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nasshi · 11-27-2006, 02:16 AM

So I need to pick between some math and economics classes next semester, since I can't take everything I want. I'd like to pick 2 courses. Please rank what would be most useful out of: Real Analysis II, Intro Topology, Linear Algebra II, Stochastic Differential Equations, and special topics in game theory.

By useful, I think I mean "what will help me succeed and pass qualifying exams in a top 10 program".

Based on my background (see below) I bet the ranks will be:
1. RA II
2. LA II
3. Topology
4. SDEs
5. Special topics in game theory

Some background:
I took Real Analysis I as an honors course. As a requirement for the honors portion, we had to do 10 problems from each chapter of Schaum's Outline of General Topology.
I took Linear Algebra I as an honors course, and the syllabus seems to overlap about the first half of Linear Algebra II.
I took a Stochastic Processes directed studies course this fall semester, and have a relatively firm understanding of probability spaces. The SDE course will be a directed studies course too.
I took a directed studies Game Theory course this semester, and covered a slew of chapters from Osborne's Intro GT book, and Chapters 1, 3, 5, and 8 from Fudenberg and Tirole. The special topics in Game Theory course will likely be a survey of important papers and some additional chapters from F&T.

Course descriptions are below.

RA II
Riemann-Stieltjes integration; sequences and series of functions; the Stone-Weierstrass and Arzela-Ascoli Theorems; introduction to Lebesgue measure theory and integration.

LA II
Eigenvalues, similarity and canonical forms, applications to differential equations and quadratic forms.

Topology
Metric spaces; continuity of metric spaces; topological spaces; basic notions; separation axioms; compactness; local compactness; connectedness; basic notions in homotopy theory; quotient spaces, paracompactness and topological manifolds.

Thanks!

11-27-2006, 02:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
nasshi Eager! Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 81	Help with classes next semester. So I need to pick between some math and economics classes next semester, since I can't take everything I want. I'd like to pick 2 courses. Please rank what would be most useful out of: Real Analysis II, Intro Topology, Linear Algebra II, Stochastic Differential Equations, and special topics in game theory. By useful, I think I mean "what will help me succeed and pass qualifying exams in a top 10 program". Based on my background (see below) I bet the ranks will be: 1. RA II 2. LA II 3. Topology 4. SDEs 5. Special topics in game theory Some background: I took Real Analysis I as an honors course. As a requirement for the honors portion, we had to do 10 problems from each chapter of Schaum's Outline of General Topology. I took Linear Algebra I as an honors course, and the syllabus seems to overlap about the first half of Linear Algebra II. I took a Stochastic Processes directed studies course this fall semester, and have a relatively firm understanding of probability spaces. The SDE course will be a directed studies course too. I took a directed studies Game Theory course this semester, and covered a slew of chapters from Osborne's Intro GT book, and Chapters 1, 3, 5, and 8 from Fudenberg and Tirole. The special topics in Game Theory course will likely be a survey of important papers and some additional chapters from F&T. Course descriptions are below. RA II Riemann-Stieltjes integration; sequences and series of functions; the Stone-Weierstrass and Arzela-Ascoli Theorems; introduction to Lebesgue measure theory and integration. LA II Eigenvalues, similarity and canonical forms, applications to differential equations and quadratic forms. Topology Metric spaces; continuity of metric spaces; topological spaces; basic notions; separation axioms; compactness; local compactness; connectedness; basic notions in homotopy theory; quotient spaces, paracompactness and topological manifolds. Thanks!