My bachelor of science is in mathematics. When I first graduated, I was not certain that I would pursue graduate school, but after getting some work experience, I realized that graduate school was going to be necessary. Once I discovered the need for a graduate degree, the next decision was to decide on a program of study. From both my work experience and from my experience looking for work, I realized that it was a good idea to have a degree in a field which can be applied in a wide set of areas and work settings. A degree like that is likely to be able to grow with you by providing the flexibility necessary to change fields without needing a new degree. Another reason to have a degree that can be applied in many areas is that it is easier to get a job after graduation. With my math background a degree in statistics seemed like a good choice for me, but I still looked carefully into my career options before enrolling into the program. What I found out is that a degree in statistics is very highly valued in today’s information/data driven economy. It was hard for me to find a business or government agency that did not employ statisticians or at least use statistical methods. Another thing I was looking for in a graduate degree was the chance to join academia by becoming a college or university professor. I always wanted to teach mathematics at the college level, so when I found out that teaching statistics was in high demand (and even paid better than teaching mathematics) I made my choice.

Shortly after enrolling in FIU’s department of statistics, I realized that I made an excellent choice. The classes were interesting, challenging, and were taught by talented professors. I did not have even one bad experience in the classroom. I was able to study under almost every professor in the department, so I feel my experience was pretty representative. In the program, I was exposed to three major statistical software packages (SPSS, S-Plus, and SAS), and in nearly every class, I had a project which allowed me to learn from experience what it was like to analyze data and to draw conclusions. Finally, on a practical note, FIU’s statistics department does a great job of ensuring there are enough classes available for students to finish on time. For example, over the course of two fall, two spring, and one summer semester, I was able to complete 13 graduate courses in statistics while working full-time during the day. Overall, the whole experience was excellent.