Student Spotlight: Maddie MacDonald, MA Statistics, Class of 2026
July 25, 2025 By: David Apilado, Jr.
Growing up in West Lafayette, Indiana, right next to Purdue University, Maddie MacDonald was surrounded by a close-knit community where she says everyone knows everyone. She has deep family ties to the area and even attended high school and undergrad at Purdue University, where she majored in Applied Statistics. However, when it came time for graduate school, she knew she needed to go beyond what was familiar.
That decision led her to UC Berkeley and the MA Statistics program. "I wanted to make sure I had the chance to reach my full potential," she shared. "To be challenged, to grow as a person as much as I can."
Maddie is already preparing with the kind of focus and drive that speaks volumes. A member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, she's spent the summer doing a complete academic reset: reviewing linear algebra and multivariable calculus courses through MIT, brushing up on time series and Python, building custom study spreadsheets, and revisiting old statistics coursework from her time at Purdue. She's doing all of this to ensure she's not just ready, but ahead of the game.
She's also found community early. After attending Berkeley's MA Statistics Visit Day, she connected with future classmates and has stayed in touch with them all summer. "That day really helped," she said. "Finding friends who have experience at Berkeley has made the transition less daunting."
Outside the classroom, Maddie is grounded by her love for the beach. One of her favorite spots? The crystal-clear blue waters of Saint Martin. So yes, she knows what a real beach looks like. And while the Bay Area's foggy coastline and slightly greenish water may not quite live up to Caribbean standards, she's still excited to throw on a sweatshirt and make the most of every chilly beach walk the Bay Area has to offer. She's passionate about psychology, environmental science, and political science, and is excited to explore the intersections of these fields with AI and technology. Long term, she's even considering a future in teaching and hopes to one day become a professor.
What stood out most is her work ethic. She's treating this opportunity with care and with purpose, and there's no doubt that it will take her far. As one of this year's Peer Ambassadors in the Outreach track, she's already stepping up to help future students find their own path to Berkeley. We're excited to see all that she brings to the MA Statistics community and look forward to watching her journey unfold this fall.