Profile for: PhD Finance/PhD Business Econ

**FightingIrish1** · 02-06-2008, 08:01 PM

I am looking to obtain a business econ or finance phd to do a lot of empirical research on the equity market and things such as M&A, LBO, Asset Pricing, etc. I plan to spend 2-3 years beefing up my math and taking courses I would need to help my chances.

Should I retake my GRE?
What math should I take for a business school PhD?
Should I take more econ than intermediate and econometrics?
Should I take more finance?
Is a letter of recommendation from a non-business professor worth it? Even if he has a PhD from a top 5 school and thinks the absolute world of you?
What kind of job should I get to help me in my pursuit, and will allow me to take a lot of classes?

Any other help is greatly appreciated.

Gre: 770 Q, 650 V, 6.0 A
Type of Undergrad: a liberal arts college; good but not elite
GPA: Overall: 3.75, Finance: 3.8
Classes:
Math: Calc I through II (A-'s), Probability & Statistics I (A)
Finance:Corporate Finance (B), Advanced Corporate Finance (A), Investments (A-), Money and Banking (A-), Seminar (B+)
**Not that it matters but the B and B+ was the same prof. who hated me**
Econ: Intro (A)
Research Experience: Full year research project my junior year
Teaching Experience: Lots of tutoring in finance and 1 semester of TA
LORs: One from a finance prof (Ph.D. from Mich) one from another finance(Ph.D. Toronto) one from either a grad teacher or a undergrad teacher. All of them are very high on me and know me well, but they are not well-known or well-published.

Other: American citizen, 6 months out of college

**fp3690** · 02-06-2008, 08:48 PM

Can't say much about finance, but if you plan on spending two to 3 YEARS before applying, you might as well study some more and retake the GRE. Makes no sense not to.

**macroeconomicus** · 02-06-2008, 10:05 PM

Some big research universities and some of better liberal arts colleges offer, at least optionally, fairly advanced economic theory courses to undergraduates. E.g., my school had two more advanced courses with the goal of teaching them at the level comparable to first year PhD courses, but not necessarily covering as much material. They also offered an optional matrix-based econometrics course. So, if you can, definitely take such courses. Regarding math, you need at least multivariable calculus, calculus-based probability, and linear algebra. Courses in real analysis and mathematical statistics would be also highly desirable (and basically almost a must for many programs). More advanced courses in analysis, differential equations, or statistics would be nice, but the marginal benefit from taking them is probably lower as far as admissions board is concerned (of course, the intellectual marginal benefit will depend on what you will do later on). Advanced undergraduate seminar in economics or finance could be helpful to get to know your faculty, write papers semi-independently, etc. If you're interested in studying macroeconomics or asset pricing, taking a course in stochastic processes could be helpful.

**FightingIrish1** · 02-06-2008, 11:08 PM

Well I am graduated so I will be taking classes at a school that offers PhD courses.

I know I have to beef up my math but my only worry is that I never felt as if I have been taught math well, therefore, I felt unprepared for Calc and felt that I had to struggle through it, though I did well. Also, I had a very "know it now forget it later" attitude. Now that I want to go dive back into math, being 4 years out of my last class I want to learn all the math I need to take calc and then reread my book and notes for a refresh (all in the next 8 months) so I can then take a Math stats and Mult Vari class. Anyone have suggestions how to build up this knowledge: books, websites, guides, etc. I do not want to overstudy old things that I will not use or everyone forgets by the time calc comes along, just what I need to know because sometimes even basic principles escape me like factoring.

**asquare** · 02-06-2008, 11:23 PM

FightingIrish1, please don't take this the wrong way. However, last year you made some posts asking for advice and profile evaluation, and then claimed that your father was on the adcom at a top school and said that you'd only made those posts to see how bad the advice given would be (Adcom Advice versus the Common Board Advice).

So, before I or anyone else invests in giving you thoughtful advice, can you reassure us that you are posting in sincerity now, not trying to "trap" people into giving advice you think is bad so that you can come back and tell us how off-track we are later?

Thanks and sorry for the detour. If this post is in earnest, then I'm sure you'll continue to get useful feedback.

**FightingIrish1** · 02-06-2008, 11:42 PM

It is I was being a jerk back then when I thought I knew all the roads to rome and now I know that I am simply a passenger, therefore, if anyone could help my last thoughts I would be very happy. I do apologize.

**FightingIrish1** · 02-07-2008, 12:15 AM

This is the question I was eluding to, since i know math is important:

Well I am graduated so I will be taking classes at a school that offers PhD courses.

I know I have to beef up my math but my only worry is that I never felt as if I have been taught math well, therefore, I felt unprepared for Calc and felt that I had to struggle through it, though I did well. Also, I had a very "know it now forget it later" attitude. Now that I want to go dive back into math, being 4 years out of my last class I want to learn all the math I need to take calc and then reread my book and notes for a refresh (all in the next 8 months) so I can then take a Math stats and Mult Vari class. Anyone have suggestions how to build up this knowledge: books, websites, guides, etc. I do not want to overstudy old things that I will not use or everyone forgets by the time calc comes along, just what I need to know because sometimes even basic principles escape me like factoring.

**FightingIrish1** · 02-07-2008, 02:00 AM

anyone? Also, someone recommended Stewart's text but I see for Calculus he has a Calculus book and Calculus: Early Transcendentals (what is the difference)

**macroeconomicus** · 02-07-2008, 02:16 AM

I think they're the same editions of the same book. By the way, don't buy the latest edition, or even the previous one. The only reason they keep publishing some many editions is to continue skinning US students. Get a used copy of fifth edition or similar. Those should be relatively cheap now. I have been out of school once as well and forgot all the math. I think 2 months were enough to reread Stewart mostly cover to cover before returning.

**FightingIrish1** · 02-07-2008, 02:34 AM

so what can I read to prepare for calculus? Like from Arithmetic to Precalc. What books or books can I read to be ready, I just am someone who needs to know the ins and out of everything. I know that is hard with math but I want to have a good grasp of everything I need. Advice please.

Also, is Larson's Calc better than Stewart? I know Apostol is great and I have seen it but it seems to dry for me.