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ImProcrastinating · 06-14-2008, 08:19 PM

Hey all, I'm trying to make a decision and I'd appreciate any advice. I may have the chance to RA for (and get LORs from) two very well published IMF economists. The trouble is I would have to make a 2 year commitment which would push back my starting a PhD by at least 1 year, and I'm trying to decide if it's worth it. Here's my profile:

Type of Undergrad: Top 25 with a top 40ish econ program. BA in econ.

Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.74, Econ: 3.8ish, Math: bad.

Type of Grad: Not highly ranked, top 100ish. MS in applied math.

Grad GPA (so far): 3.9

GRE: 790Q / 740V / 5.0 AWA.

Math Courses:
Undergrad: Calc III (B+), ODE (C- (Ouch, I know)), Real Analysis (A-), Linear Algebra (A). The first two classes I took my very first year in college, so I'm hoping they'll be discounted.

Grad: Measure Theory (A-), Math Stats (A), ODE (A), Functional Analysis (A)

Econ Courses:

Undergrad: A bunch, the important ones are Intro. Micro (A), Intro. Macro (A), Mathematical Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (B+), Econ Stats (B+), Econometrics (A). The rest are As in field courses.

Grad: PhD Micro I (A-), PhD Micro II (A)

Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a Fed Economist, 1from my functional analysis prof, and 1 from the prof I RAed for. All will have nice things to say about me, but only the prof I RAed for is well known.

Research Experience: Two month stint at the IMF, summer at the Fed, senior thesis, 1 year + 1 summer as an RA for a professor.

Teaching Experience: None

Research Interests: International Finance, Time Series

Any thoughts?

06-14-2008, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
ImProcrastinating Eager! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 57	Profile and advice Hey all, I'm trying to make a decision and I'd appreciate any advice. I may have the chance to RA for (and get LORs from) two very well published IMF economists. The trouble is I would have to make a 2 year commitment which would push back my starting a PhD by at least 1 year, and I'm trying to decide if it's worth it. Here's my profile: Type of Undergrad: Top 25 with a top 40ish econ program. BA in econ. Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.74, Econ: 3.8ish, Math: bad. Type of Grad: Not highly ranked, top 100ish. MS in applied math. Grad GPA (so far): 3.9 GRE: 790Q / 740V / 5.0 AWA. Math Courses: Undergrad: Calc III (B+), ODE (C- (Ouch, I know)), Real Analysis (A-), Linear Algebra (A). The first two classes I took my very first year in college, so I'm hoping they'll be discounted. Grad: Measure Theory (A-), Math Stats (A), ODE (A), Functional Analysis (A) Econ Courses: Undergrad: A bunch, the important ones are Intro. Micro (A), Intro. Macro (A), Mathematical Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (B+), Econ Stats (B+), Econometrics (A). The rest are As in field courses. Grad: PhD Micro I (A-), PhD Micro II (A) Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a Fed Economist, 1from my functional analysis prof, and 1 from the prof I RAed for. All will have nice things to say about me, but only the prof I RAed for is well known. Research Experience: Two month stint at the IMF, summer at the Fed, senior thesis, 1 year + 1 summer as an RA for a professor. Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: International Finance, Time Series Any thoughts?