Does it matter where I get an MS in Bioinformatics or Applied Stats?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, I'm currently a sophomore at a private LAC.</p>

<p>I'm going to be graduating with a lot of debt (~60k) after getting my BS and I don't think my degree is going to actually get me a job that's not fast food or retail (Bio major/Psych and Math double minor).</p>

<p>I want to go to graduate school to get a Masters in either Applied Statistics or Bioinformatics because my degree really isn't specialized for me to do anything except become a lab tech (close to impossible to get a job for) or go into fast food or retail.</p>

<p>Now I only have one graduate school in mind and it is IUPUI.</p>

<p>This is because it is only 30 min away from my house and I could easily commute. I also calculated the costs and in order to receive a masters it should cost me around 20k to get.</p>

<p>IUPUI is in Indianapolis and it is near a lot of research facilities and the IU medical school. My field of interest is biostatistics, bioinformatics, and epidemiology. Along the lines of those fields.</p>

<p>TL;DR:</p>

<p>-Going into junior year next year with low gpa that I'm definitely going to get up (Around 2.75)</p>

<p>-Going to graduate with Biology major/Psych and Math minor with mediocre gpa (Around 3.1 or 3.2)</p>

<p>-Graduating with 60k in debt.</p>

<p>-Only has one grad school in mind, which is IUPUI.</p>

<p>Reason:I could live with my parents and not have to worry about room and board. I would also be paying in state tuition. </p>

<ul>
<li>338 per credit hour for grad school fees for both departments. 30 credit hours for stats masters and 36 credit hours for bioinformatics masters.</li>
</ul>

<p>-School is in a research heavy area. Close to Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company and IU Medical School.</p>

<p>-Checked the prereqs for each program and will be able to complete them before I graduate or be allowed to get a conditional acceptance.</p>

<p>Questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Will this matter for my job prospects? Am I making the right decision by refusing to go anywhere else to save money on tuition and room and board?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it a good idea to pursue one of the master programs I listed? I don't see myself going anywhere with my biology major and I'd rather do something more statistics heavy.</p></li>
<li><p>When should I take the GRE? </p></li>
<li><p>If my GRE scores are very good and my GPA and ECs end up being somewhat decent, will I be able to get some funding?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>If not, would I possibly be able to get a fellowship or a TA position to help pay for my grad school?</p>

<ol>
<li>Is this a good investment? I particularly want to go into Applied Statistics (Biostats) or Bioinformatics because that's what I'm interested in doing for a future career, but I also want job security so I can pay my loans.</li>
</ol>

<p>I keep hearing the horror stories of people who get master degrees and end up in even more debt and can't pay it back because they can't find a job.</p>

<ol>
<li>Part time masters or full time masters? I heard you won't get funding or fellowship/TA opportunities if you go with the part time.</li>
</ol>

2

<p>Come on people, the only reason I posted here is because I know there is someone that can answer my questions.</p>

<p>64 views = 64 opinions, post post post!!</p>

3

<p>I’ll start. Since you are only a sophomore, maybe your focus should be on your remaining undergraduate years instead of grad school. Figure out a way to make your last two years worth the amount of debt you are taking on. If you want to eventually get a graduate degree in bioinformatics or applied stats, maybe it would be better to drop your bio major and your psych minor and focus on math and statistics. Talk to an advisor and rethink your current direction. Maybe even transfer to IUPUI now. The price difference between there and your LAC might pay for two years undergrad and two years of grad school. I don’t have the answers, but you are only a sophomore so you have options. Lots of people don’t even declare a major until end of sophomore year. Don’t be satisfied with a degree you think will only allow you to work fast food or retail.</p>

4

<p>It doesn’t seem reasonable to transfer when I’m going to be a junior in college.</p>

<p>I’ll save about 12k, but I think it’s not worth transfering to IUPUI because my LAC has a better name as an undergraduate college and the degree will be worth more simply because of the name. I received a huge scholarship for all 4 years.</p>

<p>I also already have better relationships with the professors, thus I will have excellent letters of recommendation. The classes are small enough so I get the attention I need.</p>

<p>BTW, switching to a math major is pointless in my opinion. My math minor covers the important math classes needed for the stuff I want to do. If I majored in math I would end up taking abstract math classes which I would never apply.</p>

<p>Also a math major doesn’t really have any good job prospects. It is in the same boat as Biology except with my biology major I can become a lab tech whereas as a math major I can’t.</p>

5

<p>The job market for a “math major” depends on where you live. Majority of our graduating math majors that are NOT going on to graduate school already have jobs lined up for them. </p>

<p>As for long term work in BioStats - you can no doubt get in SOMEWHERE with a masters, but you’ll be income limited. 70K sounds great now, but that’ll be if you can get a job and get experience under your belt to make up for not having a PhD. Also note you will be the low rung on the totem pole pretty much where ever you go.</p>