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confusion · 2009 July 28th, 10:45 PM

Hey guys,

I just recently graduated and have been toying with the idea of a PhD in Finance, or applying to Oxbridge Economics programs in UK. I want to make a solid effort at getting into the top programs (top 10 - 15) and would consider committing to graduate school only if I got into those. It would be great to hear some opinions on whether my profile is any good, and any suggestions on how to improve it.

School: Graduated in May from Wharton Undergrad at Penn

Degree: BSc. Economics with Finance and Statistics concentration

Econ Classes: Took Intermediate Micro and Macro. Additionally have a number of upper level finance classes in topics ranging from Derivatives, to Venture Capital, to a class on Structured Products

Math/Math Related Classes: Took a year of calculus. Have taken numerous Statistics classes however. Probability, Stochastic Processes, Time Series Econometrics, and Applied Probability Models for Marketing.

Research: Got into a Honors Program Senior year which involved writing a research paper. I would want to focus on a similar issue for my PhD.

Letters of Recommendation: A professor whom I took two classes with and got excellent grades. Professor who supervised my Research project. Professor who supervised my research program.

I will be giving my GRE's soon.

Additionally, one of my Professors suggested I work through some higher level books on Mathematical Economics, Micro Theory, Econometrics and Financial Economics, which I plan on doing and mentioning in my application.

Apologies for the long post, but I wanted to give you guys as good a picture as possible. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Best,

confusion · 2009 July 28th, 10:47 PM

Title should read: Profile Evaluation....

was in a hurry

Cheers

longshot · 2009 July 29th, 01:05 AM

You're set as far as econ and finance coursework is concerned, but you'll need some additional math to be competitive for top 15 programs. I'd suggest trying to take Linear Algebra, Cal III, and maybe Differential Equations. Granted your statistics background though, I'd suggest you take what's convenient in the fall and apply then. There's no reason you can't be matriculating this time next year.

That said, a top 15ish program is going to just about require perfection on the quantitative side of the GRE. How have you been scoring on the practice tests?

confusion · 2009 July 29th, 02:21 AM

Thanks longshot for the input!

I took a couple of practice tests already. I scored 760 and 770 on the math, and 550 adn 630 on teh verbal, and definitely a lot of scope for improvement on the verbal. I'm going to give myself another month and a half before I take them.

The only concern is that I have already graduated and will be starting work soon. I was looking to take some additional math classes this summer, but ran into Visa complciations as I was a International student.

As of now the plan is to work through a couple of textbooks my professor recommended that should cover those topics.

Has anyone come across the scenario of someone taking some math classes in teh summer term before their PhD program commences at the university they would be matriculating at?

longshot · 2009 July 29th, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by confusion

Thanks longshot for the input!

I took a couple of practice tests already. I scored 760 and 770 on the math, and 550 adn 630 on teh verbal, and definitely a lot of scope for improvement on the verbal. I'm going to give myself another month and a half before I take them.

Don't worry about the verbal. The math isn't going to cut it at 770 for a top 15 school. It'll take 790 or 800, check the profiles on this and the econ boards. Study math, exclusively, and get it up big time. If it doesn't look like you can get it that high, take the GMAT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by confusion

Has anyone come across the scenario of someone taking some math classes in teh summer term before their PhD program commences at the university they would be matriculating at?

The main reason you'd stock up on math is to make yourself a more attractive candidate. You'll want to have taken the math before, or at least during, your application.

2009 July 28th, 10:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
confusion I JUST got here. Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Evaluation Profile for Finance PhD (Please!) :) Hey guys, I just recently graduated and have been toying with the idea of a PhD in Finance, or applying to Oxbridge Economics programs in UK. I want to make a solid effort at getting into the top programs (top 10 - 15) and would consider committing to graduate school only if I got into those. It would be great to hear some opinions on whether my profile is any good, and any suggestions on how to improve it. School: Graduated in May from Wharton Undergrad at Penn Degree: BSc. Economics with Finance and Statistics concentration Econ Classes: Took Intermediate Micro and Macro. Additionally have a number of upper level finance classes in topics ranging from Derivatives, to Venture Capital, to a class on Structured Products Math/Math Related Classes: Took a year of calculus. Have taken numerous Statistics classes however. Probability, Stochastic Processes, Time Series Econometrics, and Applied Probability Models for Marketing. Research: Got into a Honors Program Senior year which involved writing a research paper. I would want to focus on a similar issue for my PhD. Letters of Recommendation: A professor whom I took two classes with and got excellent grades. Professor who supervised my Research project. Professor who supervised my research program. I will be giving my GRE's soon. Additionally, one of my Professors suggested I work through some higher level books on Mathematical Economics, Micro Theory, Econometrics and Financial Economics, which I plan on doing and mentioning in my application. Apologies for the long post, but I wanted to give you guys as good a picture as possible. Thanks for all the suggestions! Best,

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2009 July 28th, 10:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
confusion I JUST got here. Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Title should read: Profile Evaluation.... was in a hurry Cheers

2009 July 29th, 01:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
longshot Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 250	You're set as far as econ and finance coursework is concerned, but you'll need some additional math to be competitive for top 15 programs. I'd suggest trying to take Linear Algebra, Cal III, and maybe Differential Equations. Granted your statistics background though, I'd suggest you take what's convenient in the fall and apply then. There's no reason you can't be matriculating this time next year. That said, a top 15ish program is going to just about require perfection on the quantitative side of the GRE. How have you been scoring on the practice tests?

2009 July 29th, 02:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
confusion I JUST got here. Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks longshot for the input! I took a couple of practice tests already. I scored 760 and 770 on the math, and 550 adn 630 on teh verbal, and definitely a lot of scope for improvement on the verbal. I'm going to give myself another month and a half before I take them. The only concern is that I have already graduated and will be starting work soon. I was looking to take some additional math classes this summer, but ran into Visa complciations as I was a International student. As of now the plan is to work through a couple of textbooks my professor recommended that should cover those topics. Has anyone come across the scenario of someone taking some math classes in teh summer term before their PhD program commences at the university they would be matriculating at?

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