Preparation

[JesusLovesATrier]

For those about to start their programme this Fall, what have you been doing in preparation?

- Kicking back and having one last month of freedom in the sun?
- Catching up with some revision?
- Reading the books used on your up-coming courses?
- Still working like a dog in a job you really need to escape from?

It'd be interesting to know what you're reading/ have read over the last few months in prep. (or any other preparation not reading). I am working at the moment but in free time I am doing some revision of some of the basics, scooting through Chiang and Simon & Blume on the maths side and Casella/Berger and Verbeek for metrics. I'm trying to make headway with MWG and Romer as well but it's very slow and I'm matching them up to intermediate textbooks, reading them simultaneously, to make more sense of it. I'm not sure I'll have them finished before starting.

I'm also trying to improve my focus and ways of fitting in physical activity to short periods where I can still be productive afterwards and not pass out.

Any good stories?

[sonicskat]

I started reading a little MWG sometime before classes start. It was a complete waste of time.

If i could go back...I would relax as much as humanly possible. You are in for (probably) the most intense and stressful year of your life. Most people in my class after the cores have taken on jobs this summer that are intellectually light or no jobs at all. Remember, the reason you are going to school is to read the books.

Especially macro...I wouldn't waste my time. Don't even try to look into stokey and Lucas. Many of these books are made to be used in conjunction with an instructor...not independent study. The most useful thing is probably to study prob and math stats if you have a weak background.

It really really sucks to start looking into that stuff during the summer. So if you can't do it, just put down the book and go outside and enjoy yourself, because you won't be able to for much longer.

[JesusLovesATrier]

Originally Posted by sonicskat
So if you can't do it, just put down the book and go outside and enjoy yourself, because you won't be able to for much longer.

Good advice, thanks. It's been a few years since I did UG though and I can't help but feel I'll start off a little behind and fear spending first semester struggling to stay on top of things. There will be people coming straight from UG that are ahead of where I should be when I start.

I'll plough on as I don't think it can be harmful...

[constrainedoptimizer]

Originally Posted by JesusLovesATrier

For those about to start their programme this Fall, what have you been doing in preparation?

I have spent the last year retaking all of my math from calc I on to analysis at UC Berkeley. When done, I will have been exposed to all of the math covered in Simon and Blume's text. As well as two semesters of upper-division statistics. 7 courses in all. During breaks, I read through MWG's micro and Romer's macro text. Up to now, I have read though both seven times. While to many this may seem a waste of time, I think the type of learner I am pretty much requires it. It takes me many run-throughs prior to picking up a concept inside and out. However, I plan on doing absolutely zero next summer prior to commencing graduate studies.

I'll be applying to UC Davis, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Santa Barbara, Irvine and Claremont this Fall.