11-27-2006, 02:16 AM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Eager!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 81
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Help with classes next semester.
So I need to pick between some math and economics classes next semester, since I can't take everything I want. I'd like to pick 2 courses. Please rank what would be most useful out of: Real Analysis II, Intro Topology, Linear Algebra II, Stochastic Differential Equations, and special topics in game theory.
By useful, I think I mean "what will help me succeed and pass qualifying exams in a top 10 program".  Based on my background (see below) I bet the ranks will be: 1. RA II 2. LA II 3. Topology 4. SDEs 5. Special topics in game theory Some background: I took Real Analysis I as an honors course. As a requirement for the honors portion, we had to do 10 problems from each chapter of Schaum's Outline of General Topology. I took Linear Algebra I as an honors course, and the syllabus seems to overlap about the first half of Linear Algebra II. I took a Stochastic Processes directed studies course this fall semester, and have a relatively firm understanding of probability spaces. The SDE course will be a directed studies course too. I took a directed studies Game Theory course this semester, and covered a slew of chapters from Osborne's Intro GT book, and Chapters 1, 3, 5, and 8 from Fudenberg and Tirole. The special topics in Game Theory course will likely be a survey of important papers and some additional chapters from F&T. Course descriptions are below. RA II Riemann-Stieltjes integration; sequences and series of functions; the Stone-Weierstrass and Arzela-Ascoli Theorems; introduction to Lebesgue measure theory and integration. LA II Eigenvalues, similarity and canonical forms, applications to differential equations and quadratic forms. Topology Metric spaces; continuity of metric spaces; topological spaces; basic notions; separation axioms; compactness; local compactness; connectedness; basic notions in homotopy theory; quotient spaces, paracompactness and topological manifolds. Thanks! |
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11-27-2006, 03:55 AM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Within my grasp!
 Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 371
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that real class looks juicy. i love game theory so i would do game theory.
if youre interested in finance, im guessing you should take the stochastics class. i think for micro theory, the topology class would be useful... |
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11-27-2006, 04:17 AM
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#3 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 607
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I'd go with RA II and LA II. I'm a bit curious to know how LA I didn't cover eigenvalues and canonical forms, but I'm sure you covered other stuff that I wouldn't expect to see in a traditional LA course.
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MIT Economics, class of 2011 |
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11-27-2006, 04:24 AM
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#4 (permalink) | |
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Within my grasp!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 498
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Quote:
My LA I course only briefly touched on Eigenvalues, but went very, very in depth on advanced matrix decomp, advanced geometric applications of building matrices, applications toward my PhD Metrics course (eg. proving the simple regression, etc) etc. I think it depends on the school, which is why I typically suggest two LA courses to everyone I talk to...... not everyone has superpowers from UCLA.  |
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11-27-2006, 04:39 AM
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#5 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 607
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Hehe. I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone with that comment. Eigenvalues are an extremely important topic in linear algebra, and I highly recommend learning them at least once.
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MIT Economics, class of 2011 |
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11-27-2006, 05:21 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ann Arbor
Posts: 1,381
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Most of the classes on the list go beyond the math you'll need to pass qualifying exams. It probably makes sense to consider what applications each class will have towards your future research. Do you know what fields you intend to study?
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11-27-2006, 05:48 AM
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#7 (permalink) | ||
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Eager!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 81
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Quote:
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11-27-2006, 05:56 AM
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#8 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ann Arbor
Posts: 1,381
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Personally, I'd go with LA II and topology. Some of the LA II material will be useful in your first year macro, and the topology will be relevant later. I don't think the RA II will be as useful as the topology, personally.
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