DaniEscol Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 Hi everyone! I'm currently in the process of preparing my applications for Econ Ph.D. programs to start in the fall of 2022. However, I don't know if my profile is strong enough to get into a good program (T50 is my target). So here it goes! Please let me know if you believe this will be enough or if I'm most likely doomed to fail. Bachelor's degree in economics with minor in public policy. I hold a master's degree in economics. BA GPA: 4.26/5 MA GPA: 4.5/5 I did generally well in my math courses, but I slipped during my first semester and that worries me. Will that cost me the chance of getting into a Ph.D.? Differential calculus (first time): 2/5 Differential calculus (second time): 4.24/5 Integral calculus: 4.2/5 Calculus 3: 4.4/5 Probability and statistics: 4.3/5 Math for economists: 4.1/5 Real analysis: currently taking this class My thesis got a 5/5 grade and is now published as a working paper. My second publication is a book chapter (co-authored along with three other people) published by a university. I have done mostly RA work. Two years in an economics consulting firm and 1 year in an economics think tank (currently working here). I believe my LORs are pretty strong: my thesis advisor, one of my MA thesis referees, and one of my former bosses. All three hold PhDs in economics from good universities and are known in their fields of work. Since I'm from a non-English speaking country I took the Toefl test and got 120/120. GRE: in September All feedback and comments are more than welcome. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 I am assuming that you did your masters and bachelors at the same place. If so, where did past PhD applicants from your school end up at? That's the first step in gauging whether a T50 admit is realistic or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniEscol Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 Hi! Thanks for your reply. I did both the BA and the MA at the same university. People from my faculty that pursue a Ph.D. tend to aim a bit higher. Most of the admits are in Brown, UBC, UC Davis, NYU, Georgetown, Rutgers, UCL, and U of Maryland. The best of them go to Stanford, MIT, Oxford, LSE, and the like, though they are not representative. I'm actually pursuing programs in a lower tier due to the fact I don't have research experience in an academic environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 If students from your university previously got into those schools, then a Top 50 admit shouldn't be too difficult. You should reach out to your thesis advisor and get their opinion on what range of schools you ought to apply to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniEscol Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 Hi! Thank you for your reply! Can you please tell me what is your take on the math part? It worries that failing calculus in my first semester will reduce my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
startz Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 Nobody is going to care about one bad grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniEscol Posted November 29, 2021 Author Share Posted November 29, 2021 (edited) . Edited November 29, 2021 by DaniEscol It got sent without me finishing writing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniEscol Posted November 29, 2021 Author Share Posted November 29, 2021 On 6/18/2021 at 11:37 PM, DaniEscol said: Hi everyone! I'm currently in the process of preparing my applications for Econ Ph.D. programs to start in the fall of 2022. However, I don't know if my profile is strong enough to get into a good program (T50 is my target). So here it goes! Please let me know if you believe this will be enough or if I'm most likely doomed to fail. Bachelor's degree in economics with minor in public policy. I hold a master's degree in economics. BA GPA: 4.26/5 MA GPA: 4.5/5 I did generally well in my math courses, but I slipped during my first semester and that worries me. Will that cost me the chance of getting into a Ph.D.? Differential calculus (first time): 2/5 Differential calculus (second time): 4.24/5 Integral calculus: 4.2/5 Calculus 3: 4.4/5 Probability and statistics: 4.3/5 Math for economists: 4.1/5 Real analysis: currently taking this class My thesis got a 5/5 grade and is now published as a working paper. My second publication is a book chapter (co-authored along with three other people) published by a university. I have done mostly RA work. Two years in an economics consulting firm and 1 year in an economics think tank (currently working here). I believe my LORs are pretty strong: my thesis advisor, one of my MA thesis referees, and one of my former bosses. All three hold PhDs in economics from good universities and are known in their fields of work. Since I'm from a non-English speaking country I took the Toefl test and got 120/120. GRE: in September All feedback and comments are more than welcome. Update GRE scores: I did poorly on the quant section (took it twice, complete bust) 161 Q; 165 V, waiting on the AWA score (first time I took it got 4.5) Took real analysis during the summer: A+ Since time is not on my side to take the GRE a third time, I don't know if it is best to wait until next year to retake it and apply, or play my strengths and apply in this cycle despite my shameful GRE results. All this considering I would like to apply to universities in 50-150 spot on the QS ranking. Any takes are more than welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutonic Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 If you are applying to PhD programmes in the US, the USNEWS Ranking might be more informative than the QS one, since that is the ranking that we typically refer to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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