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buckykatt · 05-24-2008, 02:41 PM

I agree that the math you currently have on your transcript is insufficient. If you've studied so much on your own that you're sure that you can ace the math subject GRE, then that may be a good way to prove that you're prepared. But as other folks have said, enrolling in a master's program in econ would be a good way both to get more math and econ on your transcript and to develop relationships with econ profs that could lead to research experience and good LORs.

If I were you, I'd probably plan to spend this coming academic year earning As in multivariate calc and real analysis at whatever school works for your schedule (or even online), and apply for a master's program in econ for the following year.

The one thing I wouldn't worry about at this stage is zeroing in on a specific field.

bheld · 06-13-2008, 03:03 AM

Well I just took the GRE today and scored a 620 on the verbal and 790 on the quant. I think I did okay on the writing section as well. I was looking today at Iowa State's masters program which would be good for me since I'm in-state and it seems to be a relatively well-respected program.

breakz · 06-13-2008, 03:54 PM

Congrats, that's a great GRE score.

Tex Jansen · 06-13-2008, 04:42 PM

I think that your best bet to get into a respectable program is to apply to a terminal masters program and then switch to that same department's Ph.D. program a year later. A program will be more willing to give someone with weaker grades a chance if they know them and can convince themselves that they a just a late bloomer. Iowa State seems like the type of place for this.

I think that you will have a very hard time gaining direct admission to any Ph.D. program outside the bottom 10%.

bheld · 06-13-2008, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the comments.

Does anybody have any advice for getting letters of recommendation? I've been out of school and might be able to track down old professors but there's zero chance of them remembering me since I was one of about 7,000 people in the class. Are there any threads that deal with soliciting letters or does anybody have a secret that worked for them?

MNGoon · 06-13-2008, 07:20 PM

Bheld-

Try sending an email to a number of your former professors, set up a phone call about your plans interests and what you've been up to since you took their courses.

Both times that I have applied for graduate programs I had been out of school for 3 years before I applied. Both times I was able to find 3 professors who were excited about what I had been up to and why I wanted to go back to school. They seem to have written me pretty solid letters of recommendation - I consistently got into top 15-30 schools.

05-24-2008, 02:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
buckykatt TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: May 2007 Location: US Posts: 895	I agree that the math you currently have on your transcript is insufficient. If you've studied so much on your own that you're sure that you can ace the math subject GRE, then that may be a good way to prove that you're prepared. But as other folks have said, enrolling in a master's program in econ would be a good way both to get more math and econ on your transcript and to develop relationships with econ profs that could lead to research experience and good LORs. If I were you, I'd probably plan to spend this coming academic year earning As in multivariate calc and real analysis at whatever school works for your schedule (or even online), and apply for a master's program in econ for the following year. The one thing I wouldn't worry about at this stage is zeroing in on a specific field. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "It's like a nerd watering hole in the savanna!" - econphilomath

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06-13-2008, 03:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
bheld Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 17	Well I just took the GRE today and scored a 620 on the verbal and 790 on the quant. I think I did okay on the writing section as well. I was looking today at Iowa State's masters program which would be good for me since I'm in-state and it seems to be a relatively well-respected program.

06-13-2008, 03:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
breakz all things in balance Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 73	Congrats, that's a great GRE score.

06-13-2008, 04:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tex Jansen Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 149	I think that your best bet to get into a respectable program is to apply to a terminal masters program and then switch to that same department's Ph.D. program a year later. A program will be more willing to give someone with weaker grades a chance if they know them and can convince themselves that they a just a late bloomer. Iowa State seems like the type of place for this. I think that you will have a very hard time gaining direct admission to any Ph.D. program outside the bottom 10%.

06-13-2008, 05:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
bheld Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 17	Thanks for the comments. Does anybody have any advice for getting letters of recommendation? I've been out of school and might be able to track down old professors but there's zero chance of them remembering me since I was one of about 7,000 people in the class. Are there any threads that deal with soliciting letters or does anybody have a secret that worked for them?

06-13-2008, 07:20 PM	#16 (permalink)
MNGoon Regional Economics Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 36	Bheld- Try sending an email to a number of your former professors, set up a phone call about your plans interests and what you've been up to since you took their courses. Both times that I have applied for graduate programs I had been out of school for 3 years before I applied. Both times I was able to find 3 professors who were excited about what I had been up to and why I wanted to go back to school. They seem to have written me pretty solid letters of recommendation - I consistently got into top 15-30 schools.

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