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icemanDan · 2009 October 19th, 08:21 AM

I'm from a non-eco /non-math background. I've just recently graduated with a diploma in economics from Cambridge with a high 2:2 (very disappointing result). I'm very keen on continuing with eco, since I really enjoy the subject. I think I'm particularly excited about studying getting into behavioural economics or macroeconomic policy at a later stage. i'm not certain as to whether I want to do a PhD, but I definitely want to do a master's in economics. My academic record up until the diploma has been very good. I have an honours bachelor's degree in accounting and business studies from an average university in India. GRE score: 800Q, 690V, 5.0 AWA. Given my below par result, I wanted advice on my admission prospects in the future. More specifically:

1. What are my chances of admission into the one year master's program at the Toulouse School of Economics in France (i'm referring to the eco math program here)?
2. What are my chances of admission into the one year master's program at Uni Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona School of Economics)?
3. Given my disappointing result lately, I was wondering whether it would be a wiser choice to not reveal my diploma degree and instead apply for a 2 year master's program (toulouse offers a 2 year program for non-eco students and the program in Barcelona is open to non-eco students as well)? Given my current profile, do you think this would increase my chances of admission into the above mentioned schools and improve my overall admission prospects in general?
4. Could you please suggest other solid master's programs I could apply to. I'm open to studying anywhere in the world and my major priority is the quality of the program since i'm looking to get a solid grounding in the subject.

thanks! please post ASAP!

walt526 · 2009 October 19th, 08:46 AM

I would strongly urge you not to withhold the fact that you completed a diploma degree from the application. If it were to ever come to light, most schools would consider the omission to be a material misrepresentation of your academic history and would be within its rights to revoke any offer of admissions.

Gecko · 2009 October 19th, 02:32 PM

not sure about admission with funding - without funding you could still have a chance. what are the grades in the modules?

tm_guru · 2009 October 19th, 03:01 PM

You can't 'hide' the diploma results, you just have to state that it was an unusual score for you, and hope some master's program takes a chance on you. Although, I know even my unknown university in europe insists on a 2:1 for consideration.

icemanDan · 2009 October 19th, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tm_guru

You can't 'hide' the diploma results, you just have to state that it was an unusual score for you, and hope some master's program takes a chance on you. Although, I know even my unknown university in europe insists on a 2:1 for consideration.

But why can't I? (apart from it being unethical, one might argue). Are there other reasons why I shouldn't not reveal the result? Insteading of hoping that an obscure university takes a chance on me, i just want to ensure I do as much as I can to secure myself a better deal.

Harry Lime · 2009 October 19th, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanDan

But why can't I?

Because how many applicants are there with an honors degree in accounting and business studies from an average university in India with a GRE score of 800/690/5.0? You might as well have posted your birth certificate and an 8x10.

applicant12 · 2009 October 19th, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanDan

(apart from it being unethical, one might argue)

You answered your own question. If I were a member on an adcom, I would love to admit a honest applicant who has the potential to do well (based on other parts of the application) than a liar (sorry if that's a strong word)

walt526 · 2009 October 19th, 09:20 PM

Aside from it being materially misrepresenting yourself to adcoms? Which it is: the instructions for every application that I've seen asks you to list ALL post-secondary institutions attended. But setting that consideration aside...

Is there a chance that you could get away with it? Possibly, perhaps even probably if you made a concerted effort to hide your tracks. But the consequence if you're ever caught could be quite dire: while in graduate school, they could kick you out at any point if it came to light. And down the road, it's a nasty bit of information that a rival might use to gain an edge on promotions/grants (research institutions are highly competitive and bring out the worst in otherwise non-petty people). And the reaction of most of your colleagues won't be "oh, he's done so much better since then" but rather "every CV's he's ever sent out has been a fraud."

It's not like you took a course at some random place via open university and did poorly. You were enrolled and completed a diploma/degree program. Truthfully and completely submit the application and then offer an explanation in your statement of purpose and hope that your letter of reference's talk about your potential for success in graduate school notwithstanding this poor performance.

asianeconomist · 2009 October 19th, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Because how many applicants are there with an honors degree in accounting and business studies from an average university in India with a GRE score of 800/690/5.0? You might as well have posted your birth certificate and an 8x10.

But that only assumes that he has been perfectly honest about his profile till now.

tm_guru · 2009 October 19th, 11:34 PM

Sure, you can try to hide the diploma, but it ain't gonna work. It's gonna come back to bite you eventually. What about the visiting professor who recognises you in his class, or the guy in the audience at your first seminar... seriously, tell the truth, or you'll pay for it down the line, when it really will hurt you. A high 2:2 is not a disaster. You need to remedy it, not hide it.

Accepting the grades you got and enrolling in a low ranked master's, and working your way up is the best way to do this.

2009 October 19th, 08:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
icemanDan I JUST got here. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4	future admission prospects post a diploma in eco I'm from a non-eco /non-math background. I've just recently graduated with a diploma in economics from Cambridge with a high 2:2 (very disappointing result). I'm very keen on continuing with eco, since I really enjoy the subject. I think I'm particularly excited about studying getting into behavioural economics or macroeconomic policy at a later stage. i'm not certain as to whether I want to do a PhD, but I definitely want to do a master's in economics. My academic record up until the diploma has been very good. I have an honours bachelor's degree in accounting and business studies from an average university in India. GRE score: 800Q, 690V, 5.0 AWA. Given my below par result, I wanted advice on my admission prospects in the future. More specifically: 1. What are my chances of admission into the one year master's program at the Toulouse School of Economics in France (i'm referring to the eco math program here)? 2. What are my chances of admission into the one year master's program at Uni Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona School of Economics)? 3. Given my disappointing result lately, I was wondering whether it would be a wiser choice to not reveal my diploma degree and instead apply for a 2 year master's program (toulouse offers a 2 year program for non-eco students and the program in Barcelona is open to non-eco students as well)? Given my current profile, do you think this would increase my chances of admission into the above mentioned schools and improve my overall admission prospects in general? 4. Could you please suggest other solid master's programs I could apply to. I'm open to studying anywhere in the world and my major priority is the quality of the program since i'm looking to get a solid grounding in the subject. thanks! please post ASAP!

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2009 October 19th, 08:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
walt526 TestMagic Guru Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,308	I would strongly urge you not to withhold the fact that you completed a diploma degree from the application. If it were to ever come to light, most schools would consider the omission to be a material misrepresentation of your academic history and would be within its rights to revoke any offer of admissions.

2009 October 19th, 02:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gecko This user's posts are moderated. Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,075	not sure about admission with funding - without funding you could still have a chance. what are the grades in the modules?

2009 October 19th, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
tm_guru TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 632	You can't 'hide' the diploma results, you just have to state that it was an unusual score for you, and hope some master's program takes a chance on you. Although, I know even my unknown university in europe insists on a 2:1 for consideration.

2009 October 19th, 09:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
walt526 TestMagic Guru Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,308	Aside from it being materially misrepresenting yourself to adcoms? Which it is: the instructions for every application that I've seen asks you to list ALL post-secondary institutions attended. But setting that consideration aside... Is there a chance that you could get away with it? Possibly, perhaps even probably if you made a concerted effort to hide your tracks. But the consequence if you're ever caught could be quite dire: while in graduate school, they could kick you out at any point if it came to light. And down the road, it's a nasty bit of information that a rival might use to gain an edge on promotions/grants (research institutions are highly competitive and bring out the worst in otherwise non-petty people). And the reaction of most of your colleagues won't be "oh, he's done so much better since then" but rather "every CV's he's ever sent out has been a fraud." It's not like you took a course at some random place via open university and did poorly. You were enrolled and completed a diploma/degree program. Truthfully and completely submit the application and then offer an explanation in your statement of purpose and hope that your letter of reference's talk about your potential for success in graduate school notwithstanding this poor performance.

2009 October 19th, 11:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
tm_guru TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 632	Sure, you can try to hide the diploma, but it ain't gonna work. It's gonna come back to bite you eventually. What about the visiting professor who recognises you in his class, or the guy in the audience at your first seminar... seriously, tell the truth, or you'll pay for it down the line, when it really will hurt you. A high 2:2 is not a disaster. You need to remedy it, not hide it. Accepting the grades you got and enrolling in a low ranked master's, and working your way up is the best way to do this.

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