition, biostatistics graduate program in Umich is quite good! I got rejection from them....T^T. I'm zealous of you caz you have lots of offers from reputational school. Anyway, I hope you make the best decision!.  How about other source such as funding?

 

(*v*) yeah I also hear a lot about the placement in industry of umich. Well the concern for umich is.... my advisor said they excel in genetics, but much weaker in other fields, while I do not plan to choose genetics..... Actually I also hear funding for Umich depends on professor grants, so after first two years you have to find prof for funding, which may limit direction choice... 

Currently UNC provides no funding info, others providing decent funding given satisfactory performance. But I hear from my professor that Biostat tend to only ensure 1~2 year department funding, while afterwards student needs to find professor for RA, which may limit direction choice.... I was wondering if that is true.....

[waitforever]

Hey Kunn, this might be off your topic of this thread, but if you don't mind may I know when you heard back from JHU with respect to the offer? Thanks!

[deptbios]

27 minutes ago, Kunn said:

(*v*) yeah I also hear a lot about the placement in industry of umich. Well the concern for umich is.... my advisor said they excel in genetics, but much weaker in other fields, while I do not plan to choose genetics..... Actually I also hear funding for Umich depends on professor grants, so after first two years you have to find prof for funding, which may limit direction choice... 

Currently UNC provides no funding info, others providing decent funding given satisfactory performance. But I hear from my professor that Biostat tend to only ensure 1~2 year department funding, while afterwards student needs to find professor for RA, which may limit direction choice.... I was wondering if that is true.....

I see. We have to depend on the funding environment. As we all know, the trend in biostatistics in the US is being focused on genetic research becase of funding grant from govern or federal etc. I heard that that's why professors in biostatistics always have biostatistical researches with genetics. But, the genetics in biostatistics is quite weak and you can make it. Unfortunately, it is very hard to avoid genetics in your PhD researches, even though your focusing is clinical trails. Anyway, I'm also considering several schools which provide full funding. Although I got some admissions from others, they don't give full funding.... 

I recommand that you have making the best decision regardless of genetics because it is not hard you think. And, you can focuse on clinical trials without genetics anywhere.