profile evaluation( Thanks a lot!!!!)

[kimi09]

Hi, everyone.

I have been reading a lot of great blogs about applying for graduate schools here. They provided me great ideas about applying for schools later. I am not applying this year but I will apply for 2011 fall. I want to study statistics or biostatistics in the graduate school. I prefer statistics. I am not targeting the top schools but I really hope to study in a big university, which is in a big citiy. If you could give me some suggestions about where I could apply for and where I will be able to get financial aid, that would be so appreciated.

I am an international student. I obtained my bachelor degree in US. My college is not famous at all and the people who are in other states won't know my school for sure.

major: Mathematics

Minors: Biology and Business

Overal GPA: 3.5/4.0

Major GPA: 3.83/4.0

GRE: V560/Q800/W3.0

Courses: calculus I-V, linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, differential equation, Real Analysis, Complex variables, Probability, Mathematical Statistics, Biostatistics,

Independent research study: application of linear algebra, random sampling design in statistics, and statistical conceptcs and methods

Research experience: two summer undergraduate research program: one in applied mathematics and one in biostatistics and now work in a research institute as a biostatistician

Honor: departmental honor and cum laude honor

Publication: no, maybe later

So far, I am thinking to apply for Boston University, George Washington University, American University, U Pitts, Stony Brook, Rutgers.

Thank you very very much for any advices and suggestions. I sincerely appreciate your time and great helps.

[origin415]

I don't know much about statistics programs, but I can offer some advice:

It will be much easier to judge where you should aim if you have math GRE scores.

Don't worry too much about the college you came from. A bigger/better university might mean more famous recommenders, but grad schools understand just because you went to some place without a reputation that doesn't mean you aren't a great mathematician.

I hope you don't think that Rutgers and Stony Brook are in big cities. Both are knee deep in the suburbs, which is why I'm applying to neither, a criteria for my school selection was my ability to live in there without a car. Also, while Penn is a big school, its math department is fairly small. If you are looking for a bigger program, look to public schools: Washington, Texas, UC San Diego, CUNY, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, etc, are all big state schools in big cities in the rankings range of the ones you are already looking at, at least for their math programs, as I said I don't know about stats programs.

[babaloo]

Actually, the math gre is not required or even recommended at most statistics and biostatistics programs (the only I can think of are Stanford and U Chicago), so I'd only bother taking it if you think you can get a very good score, or if you want to apply to those schools that require or recommend it. Your general gre is fine (although I'm not sure how they'll view the writing score, but since you're international they might give you a break on that). As long as you have good grades in your math classes (especially in calc, analysis, and probability and math stats), and strong recommendations, I think you'll have a decent shot at most schools, and be competitive at all of those you listed.

[kimi09]

Dear Origin415,

Thank you very much for your thoughts. The information you provided are very helpful. I appreciate your helps very much. I agree with you. Rutgers and Stony brook are not in the big cities but they are close to big cities. I thought they may be some good options. My college for undergradute is in a small town so I really want to go a big city and experience a different life. Best wishes to your applications.

Edited February 9, 2010 by kimi09

[kimi09]

Dear babaloo,

Thank you very much for your suggestions. They are very helpful. I don't think I could score very high on subject GRE test so I don't think I am going to take it. I will just try the schools that did not require the subject GRE. Actually, there are some programs are in mathematics with concentration in statistics. Do you think it is a good idea to apply for those programs as well? Thank you very much again. If you are applying for the schools this year, best wishes with your applications.

Edited February 9, 2010 by kimi09

[origin415]

Dear Origin415,

Thank you very much for your thoughts. The information you provided are very helpful. I appreciate your helps very much. I agree with you. Rutgers and Stony brook are not in the big cities but they are close to big cities. I thought they may be some good options. My college for undergradute is in a small town so I really want to go a big city and experience a different life. Best wishes to your applications.

I am actually from Long Island, so I can tell you from experience that SB is in a small town. LI is just a bunch of small towns sitting next to each other. If you wanted to go to the city, you have to get to a train station, pay $10.75 one way (last time I was there, the could have raised it since), and sit in a train for an hour and a half (possibly longer for the SB stop, I believe you have to transfer somewhere on that line). Its doable, but you aren't going to do it every weekend, its far too expensive. Driving takes about an hour, but driving to manhattan is really silly. Bronx and Brooklyn have stuff to see that you can drive to though. While I lived there I went into the city maybe once a year, but then again I've lived there my whole life, so I've seen the big things to see.

I'm not saying you shouldn't go if you think you'll like it, I'm just trying to make sure you have all the facts, you'll still be living in a small town, just this one happens to be a day trip away from a big town. Make sure you visit.