Statistics PhD profile evaluation / advice on schools to target

[sbs96]

Hi everyone, would love a profile evaluation - any honest feedback on the types of schools I should be targeting would be greatly appreciated! I'm an undergrad senior applying to PhD Stats programs.

Institution: large state school, top 100 overall, top 50 math department

Type: Domestic applicant

Major: Mathematics, Biology

GPA: 3.99 (Math GPA = 4.0)

GRE General Test: 167 (Q), 166 (V), 5/6 (Writing)

GRE Mathematics Subject: not good so not sending it anywhere

Work Experience: one internship in large pharma company (stats department) and one in a Wall Street bank (technology department but data focus)

Research Experience: 1.5 years doing statistical analysis work in a school of optometry lab

Computer skills: Python, R, SQL/Databases, Tableau

Coursework (all A's):

• Mathematics: Calc I-IV, intro to Diff equations I-II, Honors Linear Algebra, Intro to Real Analysis I, Elementary Complex Variables (next sem)
• Statistics: Intro to Probability Theory, Intro to Statistical Theory, Applied Linear Models I-II
• Other relevant: Intro to Programming, Principles of Machine Learning (next sem), Bioinformatics (next sem)

Awards: Graduation with college honors, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List every semester

Letters of Recommendation:

1. Assistant Professor in Department of Statistics, taught my Stat Theory course and knows me well
2. Associate Professor in optometry who supervised my research
3. Research Fellow at the pharma company where I interned

[I expect strong letters but don't think my letter writers are very well-known]

 

Schools:

• Top: Harvard, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Duke, Johns Hopkins
• Middle: Michigan, NC State, UNC, Columbia, Purdue

Thoughts:

• Should I apply to some MS at top schools even though the end goal is a PhD? 
• What are my chances for Top 10 stats PhD programs? Should I apply to more safety schools?
• Will I have a good/better chance at top biostatistics programs?

 

I would appreciate any genuine feedback about my chances and any other recommendations - thank you very much!

[Bayesian1701]

I am also an applicant for this cycle so I am by no means an expert.

I am not sure if you want to apply to both the MS and PhD program at the same school or mix up your applications so that you only apply to MS programs at some schools.  Columbia and Duke consider you for their MS if you get rejected from PhD and check that box on your application, and I imagine most other schools would do this as well.  I would definitely not apply to both the MS and PhD programs at the same school, and I would go for the PhD program.  I would imagine funding would be difficult to get as an MS student for top programs so you might want to consider that if you apply to MS programs instead of PhD programs at certain schools.

 

I have read the applicant profiles and results survey to better understand my personal odds.  From what I have read, you have a shot at getting into a top program.  You have some research experience,  good math grades, and your GRE looks good.  But you can not guarantee acceptance to a top program. If you want to add some more safety schools then go for it.  I don't think people regret applying to safeties like some regret aiming too high.  Your list right now is very competitive and I would personally add a few less competitive programs but it ultimately up to you.