So I’m an Undergrad at Virginia Tech majoring in Statistics. I’ve been browsing the web and I’ve seen that most Graduate programs want to see Real Analysis and Proof classes on your transcript. Here at Virginia Tech, we aren’t required to take a proofs class or real analysis. Some of our required courses are: Statistical Methods (3005: Basic statistical methodology: exploratory data techniques, estimation, inference, comparative analysis by parametric, nonparametric, and robust procedures. Analysis of variance (one-way), multiple comparisons, and categorical data. 3006: Analysis of variance, simple and multiple, linear and nonlinear regression, analysis of covariance. Use of MINITAB) and Theoretical Statistics (4105: Probability theory, counting techniques, conditional probability; random variables, moments; moment generating functions; multivariate distributions; transformations of random variables; order statistics. 4106: Convergence of sequences of random variables; central limit theorem; methods of estimation; hypothesis testing; linear models; analysis of variance.) Along with a lot of other classes like Methods of Regression Analysis, Advanced Calc for Stat, Probability and Distribution, and Experimental Designs. Just wanted to know if these classes and course descriptions are good enough to make me competitive for top PhD programs when the time comes for me to apply (assuming I do well in the classes).
Thanks!
I’m not familiar with stats and thus have no clue about the classes you listed.
But I don’t think ad coms pay close attention to the course list, as long as you receive the degree from a reputable university.
Case in point: my D received her BS in CS from UC Berkeley. Due to schedule conflicts, she didn’t take Operating System and Database, considered to be essential for a CS degree. She was admitted to PhD program at 5 of the top 10 universities.
She is now auditing those classes, because she found out that the knowledge from them was essential for her research.
i don’t see why not, but it depends on which field you are going into. Generally speaking stats is a goo major for plenty of quanty type grad schools it would seem an your coursework is similar to that of pretty much any stanar university i’d think (I am double mjoring in mathematical finance and stats)
I actually think they do; I just think that there are certain classes they look for and others they don’t really care so much about. Perhaps your daughter’s record was otherwise so outstanding that they didn’t mind that she didn’t have OS&D, or maybe they simply don’t prefer it at those programs, or maybe it wasn’t as essential as she thought.
Generally speaking, though, I do think that professors look for certain coursework on the transcript and how you performed in it. In psychology, taking research methods and a basic statistics course are pretty required for understanding graduate-level work, but the vast majority of psychology majors require that.
That said, the best people to ask this question to are your professors at VT. Ask them if your statistics coursework is enough or if there are classes that you should take in addition to the schedule you already have.
This has been my experience. I emailed a few program directors because I don’t have a math class that many listed as “required” for admissions. I still have time to take the class if needed, but the overwhelming response was that they don’t look for the class on transcripts. They simply feel that the background would be helpful in other coursework and none of them encouraged me to take the class.
The feedback I got from my responses was that if you have an otherwise outstanding profile, one or two courses could easily be self-studied, audited, or taken at some point in the first year of study if they really are necessary for your area of focus. However, if that course is critical to the foundation of your program, that might be different, but then most reputable programs should already have those courses as part of their curriculum.
Of course, I am not a statistics major so I can’t speak for your specific program. You could reach out to maybe one or two grad programs and inquire if the coursework is required as part of admissions. I wouldn’t send them your entire course load, though. Just a quick email stating that those two courses aren’t part of your undergrad program and if it is unfavorable in admissions not to have taken them. But keep in mind that your classes and grades alone aren’t enough to make you competitive for top programs. Make sure all aspects of your profile are strong as well.