Preliminary Profile evalutation

[EconJames]

Hi, all, I am new here and find that the members can always give nice advice. I post my preliminary profile here, and I appreciate your advice!
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: International background. Almost top university in my home country but not famous.
Undergrad GPA: Major in Econ, minor in Math, GPA 3.82
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: In July, assume 800 Q

Math Courses: Mathematical analysis1-3(two A,one A-), Advanced algebra1-2(B+,A),Numerical analysis(A), Analytical Geometry(A),ODE(B), Real analysis(A),Complex analysis(A-),Functional analysis(A), Probability theroy(A),Mathematical statistic(A-),Dynamic optimization(A),Stochastic process(taking)

Econ Courses: many, all basic courses including intermediate marco,micro,metrics, almost all A,except two A-.

Grad Econ Courses: Advanced macro, Game theory, Advanced finance

Letters of Recommendation: Not famous professors, but know me well. One of them well published.
Research Experience: Two papers published in minor journal.

Teaching Experience: No
Research Interests: Macro

Top choice: Minnesota Northwestern NYU Cornell
Reaches: UBC(MA) ,Ohio State, Johns Hopkins U,U Washington

Questions:
1. Do I need more math courses such as measure theory?
2. Do I need more graduate econ course? Especially metrics?
3. What about my choices?

Thanks again for your advice!

[Golden Rule]

Your profile looks strong. I don't think anyone can hold your coursework against you, provided you do well in the grad courses you've listed. I would take courses that suit your long-run research interests at this point -- if that happens to include measure theory, take it. You don't need it, per se.

I'd say best use of your time on the margin right now is in continuing to impress your letter of recommendation writers. As for choices, find out at what US schools your writers know people, and if those schools fit your interests, be sure to apply there. As I'm sure you know this makes a huge difference.

[asianeconomist]

You have nearly a "Jesus" profile. The only concern is apparently the reputation of your institution and recommender's.Check out the places to which top students from your institution have gone to in earlier years. Those previous placements would ensure that you're institution will not be completely unknown to the adcoms there.

I'll also advise you to increase the range of schools that you're applying to.

[desimba]

I second what has been said here.

1) Additional math is definitely not required; you have your bases well covered.
2) Try on getting good LORs.
3) Choose your schools widely. Also have some which are outside of the top 30, just in case.

[EconJames]

I second what has been said here.

1) Additional math is definitely not required; you have your bases well covered.
2) Try on getting good LORs.
3) Choose your schools widely. Also have some which are outside of the top 30, just in case.

Thanks for advices from all of you. The main problem is that as far as I know, there are few people from US in my home university, I only know people from Europe. And I also want to know what kind of letter of recommendation is strong, is it necessary the people from top school such as MIT, Princeton? I think it is impossible for students like me to get contact with some real big ones.

[Golden Rule]

I mean, this isn't an exact science, but obviously LORs are a lot more valuable if the people on the admissions committee know something about where they are coming from. This could mean someone on the faculty has read your recommenders papers, co-authored with them, seen them present at a conference, etc, etc. Or, as others have suggested, if they've written letters for students in the past, and those students have turned out well. You can get some of the info I describe from your profs CVs, or from just talking to them. It's hard for you or anyone to judge exactly where your LORs will place you from a distance, which is why we suggest people apply to a wide range of places in the rankings. Certainly your coursework would be good enough for top 5 if backed up by solid LORs.

[econphilomath]

If your school and professors have little contact with the US then all the math courses and A's in the world will not get you into a top university.

The good news is that if your letter of recommendation you mentioned is indeed a well published professor then he/she will know people in the US because thats where most of the good journals/professors/programs are.

Talk to the best known/published professor you have and ask him directly where he thinks you should apply given your interests.

Also do not assume program A is easier to get into than program B just because it is ranked lower. It is hard to get into all the top programs and well known LORs are the key.

Regarding schools, here are my suggestions and comments:

Minnesota, NYU are both great choices. I didn't find NorthWestern a particularly macro school although it seemed great in general. Cornell?

I would add UPenn, Wisconsin, Chicago, UCLA, and Columbia. As for lower ranked programs (note: not "safties") I suggest the following list: Rochester, Texas, Georgetown and Boston U, maybe even Ohio and Indiana although this might not be necessary.

With the above you have maybe 15 places to narrow down to 10-12 and you could throw in MIT or Princeton while your at it if the applications fee is not to expensive for you....

All this conditional on your LORs advice. They know best...

Good Luck and hopefully you will make TestMagic proud!

[italos]

Regarding schools, here are my suggestions and comments:

Minnesota, NYU are both great choices. I didn't find NorthWestern a particularly macro school although it seemed great in general. Cornell?

I would add UPenn, Wisconsin, Chicago, UCLA, and Columbia. As for lower ranked programs (note: not "safties") I suggest the following list: Rochester, Texas, Georgetown and Boston U, maybe even Ohio and Indiana although this might not be necessary.

With the above you have maybe 15 places to narrow down to 10-12 and you could throw in MIT or Princeton while your at it if the applications fee is not to expensive for you....

Perhaps also UCM,UCLA,Michigan and UCSC(this one for safety)

[EconJames]

I mean, this isn't an exact science, but obviously LORs are a lot more valuable if the people on the admissions committee know something about where they are coming from. This could mean someone on the faculty has read your recommenders papers, co-authored with them, seen them present at a conference, etc, etc. Or, as others have suggested, if they've written letters for students in the past, and those students have turned out well. You can get some of the info I describe from your profs CVs, or from just talking to them. It's hard for you or anyone to judge exactly where your LORs will place you from a distance, which is why we suggest people apply to a wide range of places in the rankings. Certainly your coursework would be good enough for top 5 if backed up by solid LORs.

Thanks for advice. Now it seems that a hugh problem for me...This is the difficulty for students from not famous school. Anyway, I will try to figure out if I can find some people.

[EconJames]

If your school and professors have little contact with the US then all the math courses and A's in the world will not get you into a top university.

The good news is that if your letter of recommendation you mentioned is indeed a well published professor then he/she will know people in the US because thats where most of the good journals/professors/programs are.

Talk to the best known/published professor you have and ask him directly where he thinks you should apply given your interests.

Also do not assume program A is easier to get into than program B just because it is ranked lower. It is hard to get into all the top programs and well known LORs are the key.

Regarding schools, here are my suggestions and comments:

Minnesota, NYU are both great choices. I didn't find NorthWestern a particularly macro school although it seemed great in general. Cornell?

I would add UPenn, Wisconsin, Chicago, UCLA, and Columbia. As for lower ranked programs (note: not "safties") I suggest the following list: Rochester, Texas, Georgetown and Boston U, maybe even Ohio and Indiana although this might not be necessary.

With the above you have maybe 15 places to narrow down to 10-12 and you could throw in MIT or Princeton while your at it if the applications fee is not to expensive for you....

All this conditional on your LORs advice. They know best...

Good Luck and hopefully you will make TestMagic proud!

It is really helpful. Now I guess I may need a master school to get good LORs