My Profile, What Grad Schools Should I Apply To

[Danini]

I will apply yo grad schools this year. I am about to get started. I'd like to post my profile. Could anyone estimate what grad schools I should apply to. I am so anxious these days! Your help would be greatly appreciated!

What I am really concerned is my math background. I really appreciate it if any of you could tell me more on that. Thanks a lot!

Type of Undergrad: econ ranked within top 50 in the US

Undergrad GPA: 3.98 overall, 3.95 in econ courses, 4.0 in math courses
GRE: Q800, V550 W4.5

Math Courses: Calculus(2 semesters, advanced level); differential equations(one semester); linear algebra(one semester); stat,1 semester(I know it's weak), but I didn't know math is so important
Econ Courses: introductory micro(a), macro(a-), inter medium micro(a+) and macro(a), money and banking(a+), health econ(a+), international econ(a-), development econ(a+), econometrics(a+) industrial organization(a)

Letters of Recommendation: 1.not well-known, but should be really solid since he even sent it to me to overlook it; 2.Chicago PHD, should be solid; 3.A well-know economist who has published several books, the director of two well-know research centers
Research Experience: working on my thesis, have done research with the well-known economist mentioned above, but nothing will publish in a short time
Teaching Experience: nothing serious

Research Interests: any, I don't care, as long as I can get admitted to a good grad school, I can research anything
Also do you guys have any suggestions about how I could strengthen my background in a short time and how to make my materials more attractive?


THX!!!

[asianeconomist]

Had it not been for your math preparation, I would have definitely pointed you out as a top 20 surety. Judging from admits over the 2-3 years, however, you should still be able to get into at least 1 top 20 school. Did your Calculus/other math courses entail any proof-writing exercise ?

[YoungEconomist]

In regards to the math preparation, you could always do what I did. That is, stick around your undergrad a few more quarters and just take math courses. When I first decided to get a PhD, I had only taken business calc (for those of you that don't know, it's a very watered down version of calc, where you cover both differentation and integration in about 10 weeks, obviously not enough time to go in any depth at all). So I stuck around my undergrad for about a year longer than I planned on, and will be graduating with a math minor in a few months. This was definitely the right decision for me, as I think I now have a shot at some admits I could only dream about before, and furthermore, no matter what school I go to I'll be better prepared to succeed in the program. In your case you already have calc, so it wouldn't even take you that long to pile on 3 - 6 more math classes (in my case I had to get through a few calc courses before I could take multiple math classes a quarter, given that calc is a prereq for most of the courses).

[Danini]

Yes, they are quite proof-based. But the textbook is really weird. I took the textbook to an econometrics professor. He said that it was extremely difficult, could be considered graduate level. But how can I show this is really difficult to the admission committee? Send the textbook?

THX!

[jeeves0923]

I know MIT's application requests you to tell them which books you used. If the applications don't, you could always mention it in your SOP or have your LOR writer mention it in his or her letter.

[YoungEconomist]

Originally Posted by jeeves0923

I know MIT's application requests you to tell them which books you used. If the applications don't, you could always mention it in your SOP or have your LOR writer mention it in his or her letter.

Solid advice! I was essentially going to say the same thing.

[Danini]

THX for your guys' answers! Many thanks!

Do you guys think my weak math background is fatally detrimental to my admission chances?

What if a guys has an overall GPA of 3.8-3.9, 3.8 in econ, 3.9 in math; but has taken 4 more math classes than I have and has no research experience? Who would have a better admission chance?

Also do you think my recommendations would make up for my weak math background. One of the referees are really well-known in this field, as I have posted.

[YoungEconomist]

Originally Posted by Danini

Yes, they are quite proof-based. But I foolishly took at at a Chinese prestigious university. I took the textbook to an econ professor. He said that it was extremely difficult, could be considered graduate level.

Originally Posted by Danini

Do you guys think my weak math background is fatally detrimental to my admission chances?

If what you say above is true (that is, if your few math classes where proof based, and you were told they were comparable to grad level courses) then I'd say this will send a strong signal that your math background is pretty solid. Once again you need to figure out a way to let the adcoms know the level of your math courses, which (as was mentioned by jeeves) you can usually do by listing textbooks, explain in your SOP, and/or have a letter writer explain your math level.

Did you guys cover the topics of a traditional Real Analysis course in your advanced calculus class? I ask because signaling is only one part of taking math courses, and the other is gaining knowledge that will help you succeed in the program (in other words, the importance of math classes is both for signaling and human capital).

[Danini]

This calculus course was really rare. I really don't know why they offered that.

[ICECOLDECON]

The first part of your class up to well-ordering is what is considered bridge to or introduction to abstract math in our state (basically introduction to writing proofs using examples from set theory and number systems). After that it sounds somewhat similar to Advanced Calc I.