Kiel Advanced Studies Program:Update

[italos]

I have done some research on Kiel Advanced Studies program(Advanced Studies Program — Portal) and in summarizing I came across the following points.Personally, I will be attaining this program this coming fall since I have no other choice.

1. The courses they offer are taught by leading scholars from various universities(this year Rogoff, Goodfriend, Wolf among others are teaching).There are exams at the end of all courses. The grading system corresponds to the US system. Several participants of the ASP have successfully applied for Ph.D programs of US universities in the past.So doing well in these courses I could try ask for a letter of recommendation from a top economist.No sure how rigorous they are but I am aiming to the letter of recommendation. The courses are policy and international oriented. very similar to a summer school program duration (at least to CREI's at UPF). So, in terms of the coursework I do not know what this can add me to my solid background but being taught by a leading economist I think that can add me a lot if I do well in the exam written by him and get his letter of recommendation!

2. The president is Dennis Snower, a very well known economist.By looking at his CV I can see that he is busy with advising banks and doing consulting which means that you may never get to see him.In terms of the ASP, he is not involved so probably the way to get to him(speculating for a letter of recommendation) is by your research and, in that respect, the program gives you 2 chances (papers)

3. Possibility of writing 2 working papers with the help of the staff and present them in a conference organized by them.If they are good they get published.Also some RA duties are assigned to students.

4. Placements:Recent placements are mostly in some European universities, research institues, IMF ,World Bank and Northwestern University PhD program (I am not thinking of applying to NWU since I am a macro guy) and other US schoos

5.Life in Kiel is cheap, cheaper than in other big cities and you can make yourself with 400-450 euros a month, depending on your tastes. Life at Kiel is boring and the fact that Kiel is rather small and there are not many things to do. Students usually go to the same pub and over the weekends shops close early or are even closed.

6. ASP is not a Master degree

7.Possibility of taking additional courses(and the exam) and Kiel University PhD program.Usually those are Micro ,Time series and Maths-Stats

A reputable academic thinks that as a way to get to a PhD program in the US it is not a very good option.However .. the question is what are my other options?Since I do not have a plan B,I am only considering it for the fee waiver,I will try perform exceptionally well in the courses,write two very good papers with the additional of the RA job hoping and preying in a good LOR !

[reactor]

If you do well in the exams you can get a good letter. The higher grades you get in the exams the greater your chances for good LORs. Without good grades in the exams no serious professor gives a a letter of recommendation. So, in my opinion, you should focus on high grades (unless of course you can produce a top paper).

[italos]

By doing well in these courses and getting a letter of recommendation by a top researcher could I eliminate in that sense my bad masters result?

[reactor]

By doing well in these courses and getting a letter of recommendation by a top researcher could I eliminate in that sense my bad masters result?

Doing well in as many courses as the one's you did not do well, would offset by 99% the masters bad result.

[bfly]

hi italos.

I had the same problems for funding as you have and the same doubts in terms of opportunities.
I was said that there's no real problem on the after-course, since the connections they offer w international organizations is excellent.
Funding is a bit weak.... but we'll see... after i understand how much studying the course involves, I will organise myself accordingly.

If you are in kiel this year, give me a shout.


Monica