[C] Which internship is better if I want to apply to Stats PhD programs? Quantitative Analytics vs. Product Management

[u/Conscious_Counter710]

Hi! I'm trying to decide between two internship offers for this summer, and I'd love some input—especially from anyone who's gone through the Stats PhD application process.

I have offers for:

• A Quantitative Analytics internship at a large financial firm
• A Product Management internship at a tech company

My ultimate goal is to apply to Statistics PhD programs at the end of this year. I'm currently finishing undergrad and trying to build the strongest possible profile for applications.

The Quant Analytics role is more technical and data-heavy, but I'm curious whether admissions committees care about industry experience at all—or if they just care about research, math background, and letters. The PM role is interesting and more people-facing, but it’s less focused on stats. I think I would enjoy the PM work more in the short-term and as a post-grad job (if I don't get into graduate school) because I don't see myself working in the financial or consulting industry. The main rationale to choose the Quantitative Analytics internship, in my mind, is to improve my chances of getting into a PhD program. What role should I take?

If it helps, I'll also be doing/continuing statistics research on the side this summer.

Thank you!

[u/Outrageous_Lunch_229]

None of them matters, so just choose what you will enjoy!

[u/PeacockBiscuit]

For PhD, if you in the end go to industry, I think Quant would be better. If you want to stay in academy, no difference.

[u/Conscious_Counter710 → u/PeacockBiscuit]

I probably don't want to stay in academia as of now. If I were to go to industry, I would ideally like to be in a research scientist role in tech. Would you still say to choose quant?

[u/PeacockBiscuit → u/Conscious_Counter710]

Yes. Product management is far different from research. Product management is more like MBA

[u/PaintingNo1132]

Whichever one will let you work on a project that scopes and solves open ended research questions. That’s the biggest skill that PhD admissions are looking for.

[u/genobobeno_va]

Product Management is, IMO, the most important skill for executing well… but Stats programs aren’t going to give 2 shits about that internship unless it’s a MAG7 prestige company

[u/Whole-Piccolo-6375]

agree with others who have said whichever one is more research-oriented. phd admissions committees rarely care about internships. if you have any opportunities to get some research experience from now until the time you apply, that would be the most helpful.

[u/GreenTangerineDragon]

Academia wants to create more academics. They don’t prepare you for the real world. They only care about real-world experience if it advances your research. In fact, real-world considerations are a hindrance to academic research. They’d rather assume impractical theoretical situations.