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Antonio · 09-27-2007, 09:42 PM

Hello to everybody,

my name is Antonio and I wish to be an economist (oooh).

I took my BA in Economics at University of Napoli "Federico II" (top 30 European Universities).
Italian grading system is very different from the american one; but, anyway my undergraduate grades are:

Overall: 28.2 out of 30.
Economics: Micro(28), Macro(24), Macroeconomic Policy (28), Public Finance (29), Econometrics (30), Economic History (30), History of Economic Thaught (30).
Maths and Stats: Mathematical Methods (22), Statistics I (27), Statistics II (30), Mathematics for Economics (27).

Then I moved to Pisa for my two years MA in Economics.
In Pisa, at the same time, I am attending University of Pisa (top 40 European Universities) and Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies wich is a "School of Excellence", a quite leading istitution to get in which you need to win a public competition. The school provides me a full scholarship.

Graduate grades:

Overall: 30 out of 30
Economics: Adv. Micro (30), Adv. Macro (30), Adv. Econometrics I & II (30), Industrial Organization (30), Financial Economics (30), Game theory (28), Theory of choice under uncertainty (30).

Maths and Stats: Mathematical and Computational Methods for Economics (30), Advanced Statistics (30).

Ok, I am going to finish...

This summer I went to LSE for a Summer Course in "Industrial Organization & Competition Policy". Final grade: A+. The lecturer (PhD at yale) will write me a LOR.
The other two LORS will be made from a professor of University of Napoli and from a Professor of Sant'Anna School.

This semester I will be for 6 months a visiting student in UK at Southampton University and next semester I will go to Ecole Normale Superior, in Paris, as a visiting fellow. I will work with Philippe Jehiel and he will be my supervisor for my MA final dissertation. Unfortunately, it will be to late for a LOR because the deadlines for applications is next December.

Are you waiting for GRE scores??

800 in the Quantitative, 540 in the Verbal and a pityfully 2.5 in the Writing.

Ten days ago I made the TOEFL iBT and I am still waiting for scores.

So, my questions are:

1)What about Verbal and Writing Scores of GRE; should I retake the test?

2)Which is a "safe" score in the TOEFL? Many US top colleges have some different minimum requirements.

3)Last but not least: do you think I am competitive? Can I be an outstanding candidate. Or should I take another one year master in some very good european college like Toulose, LSE, Cambridge, Oxford, etc...

Thank you in advance.

Cheers,

Antonio.

kartelite · 09-27-2007, 11:48 PM

1) Considering you have an 800 on the quant section, and a pretty solid score on verbal for a non-native speaker, I wouldn't worry too much about the writing score. It very well could hurt you on the margin, but not as much as if you retook and had a bad day and got 760 on quant.

2) I wouldn't really know, most schools have the requirements readily accessible on their websites. Your English is pretty good, and obviously being Italian the marginal effort required for you to improve your English is considerably less than for non-European language speakers (lots of cognates, similar sentence structure, etc).

3) You seem to have a pretty competitive profile for a top 30 school. You already have racked up a couple degrees and research at other places, I don't think I would bother with another masters degree.

May I ask why you wish to pursue an economics PhD, besides to "be an economist?" You could certainly get a good (non-academic) job with your current background.

Antonio · 09-28-2007, 06:02 PM

Hello Kartelite,

I am going to answer your question but, first of all, I wish to thank you for your helpful suggestions.

I want to pursue a PhD because I really love research and Academic environment.
Since I was a little child I use to be vary familiar with research environments because my father is a professor and a researcher in Nuclear Physics. He used to take me with him at University and in many conferences.
I am not interested in job or carreer. I love studying and I would like to do this in the best places with the best collegues.
Indedd, I am glade that you think that I can apply for top 30 universities, but I would like to do it, with some chances, in places like MIT, Princeton, Stanford.
And, taking an MPhil in Toulouse with Tirole and Mortimort could be very usefull in order to get to MIT.
This is the reason because I have some doubts about taking another MPhil.

Thank you very much.

Cheers,

Antonio.

Antonio · 09-29-2007, 05:37 PM

Come on guys (and girls),

except of kartelike nobody wants to help me?

Please....

requi · 09-29-2007, 05:52 PM

Master of Arts = Laurea Specialistica?

Antonio · 09-30-2007, 05:19 PM

I Think so.

Laurea Specialistica = Master.

I have not understood yet the differencer between MA, MSC and MPhil.
Could someone help us?

In my CV I use to write: MSc.

But in filling my applications I am writing: MA.

Good night and Good luck,

Antonio.

requi · 09-30-2007, 05:29 PM

Hi Antonio,

Maybe Luarea Specialistica is equivalent to a US Master of Arts. From my point of view, Laurea specialistica=Laurea Specialistica :-)

Your cv is strong!

Now i'm in Tolouse for a master of research in Economics. I'm interested in a (U.S.) Phd in Economics.

Antonio · 10-01-2007, 10:02 AM

Hi requi,

so you are taking a Master in Toulose? Very very good!
I think it is the best place in Europe and the only one that can give you the possibility to get in to MIT.
Which master degree are you taking? I am interested in the one named "Mathematics for Economics and Econometrics".
I think it is very difficult, isn't it ?
Are you going to apply this december? And where?
Do you feel "sure"? I have a lot of doubts about my possibilities to get in a TOP USA University.

Anyway, good luck and, if you want, you could give me your email address or msn contact in order to have other conversations.

Cheers,

Antonio.

requi · 10-01-2007, 04:04 PM

Yes, Toulouse is the best place in Europe to study Economics (it's also very difficult). My master is "Financial Markets and intermediares", i have a lot of exams in common with Eco-Math and Econometrics.
Yes i'm going to aplly in a Us Phd In december. I don't know if a master in Toulouse could be a good reference before finishing all exams (11+Master thesis)!
What do you think about this last observation?

From my point of view you must speak with your professors!

Good Luck

Antonio · 10-02-2007, 10:21 AM

Hello,

I don't think the problem is that you have not yet finished the master.
Master in Toulose is a signal: is very difficult to be admitted and is very difficult to have high grades. In this way you signal to US Schools that you are an outstanding student.
Moreover, it could be a good idea to get letter from professors in Toulose.

(maybe I should not tell you all this stuff because we will be competitors

).

Cheers,

Antonio.

09-27-2007, 09:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 330	Italian Student needs to talk and have some good answers!!! Hello to everybody, my name is Antonio and I wish to be an economist (oooh). I took my BA in Economics at University of Napoli "Federico II" (top 30 European Universities). Italian grading system is very different from the american one; but, anyway my undergraduate grades are: Overall: 28.2 out of 30. Economics: Micro(28), Macro(24), Macroeconomic Policy (28), Public Finance (29), Econometrics (30), Economic History (30), History of Economic Thaught (30). Maths and Stats: Mathematical Methods (22), Statistics I (27), Statistics II (30), Mathematics for Economics (27). Then I moved to Pisa for my two years MA in Economics. In Pisa, at the same time, I am attending University of Pisa (top 40 European Universities) and Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies wich is a "School of Excellence", a quite leading istitution to get in which you need to win a public competition. The school provides me a full scholarship. Graduate grades: Overall: 30 out of 30 Economics: Adv. Micro (30), Adv. Macro (30), Adv. Econometrics I & II (30), Industrial Organization (30), Financial Economics (30), Game theory (28), Theory of choice under uncertainty (30). Maths and Stats: Mathematical and Computational Methods for Economics (30), Advanced Statistics (30). Ok, I am going to finish... This summer I went to LSE for a Summer Course in "Industrial Organization & Competition Policy". Final grade: A+. The lecturer (PhD at yale) will write me a LOR. The other two LORS will be made from a professor of University of Napoli and from a Professor of Sant'Anna School. This semester I will be for 6 months a visiting student in UK at Southampton University and next semester I will go to Ecole Normale Superior, in Paris, as a visiting fellow. I will work with Philippe Jehiel and he will be my supervisor for my MA final dissertation. Unfortunately, it will be to late for a LOR because the deadlines for applications is next December. Are you waiting for GRE scores?? 800 in the Quantitative, 540 in the Verbal and a pityfully 2.5 in the Writing. Ten days ago I made the TOEFL iBT and I am still waiting for scores. So, my questions are: 1)What about Verbal and Writing Scores of GRE; should I retake the test? 2)Which is a "safe" score in the TOEFL? Many US top colleges have some different minimum requirements. 3)Last but not least: do you think I am competitive? Can I be an outstanding candidate. Or should I take another one year master in some very good european college like Toulose, LSE, Cambridge, Oxford, etc... Thank you in advance. Cheers, Antonio.

09-27-2007, 11:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
kartelite Within my grasp! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Virginia/NC Posts: 436	1) Considering you have an 800 on the quant section, and a pretty solid score on verbal for a non-native speaker, I wouldn't worry too much about the writing score. It very well could hurt you on the margin, but not as much as if you retook and had a bad day and got 760 on quant. 2) I wouldn't really know, most schools have the requirements readily accessible on their websites. Your English is pretty good, and obviously being Italian the marginal effort required for you to improve your English is considerably less than for non-European language speakers (lots of cognates, similar sentence structure, etc). 3) You seem to have a pretty competitive profile for a top 30 school. You already have racked up a couple degrees and research at other places, I don't think I would bother with another masters degree. May I ask why you wish to pursue an economics PhD, besides to "be an economist?" You could certainly get a good (non-academic) job with your current background. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Attending: Virginia

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09-28-2007, 06:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 330	Hello Kartelite, I am going to answer your question but, first of all, I wish to thank you for your helpful suggestions. I want to pursue a PhD because I really love research and Academic environment. Since I was a little child I use to be vary familiar with research environments because my father is a professor and a researcher in Nuclear Physics. He used to take me with him at University and in many conferences. I am not interested in job or carreer. I love studying and I would like to do this in the best places with the best collegues. Indedd, I am glade that you think that I can apply for top 30 universities, but I would like to do it, with some chances, in places like MIT, Princeton, Stanford. And, taking an MPhil in Toulouse with Tirole and Mortimort could be very usefull in order to get to MIT. This is the reason because I have some doubts about taking another MPhil. Thank you very much. Cheers, Antonio.

09-29-2007, 05:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 330	Come on guys (and girls), except of kartelike nobody wants to help me? Please....

09-29-2007, 05:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
requi Eager! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 30	Master of Arts = Laurea Specialistica?

09-30-2007, 05:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 330	I Think so. Laurea Specialistica = Master. I have not understood yet the differencer between MA, MSC and MPhil. Could someone help us? In my CV I use to write: MSc. But in filling my applications I am writing: MA. Good night and Good luck, Antonio.

09-30-2007, 05:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
requi Eager! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 30	Hi Antonio, Maybe Luarea Specialistica is equivalent to a US Master of Arts. From my point of view, Laurea specialistica=Laurea Specialistica :-) Your cv is strong! Now i'm in Tolouse for a master of research in Economics. I'm interested in a (U.S.) Phd in Economics.

10-01-2007, 10:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 330	Hi requi, so you are taking a Master in Toulose? Very very good! I think it is the best place in Europe and the only one that can give you the possibility to get in to MIT. Which master degree are you taking? I am interested in the one named "Mathematics for Economics and Econometrics". I think it is very difficult, isn't it ? Are you going to apply this december? And where? Do you feel "sure"? I have a lot of doubts about my possibilities to get in a TOP USA University. Anyway, good luck and, if you want, you could give me your email address or msn contact in order to have other conversations. Cheers, Antonio.

10-01-2007, 04:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
requi Eager! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 30	Yes, Toulouse is the best place in Europe to study Economics (it's also very difficult). My master is "Financial Markets and intermediares", i have a lot of exams in common with Eco-Math and Econometrics. Yes i'm going to aplly in a Us Phd In december. I don't know if a master in Toulouse could be a good reference before finishing all exams (11+Master thesis)! What do you think about this last observation? From my point of view you must speak with your professors! Good Luck

10-02-2007, 10:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 330	Hello, I don't think the problem is that you have not yet finished the master. Master in Toulose is a signal: is very difficult to be admitted and is very difficult to have high grades. In this way you signal to US Schools that you are an outstanding student. Moreover, it could be a good idea to get letter from professors in Toulose. (maybe I should not tell you all this stuff because we will be competitors ). Cheers, Antonio.

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