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Applying to Graduate School

Applying to Graduate School. Naomi Altman Graduate Admissions Chair naomi@stat.psu.edu. Summary. 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

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Applying to Graduate School

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  1. Applying to Graduate School Naomi Altman Graduate Admissions Chair naomi@stat.psu.edu

  2. Summary • Pick your program • Pick your degree • Pick your schools • Pick your references • What are we looking for? • CV • Statement of Purpose • Cover Letter • Miscellaneous

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Pick your Degree • Ph.D. • M.S. • M.A. • M.A.S. or M.P.S. • BS → PhD • BS → MS → PhD

  6. 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

  7. 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)

  8. 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?

  9. Pick your References • Plan in advance so they know who you are (not just an “A” grade). • Talk with the person so they know your plans and so that you can get an idea of what they will say. • Best (MA, MS, PhD) academics who know you, especially if you have done research or been a TA • Best (MA, MAS) a couple of academics + a relevant work supervisor

  10. What are we looking for? • 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.

  11. CV Highlight: • evidence of quantitative skills • relevant work or research experience • computing skills (not MS Office, Minitab, SAS, C++, etc) • leadership (whether marching band or head of analytics team) • data analysis projects, even if done for class Proof Read!

  12. 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!

  13. 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!

  14. 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.

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