Pursuing a PhD on major of mathematical biology with an irrelevant bachelors degree

Question

I am 29 years old and have majored in political science and obtained a B.A. degree with it.

I'm asking this question since I want to ask for some advice about in what case would there be any possibility for me of getting into a graduate school that majors in mathematical biology.

The reasons why I am hoping to pursue a PhD in a topic unrelated to my BA degree are the following:

1. I am a great fan of mathematics, especially discrete mathematics.
2. Working in a field related to biology seems to me a promising career since knowledge related to biology should be needed more and more to our humankind.
3. I want to be a great farmer someday. Also, if I can be a biology researcher in addition to a farmer, I want to make some food that grows well so that could may assist to reduce some poverty issue throughout our world. (In my opinion, the issue of poverty to our humankind would be getting worse and worse over next 30 years. Maybe much closer than 30 years.)

Everyone can have a dream, so I've just listed inspirations that lead to my dream. However, we all know that what matters are the realistic issue, such as, why would a college and a professor related to Mathematical Biology would choose me as their student?

So I would like to list some of my weakness and strength to explain my situation.

1. I am not from the top school in my country. However I've graduated with some university that is for some top 2% student in my country. My university is ranked within world top 100 or at least top 200 from any of the magazines which deal with the world university ranking.

2. I can speak two more languages other than English. Those two languages are from highly industrialized medium-big size countries which can be assumed as economic powers. I can prove that I'm good at those three languages with some certified test scores, and have no problem with reading and writing English.

3. My GPA is 92.5/100 (I assume it is translated to 3.25/4.00 in my country but I am not sure). It is not high, however I've got demonstrating scores on language classes (the languages which I've mentioned above) and political science classes. I can prove that I am good at studying languages and political science with some certified test scores (which is national authorized). Also I can prove that I am good at dealing with the study of history.

4. (Edited to be erased)

5. (Edit after the comments) I've studied microeconomics and macroeconomics. So I can say I know basic calculus and linear algebra. Also I have some scores related to economics which can be assumed as national authorized. I really don't want to go back to my university, since I don't want to let my community in university to know that I'm pursuing some unrealistic dream for most of people. However I may try to get some recommendations from professors on economics.

I am sure that the list I've enumerated above are not enough to appeal to my possible advisors. So I'm thinking of the following. I want ask for your advice, that, would any of the following wish lists would be helpful, or hopefully, being crucial to increase of my chances for getting into the college.

1. No matter in what country (among English speaking countries) I would be studying, I'm thinking of taking GRE from the United States, including GRE subject test in mathematics to prove that I have basic knowledge to mathematics.
2. While studying discrete mathematics(especially some topics with combinatorics and related algebraic structure to those combinatorial topics), I've noted myself with some ideas that I've keeping them myself for a possible future publication. Actually I have more than twenty of separate ideas that deals with some different topics to each other. I'm hoping to publish at least 1~2 of those ideas to some low-hurdle journals in mathematics.

It would be grateful if someone could give me some honest advice on my situation.

Answer 1

I am sorry to say but I do not think you have a realistic chance to get admitted to a competitive PhD program in mathematical biology without any previous record of knowledge in biology and mathematics.

I think you have a few misunderstandings:

• You say you know basic calculus and linear algebra, since you have studied microeconomics and macroeconomics. So have I during my Bachelor studies. And working as a biostatistican today, I can tell you that the amount of mathematical details that is covered in the standard introductory lectures in microeconomics and macroeconomics is extremely little compared to what e.g. a student of mathematics studies in the first weeks of an introduction to calculus I. If I was in the PhD committee, I would infer from this that you underestimate the complexity of math required for the program.
• Wanting to become a "great farmer" is a rather unusual motivation to study such a theoretical branch of biological sciences.
• Language skills (except for intermediate skills of English) are usually irrelevant.
• The academic background of your professors is most likely irrelevant. (and analytic philosophy is rather far from computational biology)

There is a shimmer of hope if you can turn your interest and knowledge in discrete mathematics in something more formal. If you would actually be able to publish a paper in a non-predatory mathematical journal, you would have definitely proven your mathematical ability. You asked for honest advice: most likely you will not be able to achieve this, because you lack the formal education. Conducting serious mathematical research is something that very few people can do without several years of formal training and professional supervision. If you are one of the few exceptions, though, I am optimistic, that many PhD programs will happily admit you.

The safer route would be to do a related Bachelor's or Master's program, that provides you with formal skills in mathematics and/or biology. For example, you might have good chances to get admitted to a Master's program in Applied Mathematics or Statistics, where you can further specialize in biological applications.

Answer 2

I too have a social science background and am now in a biological science field. Here is my advice:

1. Email the graduate coordinator or department head for graduate programs you are interested in, and ask them how best to prepare yourself to apply.
2. Consider doing a post-bacc degree or filling the gaps in your transcript (eg. statistics, CS, life science classes) with continuing education courses.
3. Get research experience, ideally in a biological science or CS lab at an academic institution.

Points 2 & 3 will give you letters of recommendation from people in the field and experience doing the work, making you a more competitive applicant. Some programs may allow you to make up the gaps in your transcript after being admitted, but if you do it on your own beforehand you will have more choice for programs, and a more concrete sense of what exactly you want to research in your graduate degree. These programs care less about what inspired your desire to follow this path and more about what experience you have and what, specifically, you want to research. Additionally, doing this work before applying will show that you are committed and that this isn't just a passing fancy, something anyone switching fields needs to demonstrate.

Answer 3

First of all, try to get admission in MS for biology. If you can do so then complete the MS. After this many thing will be clear to you.

Answer 4

Your motivation points seem to be a bit all over the place.

The crux of the issue will be funding. You are unlikely to be admitted into a decent PhD program over someone with a lot more fitting background; the situation in academia on the whole is not great already.

Instead, I would try to apply for an industry job. If you want to be a farmer, why not get some hands-on experience in that sector? You may find a startup with close ties to academia and weasel your way in or even end up deciding against it. But either way, you would already be learning new things and, with any luck, doing R&D not terribly different from what you would have in a PhD program and arguably more fitting your background and preferences.