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jasmine7 · 09-21-2006, 09:50 AM

Hello.
I have a plan to apply for phd in economics in this year.
I just wonder that what schools are suitable for me.
Since getting into a phd course is tough, I am worried no school give an admission to me. To relieve from that fear, I'm asking for you. Here's my stat.

1. Undergraduate GPA : 3.65 / 4.0 (overall)
3.85 / 40 (major), 3.8 /4.0(major+minor)

My major was economics and minor was mathematics.
more specifically, I got an A from micro,macro,econometrics,and game thoery.
However, my math grades are not excellent. While I got A in analysis,
topology, calculus, and math. stat., I got a B+ in linear algebra I &II.
Also, I did't take grad courses in economics.

2. Graduate GPA : 3.5 / 4.0 and I'll graduate in next Feb.
I'm majoring in mathematics at master course, I took real analysis, functional analysis, numerical analysis, PDE, stochastic calculus and financial math. In this semeter, I'm taking regression anlaysis. My master thesis deals with fixed point theorems. What I'm concerning is I got B+ from real analysis and functional analysis. I heard that B+ in real analysis is a bad signal to adcom. In my thinking my master degree will hurt my career as an economist since graudate GPA is so mediocre than other candidates. As you know, grad. GPA is highly inflated in most schools so that my GPA is likely to give a bad signal.

3. TOEFL : 253 CBT
As you can see my english competancy is not good. Of course 253 is not a low score. But I should not apply for U. Chicago and Yale since I got below 25 in oral comprehension. Those schools require above 25 in oral comprehension.

I will take GRE in coming October. Getting above 780 in quantative section is not hard for me, I guess. Since I'm an international, verbal section is difficult but I heard that adcom less concern about an applicant's verbal score if he/she is an international.

My interesting fields are game theory(especially behavioral economics) and economic growth. In behavioral economics, I wonder how economic agents behave with no neoclassical assumptions. Also, I have questions about how aging societies influence a contry's economic performance. since tech. advances increase the life-expectancy, it'll be interesting to study how long life-expectancy influence the growth of a country.. It's just my opinon

Then, what schools should I apply?
I will apply for 15-20 schools but I'm not certain whether I should apply for top schools such as Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Princeton, etc. I think that Columbia, NYU is my best schools but even getting in top 50 schools are tough. That's why I hesitate to make a decision.
Give your advices and it'll be very helpful for me. Thanks in advance.

09-21-2006, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
jasmine7 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1	What schools should I apply? Hello. I have a plan to apply for phd in economics in this year. I just wonder that what schools are suitable for me. Since getting into a phd course is tough, I am worried no school give an admission to me. To relieve from that fear, I'm asking for you. Here's my stat. 1. Undergraduate GPA : 3.65 / 4.0 (overall) 3.85 / 40 (major), 3.8 /4.0(major+minor) My major was economics and minor was mathematics. more specifically, I got an A from micro,macro,econometrics,and game thoery. However, my math grades are not excellent. While I got A in analysis, topology, calculus, and math. stat., I got a B+ in linear algebra I &II. Also, I did't take grad courses in economics. 2. Graduate GPA : 3.5 / 4.0 and I'll graduate in next Feb. I'm majoring in mathematics at master course, I took real analysis, functional analysis, numerical analysis, PDE, stochastic calculus and financial math. In this semeter, I'm taking regression anlaysis. My master thesis deals with fixed point theorems. What I'm concerning is I got B+ from real analysis and functional analysis. I heard that B+ in real analysis is a bad signal to adcom. In my thinking my master degree will hurt my career as an economist since graudate GPA is so mediocre than other candidates. As you know, grad. GPA is highly inflated in most schools so that my GPA is likely to give a bad signal. 3. TOEFL : 253 CBT As you can see my english competancy is not good. Of course 253 is not a low score. But I should not apply for U. Chicago and Yale since I got below 25 in oral comprehension. Those schools require above 25 in oral comprehension. I will take GRE in coming October. Getting above 780 in quantative section is not hard for me, I guess. Since I'm an international, verbal section is difficult but I heard that adcom less concern about an applicant's verbal score if he/she is an international. My interesting fields are game theory(especially behavioral economics) and economic growth. In behavioral economics, I wonder how economic agents behave with no neoclassical assumptions. Also, I have questions about how aging societies influence a contry's economic performance. since tech. advances increase the life-expectancy, it'll be interesting to study how long life-expectancy influence the growth of a country.. It's just my opinon Then, what schools should I apply? I will apply for 15-20 schools but I'm not certain whether I should apply for top schools such as Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Princeton, etc. I think that Columbia, NYU is my best schools but even getting in top 50 schools are tough. That's why I hesitate to make a decision. Give your advices and it'll be very helpful for me. Thanks in advance.