Can a master degree cover up for a poor undergrad year?

[econornot]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum, and it seems that many people here are very willing to give good advices, so I'm hoping for some advices for my problem here.

I am an applicant to the PhD programs for this cycle but I am currently not doing very well. I have received rejections from northwestern and cornell, and have not heard anything from upenn, columbia, nyu (so i'm guessing that it's going to be bad news from them). So I'm currently left with illinois(UC) and brown (not too sure about my chances there as well).

The thing is, I have gotten acceptance to Toulouse M2 master program (fortunately), and knowing that I probably wont get any acceptance from any of the PhD in this cycle, I guess my only option is to take up the master at TSE and apply in the next cycle.
But my problem is that for some reason, my fall grades were really really bad this year. (Got 4 B- for diff eqns, nonlinear programming, and math modelling... so bad that I didn't even dare sending in my updated fall grades for my application.) I'm thinking that this semester is definitely going to leave a very very black mark on my transcript, and was previously hoping that probably some programs will accept me this cycle so that this bad semester wont matter anymore. But seeing that this doesn't seem to be happening, I'm wondering if a master in Toulouse can help cover up for it.

Essentially, should I take up the toulouse master and try again for the phd programs next cycle, so should I totally forget about it because that 4 B- are going to haunt me forever, and i have no chance of entering a top 20 program.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Btw, this is my brief profile:
Undergrad in Econ and Math in a large public university in Asia
GPA: 4.8 out of 5:
GRE:780(Q), 600(V), 5.0(A)
Econ Modules: 3 Micro, 3 Macro theories, 3 metrics (1 grad), game theory, math econ, international, monetary, financial, grad IO,... all A or A+s except for 2 B+s
Math Modules: Calculus I&II (both B+), Linear algebra I&II, (both A-), Real Analysis I and II (A, A-), Probability and Mathematical stats (both A)
Research Experience: Currently doing honors thesis (not too sure how its turning out actually)

[bheld]

It's hard to see how a masters will help given all of the econ courses you've already taken. Where did you apply this year? What were your safeties?

[econornot]

I applied NWU, NYU, UPenn, Columbia, Cornell, Brown and Illinois(UC)
Guess I didnt exactly have a safety...

[3ohto4oh]

Which one of these is not like the other?

[fp3690]

Illinois UC is Urbana Champaign or Chicago?

[SquareSquare]

First of all, your undergrad record isn't that bad. Sure, it might be a problem for top 10. And it's somewhat bad that the last courses you've done are mathy...

However, I'm not sure if Masters is the best way.. it can help you cover up the grades, but the problem with this approach is that you will be attending the new program for just a few months when you will ask your new professors for recommendation letters and they might not know you well enough to write a good one.

[KGkhan23]

Does your undergrad typically send students to US PhD programs in economics? If so, do they typically have masters degrees when they apply?

[economics]

if you have personal circumstances that led to the B-s (4 of them?), you should make that clear.

if not, i'd say that your best bet right now is to apply to as many master's programs as possible, and hope that they'll push you into their own phd program (eg apply to LSE and hope to get a distinction, which will guarantee you a phd spot, no matter the B-s). or, consider doing your pdh at toulouse. or, apply to UToronto/UBC (are their master's deadlines done)?

the thing is: you haven't gotten in this year, and next year may be even tougher. so rather hedge your risk and do your master's at a place that you'd not mind doing your phd at?

good luck!

[TomB]

A Maths MSc would possibly be a good fit?

[iugi85]

hi! i think it could be a good option for you, given the amount of econ course, your problem could have been the strength of the letters or the quality of the raccomenders. in toulouse you will have the chance to interact with very famous professors (not only tirole, there are plenty of others). if you impress them, you will be in! i would instead avoid a master in math. if you already have three letters from top economists and these letters are strong, of course my advice is no longer true. but i would be really surprised that 4B- can hurt so much.