tutonic Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 This question has been bugging me for quite a while now. Hope someone can shed some light on this. Hypothetically, will a candidate be marked down if he doesn't have enough - or bad - math grades on his transcript, but has As in PhD micro I, macro I, econometrics I? The reason for this is because math courses are taken to signal the ability to at least survive the first year sequence. However, if said candidate gets As for all the first PhD sequence, will that be sufficient to speak for his ability? I ask this because I strongly believe that intersection between people who enjoy and can manage grad econ & the people who hate pure math classes is strictly non-empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Jump Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I'd say it's all relative to competing candidates with a benefit of the doubt given to others who have excelled at either one of those tracks with no mention of the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarayao Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 Grad econ grades weight more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chateauheart Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 I agree that grad econ theory grades should weigh a lot more because it's strictly more relevant. But my guess is they're somewhat discounted in admissions because there's some variance in content and grading across departments. I had a good example of that because I took grad micro twice: the one I took at a HRM program was both technically easier, and more leniently graded (80% A range), than the same course I took at a MRM place (30% A range). On the other hand, undergrad math courses are quite consistent across U.S. colleges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 What if said candidate isn't from the US system, but from the UK system? Grading system is A, B, C, etc, with no + - in between. If there's a chance that one/two of the 5 math course will result in a B instead of an A, should those grades be reported? The reason for this is the math courses are taken as a non degree student, and thus, are on a separate transcript, so there's the flexibility of not reporting if optimal. Not reporting these courses = profile only has multivariable calculus on transcript, while reporting these courses = profile has up to analysis on transcript. So should the math courses be reported even if he achieves As in all the first year sequence? Or is it best not to report since it'll paint a bad light? No surprises that the hypothetical student is me. There's a chance that I might not get straight As for the math courses since I'm juggling my 5 math courses + 2 RA projects + masters coursework. The bad math grades, if submitted, won't be addressed in my SOP since it'll be akin to me making excuses. I'm applying for the Fall 20 cycle so it's still a long way to go. The only problem with my profile - so far - is that I'm not optimistic that I can get straight As for all the math nonsense that I'm taking this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chateauheart Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Seems fine. AFAIK something like 65-69 in a British university is closer to an A- than a B+ in an U.S. liberal arts university, in terms of percentiles. Even if adcoms don't know about the UK system specifically, I think all foreign students get leeway with occasional "bad" grades; their marks/ranking within their master's program gives a much better idea of their academic ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 That's reassuring. I'm not necessarily worried about perception of academic ability since I ranked 3rd in my cohort of 700+ students (not in Econ though, which is why I'm loading up on the math courses + doing a masters to signal with good grades in PhD coursework). Of course, if I end up with all As for my math courses, then all is well and good but it's better to prepare for all eventualities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookiz Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 I personally think it would be better for you to mention why you didn't do well in all of your math courses. If someone has a doubt and you have a good reason (which seems to be the case), more information is better here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chateauheart Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 I personally think it would be better for you to mention why you didn't do well in all of your math courses. If someone has a doubt and you have a good reason (which seems to be the case), more information is better here. No, that's just dumb. Adcoms compile a file on each applicant past the first round. There will be some kind of a summary report or excel file. Those files will include some indicator of your math grades. And nobody is going to put an asterisk * underneath your grades and write "student explained that this is because he doesn't like the material." and put less weight on it as a result. SOP is for stating your interests. Your stated interest may or may not be cited in the final admissions process. Other things like excuses for bad grades in your SOP have absolutely no value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 If I end up with a couple Bs, the reason I don't want to address this is because it's simply due to my taking a heavy course load, which just seems like a stupid excuse when you're applying to grad school, where you're expected to be able to handle multiple things at once. Hence, my decision to not make excuses in my SoP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chateauheart Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Yeah, and a heavy course load is something they can already recognize from looking over your transcripts. So you'd just be providing redundant information. The only thing I might do is to add the context when you're mentioning your RA projects in your SOP. "I started working on a project with Prof. [] while I was a grad student and concurrently enrolled in math courses at ...". If they were actually looking for any explanation for the "bad" grades, this sentence would serve the same purpose without looking like an explicit excuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted April 22, 2018 Author Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) Duly noted. Just to clarify, I did/am doing 7 semester-long math courses, 2 RA projects currently (with a 3rd one starting in the summer), TA for 4 classes (grading work) and 8 classes for my masters. Does this constitute a heavy course load? From my understanding, the normal course load is 4 per semester, right? Edited April 22, 2018 by tutonic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chateauheart Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 Well, yes. U.S. college students spend an average of 20 hours per week on all academic work. Serious students such as aspiring PhDs or engineering students, might spend 30-50 hours a week. But you're probably doing 60 hours a week with all that, assuming it's for two semesters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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