Profile Evaluation, fall 2010, thx!

[alex_liuliu]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: A very ordinary university which is not a comprehensive university. It is a university specializing in economics and finance in China,no reputation, however, the stat program should be ranked among top 20 in mainland.

Undergrad GPA: 3.79/4.00 BS in Statistics rank: 1/90

Type of Grad: PhD in Econ in a public university ranking
around 100-120, using the usnews ranking

Grad GPA: 3.92/4.00

GRE: 510(V)+780(Q)+3.5(AW) pretty low......

Math: Cal I,II,III (A) Advanced Cal I(A) Differential Equations(A) Linear Algebra(A) Probability and Mathmatical Statistics(A) Modern (Abstract) Algebra(A), Mathematical methods in engineering (A) opreational research (A)

Stat: Sampling Inverstigation(A) Nonparametric statistics(B) Statistical Forecasting and desicions(A) Statistical Analysis Software(A) Mutivariate Statistical Analysis(A) Bayesian Statistics (B) Time Series Analysis(A) Statistical Quality Control(A)

Econ:
Undergrad: intro to Micro(A), intro to Macro (A) Intermediate Micro(A) Intermediate Macro(A) Math Econ(A) Money Banking(A) International Econ(B), Metrics(A), Public Economics (B)

Grad(PhD level): Micro I-II, Macro I,II, Metrics I, Math Econ (all A except Macro II (B)) The qualify will be at the beginning of 2010. So I am sure I can get my master's degree in economics before 2010 fall.

I am a PhD student with full research assistantship. This fall, I will be in my second year of PhD study. I will take these courses this fall: real analysis, advanced cal III, Probability Theory and Micro III, Macro III, and Metrics II.
I am not sure I can get straight A in all six courses. But I am sure that I get get at least 5 A's. In the 2010 Spring, I will take another 3 Grad Econ courses and three math&stat courses: theory of linear algebra, optimiation theory and topology

Research Experience: Independent Research Topic and RA for two teachers-2 semesters, but since I chosen too many courses in math, my research experience is pretty weak. However, I am doing some research for an assitant professor in labor economics this summer, writing some programs stata, matlab etc.

Letters of Recommendation: Two math professors in my current school. One taught me differential equations and math enginnering methods. The other one taught me real analysis. One assistant professor in econ. His reseach field is same as mine, labor economics. All of them know me very well and will give a postive evaluation for me.

Teaching Experience: I have not get any teaching experience before, but I have got a certificate from English department of my current school that shows that I can be a instructor now, teaching some intro economics courses. Also I have completed one semester econ teacher training program last fall.

Research Interests: Labor economics, applied econometrics

statement of purpose: my thoughtful idea about labor economics and applied econometrics.

I realized there are some weaknesses of my profile: 1) no reputation of my undergrad school; 2) math background is not strong. 3) low GRE scores especically the AW part.

My target is to get into a decent PhD program in econ like OSU, U of Arizona, Syracuse, Indiana, MSU, UNC, PSU etc. I know it is impossible for me to get a top program. At the same time, I will apply some European schools: Tilburg, Tinbergen, Bonn etc.

So do you guys think it is a must that I retake another GRE test? Actually, I have only one month to prepare for the GRE test. So I am not confident that I can perform very well in the test. Besides to do my utmost of my coming 6 courses this fall, what else should I do to enhance my profile? Do you think I can achieve my goals to get into a decent PhD program? Any suggestions will be highly appreciated!

[untitled]

I think your GRE score is fine, the 510 verbal and 3.5 AWA aren't bad, if you do well on the TOEFL (but if you do poorly, this could cause a problem at the range of schools you are considering, as many of them rely on graduate teaching assistants). 780 is a good score on the verbal, although feel free to retake it if you want to.

You've taken a lot of math and econ, and it will be good if you can take real analysis this fall. With two letters from math professors, it might be a good idea to get a fourth letter, and from another econ professor. Even if it isn't personal, since you have good grades, I'm sure you can find someone who will write something very strong. Try to find someone who might have connections at some of the schools in which you are interested.

On the other hand, you are in a program now. Is it a US (or English-based in UK or Canada)? Will you have the support of professors there to tranfer? Are there other examples of students tranfering from your program? Why didn't you get the results you wanted last time you applied? I see that your profile has improved academically, if you don't have any other issues, I'm sure that you can get good results. I don't really know how tranfering works, but if almost all of the stories I've heard about transfering are positive, it is because almost all of the stories about tranfering that are negative are not discussed.

[alex_liuliu]

Thank you so much for your reply. I am in a US right now. I do not think I can get the support of all professors in my department. However, for some of them, since I works as an RA and work for him during the summer without any salary. Moreover, I am sure I gave a very good expression to him. So I will apply again during this fall and the process is the same as the new applicants. PS: I will get my master's degree before 2010 fall, I asked this question to one of current PhD student in my department.

[alex_liuliu]

About TOEFL, I took TOEFL in Sept. 2007, it is over two years when I reply for fall 2010. I did not do well in TOEFL, total score is 98. But since I will get my master's degree before 2010 fall, most of the schools should exempt my toefl, is that so?

[untitled]

You should use search and look at other students who have transferred. Some support from at least one current professor would be a great signal to future schools (and try very hard to have two econ letters), so that is good. I'm English as a first language, so I don't know much about TOEFL, but I know it makes a real difference for a lot of applicants.