Funded Masters eval?

[NB888]

I think I remember your thread from a few months ago, and I didn't post then, but I wasn't sure whether a masters in econ was a great idea.

One concern is that some masters in econ programs might reject you for the reason of not having taken enough undergraduate economics. If you applied to a masters in something like stats or math, you wouldn't have that problem, because you majored in math. However, those would typically not allow you to familiarize yourself with economics as much. They'd demand more of your math skills, which might be rusty after over half a decade of not being used.

Getting funded while doing a masters isn’t easier than getting funded for a Ph.D. Admission is easier for a masters, funding is not. To whatever extent your GPA makes you unlikely to get funding for a Ph.D., it also would make this unlikely for a masters.

[NB888]

I don't know what your chances are of being funded for a masters, but I doubt it‘s unusually high. I think you'd be in a situation where whether or not you could be funded for a Ph.D. in econ depends on whether or not you can get very high marks, from the beginning, in a relatively rigorous masters program. You'd be competing for grades with people who took their undergraduate math and econ courses recently, not over half a decade ago.

[sam i am]

Originally Posted by NB888

I don't know what your chances are of being funded for a masters, but I doubt it‘s unusually high. I think you'd be in a situation where whether or not you could be funded for a Ph.D. in econ depends on whether or not you can get very high marks, from the beginning, in a relatively rigorous masters program. You'd be competing for grades with people who took their undergraduate math and econ courses recently, not over half a decade ago.

I was under the impression that would mean that I might not get funding at a top school, but if I was willing to go down the foot chain I could get some.

In most fields, given your score, there will always be institutions that will reject you, lower institutions that will accept without funding, and even lower ones that will accept with funding.

Is economics not like this?

[walt526]

What you're describing is generally how PhD Econ admissions work.

But so few Masters programs exist in the US and, of those, so few fund that there isn't a very large pool of institutions that fund anyone less than their ideal candidate.

In all likelihood, you will have to finance your Masters program if you go that route. Again, your chances of funding are better with MS Statistics because the pool of programs that offer funding is much, much larger.

[postgradecon]

Consider the master's in Canada (here, the master's is part of the regular progression so the courses are aimed at PhD-minded students). I think Queen's might be difficult for international students, but you can try your shot at the other tops (UBC and Toronto), and have a look at McGill and SFU. They're still not that bad and I think you have a chance of getting funded.

[NB888]

The websites for some Canadian masters programs say regarding prerequisites
M.A. Program in Economics
U of T : Economics : Graduate Programs
And they'd have to ignore their prerequisites for this applicant. Assuming they weren't willing to do that, this applicant would have to find a way to take intermediate economic theory courses. However, if the applicant did that, and got high grades in those econ courses, he'd then be a stronger applicant to apply directly to Ph.D. programs in the US. Then he'd have more options, and maybe a chance of being funded in a US department somewhere as a Ph.D. student.

[postgradecon]

There is quite a gap between doing a 1 year masters and a 5-6 years PhD, and the OP might not be ready to commit to 5-6 years of studies in economics right now.

[sam i am]

Originally Posted by NB888

The websites for some Canadian masters programs say regarding prerequisites

And they'd have to ignore their prerequisites for this applicant. Assuming they weren't willing to do that, this applicant would have to find a way to take intermediate economic theory courses. However, if the applicant did that, and got high grades in those econ courses, he'd then be a stronger applicant to apply directly to Ph.D. programs in the US. Then he'd have more options, and maybe a chance of being funded in a US department somewhere as a Ph.D. student.

Do you believe there are no such masters programs that offer funding, no matter how far down the prestige ladder we go? I would surmise that I might be able to get into a bottom-ranked PhD program, but you're saying that in spite of that there are no bottom (or lower) ranked MA/MS programs?

This seems rather counterintuitive.

[asquare]

Not really. Terminal MA economics programs are not seen as part of the PhD continuum in US universities. They are separate, stand-alone programs that with a few exceptions, don't provide funding, regardless of your rank among other applicants. PhD programs, though, seek to fund at least some students. There is some level of PhD program for which you would presumably be among the top applicants, and would therefore receive funding. For MA programs, there is often no funding to go around at all. The only decision is about whether or not you are admitted.

MA programs may not provide funding because they are used as money-makers for the universities, or because the universities have PhD students who can be hired to do RA and TA work.

[sam i am]

Originally Posted by asquare

Not really. Terminal MA economics programs are not seen as part of the PhD continuum in US universities. They are separate, stand-alone programs that with a few exceptions, don't provide funding, regardless of your rank among other applicants. PhD programs, though, seek to fund at least some students. There is some level of PhD program for which you would presumably be among the top applicants, and would therefore receive funding. For MA programs, there is often no funding to go around at all. The only decision is about whether or not you are admitted.

MA programs may not provide funding because they are used as money-makers for the universities, or because the universities have PhD students who can be hired to do RA and TA work.

I had assumed it was otherwise and it would be easier for me to get into the MA program.

Given my good GRE/school/major, and bad GPA/letter of reference, where would you recommend I target for PhD programs then?