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Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:22 pm
by Zetetic
I'm a math major, and I did not do so well on the Math subject GRE. I'm applying to stats programs so it isn't a total wash, but it might be good to know, if anyone has some insight, which schools stand out as not emphasizing the GRE subject test and which do. I know that Stanford seems to (boasting an average 83%ile on the subject test), but are there other places I should avoid? Do most stats programs view the Math subject test as a nice bonus, but generally tangential to a solid application?

If it helps, my main interest is in nonparametric and semi-parametric Bayesian data analysis and statistical learning. I'm also interested in non-parametric modelling of point processes and applications of this to computational neuroscience.

Here is a list of schools I'm interested in for statistics:

Ohio State
CMU Statistics/machine learning (where I really want to go, but likely have no chance- will apply either way)
U Michigan Ann arbor
Cornell
UC Davis
UCLA
Texas A&M
Penn State
NC State

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:26 pm
by dasgut
Chicago, Columbia, and Harvard definitely like the subject exam and I think Yale cares about it too.

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:50 pm
by Zetetic
dasgut wrote:Chicago, Columbia, and Harvard definitely like the subject exam and I think Yale cares about it too.
Ok, good to know about Yale. I was on the fence about applying to them already, so since I have a lot of programs I think I'll avoid the cost of applying.

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:02 pm
by dasgut
Ha! Now I feel bad about decreasing the amount of competition, lol.

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:52 pm
by Zetetic
dasgut wrote:Ha! Now I feel bad about decreasing the amount of competition, lol.
Eh, I don't think we had a lot of overlap in programs anyway. :)

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:52 pm
by dasgut
We share Michigan tangentially! I'm applying to AIM there and I'll specialize in probability. If you don't go to CMU what's your next choice?

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:52 am
by fernstyle
On that note, how high should your math gre subject score be to justify sending it to schools that don't require it (but still have it recommended)?

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 12:03 pm
by dasgut
A friend of mine, who has the same score I do, asked Harvard if his score met their "extremely well" standard. They said it did. FWIW it's 840 (89%).

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:23 pm
by ANDS
Zetetic wrote:I'm a math major, and I did not do so well on the Math subject GRE. I'm applying to stats programs so it isn't a total wash, but it might be good to know, if anyone has some insight, which schools stand out as not emphasizing the GRE subject test and which do. I know that Stanford seems to (boasting an average 83%ile on the subject test), but are there other places I should avoid? Do most stats programs view the Math subject test as a nice bonus, but generally tangential to a solid application?

If it helps, my main interest is in nonparametric and semi-parametric Bayesian data analysis and statistical learning. I'm also interested in non-parametric modelling of point processes and applications of this to computational neuroscience.

Here is a list of schools I'm interested in for statistics:

Ohio State
CMU Statistics/machine learning (where I really want to go, but likely have no chance- will apply either way)
U Michigan Ann arbor
Cornell
UC Davis
UCLA
Texas A&M
Penn State
NC State
The MAJORITY of schools do not care about the Math GRE; the calculus is obviously crucial, but about the only non-calculus parts of the other half they'd be interested in are the analysis and prob. questions - which there aren't many of. So it's unsurprising that many schools don't particularly care that you know your Algebra or basic Topology. All the schools you listed do not have a requirement for the Subject GRE. I'd ask each of the Grad advisers what they would consider a score worth including.

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:36 pm
by Zetetic
ANDS wrote: The MAJORITY of schools do not care about the Math GRE; the calculus is obviously crucial, but about the only non-calculus parts of the other half they'd be interested in are the analysis and prob. questions - which there aren't many of. So it's unsurprising that many schools don't particularly care that you know your Algebra or basic Topology. All the schools you listed do not have a requirement for the Subject GRE. I'd ask each of the Grad advisers what they would consider a score worth including.
Thanks, that sounds like a solid approach.

Re: Statistics Dept. that care the least about Subject GRE?

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:37 pm
by Zetetic
dasgut wrote:We share Michigan tangentially! I'm applying to AIM there and I'll specialize in probability. If you don't go to CMU what's your next choice?
Michigan has a pretty great looking program, but I'm honestly not sure. I'm torn between a few places atm, assuming I get into one of them.