Profile Evaluation: Trying to find programs below the top 25

[nsc1988]

Type of Undergrad: Big state university in Southeastern U.S., Average Ph.D. program.

Undergrad GPA: 3.7 overall, 3.8 Math and Econ
GRE: 800Q, 540V, 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III (all A's), Linear Algebra I (B), Linear Algrabra II (A), Math-Econ (crosslisted as a grad class) (in progress, optimistic about an A)

Econ Courses: Intro Micro (C), Intro Macro (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Probability (A), Undergrad Econometrics (A), Independent Study (Macro) (A), Labor (A), Money and Banking (A), Environmental (B), Senior Seminar (in progress, almost sure about an A)

Letters of Recommendation: 1 from an Assistant in Economics (independent study prof), should be enthusiastic, the other two will be pretty average. I will probably ask 1 math prof and 1 econ prof. I got A's in both classes but they do not really know me.

Research Interests: probably money/macro

Concerns: Dreadful 101 grade. I have not worked hard enough getting to know faculty which will make two of my letters pretty much form letters. Too many classes taken from grad students.

Schools: I know that I do not have a profile for the top 25. My geographic preference is the west or northeast. Currently thinking about: BC, BU, SUNY-Stony Brook, Rutgers, U-Washington, U-Oregon, UC-Davis, UC-Irvine, Indiana, and Johns Hopkins.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[tm_guru]

You should have a shot at BC, they love macro there...

You are somewhat lacking in teaching and research experience though so it might be harder to get fundingat other places (BC fund all students, BU funds less than 50% of students as far as I know). However, that may mean rejection at BC and acceptance unfunded at BU :-/

As for the other schools, SUNY Stony Brook is not highly regarded, Johns Hopkins incoming class last year was only 10 or so students.

The west coast - I really don't know much about.

[corolla09]

FYI: SUNY Stony Brook is in the opposite of a college town - suburbia on Long Island - and not near the city at all.

[ZomgRogged]

Where did the assistant prof you did independent study with go? I would say if its in the Top 25 take a shot. If he writes you a really nice letter you have a puncher's chance.

[longshot]

Georgetown, Maryland, and Southern Cal seem like good additions to your list.

[tm_guru]

Maryland is top20 and I don't think the OP is competitive at that level

[Tex Jansen]

I think that you have a pretty good range of schools. BC and Hopkins are tough but your letters may be better than you know. You can probably do better than Stony Brook, but it is always wise to have a safety, your letters may not be as strong as you think. I agree that Maryland is probably a longshot, but you may as well throw a hail mary or two.

You may want a few more places a little better than Stony Brook but comparable to the weaker places on your list. Take a look at Riverside and GWU in addition to USC and Georgetown.

I disagree on the importance of where your writer received his Ph.D. His placement at your school dominates his grad program as a signal of his quality and ability to judge your reserach potential. It should not affect where you are applying.

[Gecko]

hmm - intermediate micro could ring some bells..

[Gecko]

How about U Virginia too?

[nsc1988]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I like the idea of Georgetown and GW, living in DC would be great.

I thought about Maryland but it seems like a waste of money. I wouldn't get in. UVA seems pretty unlikely as well, I would not go anywhere unless I am funded.

It is really hard to find out about these west coast places. My letter writer knows more about east coast places so I am pretty much stuck with just their websites and that Southern Journal paper that ranks programs by field.