Ucsc

[jlee7979]

Originally Posted by TheBrothersKaramazov

I really don't know. I never had to take any language exams because my native language is English.

Contact graduate divisions. I would expect them to be stringent than the department about certain requirements. But if you have already been accepted without conditions on your language abilities, it doesn't matter what your TOEFL or IELTS scores are. If there is a language exam for potential TAs, all international students are required to take it regardless of how they performed on these pre-admission exams.

I appreciate the clarification, TBK!
If international students fail to pass the language exam for potential TAs, cannot they work as a TA next semester and instead should take an English lanugage class?

[TheBrothersKaramazov]

The department rarely offers a TAship to 1st years in the fall quarter. If you fail the language exam, you will enroll in a weekly language class. This does NOT put you at a disadvantage for winter and spring TAships. You will still keep your TAship if you complete the course. (Actually, the two people who had to take the language class have some of the best teaching evaluations in the department!). You will just have to spend one night a week during the fall quarter at this class.

[jlee7979]

Thanks a bunch! Then, I think I do not have to worry about it... Looking forward to seeing you soon, TBK!

[claphands]

Quick question to the UCSC future and current attendees, do you guys know if the fact that your phd is in "International Econ," as opposed to pure econ, a limitation in the academic job market, all else equal? As someone with interests in open economy macro and is undecided about academic vs international org/public sector/ngo/think tank type work, do any of you percieve the title of your phd to be a limitation in any way?

edit: (I recognize that there has been placement info detailed through the thread, but I'm still curious if you all think the "intl econ" vs "econ" has an effect - positive or negative - on future employment prospects).

[gogol02]

TBK, I don't know if you can answer this, its regarding enrollment in econ and the AMS classes, we have a max of 19 credits. I was trying to enroll today (I think I may need to provide proof of enrollment to defer my loan pmts since I will be a student again), and it would not allow me to enroll in 4 classes (3 econ and the 1 AMS). Do I need special permission for this? Because the website enrolled me into 204 and 205 econ, as well as 205 AMS but not the 211?

I mean I can still use the class schedule with the other classes for the loan stuff, but I was just wondering what the deal is with the 19 credits issue. I emailed Sandra but she is out of the office until July 20th. Thanks

[Jackson5]

Hey guys,

Can anyone (especially current ucsc students or anyone in the know) comment on their impressions of the MS. Applied Economics and Finance degree offered at UCSC?

Was wondering if this degree would be decent for placements in the public sector and/or teaching positions at community colleges. I don't really care about prestige or anything, but I don't want a degree that would be totally worthless.

Any thoughts on the program?

[jlee7979]

Originally Posted by claphands

Quick question to the UCSC future and current attendees, do you guys know if the fact that your phd is in "International Econ," as opposed to pure econ, a limitation in the academic job market, all else equal? As someone with interests in open economy macro and is undecided about academic vs international org/public sector/ngo/think tank type work, do any of you percieve the title of your phd to be a limitation in any way?

edit: (I recognize that there has been placement info detailed through the thread, but I'm still curious if you all think the "intl econ" vs "econ" has an effect - positive or negative - on future employment prospects).

As a new PH.d student from this fall, I think the title of international econ does not make much effect on getting a job in both academic/others. The most important is the quality of job market paper if you apply for an academic job. Also, if you want to work in public sector or int'l org and are well prepared, UCSC professors who has strong connections there will definately help.
Since you are interested in open macro, the title of international econ will be slightly positive. It will signal your study is focused in global wise.
Once again, it is the performance, not the title, that matters from my view.

[TheBrothersKaramazov]

Originally Posted by claphands

edit: (I recognize that there has been placement info detailed through the thread, but I'm still curious if you all think the "intl econ" vs "econ" has an effect - positive or negative - on future employment prospects).

Claphands, the name of the degree does not matter. Anyone looking to hire an international economist knows that UCSC has top notch faculty. The quality of grad students has been rising... Jlee is completely right: what matters is your job market paper. And the faculty here are willing to push for you if they think your work is of high enough quality.

[TheBrothersKaramazov]

Originally Posted by gogol02

TBK, I don't know if you can answer this, its regarding enrollment in econ and the AMS classes, we have a max of 19 credits. I was trying to enroll today (I think I may need to provide proof of enrollment to defer my loan pmts since I will be a student again), and it would not allow me to enroll in 4 classes (3 econ and the 1 AMS). Do I need special permission for this? Because the website enrolled me into 204 and 205 econ, as well as 205 AMS but not the 211?

Hi Gogol,
All of us overloading run into this problem. You can take more than the 19 units, you just need to ask Sandra for "official" permission. She has to increase your load. If you want to guarantee yourself a spot in the AMS class, enroll in that now. When Sandra returns, ask her to up your credit limit and enroll in the required econ classes.

You need to make this request every quarter that you choose to overload.

[TheBrothersKaramazov]

Originally Posted by Jackson5

Hey guys,

Can anyone (especially current ucsc students or anyone in the know) comment on their impressions of the MS. Applied Economics and Finance degree offered at UCSC?

Was wondering if this degree would be decent for placements in the public sector and/or teaching positions at community colleges. I don't really care about prestige or anything, but I don't want a degree that would be totally worthless.

Any thoughts on the program?

Hi Jackson,
From my conversations with the MA students, the material looks sufficiently rigorous by American standards. (I think Commonwealth MAs are of a higher degree of difficulty). The placements have been pretty decent in the private sector. A handful of people have gone to KPMG and other accounting firms. Almost everyone has been offered pretty good jobs this year. It really comes down to how well you network in your last year.

The MA students get a good dose of finance and corporate finance coursework. There is less of an emphasis on macroeconomics. This focus on micro and empirical analysis which is much more useful in the private sector.

I don't know if any of the MSc students have gone onto teaching at community colleges. I don't know if US colleges require a PhD or not. (I presume not always...) If you are interested in this route, i highly recommend TAing as much as possible. Masters students do not have the opportunity to TA in the first year, but may get a TAship in the 2nd. This helps.

So in conclusion, IMHO when it comes to the private sector, UCSC's MA students are better prepared than PhD students because of their focus in finance and accounting.