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z109620 · 08-19-2008, 03:09 AM

Hi I am a 5th year undergrad at a mediocre state school (because I did not really find econ until senior year). I am finishing up my degree this semester and will be applying to grad programs as well so I got a lot on my plate, and currently need a little help picking my last class for next semester. My current schedule: Masters level Econometrics (Know professor and hoping on LOR), Masters Math for Economists (Don’t know professor but still hoping on LOR) and ODE. I want to add one more class but I can’t make a decision. As of right now I have completed my econ major with 4.0 GPA and have a math minor with Cal I-III, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics and Advanced Cal. (which is our undergrad Real Analysis Sequences, Limits, Derivatives and Integrals) with a 4.0 GPA. I only want to take one more class to bring me to 12 credits (4 classes) so I can have a lot of time to devote to applying (SOP, more studying for the GRE) as I have not had time this summer. But for I mention the class there are two more things to keep in mind: 1) MY BIGGERST CONCERN IS I need to turn this class into a LOR 2) I need to commute 1 hour to and from school and since my current class load does not include Mondays or Fridays I would like to keep it that way to save gas.
Advanced Cal. II: More Real Analysis stuff i.e. series, more sequence stuff and multi. variable analysis.
Pro: small class so probably easy to get LOR (professor from Purdue)
Cons: It is a MWF class so I have to drive 2 hours for one hour class. Also, while I got through Adv. Cal. I with on A, it was not pretty and do know if I can excel with all this on my plate leaving a bad LOR.

Undergrad Research: I am interested in firstly Development and secondly Public Finance, however, since there really is not a Development person in are Department I would asked an ASSISTANT professor who I like a lot and who’s field is Public to advise me as this will be an Independent study.
Pros: I really would like to do more research, and it would look good to have more research (as I only have a one really research paper), time is flexible, and professor just graduated from U of I and told me he still had connections.
Cons: He only has one publication and this would probably be his first LOR.

Econ Development: Undergrad course on Econ Development enough said.
Pros: I have not taken a course on Development and it is the field which I have the interest in (only have research papers and private study). Professor is published ok and has her Phd from Upenn.
Cons: She is visiting so I am skeptical about LOR and I don’t know here. Plus what is another Undergrad class really going to do?

Prob and Stats: More intense version of what I already took and it is a preq for Math Stats.
Pros: I love stats and I am really interested in empirical work
Cons: Big class so hard to get LOR (Professor from SMU), plus already know most of the stuff. It is also a Monday Wednesday Friday so add $300 more dollars in gas for the semester.

Sorry it is so long, but any advice would be helpful and thank you very much.

ICECOLDECON · 08-19-2008, 03:48 AM

What is U of I (Iowa? Illinois?)? Anyways, I dont think you can really go too wrong with any of these options. I would scrap math econ and take two of Undergrad research, prob and stats, and adv calc II. I dont think the additional undergrad econ class will do much (but if you want to specialize in a field it might be nice to have a class in it, though Im not even sure thats really important). Math for economists isnt really that useful of a class for someone who has had lin alg and adv calc and youll see all the material again in math camp (which is basically: lin alg, principles of calculus, comparative statics (sometimes....but this isnt necessarily hard to pick up), and optimization which you shouldve had in multivariable calc). I also am not too sure how highly regarded math econ is among those who will be deciding on your admission readiness. Just my two cents. :O)

z109620 · 08-19-2008, 07:03 AM

University of Illinois, sorry I am from Illinois and Unversity of Illinois is the only U of I that I ever think of, and thanks for your reponse

Lokayot · 08-19-2008, 07:07 AM

Advanced Calc II will be the best in my opinion, but take it only if you think you can do well in it. If not, I would go with the research.

08-19-2008, 03:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
z109620 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 16	Long time lurker needs a little advice Hi I am a 5th year undergrad at a mediocre state school (because I did not really find econ until senior year). I am finishing up my degree this semester and will be applying to grad programs as well so I got a lot on my plate, and currently need a little help picking my last class for next semester. My current schedule: Masters level Econometrics (Know professor and hoping on LOR), Masters Math for Economists (Don’t know professor but still hoping on LOR) and ODE. I want to add one more class but I can’t make a decision. As of right now I have completed my econ major with 4.0 GPA and have a math minor with Cal I-III, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics and Advanced Cal. (which is our undergrad Real Analysis Sequences, Limits, Derivatives and Integrals) with a 4.0 GPA. I only want to take one more class to bring me to 12 credits (4 classes) so I can have a lot of time to devote to applying (SOP, more studying for the GRE) as I have not had time this summer. But for I mention the class there are two more things to keep in mind: 1) MY BIGGERST CONCERN IS I need to turn this class into a LOR 2) I need to commute 1 hour to and from school and since my current class load does not include Mondays or Fridays I would like to keep it that way to save gas. Advanced Cal. II: More Real Analysis stuff i.e. series, more sequence stuff and multi. variable analysis. Pro: small class so probably easy to get LOR (professor from Purdue) Cons: It is a MWF class so I have to drive 2 hours for one hour class. Also, while I got through Adv. Cal. I with on A, it was not pretty and do know if I can excel with all this on my plate leaving a bad LOR. Undergrad Research: I am interested in firstly Development and secondly Public Finance, however, since there really is not a Development person in are Department I would asked an ASSISTANT professor who I like a lot and who’s field is Public to advise me as this will be an Independent study. Pros: I really would like to do more research, and it would look good to have more research (as I only have a one really research paper), time is flexible, and professor just graduated from U of I and told me he still had connections. Cons: He only has one publication and this would probably be his first LOR. Econ Development: Undergrad course on Econ Development enough said. Pros: I have not taken a course on Development and it is the field which I have the interest in (only have research papers and private study). Professor is published ok and has her Phd from Upenn. Cons: She is visiting so I am skeptical about LOR and I don’t know here. Plus what is another Undergrad class really going to do? Prob and Stats: More intense version of what I already took and it is a preq for Math Stats. Pros: I love stats and I am really interested in empirical work Cons: Big class so hard to get LOR (Professor from SMU), plus already know most of the stuff. It is also a Monday Wednesday Friday so add $300 more dollars in gas for the semester. Sorry it is so long, but any advice would be helpful and thank you very much.

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08-19-2008, 03:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
ICECOLDECON Within my grasp! Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 116	What is U of I (Iowa? Illinois?)? Anyways, I dont think you can really go too wrong with any of these options. I would scrap math econ and take two of Undergrad research, prob and stats, and adv calc II. I dont think the additional undergrad econ class will do much (but if you want to specialize in a field it might be nice to have a class in it, though Im not even sure thats really important). Math for economists isnt really that useful of a class for someone who has had lin alg and adv calc and youll see all the material again in math camp (which is basically: lin alg, principles of calculus, comparative statics (sometimes....but this isnt necessarily hard to pick up), and optimization which you shouldve had in multivariable calc). I also am not too sure how highly regarded math econ is among those who will be deciding on your admission readiness. Just my two cents. :O)

08-19-2008, 07:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
z109620 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 16	University of Illinois, sorry I am from Illinois and Unversity of Illinois is the only U of I that I ever think of, and thanks for your reponse

08-19-2008, 07:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lokayot http://www.phdcomics.com/ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 69	Advanced Calc II will be the best in my opinion, but take it only if you think you can do well in it. If not, I would go with the research.

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