PUBRY Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) Hi, I have got several offers from those so-called "stepping stones" masters, including Cambridge MPhil Economic Research, Duke M.A. Econ (40% tuition waiver), LSE Msc Econ, TSE M1(Full Funding), UBC M.A. Econ, U Chicago Harris MACRM CUHK MPhil Econ (Full Funding) Due to some personal reasons, I would consider Cambridge MPhil and Duke M.A. only. My goal is the top 20 Economics PhD program in the US or Oxbridge or LSE in the UK, so Cam and Duke: Which one might be better? Any comments are welcomed! ----------------------------------------------------- Some updates about my profile: PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: I am currently a fourth-yr student in China, my university is also called "China's LSE", which is famous for its social sciences. Undergrad GPA: Overall GPA: 3.80/4.00 (5%); GPA in the third year: 3.98/4.00 (1%) GRE: 170(Q)+154(V) Math Courses: Not so many, but nearly straight A, Calculus I, II, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics, Statistics, Metrics Letters of Recommendation: All from my undergradute institution Research Experience: 4 research assistantships (2 in Behavioral and Experimental Economics; 2 in Development Economics) Teaching Experience: Principles of Micro, Macro; Experimental Econmics Research Interests: Applied Micro, esp Behavioral and Experimental Economics; Development and Growth Edited April 29, 2015 by PUBRY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZYX Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Post a full Profile like those in the 'Roll Call' thread, as any deficiencies in your profile may affect which masters degree is best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR14 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 For UK programs, I would strongly recommend Cambridge. You would need to end up in the top 30-20% in your cohort though, which is less easy then it sounds. No clue on Duke vs Cambridge for US T20; agree with ZYX that it probably also depends on your background . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrdonsimoni Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 As much as I like to sell my own MSc institution (Notts) over Cambridge, I have to admit that for a PhD in the UK, Cambridge will do you a world of good, not to mention that it obviously is an excellent programme :) Internationally, Cambridge is also (again, obviously) well-known, and given its rigour should definitely be your top choice (mainly because it is an excellent programme that'll cost a fraction of what Duke will). Am I right in assuming that you live in Europe? If so, Cambridge would be even simpler as a stepping-stone: you can finish your MPhil, spend the following year working and applying and prepping for your (hopefully) eventual move to the US more calmly (by opposition to doing that whilst studying), and if you choose to stay in the UK.... well you'll already be there :) Good luck, and well done on those admissions, these are all excellent programmes. As a side-note: I always found cambs a bit boring, but the parks are nice, and the pubs by the river quite cool in the spring :) plus the view from the hill when it snows is breathtaking (ok, nothing to do with econ, but you are going to be living there after all :D ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUBRY Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 Post a full Profile like those in the 'Roll Call' thread, as any deficiencies in your profile may affect which masters degree is best for you. I have updated some of my background Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUBRY Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 Oh, that seems to be really attractive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUBRY Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 Thank you so much for your kind reply. Actually, I live in China, and you can see some of my updated situations. Notts is also a good one, esp in Behavioral Econ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pch Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 As a side-note: I always found cambs a bit boring, but the parks are nice, and the pubs by the river quite cool in the spring :) plus the view from the hill when it snows is breathtaking (ok, nothing to do with econ, but you are going to be living there after all :D ) Cambs boring??? No way, mate! I lived there for 2 years, every days was full of excitement. And compared to Durham NC, there is so much going on there. OP, I can't compare. I can give you some info about Duke though. You can crack top 20 if you are in the top of the program. The program is competitive, although the atmosphere is not, which I like. It is a great program, although given you are Chinese, i don't know how your chances of getting to a US uni compare to Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrdonsimoni Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 (I should preface by saying I moved quite a bit in my life.) I was there 3 years and afterwards I lived in Oxford, Nottingham, Warwick/Leamington, Copenhagen, now Frankfurt/Mainz, and Cambs just pales in comparison :D (I moved a LOT over the past 8 years :p ) It obviously is a subjective assessment Im offering :) but nonetheless a lot less fun than those other places I mentioned ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUBRY Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Any record about the placement of the Cambridge MPhil program? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taytorenne Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 I can give you some info about Duke though. You can crack top 20 if you are in the top of the program. The program is competitive, although the atmosphere is not, which I like. It is a great program What sort of commitment to personal study is needed to make that move to top 20 phd? you think need to be in top 10 of the program? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pch Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 What sort of commitment to personal study is needed to make that move to top 20 phd? you think need to be in top 10 of the program? thanks You need to be fully committed and take this program very seriously, as almost all the people in the program do, regardless of whether they go for phd or industry job. Rank within the program is not the crucial thing. Actually, people with the best rank are not necessarily the ones who place the best. Yes, taking phd courses and acing them matters but so does RA work and establishing good relations with professors. Taking 5 phd courses and geting A's may not give you strong rec letters but working for a professor may. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apple12 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 You need to be fully committed and take this program very seriously, as almost all the people in the program do, regardless of whether they go for phd or industry job. Rank within the program is not the crucial thing. Actually, people with the best rank are not necessarily the ones who place the best. Yes, taking phd courses and acing them matters but so does RA work and establishing good relations with professors. Taking 5 phd courses and geting A's may not give you strong rec letters but working for a professor may. I'm considering applying for the Duke MA program! pch, do you have any information on the use of this degree for people going into industry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pch Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I'm considering applying for the Duke MA program! pch, do you have any information on the use of this degree for people going into industry? Most graduates actually come into the program with a plan to go to industry after graduation. I cannot give you any specific information on the companies etc. because I was never really interested in that but virtually everybody I know has secured a decent job already before graduation. Networking is strong and there are plenty of company visits on Duke campus. The program is much more technical and rigorous compared to most Econ MA programs in the US and that's why graduates from the program are quite attractive for companies to hire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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