University of Minnesota
Statistics
info@stat.umn.edu
612-625-8046


School of Statistics' home page.

Home > Graduate Program > Applying : Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Whom can I ask questions about my application to the School of Statistics?

    A: Direct inquiries to apply@stat.umn.edu

  2. Whom can I ask questions about my application to the Graduate School?

    A: Graduate Student Admissions
            phone: (612) 625-3014
            email: gsquest@umn.edu .
            website: http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/

  3. I'm a graduate student at Minnesota and I have some paperwork that needs to be signed by the DGS. Could I set up an appointment?

    A: If all you require is a signature please leave the paperwork with the staff in 313 Ford Hall. If everything is in order, then the DGS will sign it and make copies for our files if necessary. The forms can either be returned to you or sent somewhere else such as the Graduate School if that is what you prefer. However, appointments are acceptable and please do ask if you think one is required.

  4. Here is some information about myself. What are my chances of being accepted?

    A: We do not make these judgments without seeing the entire application and comparing it to other applications. We encourage you to apply, but the decision about whether to do so is yours.

  5. Please send me some information about your program.

    A: The most current information about our program can be found at http://www.stat.umn.edu/ under "Degree Programs", "Graduate Admissions" and "Info for Graduate Students".

  6. How many graduate students will the School of Statistics accept this year?

    A: This varies each year but we typically accept about 5-10 PhD students each year and the same number of MS students.

  7. How many international students will the School of Statistics accept this year?

    A: We do not have a quota for the number of international students.

  8. If admitted, how likely is it that I am offered financial aid? What type of financial aid will be offered?

    A: The most common form of financial aid is a Teaching Assistantship. These are available for every PhD student. MS students are not guaranteed finanicial support. However, often we can offer at least partial support on a semester by semester basis for MS students.

  9. What GPA, GRE and TOEFL scores are required for admission?

    A: There are no required minimum scores for GPA and the GRE. However, the successful applicant typically has a very strong GPA (usually 3.7-4) in mathematics and statistics courses and a score of at least 750 on the GREQ and a score of at least 500 on the GREV. These are only rough guidelines as we do sometimes admit students if there are other aspects of the application which are strong enough to compensate for low GRE scores or GPA.

    We do not require the GRE mathematics subject test.

    We require a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL.

  10. What is the most important part of the application?

    A: Our admission decisions are based on the entire application. In particular, there is no level for GPA, GRE, and TOEFL which guarantees admission. The 'statement of purpose', letters of recommendation, prior research experience, depth and breadth of undergraduate coursework (especially in math and stats) and so on all play as large of a role as GPA, GRE, and TOEFL in our evaluation.

  11. How many applications did you receive last year and how many students did you admit?

    A: You can find this information as well as many other characteristics of our program at http://www.grad.umn.edu/data/stats/1090000.html

  12. I've applied, and been informed that I'm on the waiting list. Could you please let me know my rank on that list, or my chances of acceptance?

    A: We don't attempt to rank our waiting list, since there are many factors that go into deciding to whom to make additional offers. It is therefore difficult to know what your chances will be until we're at the point of making a decision.

  13. What should I write about in my personal statement? How long should it be?

    A: There is no simple answer to the first question. The idea is that the personal statement gives you an opportunity to address any issue that may be relevant but is not covered in other parts of the application. For example, this is a good place to describe any research or 'real-world' experiences you might have had.

    There is no required length but, due to the volume of applications we encounter, it is best to be concise.

  14. When will I be informed about a decision on my application?

    A: First, if you haven't already been notified, you should check to make sure that your application is complete by writing to gsquest@umn.edu

    We typically make a round of offers by February 15 and notify those who are on the waiting list at that time. If necessary we will make a second round of offers by April 15.

  15. What percentage of graduate students typically finish your program?

    A: You can find this information as well as many other charactersitics of our program at http://www.grad.umn.edu/data/stats/1090000.html

  16. I've been living in an English-speaking country. Do I need to submit a TOEFL score?

    A: Yes. If English is not your native language, then we require a TOEFL score. The one exception is if you have completed 16 semester credits (within the past 24 months) in an academic program in a recognized institution of higher learning in the U.S., you do not need to submit the TOEFL as part of the application.

  17. What is the ranking of the School of Statistics?

    A: The most recent, but out of date even so, NRC STAT/Biostat rankings can be found here. A partial list is given below.
            Statistics/Biostatistics
                    1 Stanford................................4.76
                    2 Cal Berkeley...........................4.76
                    3 Cornell..................................4.37
                    4 Chicago.................................4.34
                    5 Washington............................4.21
                    6 Harvard.................................4.17
                    7 Wisconsin...............................4.06
                    8 Purdue...................................4.00
                    9 North Carolina.........................3.98
                    10 UCLA...................................3.93
                    11 Minnesota...........................3.91
                    12 Iowa State............................3.89
                    13 Texas AM..............................3.78
                    14 Carnegie Mellon......................3.77
                    15 Rutgers.................................3.76
                    16 Penn State.............................3.76
                    17 Yale......................................3.62
                    18 Johns Hopkins.........................3.55
                    19 North Carolina State.................3.54
                    20 Florida State...........................3.31
                    21 Michigan................................3.44
                    22 Columbia...............................3.44
                    23 Illinois...................................3.35
                    24 Florida...................................3.31
                    25 Penn.....................................3.22

  18. May I send in letters of recommendation along with the rest of my application materials?

    A: No. The letters should be submitted electronically as part of the Graduate School's application.

  19. I took the GRE recently and the results may not reach you before the deadline. What should I do?

    A: You can either FAX (612-624-8868) your score report or contact apply@stat.umn.edu

  20. I have already submitted my application materials, but have some new information that I would like included in the file. What should I do?

    A: Direct your inquiry to apply@stat.umn.edu

  21. May I take courses without having been admitted to the Statistics program?

    A: Yes. For information about this look here.

    If you seek graduate credit as a non-degree student go here and fill out the REGISTRATION REQUEST FOR GRADUATE STUDENT (FOR NON-DEGREE STUDENTS)

  22. What kinds of jobs do your graduates get?

    A: It runs the gamut. We have recent graduates working in tenure-track academic positions, postdoctoral postions, for government agencies, as well as in the pharmaceutical, financial and airline industries and many others.

  23. I'm a graduate student at the University of Minnesota and I'm considering a Statistics minor. What are the requirements?

    A: You can find the requirements at here. It is important to note that if you are a PhD student then you must do the PhD minor.

  24. Can I use an old TOEFL or GRE score in my application?

    A: We prefer (but don't strictly require) you take these tests in the academic year preceding the year you hope to start graduate school.

  25. It is earlier than April 15 and I need to make a decision about an offer from another graduate school. Could you please let me know whether I'm accepted at Minnesota?

    A: For all major doctoral-granting American institutions, there is no need to make a decision until 15 April, see the "April 15" resolution at: here.

    If a signer to that resolution is asking for an early decision (before 15 April), then please let us know, by writing to apply@stat.umn.edu. We will contact the relevant person, and your identity will be kept confidential.

  26. How will I be notified of the decision about my application?

    A: If we make you an offer, then the department notification is by email followed up by a hardcopy of the offer letter

  27. I'm interested in knowing about housing availability near campus.

    A: Your main source of information on this is http://www.housing.umn.edu/ and you can also write to housing@umn.edu if you have questions.

    FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: We also have in "International Reception Center", where incoming international students can stay for a few days on arrival. For information about that, please point to http://www.isss.umn.edu/new/temphousing.html.

  28. I'm an incoming international student. What things do I need to do on arrival?

    A: Please point to http://www.isss.umn.edu/new/default.html and for questions, contact
            International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
            isss@tc.umn.edu
            http://www.isss.umn.edu/
            (612) 626-7100

  29. I'm an international student who has accepted your offer of an assistantship. How do I get an I-20? How fast will it come, once I've filled out the financial certification form?

    A: The I-20 is issued by the Graduate School. When you receive their admission message, you'll be given information about how to fill out the financial certification form. Once that's done a process begins involving the Graduate School and International Student and Scholar Services. Processing can take several weeks, and typically ends with the I-20 being issued. The School of Statistics picks up the I-20, and sends it out by express mail on the same day as it is issued. Except for the last step, this process is handled entirely outside of the School of Statistics, and so questions about this should really go to the Graduate School. In particular, we have no ability to expedite your I-20 and we cannot give a timeline for when your I-20 will be ready.

  30. I'm an international student working on my financial certification. Will my TA salary be sufficient to cover the I-20 minimum?

    A: Yes. Look here for more information on the international graduate student funding minimums.

  31. How much is tuition?

    A: Information about tuition can be found here and here.

  32. Whom can I ask questions about health and dental insurance for graduate students?

    A: First, look here. If you have questions, you can write to
            questions@bhs.umn.edu
    or to
            studins@bhs.umn.edu.

    The Graduate Assistant Office can often help with questions about benefits.

  33. When will I receive my internet ("x500") id?

    A: If you've accepted an offer to our graduate program, try to access the initialization page http://www.umn.edu/initiate to find out your x500 id. If this doesn't work, you should write to accounts@umn.edu (or call 612-626-8366) for advice.

  34. I'm an international applicant who has accepted your offer. When should I plan to arrive?

    A: Do not make travel plans until you receive your I-20 as it will specify the earliest possible arrival date.

    If English is not your native language, then you're required to take IT Talk, the international student orientation. So you'll need to arrive before the first date of IT Talk.

  35. I've sent official transcripts to the Graduate School, do I need to send them to the School of Statistics also?

    No, your transcripts should be submitted electronically as part of your Graduate School application.