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irishperu · 04-06-2008, 09:43 PM

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice regarding the decision I will have to take soon:
I have got admissions in Boston University (PhD Economics) and LSE (MSc EME). I would like to try with a top 5 the next year, but BU is atractive. Without considering the funding (I think I can get the money in both cases), which one would you choose?

crocoran · 04-06-2008, 11:00 PM

If you go to the LSE Master's you will probably will get an even better admission next year if you do a decent work there, but you will be 'wasting' one year.
So it depends what do you prefer. If you really want to go to a top-5 go to LSE (and you'll have your shot). If you want to end the not so much fun life of an economics PhD student sooner go to BU.

thewhiterabbit · 04-07-2008, 10:33 AM

The EME is an awesome program and could definitely launch you into a better program than BU if you were to beast it. But, I've heard that it is wicked hard and a non-trivial number of people fail out. Is it the one year or two year MSc track?

My understanding is that you've got to be one of the top people in the program in order to progress to top-5, and your competition is of course brilliant. Look back in the archives.... I remember some discussion about how even someone who was the best person in one year's EME class didn't get into Harvard/MIT (but they did get into just below that, somewhere like Princeton). Plus, there is the problem that if it's the 1-year course you won't have your marks come application time, so it might make minimal difference in your application if you want to progress directly onto a PhD elsewhere the year after.

So I would say the decision comes down to how confident you are in your abilities, your level of risk aversion, and your age.

Sam_Jackson · 04-07-2008, 12:42 PM

I second what the rabbit says. I am on the EME and have the exact same views. I'm pretty confident of my abilities but that non-trivial number of fails nags me a bit.

Sam.

irishperu · 04-07-2008, 05:43 PM

Thanks for your answers,

Thewhiterabbit, I have been accepted to the 1 year track LSE EME. How minimal can be the difference if I do not have my marks by the application time? I does not seem to me so minimal. Great marks could mean much better LORs and make the difference to get into Harvard/MIT.

Sam_Jackson, last year I took Real Analysis, Measure & Integration, Convex Analysis; can it make a difference in the EME program? Does anyone know the failure rate? By the way, I am 25 international student, I do not know how is the age issue when applying to a top 5.

thewhiterabbit · 04-07-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishperu

Thanks for your answers,

Thewhiterabbit, I have been accepted to the 1 year track LSE EME. How minimal can be the difference if I do not have my marks by the application time? I does not seem to me so minimal. Great marks could mean much better LORs and make the difference to get into Harvard/MIT.

The 1-year track definitely presents issues, because you'll have exactly 0 new grades when it comes time to apply again this fall. You'll only have had a semester (a short one too) to get to know profs as well. I would suggest you talk to people who are in the course or have gone though it about what most people do about this problem - in particular ask whether they tend to take a year off after the EME so their grades come in, or what.

Sam_Jackson · 04-07-2008, 07:26 PM

irishPeru: those are all very good courses you've done and they will definately help. I think you have a good background and you'll do well if you put the hours in. About the failure rate, usually we have around 25-30 people. I think 5 or less fail it. I've seen some stats somewhere; I forgot where. But you'll be fine if you just put the hours in. It's not a crazy programme but it is very tough.

Yea i'm in the 1 year. I will be reapplying again after working a couple of years. I only applied speculatively to a couple of top places just to see if it happened. It didn't. I think applications with grades would help a lot. That is do the EME but apply only after you've finished it. You could apply in the same year as the EME just to see if something happens. I think this year one guy got into UCBerkeley, another NWU, and appliedTheorist on this forum got into NYU and UChic (and a couple other places I can't recall). Quite a few are also staying on for the LSE PhD.

Age will not be much of a problem. 25 is fine. A very good friend of mine on this forum is 27 (i think), is happily married and got in every top place you can think of!

Sam.

04-06-2008, 09:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
irishperu Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3	LSE MSc EME vs. BU PhD Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice regarding the decision I will have to take soon: I have got admissions in Boston University (PhD Economics) and LSE (MSc EME). I would like to try with a top 5 the next year, but BU is atractive. Without considering the funding (I think I can get the money in both cases), which one would you choose?

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04-06-2008, 11:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
crocoran Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9	If you go to the LSE Master's you will probably will get an even better admission next year if you do a decent work there, but you will be 'wasting' one year. So it depends what do you prefer. If you really want to go to a top-5 go to LSE (and you'll have your shot). If you want to end the not so much fun life of an economics PhD student sooner go to BU.

04-07-2008, 10:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
thewhiterabbit Over the rainbow... Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 84	The EME is an awesome program and could definitely launch you into a better program than BU if you were to beast it. But, I've heard that it is wicked hard and a non-trivial number of people fail out. Is it the one year or two year MSc track? My understanding is that you've got to be one of the top people in the program in order to progress to top-5, and your competition is of course brilliant. Look back in the archives.... I remember some discussion about how even someone who was the best person in one year's EME class didn't get into Harvard/MIT (but they did get into just below that, somewhere like Princeton). Plus, there is the problem that if it's the 1-year course you won't have your marks come application time, so it might make minimal difference in your application if you want to progress directly onto a PhD elsewhere the year after. So I would say the decision comes down to how confident you are in your abilities, your level of risk aversion, and your age.

04-07-2008, 12:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sam_Jackson Publish or Paris(h)! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 93	I second what the rabbit says. I am on the EME and have the exact same views. I'm pretty confident of my abilities but that non-trivial number of fails nags me a bit. Sam.

04-07-2008, 05:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
irishperu Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3	Thanks for your answers, Thewhiterabbit, I have been accepted to the 1 year track LSE EME. How minimal can be the difference if I do not have my marks by the application time? I does not seem to me so minimal. Great marks could mean much better LORs and make the difference to get into Harvard/MIT. Sam_Jackson, last year I took Real Analysis, Measure & Integration, Convex Analysis; can it make a difference in the EME program? Does anyone know the failure rate? By the way, I am 25 international student, I do not know how is the age issue when applying to a top 5.

04-07-2008, 07:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sam_Jackson Publish or Paris(h)! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 93	irishPeru: those are all very good courses you've done and they will definately help. I think you have a good background and you'll do well if you put the hours in. About the failure rate, usually we have around 25-30 people. I think 5 or less fail it. I've seen some stats somewhere; I forgot where. But you'll be fine if you just put the hours in. It's not a crazy programme but it is very tough. Yea i'm in the 1 year. I will be reapplying again after working a couple of years. I only applied speculatively to a couple of top places just to see if it happened. It didn't. I think applications with grades would help a lot. That is do the EME but apply only after you've finished it. You could apply in the same year as the EME just to see if something happens. I think this year one guy got into UCBerkeley, another NWU, and appliedTheorist on this forum got into NYU and UChic (and a couple other places I can't recall). Quite a few are also staying on for the LSE PhD. Age will not be much of a problem. 25 is fine. A very good friend of mine on this forum is 27 (i think), is happily married and got in every top place you can think of! Sam.

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