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LarryEvans · 2009 October 20th, 06:32 PM

Does a B- in a core course like Intro to Econometrics ruin my chances of a top 50 Ph'd program?

As a current MA econ student I think I might have just bombed an Econometrics midterm. The exam was pretty straight forward but I blanked out and ran out of time. I wasn't able to complete a few calculations and I'm pretty sure my score is gonna be ugly.

So if I get a B- in this core course, are my chances at a top 50-100 Ph'd sunk? I haven't gotten my test back yet, but if its bad should I just withdraw, take a "W" and retake next fall, which is when I'm applying to Ph'd programs anyway?

Zomb1 · 2009 October 20th, 06:51 PM

I am pretty sure that one grade will not ruin your chances, especially in that range. Besides, you don't know the grade yet

JosephKeith72 · 2009 October 20th, 08:24 PM

I'd say a B- is a fairly bad signal on an application unless the rest (econ courses) are all or nearly all A/A- grades.

walt526 · 2009 October 20th, 09:59 PM

Well if you're doing an MA Economics, presumably Intro Econometrics will not be the only econometrics course that you'll take. If you do well in those as well as pretty much everything else, then the lone B- won't "kill" your chances. In some ways, a W is worse than a B- because the former gets ones imagination going...

But one other consideration is to make sure that a delay in Intro to Econometrics won't preclude you from taking other courses in your MA Econ program. In my MA program, Intro to Econometrics is a prereq not only to the two MA-level Econometrics courses, but also the MA-level Macro Theory. If someone in my program were to withdraw from undergrad Econometrics in their first semester, then they would be putting him/herself behind by a full academic year (because the MA-level courses are offered only offered in Fall or Spring and must be taken in sequence). In addition, basic econometrics were very useful in understanding the literature covered in elective courses.

walt526 · 2009 October 20th, 10:03 PM

Should also add that over the years I've had plenty exams that I've thought that I bombed right after taking it, but the grade wound up being fine. Even if you could have done better, there's a chance that you didn't do as poorly as you think.

backtotheUS · 2009 October 21st, 12:57 AM

@Walt & original poster:

across the pond here we call it "American grade inflation"

LarryEvans · 2009 October 21st, 07:34 AM

Thanks for your feedback

2009 October 20th, 06:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
LarryEvans Eager! Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 68	B- In Intro to Econometrics Does a B- in a core course like Intro to Econometrics ruin my chances of a top 50 Ph'd program? As a current MA econ student I think I might have just bombed an Econometrics midterm. The exam was pretty straight forward but I blanked out and ran out of time. I wasn't able to complete a few calculations and I'm pretty sure my score is gonna be ugly. So if I get a B- in this core course, are my chances at a top 50-100 Ph'd sunk? I haven't gotten my test back yet, but if its bad should I just withdraw, take a "W" and retake next fall, which is when I'm applying to Ph'd programs anyway? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Plz Evaluate My Profile!

2009 October 20th, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zomb1 Eager! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 72	I am pretty sure that one grade will not ruin your chances, especially in that range. Besides, you don't know the grade yet _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it, And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it..."

2009 October 21st, 07:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
LarryEvans Eager! Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 68	Thanks for your feedback _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Plz Evaluate My Profile!

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2009 October 20th, 08:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
JosephKeith72 metricsguy Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 41	I'd say a B- is a fairly bad signal on an application unless the rest (econ courses) are all or nearly all A/A- grades.

2009 October 20th, 09:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
walt526 TestMagic Guru Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,308	Well if you're doing an MA Economics, presumably Intro Econometrics will not be the only econometrics course that you'll take. If you do well in those as well as pretty much everything else, then the lone B- won't "kill" your chances. In some ways, a W is worse than a B- because the former gets ones imagination going... But one other consideration is to make sure that a delay in Intro to Econometrics won't preclude you from taking other courses in your MA Econ program. In my MA program, Intro to Econometrics is a prereq not only to the two MA-level Econometrics courses, but also the MA-level Macro Theory. If someone in my program were to withdraw from undergrad Econometrics in their first semester, then they would be putting him/herself behind by a full academic year (because the MA-level courses are offered only offered in Fall or Spring and must be taken in sequence). In addition, basic econometrics were very useful in understanding the literature covered in elective courses.

2009 October 20th, 10:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
walt526 TestMagic Guru Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,308	Should also add that over the years I've had plenty exams that I've thought that I bombed right after taking it, but the grade wound up being fine. Even if you could have done better, there's a chance that you didn't do as poorly as you think.

2009 October 21st, 12:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
backtotheUS I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 22	@Walt & original poster: across the pond here we call it "American grade inflation"

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