Applying to Graduate School
Naomi Altman
Graduate Admissions Chair
naomi@stat.psu.edu
Summary
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Pick your program
Pick your degree
Pick your schools
Pick your references
What are we looking for?
CV
Statement of Purpose
Cover Letter
Miscellaneous
Pick your program
• Statistics
– a mix of theory and applications
– support through teaching and research
– requires lots of math
• Biostatistics
– more applied
– support through teaching and collaboration
• Analytics, Data Science ...
– usually business oriented
– not much theory
– may have more computing
Pick your program
• Statistics
– a mix of theory and applications
– support through teaching and research
– requires lots of math
• Biostatistics
– more applied
– support through teaching and collaboration
• Analytics, Data Science ...
– usually business oriented
– not much theory
– may have more computing
Pick your Degree
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Ph.D.
M.S.
M.A.
M.A.S. or M.P.S.
• BS → PhD
• BS → MS → PhD
Pick your Degree
• Ph.D.
– research oriented
– 4 - 5 years
– should get full financial aid
– need strong math
• M.S.
– research and course oriented
– 2 – 3 years
– might get full financial aid
– need strong math
– probably optimal job ops & lifetime earnings
Pick your Degree
• M.A.
– usually course oriented
– financial aid??
– 2 years
• M.A.S. or M.P.S.
– course and consulting oriented
– no financial aid (but extra year of earning)
– 1 year (after BS in Statistics or math)
Pick your School
• read web pages
• check American Statistical Association for
programs in the US and Canada
(www.amstat.org)
• Ask your professors
• Be realistic
– apply to X at your level + reach and safety
– 4.0 in math/stat from PSU → reach any top program
• What are their recent grads doing?
• How long to graduation?
Pick your References
1) Plan in advance so they know who you are (not
just an “A” grade).
2) Talk with the person so they know your plans
and so that you can get an idea of what they will
say.
3) Best (MA, MS, PhD) academics who know you,
especially if you have done research or been a
TA
4) Best (MA, MAS) a couple of academics + a
relevant work supervisor
What are we looking for?
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Good GREs.
Good grades (especially in math, stat, econ ...)
Good writing skills.
Letters that indicate that you are a self-starter
and competent.
Research or relevant work experience.
Computing skills.
English skills.
Motivation geared to the program you are
applying for.
CV
Highlight:
1) evidence of quantitative skills
2) relevant work or research experience
3) computing skills (not MS Office, Minitab, SAS,
C++, etc)
4) leadership (whether marching band or head of
analytics team)
5) data analysis projects, even if done for class
Proof Read!
Statement of Purpose
• Specific about goals and motivation
• not too specific about particular areas of interest
• show you read the department web page by
mentioning areas of relevant research
• mentioning 1 professor to do research with is
tricky, what if (s)he leaves or retires?
Proof Read!
Cover Letter
• Usually required only to explain special
circumstances such as:
– poor grades
– gap in program
– late change in major
– return to school after working
• Parsimony works best.
Proof Read!
Miscellaneous
• The best source of information is the Grad
Admissions Chair, not your friend already in the
program
• Contact the department before the end of Oct.