Advice for my profile [NON-TARGET LAC,NO HIGH GPA BUT SOME RESEARCH EXPERIENCE]

[iloveeconomics]

I am a rising senior from a non-top 10 LAC
Double major in Math and ECON
Econ GPA: 3.1, Math GPA: 3.8, Overall:3.0

I did not have good gpa for my sophomore yr 2nd semester and junior yr 1st semester because I was having a hard time for some personal issues, also i was young. I am also an international student studying here is us, so trying to adapt myself in the culture and study environment might affect my gpa a little bit until i learned from my experience. however, since i did not think abt phd until the recent past semester, i only have calc 1(A), calc2(A), and differential(B) so far, and I am taking real analysis, linear algebra, math modeling and general physics for my first semester of senior year and i think i have the chance to still keep my math gpa high.

micro A-
macro C
econometrics B+
intl trade & finance B+
intro to finance B
money & banking B+
senior sem C
quant mthds econ & mgmt C
( as i stated above, i did not take my grades too sersly earlier and i already finished my econ major now, so i don't know what else to do with it)

I am preparing gre right now,and i have a great chance to get quant part above 780, actually i am more worried about my verbal part since englishis not my first language.

i wrote an article last semester and it would be published in a book in 2 years( i wrote it with my professor)
I have done my senior thesis already, but only got a C since the seminar is about econ history while i am more interested in mathematical econ. I don't know if i should mention my research experience about this paper.
I am also doing a research using econometrics with a department of my college.
Also i did a special project about mathematical econ and i got A

i am currently working on another research project with a prof and might work on something new for next semester.
I also have had experience as a marketing research intern in the past as my summer internship.

I am wondering if i still have a chance to apply for phd regarding that my gpa is really low and i could not go if i don't get any funding. If so, what range of the rankings of the school should i consider? what range of the schools are considered "safe school" for my condition? If not, should i consider a MBA, ms in acturial science or quantatative finance instead? apply?I am more interested in going to a research institute, policy research and private sector rather than acamedia after i graduate.

please feel free to give me any advice regarding my profile and the questions i have. Thanks a lot!

[iloveeconomics]

there has been no reply after 93 people viewed this thread. so i take it as a NO to phd for my profile?

[KGkhan23]

Forum's a bit slow right now. Give it time, people will give you feedback. I'd rather not myself, I usually let my more knowledgeable friends take care of that, very occasionally giving some advice on the rare occasion I know what I'm talking about.

[asianeconomist]

If you are really serious about an Econ PhD and are willing to spend time towards it, then an MS in Econ would be a good option for:

1. Overcoming your UGrad grades.

2. Arranging LORs

Especially taking (and doing well) in some higher level Econ courses will partially cover for grades in lower-level courses.

Don't worry excessively about the verbal section. Anything > 500 is quite safe. I would be a lot more concerned about maxing out on the GREQ.

[iloveeconomics]

Thanks for all your reply and sorry this is a late follow up. but i just have some other question about the MS in econ suggestion. Which range of school should I be looking at that would help me to get into a good phd program(top 20-30). also I've seen a lot of threads mention that MS in econ in US is not really a good option. I am wondering if that is true and if there is other options for my profile. Also if I want to apply to PhD directly, what range of school would be a reach, match or safe schools? Thanks a lot!

[batmanisafatman]

Hey I'll give you my thoughts... but don't take them too seriously if you don't want to.

First... the second paragraph is nice for us T.M. folks to get an idea about who you are, what you're interests are, and even though some people at T.M. say you should explain any exigent circumstances regarding your grades in your statement of purpose... I don't think adcoms take them too seriously (certainly not more seriously than grades and letters of recommendation). I would instead focus your statement of purpose on discussing your growing and recent interest in economics, and the strengths (that are demonstrable through past performance) that you will bring to bare. You must decide how to do this.

Now... you have a few weaknesses in your profile. They are... a lack of math (which you are trying remedy), an apparent focus on business rather than economics in your course selection (maybe explain your interests in your statement of purpose), C's in your econ classes (these are bad because they are both loosely alligned with your apparent interests), and the C on your senior thesis (this is really bad because it is the only thing adcom's will see on your transcript that can give them an idea of your research capacity).

That being said... what should you do? First, sit down with a professor you like (maybe the one who's article you worked on) and discuss how to move forward. Prior to doing this make sure you have a good idea of what your interests/goals are. It seems from what you've written that you have a goal in mind (research position at a non-academic institution). If you are interested in doing work at a thinktank then maybe a policy degree might be better... in any event try to go into the meeting a bit prepared.

Then ask your professor... how can I get there? Your professor(s) should be in a better position to answer you. In large part it will depend on the prestige of your LAC, as this will effect how your grades and letters are interpreted.

I think it is clear to you that you will probably want a graduate degree, I'm not sure what is best for you. You will not be very competitive at the top 50 U.S. Ph.D programs (unless your professor states otherwise), so I think getting a different graduate degree either as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. program or as preperation for a private job, is your best bet. See which degree your professor recomends, then think carefully...


... and what asianeconomist said is correct, look at European and Canadian programs if you would like to prepare for a PhD