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denny888 · 09-22-2006, 03:51 PM

It's been over a year now since I finished my undergraduate degree (05 graduate). How harmful is it to delay PhD applications? I have personal reasons--in particular, I've got a significant other that I am not ready to leave yet. As such, I intend on waiting another year. I'll be taking classes during that extra year and continue teaching math. A member of the admission's committee at Maryland told me that the marginal benefit (in getting admitted to an economics program) to taking math classes beyond analysis decreases. I do acknowledge this but does it have an adverse effect. Will I get penalized for waiting another year and taking random math classes(measure theory, functional analysis, algebraic topology, etc...)? Here's my current profile:

GPA 3.85
GRE: 780Q/650V/5.5AW
MATH (GPA. 4.0) : CALC I-III, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, DFQ, Real Analysis, Math Stat, Advanced Math Stat (Bickel and Docksum), Stochastic Process I, Stochastic Process II. Currently taking: General Topology I, Advanced Matrix Analysis, and Bayesian Analysis.

Advance Econ(GPA4.0): Micro (Varian), Game Theory (Gibbons and MGW), Math Econ (Optimal Control, difference of equation, basic analysis).

Research: None really. I did an applied thesis where I used FIML method on estimating a probit model with an endogenous regressor. It just so happens that the endogenous regressor is truncated and I'm still working on doing another ML estimation that takes into account this truncation.

TA Experience: Teaching two math courses.
RA Experience: I did research for the University's Economic Research Center.

Concerns: I came from a low-tier school. I also got an F on one class when I forgot to drop over the summer. I'm also 23, which is relatively old. I imagine most adcoms want fresh meat who may have better "creative potential". I got a B- on my introductory micro class.

Thanks, in advance, for all your help!

OneMoreEcon · 09-22-2006, 04:09 PM

1) You're not old. Get over that notion.

2) With a 4.0 math GPA and the courses you've taken, nobody gives a crap about a B- in some bullsh*t introductory course. The F might look remotely bad, but it should seem legitimate that you simply forgot to drop the course, given the rest of your record. Give a one-sentence explanation in your SOP.

3) The marginal benefit may decrease, but that doesn't mean it's negative. It just means ad coms give a lot of emphasis on analysis, and somewhat less emphasis on additional math. But I can't imagine that any ad com will view "too much math" as a negative. Also, if you're still taking math, it means your skills aren't getting rusty, which is one of the concerns for people who have been away from academics for a while.

4) What's the issue with the significant other? Is it that your S.O. is in a degree program that will take two more years to complete, or just a hesitation on your part to leave (without the S.O., who isn't following for some reason)? The former is a valid concern, and it may make sense to wait another year. The latter is a concern that will be there as long as you remain in the relationship, and you may have to decide between the relationship and the PhD if there's no chance for a compromise. And that is in no way a veiled way of telling you to break up; it's just a way of saying that if you don't address the issue and make decisions now, you may be in the same situation next year and asking the same question.

4) The low-tier school will hurt a bit, but you can still get into a very respectable school. Princeton and Stanford are probably out, but there are people on this board who came from average state schools that ended up in good schools (Minnesota and Johns Hopkins, to name two).

Starvingecon · 09-22-2006, 04:12 PM

Waiting another year won't hurt you just by itself. Remember most international students will probably be your age or older when they apply. Doing well in the math classes can only help but probably not that much(for your application and your aiblity to past quals). You really just need a good command of the basics that most dept's want, though knowng some fancier stuff isn't bad.

werther · 09-23-2006, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denny888

I'm also 23, which is relatively old. I imagine most adcoms want fresh meat who may have better "creative potential".

i think the median starting age for econ phd was 27. pls someone correct me if i'm wrong.

OneMoreEcon · 09-23-2006, 04:37 AM

I'm 24. Several people in my class are the same age. Some are older. One is young and started right after undergrad. The topic of age has been discussed on TM before. Do a search of the Grad Admissions forum for something like "econ age"

Corneconomics · 09-23-2006, 07:52 AM

24 is the youngest I can think of here at Cornell. Your GPA beats most of us. All of those who went to US schools come from flagship-esque state schools or highly ranked private schools, but none that I can think of have your math background (except maybe a couple who got masters in math or stats).

09-22-2006, 03:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
denny888 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 22	Should I wait another year? It's been over a year now since I finished my undergraduate degree (05 graduate). How harmful is it to delay PhD applications? I have personal reasons--in particular, I've got a significant other that I am not ready to leave yet. As such, I intend on waiting another year. I'll be taking classes during that extra year and continue teaching math. A member of the admission's committee at Maryland told me that the marginal benefit (in getting admitted to an economics program) to taking math classes beyond analysis decreases. I do acknowledge this but does it have an adverse effect. Will I get penalized for waiting another year and taking random math classes(measure theory, functional analysis, algebraic topology, etc...)? Here's my current profile: GPA 3.85 GRE: 780Q/650V/5.5AW MATH (GPA. 4.0) : CALC I-III, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, DFQ, Real Analysis, Math Stat, Advanced Math Stat (Bickel and Docksum), Stochastic Process I, Stochastic Process II. Currently taking: General Topology I, Advanced Matrix Analysis, and Bayesian Analysis. Advance Econ(GPA4.0): Micro (Varian), Game Theory (Gibbons and MGW), Math Econ (Optimal Control, difference of equation, basic analysis). Research: None really. I did an applied thesis where I used FIML method on estimating a probit model with an endogenous regressor. It just so happens that the endogenous regressor is truncated and I'm still working on doing another ML estimation that takes into account this truncation. TA Experience: Teaching two math courses. RA Experience: I did research for the University's Economic Research Center. Concerns: I came from a low-tier school. I also got an F on one class when I forgot to drop over the summer. I'm also 23, which is relatively old. I imagine most adcoms want fresh meat who may have better "creative potential". I got a B- on my introductory micro class. Thanks, in advance, for all your help!

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09-22-2006, 04:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
OneMoreEcon TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 500	1) You're not old. Get over that notion. 2) With a 4.0 math GPA and the courses you've taken, nobody gives a crap about a B- in some bullsh*t introductory course. The F might look remotely bad, but it should seem legitimate that you simply forgot to drop the course, given the rest of your record. Give a one-sentence explanation in your SOP. 3) The marginal benefit may decrease, but that doesn't mean it's negative. It just means ad coms give a lot of emphasis on analysis, and somewhat less emphasis on additional math. But I can't imagine that any ad com will view "too much math" as a negative. Also, if you're still taking math, it means your skills aren't getting rusty, which is one of the concerns for people who have been away from academics for a while. 4) What's the issue with the significant other? Is it that your S.O. is in a degree program that will take two more years to complete, or just a hesitation on your part to leave (without the S.O., who isn't following for some reason)? The former is a valid concern, and it may make sense to wait another year. The latter is a concern that will be there as long as you remain in the relationship, and you may have to decide between the relationship and the PhD if there's no chance for a compromise. And that is in no way a veiled way of telling you to break up; it's just a way of saying that if you don't address the issue and make decisions now, you may be in the same situation next year and asking the same question. 4) The low-tier school will hurt a bit, but you can still get into a very respectable school. Princeton and Stanford are probably out, but there are people on this board who came from average state schools that ended up in good schools (Minnesota and Johns Hopkins, to name two).

09-22-2006, 04:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Starvingecon Within my grasp! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 125	Waiting another year won't hurt you just by itself. Remember most international students will probably be your age or older when they apply. Doing well in the math classes can only help but probably not that much(for your application and your aiblity to past quals). You really just need a good command of the basics that most dept's want, though knowng some fancier stuff isn't bad.

09-23-2006, 04:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
OneMoreEcon TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 500	I'm 24. Several people in my class are the same age. Some are older. One is young and started right after undergrad. The topic of age has been discussed on TM before. Do a search of the Grad Admissions forum for something like "econ age"

09-23-2006, 07:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Corneconomics Eager! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 82	24 is the youngest I can think of here at Cornell. Your GPA beats most of us. All of those who went to US schools come from flagship-esque state schools or highly ranked private schools, but none that I can think of have your math background (except maybe a couple who got masters in math or stats).

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