Advice for phd admissions, help

[xxandyxx07]

Hello all,
I am currently an economics major and math minor at NYU. I'm a junior currently. Here are my "numbers" at the moment

GPA: 3.9 ish
GRE: 750Q, 550V

Math courses taken: Calc I and II, Probability and Statistics
Math courses I am planning on taking: Linear Algebra, Chaos Theory and Non-linear Dynamics, Introduction to Stochastic Processes

I would like to eventually for a phd in business economics or finance. I am enrolled in a BA/MA programme which allows you to being taking M.A. economics courses during your last year of college and stay for an additional year to earn to earn the masters. (I think I will do this to remedy any weaknesses I have because I decided to go for the econ/finance phd relatively late and have not taken much math as you can see). Would doing this MA in economics here be a good idea given my particular situation? Which math courses besides the ones I am planning on taking would you recommend?

I am also planning on writing a senior honors thesis next year in financial economics. I am thinking something in asset pricing. Would this be useful for a business phd? Also, should I plan on retaking the GRE to improve the quantitative portion? People are telling me I should get 780+ to be a competitive applicant. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[xxandyxx07]

Oh yeah, some of the business phd programmes I am interested in include: UVA Darden, Yale, Harvard Wharton, etc.

[xxandyxx07]

forgot to post econ courses

Taken so far:
Principals of micro and macro; Intermediate Micro and Macro; Money and Banking; Labor economics, Marxian economics; Introduction to econometrics, statistics for economists

Planning on taking:
International economics, M.A. microeconomics, M.A. macroeconomics, M.A. math for economists, M.A. stats and econometrics I and II , etc

The M.A. programme here at NYU allows us to take ph.d level courses with instructor approval. I am hoping to take a macroeconomics class with Thomas Sargent and econometrics with Rob Engle hehe. that'd be nice .

[shootermcgavin7]

I would definitely consider expanding on your calculus base by taking Calc III and Real Analysis. At some schools these courses might be named Multivariate Calculus and Advanced Calculus depending.

For many of the top schools you listed, the requirements are pretty much the same as an Economics PhD and the first-year core is very similar (if not identical).

If you get good recs from your professors at NYU, however, it would help tremendously.

Any opinions up your way on Tepper's (Carnegie Mellon) PhD in Financial Economics? I'm thinking about adding it to my list.

[xxandyxx07]

I was reading some stuff on econphd.net and they are saying that doing an MA in the U.S. is essentially useless. I am wondering if NYU could be an exception however because of the prestige of its department.
One interesting alternative for me could be UBC (U. of British Columbia). I"m originally from Seattle so its close to me and I also heard that they have an excelent track record of placing people into top phd programmes. Any thoughts? NYU vs. UBC for the masters?

[tct]

I would say go for a masters degree only if your undergraduate record is only so-so. Economics M.A. also might be worth considering if you still need more time to take courses like real analysis, statistics, etc. Otherwise, an American Masters degree in Economics will not help you much. The reason for this is that Masters level courses at most universities here are more like upper-level undergraduate courses and usually far less rigorous than Ph.D. level courses. (and masters students usually are not welcome in Ph.D. level courses). One exception is the Economics M.A. program at Tufts University, which looks more like a European Economics Masters program (in terms of rigor as well as tuition..)

I can't comment on the UBC program but I think there might be people on this board who know something about it.

[xxandyxx07]

i am planning on expanding my math courses with linear algebra, calc III (i.e. multivariable) and stochastic processes at a minimum. i was considering taking either advanced calculus I or vector analysis (NYU says this is a graduate level multivariable calculus course; open to anybody who has taken undergrad calc III and linear algebra). would it be better to take advanced calc (i.e. real analysis) or vector analysis (graduate calculus)?

[Weary]

Vector analysis is practically useless in economics while without real analysis you won`t be able to study asset pricing.
GRE surely should be retaken, it`s the easiest way to improve your application package.
MA degree of NYU doesn`t add much on itself as it is terminal (unlike UBC, I believe) but of course you can polish your transcript with extra classes and your reserve utility will be higher, should you change your mind about pursuing a PhD.