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shootermcgavin7 · 12-12-2006, 04:20 AM

About 4 months ago, I publically wondered whether it was better for PhD admissions to have decent grades taking the PhD core vs. getting a 4.0 through the Master's core.

I found out this fall. The only statistics course I had taken in my life was a 1000-level Business Stats, but I ended up in a course that used Casella/Berger this fall.

I struggled my way through it, and, after taking the final today......at best will end up with a B-.

Word of warning to future over-zealous idiots out there like me- don't immediately jump in the big kids' pool if you just shed your water wings.

I should have taken a 4000 level Math Stats this fall and waited to test the PhD waters next fall.

Best of luck to the TM group on finals.

asquare · 12-12-2006, 04:24 AM

shootermcgavin, don't be too hard on yourself. I made a similar mistake. It probably hurt my chances of admissions to some programs, but it didn't ruin all of my prospects

Also, it gave me a very realistic sense of what I was up against when I started the PhD, and did affect how I prepared during my final semeseter before coming here. It's not the strategy I would recommend to anyone else, but it's not the end of the world, either.

shootermcgavin7 · 12-12-2006, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asquare

It's not the strategy I would recommend to anyone else, but it's not the end of the world, either.

My employer is funding my master's program on the premise that I keep a 3.5 GPA. I got an A in Macro, A in Linear Algebra II, A in Real Analysis I......and possibly as badly as a C in this metrics class.

I don't mind funding it on my own should something bad happen -- I went back to school because I'm interested in Economics and Finance.

But like you pointed out, it sucks that some schools are immediately eliminated from my list in my first semester.

asquare · 12-12-2006, 04:40 AM

Well, even in your worst case scenario, you won't be dropping below the 3.5, so that's good. And if everything else about your application looks good, I'd really doubt that one B- in a class you took before you were prepared will really narrow your chances very much. (I had more holes in my application than you do, at least based on the grades you just posted!)

You just have to do your best going forward. Good luck.

shootermcgavin7 · 12-12-2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asquare

you won't be dropping below the 3.5,

I left off my undergrad French class

The policy tint here requires Master's students to be fluent in two UN languages before graduation.

jahizbarlas · 12-12-2006, 05:02 AM

shooter, i think eventhough our purpose of getting into a phd program is important, its more important to pass through the program you end up in. so if you took a more difficult course now, it has prob prepared you better to handle graduate courses.
we all make mistakes and learn from them. i think you didnt make a mistake taking the course, just that the end result wasnt ideal.

12-12-2006, 04:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
shootermcgavin7 Within my grasp! Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 498	I answered my own question About 4 months ago, I publically wondered whether it was better for PhD admissions to have decent grades taking the PhD core vs. getting a 4.0 through the Master's core. I found out this fall. The only statistics course I had taken in my life was a 1000-level Business Stats, but I ended up in a course that used Casella/Berger this fall. I struggled my way through it, and, after taking the final today......at best will end up with a B-. Word of warning to future over-zealous idiots out there like me- don't immediately jump in the big kids' pool if you just shed your water wings. I should have taken a 4000 level Math Stats this fall and waited to test the PhD waters next fall. Best of luck to the TM group on finals.

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12-12-2006, 04:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,380	shootermcgavin, don't be too hard on yourself. I made a similar mistake. It probably hurt my chances of admissions to some programs, but it didn't ruin all of my prospects Also, it gave me a very realistic sense of what I was up against when I started the PhD, and did affect how I prepared during my final semeseter before coming here. It's not the strategy I would recommend to anyone else, but it's not the end of the world, either.

12-12-2006, 04:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,380	Well, even in your worst case scenario, you won't be dropping below the 3.5, so that's good. And if everything else about your application looks good, I'd really doubt that one B- in a class you took before you were prepared will really narrow your chances very much. (I had more holes in my application than you do, at least based on the grades you just posted!) You just have to do your best going forward. Good luck.

12-12-2006, 05:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
jahizbarlas Within my grasp! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 371	shooter, i think eventhough our purpose of getting into a phd program is important, its more important to pass through the program you end up in. so if you took a more difficult course now, it has prob prepared you better to handle graduate courses. we all make mistakes and learn from them. i think you didnt make a mistake taking the course, just that the end result wasnt ideal.

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