Preparing Your Application

Admissions Information

The Statistics Department at Columbia University offers a Master of Arts Degree in Statistics designed to prepare students for professional positions in Statistics.  It can also be a path to a doctoral program in statistics.

The M.A. in Statistics program may be taken either full-time or part-time.  The full-time course is designed to be completed in three semesters:  Fall/Spring—Year 1, Fall—Year 2. Students may also opt to take summer classes.  Part-time domestic students may complete the program within four years.

In addition to the regular program is the Hybrid Online/On-Campus program where courses are taken online for the first semester.  The requirements for both programs are the same as is the diploma received.  A prospective student must request to be considered for either the Hybrid or the regular On-Campus program, but can chose the other program as a second choice at the time of application.  Students accepted into the Hybrid Online/On-Campus Program cannot change to the On-Campus program.

A student already enrolled at Columbia University for an undergraduate degree may consider the BA/MA option.  Please read the section that follows for more information.

Click here for general Admissions Contacts

The BA/MA Option

A student who is interested in pursuing the BA/MA Option in the Statistics Department may set up an appointment with either Director of the Undergraduate Program, Professor Ronald Neath, or Professor Gabriel Young, before the end of the sophomore year. During this meeting, applicable courses for transfer into the MA Program will be discussed and an overall strategy/application time line will be reviewed.  The optimal time for an undergraduate student to apply is during the junior year.

Once accepted into the BA/MA program, a student will be provided with an MA Faculty Advisor to guide the process of transferring courses and finalizing the MA schedule.

Only upon enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) can a BA/MA student receive transfer credit for up to three courses (9-12 credits) and up to 0.50 RU for graduate courses (4000-level and above) taken in excess of the 124-credit requirement for the Columbia or Barnard bachelor’s degree (i.e., courses that did not count toward undergraduate major, concentration, or general education requirements).

The GRE is optional for the BA/MA.  Please read more about the BA/MA option on the GSAS Website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective students are advised to visit the M.A. Statistics page on the GSAS Website and to review all the Frequently Asked Questions.

  • Admissions FAQs – MA Statistics Website.
  • Hybrid FAQs – MA Statistics Website.
  • GSAS Admissions FAQs – GSAS Website.

Admissions Information for International Students

Prospective students are advised to visit the ISSO COVID-19 FAQs. 

Information for international students:

The MA Statistics Program offers Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for International MA in Statistics Students. 

  • General information on OPT is here.
    • Summer employment after the second semester.
    • Employment after graduation.
  • General information on CPT is here. 
              Statistical Fieldwork GR5399

  • Statistics is a STEM subject. Details on the OPT extension for students with STEM degrees is here.
  • MA Statistics students receive details on how to apply for OPT through the MA Statistics Program Weekly Newsletter.

Application Procedures

To make the best application to our MA Statistics Program, please review ALL of the following before reaching out with questions:

Application for admission to the program is through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS):   Applying to GSAS .  All admissions materials must be sent to GSAS, not to the Statistics Department.  If you have a question about the application process (timing of exams, how to deliver GRE scores, etc.), please email those questions directly to the GSAS Admissions help desk.

Applicants who submitted an early application, but who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, must upload an updated transcript or submit the Fall Term Grade Report, as soon as the Fall Term grades are available. The transcript is uploaded on the Application Status page, which is the main page upon logging in to SSOL.

Application status can be determined by logging online.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2020 Application Deadlines

  • Thursday, April 30, 2020 for the On-Campus Program
  • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 for the Hybrid (Online/On-Campus) Program.   

There are no spring admissions, only fall admissions.  

Admissions Contacts

If you have questions about:

Please visit:

Please email:

Any specific questions about:

  • your application materials
  • technical difficulties with application
  • adding items to application
  • the timing of exams
  • whether the application is complete or not
 GSAS Admissions

gsas-admissions@columbia.edu

Please include:

  • Your name
  • Date of birth
  • Application ID number
Application status Log into online application  
International applications and English Proficiency GSAS Website  
Tuition MA Website  
Funding GSAS Website  
Visas, I-20, OPT, STEM-OPT

ISSO,   ISSO COVID-19 FAQs. 

 isso@columbia.edu
Program Requirements, Immunization

MA Program Requirements,

Immunization Compliance

  
How to apply to multiple programs GSAS  
Exam scores, GPA, prerequisites, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose MA Statistics Checklist, FAQs  
To find out when you will receive an answer Admissions FAQs  

Funding Opportunities

Financial Aid

Sources of financial aid may be available through a variety of internal and external sources including loans and work study. For more information, please read more here. Questions regarding these funding opportunities should be directed to the GSAS Office of Financial Aid.

MA Merit Scholarship

Limited partial financial support is available for competitive applicants. Candidates that qualify will be contacted directly via the department at the time of acceptance.

Grader Position

Beginning in their second semester, academically strong MA Statistics students can apply to be a grader.  Graders support faculty and TA’s in specific courses.  This is a paid opportunity open to domestic and international students.  Information about applying will be communicated to MA Statistics students via email.  

Research Internships

There are paid research internship opportunities on campus.  Primarily self-initiated, it is recommended that students interested in research join the MA2PhD Club.    

Fellowship

Shardashish Interschool Fellowship

The Shardashish Interschool Fellowship program is offered at Columbia University in cooperation with the UNM Foundation in India. The fellowship aims at making the best quality of educational opportunities available for students who are financially restrained yet committed to developing the future of India.  Preference is given to candidates who have been admitted for a master’s program at Columbia University. The maximum amount a student can receive is $50,000 a year that could be used for both fees and tuition.