Is it possible for me to get into Minnesota?

**kknd82** · 03-08-2007, 08:02 PM

I am going to apply Econ PHD this year or the coming year.

Here's my profile

Undergraduate GPA:3.4
Got most As in senior math courses( about 10 As? , inculding real analysis 1,2) and 2 Bs and Cs
8 economic courses, B- in intro courses, As in intermediate micro and macro,C in mathematical economics,As in advanced theory

Master Economics.
Phd microI B- ,Phd macroI B, Phd EconometricsI B-,Phd Micro2 B+, Phd Macro2 A+. Graduate Probablity A+, Graduate Partial differential equation A+, Graduate mathematical stats A+,Galois theory A+, Financial Econometrics A+

I would like to apply Minnesota, Utoronto. So any chances? or what can I do to improve my chances?

Thank you for any advice

**EconMist** · 03-08-2007, 08:11 PM

Your GPA is not the strongest and I assume you haven't taken your GREs yet. Anyhow, the answer to your question is YES! It is possible, but competition could kill you. Just ask yourself "how many students could have a better profile than I do?". If you think it's too many, then you will have to improve your profile. Look at the profiles of students who got into UMN and Toronto and you will get an idea of how exactly you can improve your profile. If you feel that there is nothing you can do about certain aspects of your profile (for instance, a lower-than-average G.P.A), then you will have to depend on luck (randomness).

Hope this helps!

**Terd Ferguson** · 03-08-2007, 08:15 PM

you can see my profile under the first post I made probably. I got denied from UMN today if that helps.

. Your GPA hurts, but as long as you have As in your hardest math classes that is what counts.

**kknd82** · 03-08-2007, 08:38 PM

Thank you for all the inputs.
Looks like I have to count on luck but I am always a very unlucky man...
I feels it's very hard for me to improve my profile. I've done nearly all the 1st year econ phd core courses and so many math courses.

**EconMist** · 03-08-2007, 08:42 PM

Kknd82, just out of curiousity, why do you want to go to UMN specifically? Just go to the highest ranked school that accepts and funds you and just excell there! When your profile doesn't seem good enough for Random University, it could be a sign that if you get into that school, there is a huge chance that you could be a mediocre student there. Of course, this is not necessarily true, but when it's your gpa that's hurting you, then you should think twice.

**apropos** · 03-08-2007, 08:45 PM

I think UMN is one of the 'easier' top 20s to get into. Still, it's very competitive. I'd say you should apply, specially if you have something else to make up for the weak GPA (e.g. good letter of recommendation, paper/writing sample, etc)

**kknd82** · 03-08-2007, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by EconMist

Kknd82, just out of curiousity, why do you want to go to UMN specifically? Just go to the highest ranked school that accepts and funds you and just excell there!

Because I want to do Macro and I heard UMN is great place for Macro. And apropos pointed out the other reason

. I will goto the best school that accepts me(of course with funds). But before application, I hope I could prepare well and at least have some chance at my schools I am interested in.

**butler blue** · 03-08-2007, 09:12 PM

I guess if I was an adcom, I'd be trying to figure out why someone with such great grades in very hard math classes only made a C in math econ and B's in grad econ classes. I would be very confused. LORs from profs that taught your grad econ classes would help a lot I would think.