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

[YoungEconomist]

So I've been thinking a lot about real analysis lately since I begin classes in a few weeks. Everyone on this board admits that we tend to over-emphasize math a bit, and it got me thinking about how many applicants take real analysis? So it seems that the majority of TMers end up taking real analysis, but I would imagine that TMers only make up a small percentage of the total applicants.

The reason I'm curious about this, is that I'm wondering how much of an "edge" getting an A in real analysis would be? Particularly in the schools ranked 10 - 30, how much does an A in real analysis increase your chances of admissions?

[econyun]

how do we see the marginal benefit of taking it?

didnot take it and fail in all the Phd admission this year
and only take one course of real analysis and succeeds in the Phd application next year
??

Or have the similar profile with your classmates( SAME research interest, similar courses, simliar grades, similar LOR and similar GRE ) except you/your classmate have one more course of real analysis..
and he got in a better school than you.( with similar luck as well )

[asquare]

Originally Posted by YoungEconomist

So I've been thinking a lot about real analysis lately since I begin classes in a few weeks. Everyone on this board admits that we tend to over-emphasize math a bit, and it got me thinking about how many applicants take real analysis? So it seems that the majority of TMers end up taking real analysis, but I would imagine that TMers only make up a small percentage of the total applicants.

The reason I'm curious about this, is that I'm wondering how much of an "edge" getting an A in real analysis would be? Particularly in the schools ranked 10 - 30, how much does an A in real analysis increase your chances of admissions?

I'd guess that perhaps 75% of entering students at U-Mich have taken real analysis. I don't know what fraction of applicants have taken the course. How much it helps your application probably depends on the rest of your profile. A good grade in real analysis is probably most beneficial to students who haven't taken much math or who have a pattern of weak math grades to overcome. (Of course, these students may also struggle in real analysis, so it's not clear that taking the class is an unambiguously good idea in that situation.) If you have taken and done well in a lot of other math classes (for example, calc 1-3, linear algebra, and differential equations) then real analysis helps but isn't as critical for admissions. If you've done well in other proof based math or, especially, PhD micro, then real analysis probably doesn't add much new information to the application.

[econphilomath]

I always recommend formal math training to prepare for the PhD. But as a proud TMer I have the obligation to let you know that not having real analysis is not the end of the world. I got in at lots of places I wanted so its not like I was castrated for not having a math background.

And I agree with asquare of the relative value of phd micro vs analysis.

[calchas]

YE,

Every professor (3 in total) I have talked here at this school wants to see Real Analysis in the transcripts of applicants if they were on the adcom, which thankfully they are not ..

But sitting in the PhD micro class here, I definitely think that taking Real Analysis for an entire semester will get you a good understanding of mathematical objects -- sets, sequences, etc. and the properties of these objects ..

I think it will allow you to pick up on the economic intuition much faster .. Right now i'm very slow and behind the pace because I'm sitting in real analysis simultaneously ..

Almost everything so far has been about convexity, quasiconcavity, compactness, linearity, homogeneity, etc. etc ... RA certainly helps with these things ..

[Karina 07]

The pain of being in an econ PhD program without real analysis must certainly be worse than the pain of taking real analysis. Just take it.

Not like it really can give you much information, but almost everyone in my class has it.

[Thesus]

Everyone at Rochester this year has analysis.

[YoungEconomist]

Originally Posted by Karina 07

The pain of being in an econ PhD program without real analysis must certainly be worse than the pain of taking real analysis. Just take it.

Oh, I am definitely going to take it. I'm just wondering how much it will improve my chances of getting accepted to my reach schools if I get an A in the class.

[C152dude]

Originally Posted by YoungEconomist

Oh, I am definitely going to take it. I'm just wondering how much it will improve my chances of getting accepted to my reach schools if I get an A in the class.

Wait. Aren't you apply now? ... confused.

[TruDog]

At least 80% of the students here at Wisconsin have taken analysis. I hadn't, and I don't recommend going that route.