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singmeat · 2009 May 29th, 01:41 AM

I'll post a profile when I have all the details, but here's her basic story.

She got a full ride to a flagship state school for undergrad. She literally picked her major out of a hat and ended up with poli sci, and liked it. After 3 years she had finished all the requirements for the degree. She liked her introductory microeconomics course and decided to pick up a second major in economics. At the end of the 3rd year she had something like a 3.8 GPA.

Somehow, she slipped through the system and was allowed to literally take all of her economics courses for a bachelor's in two semesters without any math save an elementary statistics course and a discreet math course. Not to be dissuaded, she sat down with a calculus book and her econ books the whole way though and basically learned what she needed as she went with stewart's calculus. The end result looks like 2 years of As, Bs, and Cs in economics courses, simply because she hadn't had any prior mathematics and had a full load of econ courses (5 courses each semester). Apparently the courses with Cs are a direct result of not having the mathematics prior to the course.

She loves economics and is a very bright girl, Ideally she'd like to be admitted into the masters with $ or to the PhD where I'm going (U Wyoming) or a nearby school (CU-Boulder or Colorado State) since she will be moving with me.

Before people assume she's just following in my tracks: we dated some in high school, and split up after the first semester of undergrad when I transferred to a new school. We reunited after graduation and found that we both wanted a PhD in econ, very uncanny. She's wanted a PhD since high school, in fact.

Anyway, her econ GPA is like a 3.1 I think, and she's hoping for a 750ish and 700ish on Q and V respectively for the GRE. She's also taking Cal 1 and Stat this summer hopefully, Cal 2 and Econometrics in the fall, with maybe a linear algebra course.

As of right now, our main hurdle is money, also...so a funded anything (Masters or PhD) in the area I'll be going to school will be ideal.

I'll post the details when I talk to her next.

Thanks guys!

singmeat · 2009 May 29th, 05:20 AM

Ok, here goes her last year:

Fall: Intermediate Micro (B), Intermediate Macro (B+), Global Economy: Trade/Dev: (B+), Labor Econ (A), and a poli sci course

Spring: Monetary (C), Regional and Urban (A), Environmental - Natural Resource Policy (C), Environmental (C+), Analysis of Economic Problems (thesis) (B+)

The only math she's had is a freshman stat course and a finite math course, but her Resource/Enviro classes used a LOT of calculus and she just had to pick up what she could as she went.

Oh, and she was also working full time.

I'm just wondering how much an statement of purpose and additional math can help her, she's not looking for Harvard.

wind up bird · 2009 May 29th, 08:05 AM

What will her letters be like? I think a good statement of purpose could help only to the extent that at least one of the letters supports it.

Additional math could probably help a lot. Also I'd encourage her to aim higher for the GRE Q. It's okay if she misses her target but I think aiming for a high score is better and probably well within her reach since the quant GRE concepts are almost all from high school.

YoungEconomist · 2009 May 29th, 03:13 PM

Pics? Just playing

You start your PhD program in the fall right? If she's moving with you, then she could take important undergrad courses and apply during your second year for the same PhD program. Or if your school has a masters, maybe she can start next year (or the year after).

singmeat · 2009 May 29th, 07:39 PM

Yeah I'm hoping she goes for the master's or something and gets some $.

If she gets into a good school with money elsewhere I'll send her off, but obviously a nearby offer would be ideal!

longshot · 2009 June 2nd, 07:57 PM

Wyoming has masters programs in Econ, Ag Econ, Stat, Math (MA and MS), and Finance. Any of them would be great prep for a PhD, I'd suggest she apply to each and see who gives her money.

singmeat · 2009 June 3rd, 07:16 AM

Thanks guys,

I also looked at Colorado State and it looks like a good fit for her. I've heard some things about T/A loads and heterodox I think for CSU (not sure, but I vaguely remember) but if those aren't really concerns I think the program would be a good one for her...1hr away so we can focus on school too I suppose.

She's started Cal 1 and a basic stat course this summer

notacolour · 2009 June 3rd, 02:07 PM

UC-Denver also has an MA in economics which, I believe, offers some funding. We had a job candidate who went there before going on to his PhD program, and he spoke highly of it. If she ends up being interested in an MA first (which may be a good idea), Denver might be a better fit than Boulder, which focuses on the PhD program.

AREStudentHopeful · 2009 June 6th, 02:03 AM

I wouldn't worry about the heterodox thing for CSU's masters. It may be a concern for a PhD but at the masters level, their empirical courses seem sound.

2009 May 29th, 01:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
singmeat Tweed cowboy duster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Internet Posts: 665	Some help for the girlfriend (unique profile?) I'll post a profile when I have all the details, but here's her basic story. She got a full ride to a flagship state school for undergrad. She literally picked her major out of a hat and ended up with poli sci, and liked it. After 3 years she had finished all the requirements for the degree. She liked her introductory microeconomics course and decided to pick up a second major in economics. At the end of the 3rd year she had something like a 3.8 GPA. Somehow, she slipped through the system and was allowed to literally take all of her economics courses for a bachelor's in two semesters without any math save an elementary statistics course and a discreet math course. Not to be dissuaded, she sat down with a calculus book and her econ books the whole way though and basically learned what she needed as she went with stewart's calculus. The end result looks like 2 years of As, Bs, and Cs in economics courses, simply because she hadn't had any prior mathematics and had a full load of econ courses (5 courses each semester). Apparently the courses with Cs are a direct result of not having the mathematics prior to the course. She loves economics and is a very bright girl, Ideally she'd like to be admitted into the masters with $ or to the PhD where I'm going (U Wyoming) or a nearby school (CU-Boulder or Colorado State) since she will be moving with me. Before people assume she's just following in my tracks: we dated some in high school, and split up after the first semester of undergrad when I transferred to a new school. We reunited after graduation and found that we both wanted a PhD in econ, very uncanny. She's wanted a PhD since high school, in fact. Anyway, her econ GPA is like a 3.1 I think, and she's hoping for a 750ish and 700ish on Q and V respectively for the GRE. She's also taking Cal 1 and Stat this summer hopefully, Cal 2 and Econometrics in the fall, with maybe a linear algebra course. As of right now, our main hurdle is money, also...so a funded anything (Masters or PhD) in the area I'll be going to school will be ideal. I'll post the details when I talk to her next. Thanks guys! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Last edited by singmeat : 2009 May 29th at 05:15 AM. Reason: I'm stupid

2009 May 29th, 05:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
singmeat Tweed cowboy duster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Internet Posts: 665	Ok, here goes her last year: Fall: Intermediate Micro (B), Intermediate Macro (B+), Global Economy: Trade/Dev: (B+), Labor Econ (A), and a poli sci course Spring: Monetary (C), Regional and Urban (A), Environmental - Natural Resource Policy (C), Environmental (C+), Analysis of Economic Problems (thesis) (B+) The only math she's had is a freshman stat course and a finite math course, but her Resource/Enviro classes used a LOT of calculus and she just had to pick up what she could as she went. Oh, and she was also working full time. I'm just wondering how much an statement of purpose and additional math can help her, she's not looking for Harvard. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

2009 May 29th, 08:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
wind up bird Attending Caltech Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 306	What will her letters be like? I think a good statement of purpose could help only to the extent that at least one of the letters supports it. Additional math could probably help a lot. Also I'd encourage her to aim higher for the GRE Q. It's okay if she misses her target but I think aiming for a high score is better and probably well within her reach since the quant GRE concepts are almost all from high school. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ A nod to Harry Lime

2009 May 29th, 03:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
YoungEconomist Click My Avatar! Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,210	Pics? Just playing You start your PhD program in the fall right? If she's moving with you, then she could take important undergrad courses and apply during your second year for the same PhD program. Or if your school has a masters, maybe she can start next year (or the year after). _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ The study of economic theory is not defensible on aesthetic grounds. It hardly rivals in elegance the mathematics or physics our sophomores learn. The theory is studied only as an aid in solving real problems, and it is good only in the measure that it performs this function. - George Stigler

2009 May 29th, 07:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
singmeat Tweed cowboy duster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Internet Posts: 665	Yeah I'm hoping she goes for the master's or something and gets some $. If she gets into a good school with money elsewhere I'll send her off, but obviously a nearby offer would be ideal! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

2009 June 2nd, 07:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
longshot Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 250	Wyoming has masters programs in Econ, Ag Econ, Stat, Math (MA and MS), and Finance. Any of them would be great prep for a PhD, I'd suggest she apply to each and see who gives her money.

2009 June 3rd, 07:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
singmeat Tweed cowboy duster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Internet Posts: 665	Thanks guys, I also looked at Colorado State and it looks like a good fit for her. I've heard some things about T/A loads and heterodox I think for CSU (not sure, but I vaguely remember) but if those aren't really concerns I think the program would be a good one for her...1hr away so we can focus on school too I suppose. She's started Cal 1 and a basic stat course this summer _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

2009 June 3rd, 02:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
notacolour TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 805	UC-Denver also has an MA in economics which, I believe, offers some funding. We had a job candidate who went there before going on to his PhD program, and he spoke highly of it. If she ends up being interested in an MA first (which may be a good idea), Denver might be a better fit than Boulder, which focuses on the PhD program.

2009 June 6th, 02:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
AREStudentHopeful Attending CSU Masters Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: CO, USA Posts: 687	I wouldn't worry about the heterodox thing for CSU's masters. It may be a concern for a PhD but at the masters level, their empirical courses seem sound. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Colorado State ARE

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