Hlep me pick fall classes

[tsimonoce]

I have taken all suggested math classes / core econ classes. I go to a top 15 econ department. I want to get into a top 10 school. Applying fall.

1) Topology - Not offered every year at my school so it's a unique opportunity. Also, it only requires the intro proofs course, not real analysis. So I suspect it won't be too intense.

2) PhD Micro

3) PhD Macro

4) PhD Econometrics

5) Senior Thesis

6) TA for an undergrad econ class - I haven't TA'd before

I want to only pick 4 of these so I can get excellent grades.

I'm pretty sure I should do the thesis (and I really want to). Also, I only have 2 recs I know I can/should get right now, so I need to get another rec from a prof in one of these classes. So whatever would maximize the probability of getting a good rec should be a consideration as well.

Thanks!

[scienceofsleep200]

I would take 1, 2, 3 and 5. Don't TA if you don't need the money and if it would mean you would have to drop one of your courses. I get the feeling that TA experience is not as valuable as a thesis/RA experience in applications. I think whatever you do you have to take PhD Micro, Thesis and Topology, the other subject should be a personal preference. Good luck!

[BigPink]

I would take 1, 2, 3 and 5. Don't TA if you don't need the money and if it would mean you would have to drop one of your courses. I get the feeling that TA experience is not as valuable as a thesis/RA experience in applications. I think whatever you do you have to take PhD Micro, Thesis and Topology, the other subject should be a personal preference. Good luck!

I agree completely - don't overextend yourself. I would just add that if you don't have a strong background in math stats, you may want to take econometrics instead of macro to make up for that (assuming, of course, that you think you can handle it w/o a stats background). On the other hand, if you're really interested in macro (or the professor is more well known and you think you can get a letter...) you may want to skip econometrics.

[walt526]

Topology
PhD Micro
PhD Econometrics
Senior Thesis

[applicant12]

is it true that the way PhD Macro is taught varies from school to school and may not be a good signal? PhD Micro is kinda standard I think. If that's the case, I would definitely go for Topology, PhD Micro, Senior Thesis and just pick another

[BigPink]

PhD Micro is standard at top-40 schools, so it is your most reliable signal. PhD Macro will be about equally rigorous at the top schools, it will just cover different material depending on the school; thus, different =/=> bad signal. However, it seems to me that econometrics would be a better signal than macro (I could be wrong about this).

[scienceofsleep200]

I don't think that PhD macro varies that much across the top 15 programs and it's certainly rigorous enough at all of those places. As BigPink said, choose the better professor out of Macro and Metrics, or the one that could potentially write a more valuable letter of recommendation.

[tsimonoce]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Okay. So the consensus is that being a TA has really no marginal benefit to my application? That's strange but good to know.

I have taken 3 stats and probability courses, but I was a Freshman and didn't nail any of them (B,B,A-). So maybe nail phd econometrics to ease any fears? And then pick the better professor out of micro/macro?

[scienceofsleep200]

In that case nail PhD metrics (and you really want to nail it) and take Topology, PhD Micro and Thesis.

[tsimonoce]

Okay, sounds like solid advice. Thanks scienceofsleep200.