Peace Corps and PhD in Statistics

[vertuz]

Hi,

I'm currently a senior at a liberal arts college. I'm going to join the Peace Corps next year, teaching English. I also want to do a PhD in Statistics after getting back from the Peace Corps (which will be in August 2020). Do you think me doing the Peace Corps will hurt my chances at admission? I'm worried it will look bad that I took a gap of two years doing something unrelated to math/statistics. I'll talk to my professors about it, but also wanted some thoughts about it from all of you, in case anyone has gone through this or something similar. I will definitely ask them whether they could write me letters right now and hold on to them for when I apply later so they don't forget me.

In case it helps, I am a math major with a 3.74 overall GPA (4.0 in math) and a decent amount of math courses (the more relevant courses I took are Real Analysis, Measure Theory/Probability, Complex Analysis, Harmonic Analysis, PDEs, Asymptotic Analysis. Less relevant ones are Representation Theory, Homological Algebra, Algebraic Number Theory, Combinatorics, Topology) and research experience at an REU in number theory. Got 79th percentile on the math subject test. Haven't taken the general GRE but I will study for it and take it sometime before graduating, so hopefully I'll do alright. I would guess I'll have one good letter and two decent ones.

Really appreciate any comments! I'm kind of worried that I'm shooting myself in the foot with this.

[glennss3]

Hello!

I am a current Peace Corps volunteer, (Will be finish in 19 days!!!!) and I am applying for a masters in statistics. I will let you know where I get in if you want! From what I have heard most graduate schools love returned peace corps volunteers. It will make you look unique compared to other people applying! In every country there will probably a committee that deals with statistics for Peace Corps. This is what I have joined, so I got some experience in data collection in Peace Corps.

Definitely get as much done as possible for your application before you leave. (GRE & letters of rec) It is very difficult to apply when there is no electricity or internet! But Peace Corps is an amazing experience; it has changed my life in so many ways! 

[Sepens]

Hello!

I'm a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (2015 - 2017) and just got home last month and applying for PhD programs in Statistics, Industrial Engineering, and Mathematics. I'm hoping for everything that glennss3 said, so we will see!

My only tip is depending on what time you get home, I don't recommend applying when you are in country and starting within a month of returning. Would be a lot to handle.

[vertuz]

Thank you both so much for your replies! @glennss3, thank you for the tip about statistics committees, I'll definitely ask around about that. If you're comfortable with sharing, I'd love to hear how it all goes for you when you begin hearing back. And thanks @Sepensfor the tip about when to apply! Best of luck to both of you with everything!

[Ellies]

I highly doubt a few years break will hurt your chances; I applied to two PhD programs more than 20 years after graduating college (of which about 15 were spent raising my children, so certainly not math-related), and was successful in both. 

Edited December 20, 2017 by Ellies

[TakeruK]

It will not. I know a few people in my field that took time off for Peace Corps. Many others also took time off for various other things, including completely different career paths. You are not expected to devote all of your life to the field!