Grad School Update

I'm applying to six schools: Berkeley, MIT, Purdue, Chicago, Penn State, and Oregon State.

Berkeley's one of the top two stats programs in the country. MIT is one of the top O.R. programs in the country. Then Chicago and Purdue are also top-10 type stat/probability schools. Penn State is solid in stats as well (one ranking I saw had them 16th in the world), and has a dual Master's degree program in Stat and O.R. By applying to OSU I have a school I'm comfortable with and know, even though it doesn't sport the quality the other programs do.

It's interesting because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if all of them will accept me or just a few. And I don't know which I'd choose if all accepted and gave equal money.

I know that I can't be better equipped as a statistician anywhere than at Berkeley. I know MIT would offer an unbelievable place to live and incredible opportunities to interact with other disciplines. Chicago is purportedly located in a bad part of town, but it has a nice, small department and would also would give me a top-notch stats education. Purdue is really good, though larger, and it's relatively close to an area where I know some people--Goshen. Penn State offers that really attractive dual degree, and it has Mennonites in its vicinity as well. OSU is close to home.

All have advantages and disadvantages. It'll be interesting to see where I end up.