FAQ

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Who should apply to this track?
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Exceptionally talented, highly motivated bachelor’s degree holders who wish to move directly into the Biostatistics PhD program upon successful completion of a one-year accelerated master’s program.
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What is the difference between this track and the MS/Theory and Methods (TM)Track?
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The 2 programs differ in 3 significant ways: in level of competition at entry with it being much more difficult to get into the APT program as very few slots are available; in availability of fellowship support as TM candidates receive no fellowship support; and in career plans as APT is designed for those who wish to enter PhD studies immediately upon finishing the master's degree, while the TM can be viewed either as "PhD-preparatory" or as a terminal professional degree.
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What are prerequisites for this track?
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Applicants to the program must have demonstrated quantitative ability, as reflected in good scores on the quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Exam (at least 700 on the quantitative portion and 600 on the verbal). They must also have taken two years of college-level calculus, linear or matrix algebra, and a programming language (e.g., C, Fortran, APL). International students must submit TOEFL scores.
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How long will it take me to complete this track?
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The program consists of 30 academic credits. It requires two to three semesters of full-time study, and may be completed in 10-12 months (which may require that the candidate begins study during the summer semester of his/her first year).
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What distinguishes ours from other programs offered at different schools?
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Our APT program is unusual in emphasizing the following aspects:
- Accelerated pace; this program provides the fastest pathway to the PhD program at Columbia for applicants who have a bachelor’s degree but not a master’s degree.
- Availability of fellowship support, which may be continued uninterrupted to students in good standing who move directly from the MS/APT to the PhD program in one year.
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What will this prepare me for?
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Provides excellent preparation for entry into the PhD program in biostatistics.
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To which school do I submit my application?
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For the MS/APT or MS/TM, submit your online application to the Mailman School of Public Health For the PhD program (only if you ALREADY hold a master’s degree in biostatistics or statistics), submit your online application to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS).
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