What am I capable of????????????????????????

[phdbound]

Hi, yes, another boring profile evaluation post..., but please stay on and read my profile and give me some feedback! I'll be applying for 2010 entry.

ROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: University of Toronto - financial economics maj
Undergrad GPA: 3.95/4
Type of Grad: LSE - Msc finance/economics OR Msc applicable math
Grad GPA: prog starts sep 09
GRE: confident for 780-800 Q, rest unsure
Math Courses: Cal 1-3 (A,A,A), Linear Algebra (B), Stats/Prob (A)
Econ Courses: Intro Econ(A), Intermediate Micro(A), Macro(A), Advance Micro(A-), Macro(A), Econometrics(A), Financial Economics (A), and some elective economics (all A)
Other Courses: most rigorous was probably the logic course offered by philosophy department, and limited backgrd from programming
Letters of Recommendation: Still deciding, but can get some famous professors.
Research Experience: Term paper from Econometrics (95%), and another from my grad program this year (~7000 and ~10000 words respectively)
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Finance

I don't mind if you crush my dream or anything! Tell me which school should I be applying come next year? Also I haven't decided on which master program from LSE to do so opinions are also welcomed! Shoot away!

[mazzalupi]

Looks like a very solid background. You probably would have been admitted to a pretty good program this year without the masters from LSE, conditional on what your letters of recomendation would have been like. That you'll have a masters from LSE should only help you. Great undergraduate GPA. I think this is important. On the econ side you've done very well. You've also done very well on the math side. Taking real analysis and maybe differential equations might be a good idea.

The only thing that most top 1-5 placements have that you haven't listed is experience as a research assistant. If you could get involved with a professor's research while at LSE as a research assistant (or co-author) that would probably assure you a very good admit.

I think research assistant positions are very good for two reasons. First, you then have a professor who can write a very good letter for you in a different context than just your performance in coursework/papers. Second, you can learn a lot by being exposed to high quality research. If you are applying this fall it might be hard to secure such a position this late in the summer. One semester of RA experience won't be as meaningful as a year or more but it could still be useful.

So, those are the only two things that I think you might add (real analysis and an research assistant position). You're going to have graduate level econ classes at LSE. Hopefully you will do well on the GRE, and then you'll be at a top school next year. I would definitely talk to your professors but I'd say apply to the top 1-12 or so schools. Good luck!

[KGkhan23]

It's just a hunch, but the fact that you've aced all your econ classes but not all your math classes (and that you have less math than is ideal) might mean that the marginal benefit for you is greater with the applicable maths MSc than the F&E one.

[fp3690]

Applicable maths has little to do with economics. There is some emphasis on game theory (in a mathematical approach) but the course is computational-algorithmic for the most part. I would go with either of the three econ courses (you can switch during the presessional) usually.

[phdbound]

Originally Posted by fp3690

Applicable maths has little to do with economics. There is some emphasis on game theory (in a mathematical approach) but the course is computational-algorithmic for the most part. I would go with either of the three econ courses (you can switch during the presessional) usually.

Hey, you mentioned 3 of the econ courses, which 3 are you referring?

Also how does the switching thing work, can u elaborate please?? I'm really desperate!