Profile Evaluation/School List for PhD in Biostatistics

[jlf767]

Undergrad Institution: Unranked Liberal Arts
Major(s): Math/Biostatistics/Public Health
GPA: >3.95 from degree-granting institution, but only 3.6 cumulative counting bad stint in college several years ago (bad meaning <2.0 and academic dismissal). I had health issues that are now resolved and there is a clear before/after line, but this is obviously still a concern. 

Type of Student:  Domestic

GRE General Test:
Q: 170 (97%)
V: 165 (95%)
W: 5.0 (93%)
 

Programs Applying: Biostatistics PhD

 

Research Experience: 

Summer in biomedical engineering at top-10 school, resulting in publication (not first-author)

6-month internship in public health, no publications or presentations

Summer in biostatistics at different top-5 school continuing into part-time employment to finish the project, working on publication(s) but nothing will be submitted before applications are due

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 

Departmental awards for all three majors, but nothing outside of my school

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

TA for non-math class, tutor for a couple of math and non-math classes. Currently working in a healthcare (non-research) job at a hospital.

 

Letters of Recommendation: 

Recommendations from the two research professors and one from a statistics professor who knows me well at my college. All three should be very strong.

 

Grades:

5 on BC Calculus Exam

Pre-diagnosis: Multivariable Calculus: C; Linear Algebra: F (yeah, I know)

Community College: Intro Statistics: A

Liberal Arts School: Regression Models: A; Probability: A; Statistical Design: A; Mathematical Statistics: A; Data Mining: A; Bayesian: A; Real Analysis 1 and 2: A; Abstract Algebra: A; Discrete Math: A; SAS Programming: A

 

Where to apply?

Obviously the dream is acceptance at the school where I spent the summer, but I know I can't necessarily count on that. I don't know where else to apply because of my GPA issues and unranked undergraduate institution. Can I even consider other top-5's where I don't have any connections? Thanks!