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JEL.L63 · 07-20-2008, 10:23 PM

Hi there, I just wanted your opinion about this thing. In some PhD program's admission web sites, I've seen alerts to american students about foreign applicants who come with "Serious Master Degrees". Do you think, having a previous Master Degree, will help you improve your chances of admission? If you are a foreign, will having this give you better chances than native americans who are coming from their undergrad? And if so, Wich kind of Master degree.

vanRijn · 07-20-2008, 10:53 PM

I know only a school in Europe which has placed students in top10 programs straight from an undergrad 3yrs degree (Bocconi), but that could just be due to my scarce information. If it were true tho masters would look more like a necessity than like an option for european phd seekers.

However, Imho for international applicants it's not mainly about which masters, but about the recs.
Then when you're in having a "serious masters degree" can help you with coursework. But then I think that american undergrads in good school who can take grad courses are not at such a great disadvantage, quite the opposite in fact.

LouisBD · 07-21-2008, 03:12 PM

Note that in some countries in Europe it is quite uncommon to just obtain a bachelors degree and nearly everyone obtains a masters. Some countries are still adapting to the bachelor-master system and historically always delivered students with 4 year programmes (or even longer).

asianeconomist · 07-21-2008, 05:28 PM

From Asia, especially the sub-continent, nearly all applicants to PhD programs do so with a Masters degree in Economics. The trend for doing a Masters in Math/Statistics is much more scarce in this part of the world.

philecon · 07-21-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asianeconomist

From Asia, especially the sub-continent, nearly all applicants to PhD programs do so with a Masters degree in Economics. The trend for doing a Masters in Math/Statistics is much more scarce in this part of the world.

It does seem to be that way, at least, for my school. A professor in my uni, and a friend who'll be entering a PhD program this fall are both advising me to go take the road less travelled, or "the higher math route." Both told me that it'd prepare me better for the PhD, as math is the language of grad school econ.

I have no idea, though, as to which master's program I should apply into. My school's Math department offers a pure math master's, and an applied math master's, which has a math finance track. Both have nearly the same core courses. Would it matter when you apply for PhD programs?

andrem · 07-21-2008, 07:20 PM

In my country, in Latin America, I never heard about no one going direct to phd. Most go to a master in economics first. There are two programs compared to the best master programs in the world, with a considerable share of the faculty from Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc.

In one of them there's two advanced Math Analysis courses, and in Micro, Macro and Econometrics you study almost the same content seen in First Year phd programs. Also, people that end these masters usually succeed in phd programs, so they place lots of people in top schools every year. Also, I heard their LORs have a lot of impact, since it cames from professor that worked with you in research.

By giving an important backgroung, since you'll start the PhD after already taking 2 advanced math analysis (at least) and reading the whole basic literature, it increases a lot your chances of joining a good program.

Also, if working with economic research is what you want, I really think 2 years are not that much, since you'll be doing that anyway. More than this, is an opportunity to decide if you really want to deal with this your whole life.

JEL.L63 · 07-21-2008, 08:42 PM

Hi guys! thanks to all for your replies. I have myself recieved the same advice. It is better to go for a Master degree before applying for a PhD in the US. But the Why my profesor gives to me is a little different from yours. They advise me to go for a Master for the LOR's It is defficult to get strongs LOR's from your undergraduate program. So we Usually go to Master Degrees where we know that porfessors with good contacs teach.

asianeconomist · 07-22-2008, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philecon

Would it matter when you apply for PhD programs?

IMHO, the courses that you take are of real import. A lot of students in TM see to take a lot of math courses, the sheer number of which would probably have earned them a Math degree. However, it is natural to assume that in a 'applied' program, the focus would not be on proof-writing (which is coveted for Grad Econ).

philecon · 07-22-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asianeconomist

IMHO, the courses that you take are of real import. A lot of students in TM see to take a lot of math courses, the sheer number of which would probably have earned them a Math degree. However, it is natural to assume that in a 'applied' program, the focus would not be on proof-writing (which is coveted for Grad Econ).

Which was what my friend pointed out, actually. He sort of said that the 'applied' program might send mixed signals. Thanks for reinforcing the idea!

07-20-2008, 10:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
JEL.L63 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 26	Foreign Applicants with Masters Hi there, I just wanted your opinion about this thing. In some PhD program's admission web sites, I've seen alerts to american students about foreign applicants who come with "Serious Master Degrees". Do you think, having a previous Master Degree, will help you improve your chances of admission? If you are a foreign, will having this give you better chances than native americans who are coming from their undergrad? And if so, Wich kind of Master degree.

07-21-2008, 05:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
asianeconomist Loving the game Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,017	From Asia, especially the sub-continent, nearly all applicants to PhD programs do so with a Masters degree in Economics. The trend for doing a Masters in Math/Statistics is much more scarce in this part of the world. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ The Pens have been lifted and the Pages have dried. - recorded by At Tirmidhee.

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07-20-2008, 10:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
vanRijn Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	I know only a school in Europe which has placed students in top10 programs straight from an undergrad 3yrs degree (Bocconi), but that could just be due to my scarce information. If it were true tho masters would look more like a necessity than like an option for european phd seekers. However, Imho for international applicants it's not mainly about which masters, but about the recs. Then when you're in having a "serious masters degree" can help you with coursework. But then I think that american undergrads in good school who can take grad courses are not at such a great disadvantage, quite the opposite in fact.

07-21-2008, 03:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
LouisBD Eager! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 43	Note that in some countries in Europe it is quite uncommon to just obtain a bachelors degree and nearly everyone obtains a masters. Some countries are still adapting to the bachelor-master system and historically always delivered students with 4 year programmes (or even longer).

07-21-2008, 07:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
andrem Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 19	In my country, in Latin America, I never heard about no one going direct to phd. Most go to a master in economics first. There are two programs compared to the best master programs in the world, with a considerable share of the faculty from Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc. In one of them there's two advanced Math Analysis courses, and in Micro, Macro and Econometrics you study almost the same content seen in First Year phd programs. Also, people that end these masters usually succeed in phd programs, so they place lots of people in top schools every year. Also, I heard their LORs have a lot of impact, since it cames from professor that worked with you in research. By giving an important backgroung, since you'll start the PhD after already taking 2 advanced math analysis (at least) and reading the whole basic literature, it increases a lot your chances of joining a good program. Also, if working with economic research is what you want, I really think 2 years are not that much, since you'll be doing that anyway. More than this, is an opportunity to decide if you really want to deal with this your whole life.

07-21-2008, 08:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
JEL.L63 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 26	Hi guys! thanks to all for your replies. I have myself recieved the same advice. It is better to go for a Master degree before applying for a PhD in the US. But the Why my profesor gives to me is a little different from yours. They advise me to go for a Master for the LOR's It is defficult to get strongs LOR's from your undergraduate program. So we Usually go to Master Degrees where we know that porfessors with good contacs teach.

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