Yet another Please Evaluate Profile thread

[wobo82]

Hello all,
I found this forum via econphd.net. I would really appreciate it if you guys who are much more in the know about Econ PhD admissions could take a look at my profile and provide some advice/suggestions on my list of schools (which is by no means final).

Profile:
Citizenship: Malaysia

Undergrad: BS Electrical Engineering at a major public research university (generally regarded as one of the top 3 public universities), CGPA 3.3 (disastrous major GPA)

Currently: MA Econ at an average state university that doesn't offer the Econ PhD. CGPA 3.9. The dept., though mediocre, has in recent years sent students to Virginia, UNC, Purdue and Rochester.

GRE scores: 790Q, 670V, AW pending (just took it Monday)

Math courses:
At current institution:
1. Statistics (3-quarter sequence, cross-listed grad-undergrad), A-
2. Matrix algebra, A
3. Intro stochastic processes, A-
4. Advanced calculus (3-quarter sequence, starting this Fall)
5. Linear algebra (this Fall)
6. Differential equations (3-quarter sequence, grad level, starting this Fall)
7. Optimization theory (maybe)

At undergrad institution:
1. Calc III (multivariate), A
2. Intro differential equations, B+
3. Intro probability/stats, B

Econ courses (none of which were even close to being mathematically rigorous):
Micro theory, applied econometrics, field courses (A's and two A-'s). Macro theory in Spring.

Undergrad EE courses:
Most of these I hated with a passion and treated as "plug and chug" courses and thereby didn't do too hot in. Major GPA: barely 3.0

Research: Zilch

Interests: Development, international, trade
LORs: My Econ profs seem genuinely enthusiastic about recommending me....Not sure if that's good enough.

Schools looking at:
Deep reaches:
Berkeley (Agri)
Yale
Cornell (Agri)
Brown
Duke
UCLA (considering dropping)

Outside chance:
Georgetown
Maryland

Realistic chance (?):
UNC-Chapel Hill
Virginia
Vanderbilt
Southern Cal
Washington
Pittsburgh

I really fell into Economics by chance. Never took a single econ course in college. In fact I enrolled in a completely different department at my current institution because of their generous funding and took my first econ courses mainly out of curiosity. I am happy to say that I have since found my passion.

Am I aiming too high? Too low? Eagerly awaiting your replies...

[can_econ]

The schools on your realistic chance list aren't schools to scoff at, and I think you're right that you do have a realistic chance. In terms of competitiveness, I could see Georgetown fitting right on that list too, and maybe even Cornell Agec. Your undergrad grades will probably hurt you, but everthing since looks solid for getting into a decent school; if you want to apply around I don't think it would be a complete waste to apply to the reaches. Maybe you're aiming a touch high, which could be fixed easily by throwing in one or two safer schools.

What field are you interested in? I can't seem to find the common thread strengths-wise between USC, Vanderbilt and Agec programs.

[Zavera]

Unless I read this wrong, it seems you have no research or theoretical math background. If this is true, then even your realistic choices might be out of reach for you because you'll be competing with people who have both of those under their belt. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[wobo82]

Thanks for the replies can_econ and Zavera. Zavera you read that right, I do not have any research background. And yes my math background is pretty ordinary, maybe even deficient. I do realize that I run the risk of rejections from every school on my list. I think what I'll do is apply to a couple of "safer" schools in place of some of the reaches (I probably shouldn't bother with Yale and UCLA).

Can anyone suggest some "safer" schools given my main interest (development)? I am thinking of Ohio State and Purdue, though they are certainly no pushovers as well.


Can_econ, in reply to your question about common threads between AgEc, Vanderbilt and USC: I am applying to Berkeley and Cornell's AgEc departments because I am hoping that I would stand a better chance of being considered for admission there than in their regular Econ departments. (Zavera since you are already in Cornell please feel free to disabuse me of this notion...) USC is largely for the location, plus it guarantees full funding IIRC. Vanderbilt seems like it has a focus on development (and doesn't charge an application fee...).

[Zavera]

Originally Posted by wobo82

Thanks for the replies can_econ and Zavera. Zavera you read that right, I do not have any research background. And yes my math background is pretty ordinary, maybe even deficient. I do realize that I run the risk of rejections from every school on my list. I think what I'll do is apply to a couple of "safer" schools in place of some of the reaches (I probably shouldn't bother with Yale and UCLA).

Can anyone suggest some "safer" schools given my main interest (development)? I am thinking of Ohio State and Purdue, though they are certainly no pushovers as well.


Can_econ, in reply to your question about common threads between AgEc, Vanderbilt and USC: I am applying to Berkeley and Cornell's AgEc departments because I am hoping that I would stand a better chance of being considered for admission there than in their regular Econ departments. (Zavera since you are already in Cornell please feel free to disabuse me of this notion...) USC is largely for the location, plus it guarantees full funding IIRC. Vanderbilt seems like it has a focus on development (and doesn't charge an application fee...).

I rejected Cornell because the student body was composed of uptight pricks who thought they were just ever so damned smart. I can't stand people like that.

Honestly, I know of very few safe schools. It's damned hard to get into these programs, and the competitors are all pretty much perfect

Maybe Iowa, Purdue, Suny Albany

[don_ny01]

My advice is: I totally agree with Zareva. No school in your list is a safe school actually.

[wobo82]

Here's my semi-final list of schools. Schools marked (?) are schools I am wavering on for one reason or another. Feedback much appreciated!

Deep reaches:
Berkeley AgEc
Brown
Minnesota
Cornell AgEc
Duke(?)

Reaches:
Maryland
USC(?)
Ohio State(?)
Vanderbilt

Slightly more realistic:
UNC
Virginia
U-Washington
Georgetown
Pittsburgh
Purdue(?)

Safeties:
None so far

My lack of serious economic research concerns me, much more than my so-so math background. Gonna approach Econ profs to offer research assistance and simultaneously begin work on my masters thesis, but even so I will only have one quarter of mediocre research experience to speak of before I submit the apps. I could have been an unpaid RA (sort of) for an Assistant Prof over the summer but after weighing the costs vs benefits, I realized I needed the summer classes and money from my summer job more than what little I would have taken away from working with the prof.

AFAIK in recent years a really small handful of BA/MA grads from my program have managed to get into UNC, UVA, Washington, Georgetown, Purdue and (yes) Rochester. I can't imagine my profile is a whole lot weaker than theirs. Well, other than in research experience that is.

What are my chances of getting into the schools on my "More Realistic" list? Also please do suggest some safety schools that are strong in development/international (yeah I know, there's econphd.net and profs to refer to, but this board is great!)

[OneMoreEcon]

Originally Posted by wobo82

Here's my semi-final list of schools. Schools marked (?) are schools I am wavering on for one reason or another. Feedback much appreciated!

Deep reaches:
Berkeley AgEc
Brown
Minnesota
Cornell AgEc
Duke(?)

Reaches:
Maryland
USC(?)
Ohio State(?)
Vanderbilt

Slightly more realistic:
UNC
Virginia
U-Washington
Georgetown
Pittsburgh
Purdue(?)

Safeties:
None so far

My lack of serious economic research concerns me, much more than my so-so math background. Gonna approach Econ profs to offer research assistance and simultaneously begin work on my masters thesis, but even so I will only have one quarter of mediocre research experience to speak of before I submit the apps. I could have been an unpaid RA (sort of) for an Assistant Prof over the summer but after weighing the costs vs benefits, I realized I needed the summer classes and money from my summer job more than what little I would have taken away from working with the prof.

AFAIK in recent years a really small handful of BA/MA grads from my program have managed to get into UNC, UVA, Washington, Georgetown, Purdue and (yes) Rochester. I can't imagine my profile is a whole lot weaker than theirs. Well, other than in research experience that is.

What are my chances of getting into the schools on my "More Realistic" list? Also please do suggest some safety schools that are strong in development/international (yeah I know, there's econphd.net and profs to refer to, but this board is great!)

As long as the recent placements are doing well in those programs, you should be in good shape at those schools (and you'll also be in good shape if your recommenders think you're a stronger student that those placements).

I'll disagree with Zav about most students having research experience, especially at the schools on your list. Plus, you're coming with a MA in econ, which will help some at those schools, too.

I heard a joke from a UMD econ student that UMD has the top ranked ag-ec dept, which makes it the 200th-best econ dept. While I'm not terribly familiar with the agec depts, they have a reputation for being much easier to get into than the regular econ dept. That makes the agec depts at Berkeley and Cornell much more realistic than Yale and UCLA (and really, you won't get into Yale, and UCLA is highly *highly* unlikely).

Also, your math background won't be too bad at the end of the quarter/semester. I think your realistic schools are just that, realistic... not sure if Vanderbilt belongs on the reach or the realistic list.