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cozycozy · 2009 June 28th, 10:09 AM

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad: Double major in Computer Science and Math(Stat option) at Hong Kong top school
Undergrad GPA: close to 4.0 (we use a different grading system)
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: expected 800Q/600V/4.0W

Math Courses: Calculus, Probability, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Mathematical Analysis, Real Analysis, Stat Inference, Regression Analysis, Stochastic Modeling, Data Mining, Sampling... a lot of stat. All A+ or A

Econ Courses: very few at UPenn(exchange). micro, macro, game theory, metrics, int. finance, public finance (one A, all other A+)

Other Courses: a lot of computer courses (honor study track), Programming Methodology, Algorithm and Data Structure, Object-oriented programming, computer organization, principle of programming languages, Algorithm analysis and design, software engineering, database management,... (almost all A+, a few As)

Letters of Recommendation: (expected) two good ones from econ profs at UPenn, another one (math/econ) from my Hong Kong school

Research Experience: summer with professor. one paper expected.
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: macro, growth, financial econ
statement of purpose: passionate
Other: none

My professor at Upenn said I had no problem getting in anywhere and should aim high. He even told me to apply for just 5-6 top schools. But it's safer to apply more. I'm majoring in computer and math. too few references for me. any suggestions on how many schools i should apply and which ones? Thanks a lot!

Gecko · 2009 June 28th, 12:05 PM

A general trend, no one is a shoo-in for the top schools

so maybe add a couple of safeties

corolla09 · 2009 June 28th, 03:39 PM

Apply to several safeties. No one is a shoo-in for top schools (as it may be hard to convince adcoms of your Econ interest with a large computer programming background). There are also very good programs that rank outside of the top-10 (Cornell, Mich, Virginia, WUStL, CalTech, etc etc)

asianeconomist · 2009 June 28th, 04:50 PM

LSE and Oxford are good places for growth as well.

KGkhan23 · 2009 June 28th, 06:09 PM

My advice is simple, but I hope it will be useful. Start doing research into a bunch of schools and ask yourself for each one, "Would I be happy studying for 5-6 years to earn a PhD here? Would I be happy with the likely job market outcome of doing so?" and go from there. If there is a school you would not be happy attending, whether it is top 5 or 30, don't apply there. If there is a school you would be happy attending, regardless of rank, apply there. You have a truly nasty profile and I would be really surprised if you didn't get into a few top 10s, but it doesn't hurt to apply anywhere you'd be happy to go.

cozycozy · 2009 July 3rd, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gecko

A general trend, no one is a shoo-in for the top schools

so maybe add a couple of safeties

Thanks a lot~ I will~ I'm thinking about applying for a few good master programs at top schools and try again after master. Is that a good idea?

Gecko · 2009 July 3rd, 05:19 PM

well, if you want to be cautious - then apply together. but yes, your profile is strong

i wouldn't recommend that you skip phd applications altogether.

2009 June 28th, 10:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
cozycozy I JUST got here. Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 12	Hard to evaluate myself. Please take a look~ PROFILE Type of Undergrad: Double major in Computer Science and Math(Stat option) at Hong Kong top school Undergrad GPA: close to 4.0 (we use a different grading system) Type of Grad: n/a Grad GPA: n/a GRE: expected 800Q/600V/4.0W Math Courses: Calculus, Probability, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Mathematical Analysis, Real Analysis, Stat Inference, Regression Analysis, Stochastic Modeling, Data Mining, Sampling... a lot of stat. All A+ or A Econ Courses: very few at UPenn(exchange). micro, macro, game theory, metrics, int. finance, public finance (one A, all other A+) Other Courses: a lot of computer courses (honor study track), Programming Methodology, Algorithm and Data Structure, Object-oriented programming, computer organization, principle of programming languages, Algorithm analysis and design, software engineering, database management,... (almost all A+, a few As) Letters of Recommendation: (expected) two good ones from econ profs at UPenn, another one (math/econ) from my Hong Kong school Research Experience: summer with professor. one paper expected. Teaching Experience: none Research Interests: macro, growth, financial econ statement of purpose: passionate Other: none My professor at Upenn said I had no problem getting in anywhere and should aim high. He even told me to apply for just 5-6 top schools. But it's safer to apply more. I'm majoring in computer and math. too few references for me. any suggestions on how many schools i should apply and which ones? Thanks a lot!

2009 June 28th, 04:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
asianeconomist TestMagic Guru Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,316	LSE and Oxford are good places for growth as well. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ The Pens have been lifted and the Pages have dried. - recorded by At Tirmidhee.

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2009 June 28th, 12:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gecko This user's posts are moderated. Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,062	A general trend, no one is a shoo-in for the top schools so maybe add a couple of safeties

2009 June 28th, 03:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
corolla09 getting r done Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 88	Apply to several safeties. No one is a shoo-in for top schools (as it may be hard to convince adcoms of your Econ interest with a large computer programming background). There are also very good programs that rank outside of the top-10 (Cornell, Mich, Virginia, WUStL, CalTech, etc etc)

2009 June 28th, 06:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
KGkhan23 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 544	My advice is simple, but I hope it will be useful. Start doing research into a bunch of schools and ask yourself for each one, "Would I be happy studying for 5-6 years to earn a PhD here? Would I be happy with the likely job market outcome of doing so?" and go from there. If there is a school you would not be happy attending, whether it is top 5 or 30, don't apply there. If there is a school you would be happy attending, regardless of rank, apply there. You have a truly nasty profile and I would be really surprised if you didn't get into a few top 10s, but it doesn't hurt to apply anywhere you'd be happy to go.

2009 July 3rd, 05:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gecko This user's posts are moderated. Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,062	well, if you want to be cautious - then apply together. but yes, your profile is strong i wouldn't recommend that you skip phd applications altogether.

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