Pre-Requisites for an Econ Phd.

**owholmes** · 08-13-2010, 04:57 PM

I'm hoping to apply to an Econ Phd. program in the next year or two. Thus far I have only taken the calculus sequence, which I did well in. I've got quite a ways to go in terms of math, obviously (statistics, linear algebra, real analysis, etc.) The problem is that I'm currently working in a small town where there are no nearby colleges offering these as evening classes. I enjoy my job, it pays well, and I don't have to work that much, so my preference would be to keep working here until I start the Phd.

My question is how I should proceed if I'm serious about getting the Phd. My options are: taking these classes online while I continue working, trying to find a new job in a major city and taking the math there, or saving up money and not working for 2-3 semesters while I get the math classes out of the way. I'm worried that Phd. programs will look down on any online courses regardless of what institution is offering them. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

**AREStudentHopeful** · 08-13-2010, 06:16 PM

I know that the online classes offered through Stanford EPGY, U Illinios and JHU haven't seem to have been "looked down upon" by adcoms (from past TMer's experiences). I would say that taking LA, RA, stats, maybe diff eq would be enough; all of these can be taken online. That being said, I would make sure you have good rec letters from professors that know that you're taking those classes online and can vouch for the fact that you're mathematically preparing for a PhD (in addition to all the nice things they would otherwise say

) just to back up what the adcoms see from your transcripts for online courses.

**owholmes** · 08-13-2010, 06:48 PM

Thanks, that's really helpful -- I'll look into those three programs.

**mathemagician** · 08-13-2010, 07:23 PM

Do you have a batchelors already?

**owholmes** · 08-13-2010, 07:31 PM

Yes, I already have a bachelors degree from a liberal arts college, but I didn't take any math or econ classes. I also have a law degree -- that's how I became interested in economics, I took a bunch of law and econ classes. I have a couple of reccs lined up from those professors, both of whom are Phd. economists that have published in economics journals and are fairly well known.