How Many Non-TMers Take and Succeed in Real Analysis?

[YoungEconomist]

Originally Posted by Olm

Take intro to proofs (or whatever they call it at your school). If you have taken that and have done well in it, you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not take analysis.

An "A" in analysis, even if it's just intro to analysis, tells the adcomms that you have seen proofs and have been able to do proofs. Pick up Mas-Colell and look at the questions at the end of each chapter. Read some of the questions.

Actually, I've already taken intro to proofs.

Originally Posted by Olm

If this doesn't convince you that analysis is important, I don't know what will...

Once again, I am not trying to decide whether or not to take analysis, because I am definitely going to take the class. I already understand the importance of the material in economic theory. My question is how much taking and succeeding in real analysis will help me with admissions. Specifically, I'm wondering how much it would help me at my reach schools (which are in the 10 - 20 range).

Originally Posted by italos

Sorry for degreasing but I just wanted to welcome back Olm!Where have you been?????

I think you mean digressing.

[Bayern]

Sorry I am adding another question, but it is a related question with YE on analysis... I am also taking analysis this fall, and hoping that an A would help atleast convincing adcoms that I can handle hard math, although I do not know the exact impact on my admission chances. Question is, if I do bad (lets not get into the definition of doing bad), I do not want to notify the adcoms with an updated transcript. But I have heard that some schools like Yale sometimes email the applicants asking whether we are interested in submitting the updated transcript as they know from the original schedule that the applicant is taking analysis. Is this a common phenomena? What other schools also ask for updated results like Yale?

[asquare]

Originally Posted by Bayern

Sorry I am adding another question, but it is a related question with YE on analysis... I am also taking analysis this fall, and hoping that an A would help atleast convincing adcoms that I can handle hard math, although I do not know the exact impact on my admission chances. Question is, if I do bad (lets not get into the definition of doing bad), I do not want to notify the adcoms with an updated transcript. But I have heard that some schools like Yale sometimes email the applicants asking whether we are interested in submitting the updated transcript as they know from the original schedule that the applicant is taking analysis. Is this a common phenomena? What other schools also ask for updated results like Yale?

Any school can ask for an updated transcript. I suspect that they do when the courses you are taking during the term you are applying are going to be influential in their decision making. If you are taking real analysis but the rest of your transcript indicates that you have a strong math background, they might not ask for an updated transcript. If you've taken very little math or have low grades in previous courses, they might want to see how you did in real analysis.

[Bayern]

But do many schools ask for it in the end? I know it depends on profile to profile, but I am more concerned about the frequency with which this can happen... i.e. maybe few schools seem to ask for it in the end? or some schools typically ask for it more than other schools? I am in half a mind to take the class Pass/Fail at the middle of the semester, if my performance is not satisfactory, that is why I am curious about this updated transcript.

[jeeves0923]

Originally Posted by Bayern

But do many schools ask for it in the end? I know it depends on profile to profile, but I am more concerned about the frequency with which this can happen... i.e. maybe few schools seem to ask for it in the end? or some schools typically ask for it more than other schools? I am in half a mind to take the class Pass/Fail at the middle of the semester, if my performance is not satisfactory, that is why I am curious about this updated transcript.

Don't be so scared. Work hard, and you'll be fine. You won't have the option to Pass/Fail courses in the middle once you get to a PhD program. Start your grad school work ethic mentality now, and I bet your grades will reflect that.

[darcie]

I guess analysis is not required for phd application, but of course taking it will be better than not taking. Furthermore, the levels and difficulties of "analysis" diversify a lot. Anyway, if you have no other things more important to do, just take it.

[Olm]

Originally Posted by YoungEconomist

My question is how much taking and succeeding in real analysis will help me with admissions. Specifically, I'm wondering how much it would help me at my reach schools (which are in the 10 - 20 range).

As you know it's quite hard to quantify these sorts of things since the data are not readily available. I would say that you dramatically increase your chances of an admit with an excellent performance in the class.

Sorry for degreasing but I just wanted to welcome back Olm!Where have you been?????

Well, this is the internet: people don't leave - they just fail to show up. I was rolled up into a carpet and thrown into a river last admissions season, so I saw little need to hang around anymore.