Go Back   TestMagic Forums > Admissions > PhD in Economics
Register Forum Rules FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 2009 May 16th, 05:23 PM   #1 (permalink)
I JUST got here.
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3
zoram just joined TestMagic.
Should I even attempt a PhD?

Background:
I have my Bachelors in economics from a major state university. My undergraduate GPA is about a 2.7 with various C's, D's, and F's. I was a terrible student and don't have any valid excuses for my grades.

Fast forward a few years and I've gotten my act together. I have my MBA from a well-regarded state university and my MS in applied economics from a different mid-level state university. This time, my grades are much improved: I have a 3.6 GPA for my MBA and 3.8 GPA for my MS in applied economics. I have earned A's in calculus I - III, discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and differential equations.

Situation:
I loved my applied economics classes so much that I'm considering going for my PhD. Given my really, really poor undergraduate performance, I'm concerned that I may be locked out of any decent school. I don't have any delusions that I can get into a top 10 or perhaps even a top 50 program. All I want is to get into a mid-range university that has a decent applied, developmental, or public economics program. I'm leaning towards continuing to work in the private sector while teaching at a local university or community college at the adjunct or part-time professor status at the same time.

If it would help, I can take multivariable calculus, real analysis, etc, before applying. Do I have any chance at all? Should I even bother with a PhD?

Thank you in advance. This forum is an absolute treasure.

EDIT: My GRE scores are Q750/V780/A5.5.

Last edited by zoram : 2009 May 16th at 07:19 PM.
zoram is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 16th, 05:39 PM   #2 (permalink)
I JUST got here.
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 11
econhannibal just joined TestMagic.
I am very new to this site, but I'm learning that a poor ugrad record combined with a great Masters level record is not an automatic rejection. Showing improvement over the years looks good to adcoms.

Did you take the GRE for the MS program? What were your scores? I think these are more important than your ugrad grades.
econhannibal is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 16th, 05:43 PM   #3 (permalink)
Within my grasp!
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 364
3ohto4oh is almost a TestMagic guru.
sounds like me, minus the MBA - I am in at UNC

of course additional math will help, but you have already repaired much of the damage - or enough for top 50
3ohto4oh is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 16th, 06:30 PM   #4 (permalink)
TestMagic Guru-in-Training
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 544
KGkhan23 's dreams are becoming reality.
Do note that a PhD is not necessarily required to teach at a community college. If you have a desire to do research, or if you'd prefer to teach at a better place, then a PhD makes sense. Just make sure it's compatible with your goals before you take on a 5 year degree.
KGkhan23 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 16th, 09:05 PM   #5 (permalink)
Dynamic Optimizer
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 104
NewBoston just joined TestMagic.
From the sound of it, you should have a reasonable chance with institutions ranked around 50. You should absolutely send a few applications to the top 15-25 range; the marginal cost is low since you are already doing apps. Also, you should keep in mind that generally, the school may be ranked lower overall than the rank in the specific fields you are interested in. Thus, even if you get into a school ranked around, say 50 overall, the rank in your particular interests may be around 20 or 30, leading to better placements both in academia and industry. Leveraging this fact alone in selecting schools to send apps to should help you get into an optimal program for your goals.

Last edited by NewBoston : 2009 May 17th at 01:52 AM.
NewBoston is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 16th, 11:59 PM   #6 (permalink)
UVA entering class 09
 
Zmoney's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Titletown
Posts: 402
Zmoney radiates success.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewBoston View Post
From the sound of it, you should have a reasonable chance institutions ranked around 50. You should absolutely send a few applications to the top 15-25 range; the marginal cost is low since you are already doing apps. Also, you should keep in mind that generally, the school may be ranked lower overall than the rank in the specific fields you are interested in. Thus, even if you get into a school ranked around, say 50 overall, the rank in your particular interests may be around 20 or 30, leading to better placements both in academia and industry. Leveraging this fact alone in selecting schools to send apps to should help you get into an optimal program for your goals.
I absolutely concur
_ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _
Attending: U-Virginia($!!)


In: U-Virginia($!!), U-Florida($?), Boston College($!), Michigan State($!)
Out: Duke, Northwestern, U-Penn, U-Michigan, U-Maryland, NYU, U-Texas-Austin, U-Wisconsin(notified may27th), Cornell
Zmoney is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 17th, 12:19 AM   #7 (permalink)
Within my grasp!
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 295
Weary is almost a TestMagic guru.
Forget real analysis and show people at some think tank that you mean business. GRE Q800 wouldn`t harm either and you might shoot at some public policy schools that must be caring about the real world like RAND Pardee.
Weary is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 17th, 07:47 AM   #8 (permalink)
Tweed cowboy duster
 
singmeat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Internet
Posts: 665
singmeat is almost a TestMagic guru.
dude.

Look at my profile. If I can, you can.
_ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

singmeat is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 17th, 05:04 PM   #9 (permalink)
I JUST got here.
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 16
econocrat just joined TestMagic.
You should also consider doing economics phD at a business school since you have MBA and they may be less stringent in admissions...
econocrat is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 2009 May 17th, 07:50 PM   #10 (permalink)
Within my grasp!
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 385
zshfryoh1 is on the way!
Quote:
Originally Posted by econocrat View Post
You should also consider doing economics phD at a business school since you have MBA and they may be less stringent in admissions...
An econ PhD at any B-School with a good econ PhD program like NYU-Stern, NWU, Stanford, etc are almost always harder to get into than the standard econ PhD program at the same school. They generally place better, often fund better and have more personal interaction with students, and typically only accept 2-3 out of 100-150 applicants while the econ PhD's at the same schools typically accept 25-40 out of 600-800. Having an MBA will make no difference at these programs either. The lower level B-schools rarely have an econ PhD program, usually only a strategy program, which does not fit the OP's interests in development and public economics. Even the econ programs at top B-schools usually concentrate on IO and micro theory which don't fit the OP's interests. The only B-school econ program that I could see the OP fitting in at is the Wharton program, and the OP would need an extra 30 points on the GREQ to have any chance at getting in there.
zshfryoh1 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

What you can do
You cannot post new threads
You cannot post replies
You cannot post attachments
You cannot edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


All times are GMT. The time now is 06:58 AM.

Contact TestMagic   TestMagic Forums      Archive   Privacy Statement

TestMagic Locations   Legal   Privacy


SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2009 TestMagic
Ad Management by RedTyger

Scroll Up