Profile 2013 --- should I go for it?

[Tikal]

I am getting really good comments from my Depression thread (How often do you feel depressed and doubt your life choice?) so I decided to post my profile here, in hope of getting more constructive suggestions. I go to small liberal arts school, tried different things but temporarily settled with the idea of an econ PhD. I had zero research experience and know little about this profession and myself. Nor do I know my real chance of getting into anywhere, even though my profs seems to be think optimistically.

I thought about take a year off and do research assistant to boost my chance, but that's too much complication and time sacrifice just to get into a PhD. I think I might be better off just go into a second tier PhD(if I can), try really hard, and if I don't like it after one or two years I will run away.

I am fine with abstract thinking, as I tend to do well in advance math class. (My math professor said that I am capable of doing a Math PhD, even thought I know it's definitely not for me). I do enjoy intellectual conversation and the atmosphere of doing research(at least as I read about). But I am terrible at self-discipline, and when I lose interest I am disgustingly unmotivated. In terms of my passion, I want to USE economics. I dont see myself end up being a professor and writing paper or applying for grant any that sort of stuff for my entire life.
I have been trying to find everything people say about PhD, and I got a lot of useful information from you folks. But, what's my chance of getting into anywhere? Or am I mentally and emotionally unprepared?

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad:
50-100 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA:
3.8
GRE:
equivalent to 670V+800Q
Math Courses:
Analysis 1&2 (A), Abstract Algebra 1(Group theory) (A), Abstract Algebra 2(Ring and Field) (A-), Differential Equations A, Math Modeling A,
Probability A, Statistics B, Intro to Proof A, Linear Algebra A, Calculus A
Econ Courses:
International Econ Seminar (A), Industrial Organization(A), Labor econ seminar(), Intermediate Micro(A -), Intermediate Macro(A)
Other Courses:
Many, but irrelevant to Econ Phd.
Letters of Recommendation:
Math Professor, Econ Professor. Should be strong and personalized (like many other liberal arts applicants), but not from big names.
Research Experience:
No previous ones. Working on one this summer.
Teaching Experience:
Tutoring experience.
Research Interests:
Hard to say at this stage.

[gradfuture]

what will u be taking senior year? i recommend grad econ phd courses to flesh out your app. otherwise it looks good, at least it looks close to mine so I'm hoping it's good

[Tikal]

what will u be taking senior year? i recommend grad econ phd courses to flesh out your app. otherwise it looks good, at least it looks close to mine so I'm hoping it's good

There isn't holes...that's the only thing we can say at this point. My senior year will be occupied with a few humanities for the Gen Ed requirement, one or two more econ and senior thesis, and computer science just because I am bored :P

No Graduate level econ is not an option even though I am dying to wish I could.

[whatdoido]

Why do you say that being a research assistant would be too much time sacrificed to get into a PhD program? PhD programs in economics are hard to get into, and you need to do what you can to set yourself apart (and a good way to do that is impress a possible letter of recommendation writer with your hard work as an RA).

If you don't see yourself in academia, then a PhD in Econ. may not be the right thing for you. While some non-academic careers may need a PhD (working in economic consulting, or the World Bank, IMF), there are many for which an MBA or other master's is sufficient.

What's your goal in getting a PhD?

(Note: Take my post with a grain of salt since I myself just recently graduated)

[Catrina]

Tikal,

Your profile doesn't seem so bad to me. You have a lot of As in a lot of upper-level math courses and good LORs. Why not apply to a wide range of places and see how you do?

Would taking another Stat class or two be an option? Also, where is the Econometrics? I'm far from an expert here, just another applicant that has been reading the forum, but it seems to me that a top-20 place may be willing to consider you, especially if you do well in econometrics.

TM experts, what are your thoughts?

[Tikal]

Why do you say that being a research assistant would be too much time sacrificed to get into a PhD program? PhD programs in economics are hard to get into, and you need to do what you can to set yourself apart (and a good way to do that is impress a possible letter of recommendation writer with your hard work as an RA).

If you don't see yourself in academia, then a PhD in Econ. may not be the right thing for you. While some non-academic careers may need a PhD (working in economic consulting, or the World Bank, IMF), there are many for which an MBA or other master's is sufficient.

What's your goal in getting a PhD?

Sorry for confusion, what I mean by doing research assistant is taking a year or two off and do it full time, which is not a small chunk of time.

[whatdoido]

Sorry for confusion, what I mean by doing research assistant is taking a year or two off and do it full time, which is not a small chunk of time.

Oh I see. Well, that year or two isn't so long in the grand scheme of things (although it is in your early 20's).

How will your letters of recommendation be (I see you talked a bit about them above, but you could elaborate)?

[Tikal]

Oh I see. Well, that year or two isn't so long in the grand scheme of things (although it is in your early 20's).

How will your letters of recommendation be (I see you talked a bit about them above, but you could elaborate)?

None of them are still active in publishing paper or making connections, just laid back teaching school professors. But I get know them very well. I have been in very small class(like size of five students) or one-to-one project with all of them.

[Tikal]

bump. Has anyone seen people like me end up anywhere? What's the best possible result? What is the rank of schools I should focus on?

[TomRod]

I've seen people like you end up in the 15-25 range, though with a little bit (read: one semester RA) more research experience.

It would be a good idea for you to take either an econometrics course or a more advanced stats course (heck, even adv. prob) IF you plan on working in empirical fields or theoretical econometrics.