I turned down Yale, Columbia, and JHU, and chose...

Date：2022-05-16   Author：admin

This year, Wang, who achieved a grand slam in the application for a master's degree in biostatistics in the United States, faced a difficult question when he had eight offers in hand: Which school should he go to?

Review links of Wang's application experience: Yale, Columbia, JHU, UW... She has won 8 offers from prestigious universities. Let's see how she achieves a grand slam!

How to choose a master's program in biostatistics in the United States? Today, Senior Xiao E will take everyone to learn about it together.

What is biostatistics?


Biostatistics is an applied branch of statistics in the field of life sciences. It is a science that uses the principles and methods of statistics to study and analyze objective phenomena and problems in biology, obtain scientific and reliable conclusions, and further conduct biological experimental research.

The content of biostatistics includes experimental design and statistical analysis:

Experimental design refers to the application of the principles and methods of mathematical statistics to formulate experimental plans, experimental materials, rationally group them, and reduce experimental errors, enabling us to obtain rich and reliable data with less human, material and time resources.

Statistical analysis refers to the application of the principles and methods of mathematical statistics to analyze and infer data, understand the essence and regularity of objective things, and enable us to draw reasonable conclusions about the studied data.

Since all things are interrelated, statistics cannot study various phenomena in isolation. Instead, it must, through a certain number of observations, study the interrelationships among things from these observation results and reveal the regularity of the objective existence of things.

Statistical analysis and experimental design are two inseparable parts. Experimental design must be based on the principles and methods of statistical analysis, and a correctly designed experiment provides rich and reliable information for statistical analysis. The two are closely combined to infer reasonable conclusions and continuously promote the development of applied biological science and medical research.

Master of Biostatistics from the United States


Biostatistics is an interdisciplinary major that involves professional knowledge such as mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics, and computer science. It is usually offered under the School of Public Health, but can also be offered under the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Statistics, or the School of Medicine.

01. Degree

The master's degrees awarded in this major are roughly as follows:

MPH

MPH (Master of Public Health) is a master's degree in public health. It is a professional degree oriented towards employment and thus leans more towards application. The application difficulty is slightly lower than that of the MS/MSPH program.

MS or MSPH

Both MS (Masterof Science) and MSPH (Masterof Science in Public Health) are Masterof Science programs. They have higher requirements for the mathematical background of applicants than MPH and are more theoretical. It is suitable for students with a solid foundation in mathematics, who enjoy theoretical research or plan to pursue a doctoral degree in the future.

Some MS programs are further divided into MS Thesis and MS Capstone. The former requires a graduation thesis and the project cycle is usually 24 to 36 months, while the project cycle of MS Capstone is shorter, typically 18 to 24 months.

02. Research Direction

The main research directions of the biostatistics major in the United States are as follows

Clinical Trials and Design: A prospective trial protocol designed by researchers to understand the clinical effects of a certain clinical operation method, drug or instrument in some patients within a certain period of time is called a clinical trial. High-quality clinical trials can only be obtained through rigorous design.

Statistical Genetics: Utilizing statistical methods to process genetic data for relevant inferences.

Survival Analysis: Based on the data obtained from experiments or surveys, the survival time of organisms or humans is analyzed and inferred, and the relationship and extent between survival time and outcomes and numerous influencing factors are studied.

Longitudinal Data Analysis: Mainly processes the data obtained from repeated observations of the same individual in clinical trials.

What are the application requirements for a master's degree in biostatistics in the United States?


01. Hard background

Professional background and prerequisite course requirements

As an interdisciplinary major, the Master of Biostatistics does not have specific requirements for the applicant's undergraduate major background. Applicants with backgrounds in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or other science and engineering fields are all eligible to apply. Of course, if the applicant has a background related to biology, it will be a plus.

What the school values most is the applicant's mathematical background, especially Quantitative Skills. Biostatistics is based on probability theory and the principles of mathematical statistics. Most of the content of this discipline involves these mathematical and physical knowledge. Applicants must have a solid mathematical foundation and statistical thinking during the undergraduate stage.

Besides, it's best to have a certain foundation in programming. Although the programming ability requirements for the biostatistics major are not as high as those for the CS or DS majors, statistical software such as R and SAS are frequently used in biostatistics. Therefore, if an applicant already has a certain programming ability during the undergraduate stage, it will be a plus for the application.

The usual prerequisite course requirements are: Calculus, Linear Algebra/Matrix Algebra, and Statistics.

Bonus points: More mathematics courses (such as multivariable calculus, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, discrete mathematics, probability theory, etc.) and mastery of programming languages (such as Python, R, Java, C++, SAS, Stata, etc.) can enhance the applicant's competitiveness.

If the credits for undergraduate mathematics courses are insufficient, they can be made up through some online course platforms.

Standardized test score requirements

A GPA of at least 3.0, a GRE score of 320 or above, and a TOEFL score of 100 or above for international students. Such standardized test scores are quite competitive in applications.

02. Soft background

Relevant internships. Internship or research experience related to biostatistics, such as internships in pharmaceutical factories or pharmaceutical companies. If such internships cannot be found, internships related to data analysis or mathematics and science competitions (which can demonstrate one's mathematical and programming abilities) are also acceptable.

Related scientific research. If there is no internship, one can enhance their soft background and increase their competitiveness through relevant research.

Which schools in the United States offer graduate programs in biostatistics?

Among the top 50 comprehensive universities ranked by US NEWS in the United States, 27 offer graduate programs in biostatistics.

A small number of schools, although their overall rankings are outside the top 50, have very high professional rankings. For instance, the University of Washington (Seattle) ranks 3rd in its major, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities ranks 9th.

Student Wang applied for the Master's program in biostatistics


Based on Wang's personal circumstances, after joint discussion and agreement with Wang, our consultant teacher has determined 8 schools for Wang to apply to, which are:

The top-ranked universities in their respective fields: Johns Hopkins University (ranked 1st in their field), the University of Washington (ranked 3rd in their field), the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (ranked 4th in their field), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (ranked 5th in their field), and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (ranked 9th in their field).

The universities with relatively high overall rankings: Columbia University (ranked 2nd overall), Yale University (ranked 5th overall).

Finally, I also chose a school recommended by a professor: the University of Iowa (ranked 20th).

After receiving all the admission offers, Wang considered the final admission institutions among JHU, Washington University, Columbia University and Yale.

01. Columbia University

Ranked No.2 in the US NEWS 2022

The Department of Biostatistics under the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University offers Master of Public Health, Master of Science, and Master of Health Graduate degrees such as Administration.

The Master of Science degree applied for by student Wang.

The biostatistics program at Columbia University offers six sub-programs:

Clinical Research Methods

Pharmaceutical Statistics

Statistical Genetics

Theory and Methods

Patient Oriented Research

Public Health Data Science

Application requirements

The applicant has a certain background in mathematics during the undergraduate stage, including at least one year of calculus and one semester of linear/matrix algebra.

Language proficiency requirements: TOEFL minimum 100, IELTS minimum 7.5.

GRE scores are required. Applicants who perform exceptionally well in the quantitative section of the GRE test will be given priority.

Key points:

Columbia University is a school with particularly flexible course selection. This program is offered under the Melman School of Public Health and has a wealth of various research resources. The mentors of the biostatistics program come from authorities in various fields, including climate and health, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, healthy aging, infectious diseases, the history and ethics of public health, and strategies for strengthening healthcare systems.

Columbia University's biostatistics program ranks seventh. The university is located in New York and offers numerous job opportunities. Graduates of Columbia University's biostatistics program have a significant advantage whether they stay in New York, go to other parts of the United States, or return to China, and they are highly recognized.

02. Yale University

Ranked No.5 in the US NEWS 2022

The master's programs offering MPH and MS degrees under the Yale School of Public Health.

Student Wang applied for the master's program of MS degree: MS-BioStatistics Concentration, with a program duration of 2 years. This project offers training in clinical trials, epidemiological methods, implementation science, statistical genetics and mathematical models of infectious diseases.

New students can choose from three different pathways offered by the school before the spring semester of their first year

Biostatistics Standard Pathway

Biostatistics Implementation and Prevention Science Methods Pathway

Data Science Pathway

Application requirements

The applicant should have strong quantitative skills during the undergraduate stage, certain courses in multivariable calculus and linear algebra, and preferably have experience in introductory statistics and statistical programming languages (such as R, SAS, Python).

GRE scores are required.

Key points:

Yale University is world-class in terms of faculty, courses and teaching facilities. The Biostatistics program is closely integrated with the Yale School of Public Health and the Yale Center for the Methodology of Executive Science and Preventive Science. It focuses on cultivating students' ability to apply and expand advanced biostatistics methods, helping them master the latest concepts and methods of biostatistics to promote the development of the medical and health fields.

The school has a high overall ranking and enjoys a high reputation and recognition in China, which offers certain advantages for future employment upon returning to China.

03. Johns Hopkins University

Ranked 9th in the US NEWS 2022

Johns Hopkins University, abbreviated as JHU, was founded in 1876. It is a medium-sized private research university with its main campus located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Johns Hopkins University was the first modern research university in the United States. Its success triggered a trend of transformation among American universities into research universities, and a number of new research universities were established one after another. JHU is renowned worldwide for its disciplines such as medicine, public health, and space science.

The biostatistics program at JHU is located under the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The college was established in 1916 with funds from the Rockefeller Foundation. It is the largest and oldest institution of higher learning in the world in the fields of public health and health sciences, policy and management, and has significant influence in the US government and the World Health Organization.

The Department of Biostatistics at JHU was established in 1918 and is the oldest department of biostatistics in the world. The following degrees are offered at the master's level:

Master of Bioethics (MBE)

Master of Arts in Public Health Biology (MAPHB)

Master of Applied Science (MAS)

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Master of Health Science (MHS)

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Master of Science (ScM)

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

Master of Science in Toxicology for Human Risk Assessment (MS)

Student Wang is applying for the Master of Science (ScM) degree, with a program duration of two years.

Application requirements

Prerequisite course requirements: Calculus and Linear Algebra.

Language proficiency requirements: TOEFL 100 / IELTS 7.0.

GRE scores are required.

The research directions of this project are:

Bayesian Learning & Spatio-temporal modeling (BLAST) Bayesian learning and spatio-temporal modeling

Causal Inference

Genomics Genomics

Environmental Epidemiology & Biostatistics

Epidemiology & Biostatistics of Aging

Survival, Longitudinal & Multivariate Data (SLAM) : Survival, longitudinal and multivariate data

Statistical Methods & Applications for Research in Technology (SMART) - Statistical methods and applications in technology research

Key points:

Johns Hopkins University ranks ninth in the United States in terms of overall ranking, and its biostatistics program ranks first in the country. This program is a strength of the School of Public Health at JHU, and it has developed and applied quantitative research methods in the field of health sciences.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Biostatistics (JHBC) has an excellent track record and is highly regarded in a wide range of social fields, providing comprehensive and cost-effective expertise and best practices in biostatistics and data management.

The school boasts abundant research resources and outstanding mentor resources, supporting all stages of research: research design, data collection/management, analysis, and scientific demonstration.

04. University of Washington

Ranked 59th in the US NEWS 2022

The University of Washington (UW), whose main campus is located in Seattle, the capital of Washington State in the western United States, was founded in 1861. It is one of the oldest universities on the west coast of the United States and also one of the earliest schools in the world to establish a medical school.

The biostatistics program at UW is located under the School of Public Health and offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Among them, under MS, two course modes can be selected: MS capstone (lasting 18 months) and MS thesis (lasting 24 months).

Student Wang applied for the MS theis program.

Application requirements

1. Prerequisite courses requiring over 30 credits in mathematics and statistics:

A course in linear algebra

A course in probability theory (based on calculus)

2. Language proficiency requirements: There is no minimum language proficiency requirement, but it is recommended that applicants have a TOEFL score of over 100 and a speaking score of over 23.

3. A GPA of 3.5 or above is preferred.

4. GRE Recommendations

Quantitative score in the 90th percentile

Analytic score above the 50th percentile

Verbal score above the 70th percentile

Key points:

The biostatistics program at the University of Washington (Seattle Campus) has a high ranking and is ranked third in the US NEWS Biostatistics program. Undergraduate students can directly apply for master's or doctoral degrees, or they can apply for a doctoral degree after enrolling in the MS thesis program.

For students of the MS thesis program who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, at the end of the first year of the master's program, there is an opportunity to apply for the doctoral program through internal nomination. Once admitted, the master's student will transfer to the doctoral track in the second academic year and enter the study of the doctoral course.

On average, one student at UW enters the doctoral program through the internal admission channel each year. Those who cannot apply through the internal nomination channel can normally go through the external doctoral application channel.

I chose the University of Washington!


Ultimately, Wang chose the University of Washington (Seattle), whose overall ranking was not particularly high.

The reason why student Wang chose the University of Washington is mainly that the biostatistics major of the University of Washington has a high ranking, and the research-oriented MS thesis program is in line with Student Wang's future academic plan. In addition, the rich academic atmosphere and beautiful campus environment of the University of Washington deeply attracted Wang.

Studying abroad is a mutual choice. Schools are seeking the most suitable students for themselves, and students are also looking for the most suitable schools for themselves. All choices are a combination of multiple factors. There is no absolute good or absolute bad; there is only suitability or insuitability.

I hope every prospective international student can go to the school that suits them best.

Congratulations again to the outstanding student Wang on receiving an Offer from his dream school. His future is promising!

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