MS Biostatistics Profile Eval

[Cal1gula]

Hello, stat forum members! I hope some of you would be kind enough to go through this post.

Undergrad Institution: India. Not one of the IITs.

Major(s): Bachelors in Pharmacy

GPA: ~3.4

Type of Student: International Student

GRE General Test:

Q: 166

V: 166

W: (waiting for official scores)

GRE Subject Test in Mathematics: N/A

Research Experience: No relevant research experience, I think.

1) Worked one summer in the chemistry lab. No publications.

2) Conducted a study in which I set out to evaluate the influence of personality traits on patient adherence. Unpublished but had an oral presentation in college. Not sure if it counts.

 

Courses: Calc 1, 2 (A+)(covered in a one-semester course), Applied Math and Pharmaceutical Statistics(diff eq, laplace transformations and biostatistics) (A-) Computer Science (A), Operations Research (A+), Marketing Research Methodology (B+)

Letters of Recommendation: One from calc professor and one from my chemistry lab advisor.

Work experience: Have interned at pharmaceutical companies (one month in a production plant, and 4 months in the supply chain department). Not sure how much weightage that holds (if any)

Applying to:  

MS Biostatisics Programs

MS (tentative):

U Columbia (Reach)

U Minnesota (Reach)

UT Health Science Center

BU (MA Biostatistics) (Reach)

Pittsburgh

Vanderbilt (#1 choice overall)

George Washington University (Reach)

Ohio State University

UIC

Oregon State (MPH Biostatistics)

 

Concerns:

1. Unsure if I my coursework meets the pre-requisites.

2. No research experience.

3. Obscure undergrad institution, bachelors in an unrelated field.

 

I am aware that my overall profile is quite weak. I have been studying stats/biostats on my own but obviously I have quite little to show for it on paper, and of course programs would be (rightfully) skeptical of someone who claims to have "self-studied" a  subject.

I would really appreciate if someone could honestly evaluate my chances of getting into the universities listed above. Should I aim at even lower ranked programs? Should I wait one year and try to beef up my application (by perhaps giving the subject test)? In what other way can I improve my application? Thanks!

Edited October 20, 2017 by Cal1gula

[bookworm45]

Most, if not all, MS Biostats programs require multivariate calculus and linear algebra. If you are able to take those courses and secure A's, I would imagine that with your solid GRE score you would be competitive at many of these (and better) programs. 

[Cal1gula]

Thank you for replying!

There is no way to take those courses now, although I have covered a fair bit of linear algebra in some other courses. I am hoping for a conditional acceptance, which is why I am applying to many lower ranked programs. I guess it's a long shot.