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fp3690 · 03-02-2007, 06:39 AM

Following the recent post about the ra position at the poverty lab at MIT and the pathways it opens for top10 phd's, I thought it was a good idea to ask about Yale's International and Development Economics MA. Some people say it is policy oriented, although the 5 core courses are on theory, and one can always take math courses (at Yale nonetheless, about which none other than George Akerlof himself talked highly of in an email reply he sent to me after an enquiry). But even so, it seems that this programme is the ideal preparation from the poverty job at MIT, which not only is very exciting, but also opens doors.

PhD students, please you views on that! Thanks

fp3690 · 03-02-2007, 11:55 AM

Please people from Yale, some help!

floplo · 03-02-2007, 12:32 PM

Sorry, I don't really get what you want to know.

Your goal is to get into a good EconPhD program via IDE and then an RA ?

fp3690 · 03-02-2007, 12:36 PM

I wasnt really clear. I just read somewhere that IDE is considered a policy course, and not really helpful for entry into good econ phd. All im saying is that if it is a good preparation for such an ra position, it is probably good as well for entry into good phds.

But in any case, I would greatly appreciate the advise of people in yale about the chances of getting admission to a good phd programme (such as yale's) after ide.

floplo · 03-02-2007, 12:49 PM

fp3690,

IDE is predominantly a policy course because that is why students take it. Many of them come from abroad and then return to some form of public service in their home country. Occasionally they enter PhD programs (in recent years I know of one of managed to move from Yale IDE to Yale PhD, but she was really good and is now a prof at MIT Sloan).

So if you are set on getting a PhD, you might consider taking a more academic Econ program, if you are set on working in Development,Public service,etc but want to keep your option of a good PhD open, then IDE might make sense.

IDE students have their own courses, occasionally a few of them try to take PhD courses, but it is very rare that they actually stay. (some PhD course Profs don't even allow it)

fp3690 · 03-02-2007, 12:51 PM

Thanks floplo. There are three electives to pick from, and perhaps I can skip macro as I have taken advanced undergrad macro with top grades. If all those are math, shouldnt it be enough?

floplo · 03-02-2007, 01:03 PM

fp3690,

the question is not "Can it be done?", (which yeah, sure, there are examples out there), but whether this is the best way to do it....

fp3690 · 03-02-2007, 01:08 PM

Fair point. But I have spoken to a professor at UPF who told me that if i want to go to the us, doing a top masters there would be a lot better than UPF and LSE. She seems to know her stuff, as she was the first to tell me the seemingly bizarre thing about UPF being actually better than LSE as a preparation for a PhD, which I later confirmed from a great many sources.

Sorry for bugging u so much, but u are the only one to have answered and i really need help. As u seem to know your stuff too, how about the Quantitative Methods in the social sciences MA at Columbia? The econ department actually mentions on their website that it is good prepation for social science phds.

486hunter · 05-21-2008, 04:01 PM

I thought I'd revive this. I am a graduate of IDE and can comment on some of the questions posed above.

(1) IDE is policy-oriented in the sense that it is not necessarily intended as a springboard to a Ph.D. program. Though approximately 1/3 of students eventually go on to receive a Ph.D. (either in Econ or in a related field), the majority of graduates work for central banks, NGOs (World Bank, IMF, etc) or in the private sector. If you are not sure whether you want to continue on to the Ph.D. and are interested in working for a few years, IDE would seem to be a very good choice.

(2) Though it is policy-oriented, the core courses are fairly rigorous -- but definitely not at the Ph.D. level. E.g. The micro course I took used Nicholson and was supplemented with some more rigorous material in class.

(3) The degree can be used (and has been used) as a springboard to Ph.D. programs. Supplementing the core with some Ph.D. level field courses or advanced math is one way to do this. However, the top Candian programs, LSE, etc. are more appropriate preparation for the Ph.D.

(4) Regarding admission, the latest word is that they offer admission to about 1/4 of applicants. The vast majority come from outside the US. My sense is that 770+ math GRE score is desired but they are definitely willing to forgive a lower score if other elements of the application are strong. The mean is given as 750 on the website. Obviously strong grades are important. Mathematical preparation through multivariate calc and linear algebra seems to be the norm. A few people hadn't had this and were required to take a summer mathematics for economists course. Some people have substantially more math. There's a broad range.

In any case, I hope this is helpful to future applicants. I will try to keep checking this thread if people have questions.

commodore · 05-22-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fp3690

Please people from Yale, some help!

There really isn't any connection or crossover between the PhD program and the IDE program, so we really don't know anything about it. Listening to someone who's been through it will be far better for you.

03-02-2007, 06:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 520	Yale Ide Following the recent post about the ra position at the poverty lab at MIT and the pathways it opens for top10 phd's, I thought it was a good idea to ask about Yale's International and Development Economics MA. Some people say it is policy oriented, although the 5 core courses are on theory, and one can always take math courses (at Yale nonetheless, about which none other than George Akerlof himself talked highly of in an email reply he sent to me after an enquiry). But even so, it seems that this programme is the ideal preparation from the poverty job at MIT, which not only is very exciting, but also opens doors. PhD students, please you views on that! Thanks _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "If you torture the data long enough, nature will confess!"

03-02-2007, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 520	Please people from Yale, some help! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "If you torture the data long enough, nature will confess!"

03-02-2007, 12:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 520	I wasnt really clear. I just read somewhere that IDE is considered a policy course, and not really helpful for entry into good econ phd. All im saying is that if it is a good preparation for such an ra position, it is probably good as well for entry into good phds. But in any case, I would greatly appreciate the advise of people in yale about the chances of getting admission to a good phd programme (such as yale's) after ide. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "If you torture the data long enough, nature will confess!"

03-02-2007, 12:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 520	Thanks floplo. There are three electives to pick from, and perhaps I can skip macro as I have taken advanced undergrad macro with top grades. If all those are math, shouldnt it be enough? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "If you torture the data long enough, nature will confess!"

03-02-2007, 01:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 520	Fair point. But I have spoken to a professor at UPF who told me that if i want to go to the us, doing a top masters there would be a lot better than UPF and LSE. She seems to know her stuff, as she was the first to tell me the seemingly bizarre thing about UPF being actually better than LSE as a preparation for a PhD, which I later confirmed from a great many sources. Sorry for bugging u so much, but u are the only one to have answered and i really need help. As u seem to know your stuff too, how about the Quantitative Methods in the social sciences MA at Columbia? The econ department actually mentions on their website that it is good prepation for social science phds. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "If you torture the data long enough, nature will confess!"

03-02-2007, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
floplo Within my grasp! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 109	Sorry, I don't really get what you want to know. Your goal is to get into a good EconPhD program via IDE and then an RA ?

03-02-2007, 12:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
floplo Within my grasp! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 109	fp3690, IDE is predominantly a policy course because that is why students take it. Many of them come from abroad and then return to some form of public service in their home country. Occasionally they enter PhD programs (in recent years I know of one of managed to move from Yale IDE to Yale PhD, but she was really good and is now a prof at MIT Sloan). So if you are set on getting a PhD, you might consider taking a more academic Econ program, if you are set on working in Development,Public service,etc but want to keep your option of a good PhD open, then IDE might make sense. IDE students have their own courses, occasionally a few of them try to take PhD courses, but it is very rare that they actually stay. (some PhD course Profs don't even allow it)

03-02-2007, 01:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
floplo Within my grasp! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 109	fp3690, the question is not "Can it be done?", (which yeah, sure, there are examples out there), but whether this is the best way to do it....

05-21-2008, 04:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
486hunter PublicPolicy PhD, Econ MA Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 98	I thought I'd revive this. I am a graduate of IDE and can comment on some of the questions posed above. (1) IDE is policy-oriented in the sense that it is not necessarily intended as a springboard to a Ph.D. program. Though approximately 1/3 of students eventually go on to receive a Ph.D. (either in Econ or in a related field), the majority of graduates work for central banks, NGOs (World Bank, IMF, etc) or in the private sector. If you are not sure whether you want to continue on to the Ph.D. and are interested in working for a few years, IDE would seem to be a very good choice. (2) Though it is policy-oriented, the core courses are fairly rigorous -- but definitely not at the Ph.D. level. E.g. The micro course I took used Nicholson and was supplemented with some more rigorous material in class. (3) The degree can be used (and has been used) as a springboard to Ph.D. programs. Supplementing the core with some Ph.D. level field courses or advanced math is one way to do this. However, the top Candian programs, LSE, etc. are more appropriate preparation for the Ph.D. (4) Regarding admission, the latest word is that they offer admission to about 1/4 of applicants. The vast majority come from outside the US. My sense is that 770+ math GRE score is desired but they are definitely willing to forgive a lower score if other elements of the application are strong. The mean is given as 750 on the website. Obviously strong grades are important. Mathematical preparation through multivariate calc and linear algebra seems to be the norm. A few people hadn't had this and were required to take a summer mathematics for economists course. Some people have substantially more math. There's a broad range. In any case, I hope this is helpful to future applicants. I will try to keep checking this thread if people have questions.

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