Explorer

Economists need to integrate qualitative methods into their research if they are to come up with any useful result to the real world. Economists are not guilt-free as far as all the economic turmoil out there.

Thank you averageaverage for your response. And no offense taken as far as "conflicting zone". I am from Africa, so I am thinking of the worst case scenario. Assuming I am from a "conflicting zone", I am hoping it wouldn't affect me too much given my record. Issue number one was the biggest issue for me, but I am hoping that given that I have been in the U.S. already with a student visa and have returned back home, I am hoping things will be just fine (in spite of the fact that I have a sibling who abused the student visa). That is, I have demonstrated already that I use the student visa to actually "study" in the U.S. - -but maybe I am being too optimisitc! lol ~E

Okay, I couldn't find the best forum for this, but I thought there might be those who might have similar questions. I am not looking for professional opinion, of course, but just your educated guess/opinion on these matters. I am an international who completed my undergrad in the U.S. and also attended graduate school for one year, but I am now back in my home country for a year before I rejoin graduate school. Here are the issues I expect to have as far as getting a student visa back to the U.S. 1. A sibling in the U.S. - one of my siblings went on a student visa and is now an an immigrant (Permanent resident). On the visa application form, I am specifically asked the following question: Are Any of The Following Persons in The U.S., or Do They Have U.S. Legal Permanent Residence or U.S. Citizenship? YES/NO 2. A low graduate school gpa. Although i do have a 4.0 (major) undergraduate gpa, I have one-semester graduate gpa that is slightly short of 3.0. I am required to show all transcripts from previously attended schools. Could this be an issue? 3. The issue of unemployment. During this year that I am back home, I may not succeed in finding a job. Is having a bachelor's degree and applying for a student visa while unemployed a potential issue? All educated guess/opinion will be appreciated ~E

Well, most everyone now agrees that the U.S. economy is either in or headed toward a recession! I just thought it would be wise for all of us to discuss how this affects us as current and prospective graduate students? I am particularly wondering how much a recession would affect the availability of funds at departments! Which schools and departments are most likely affected by a recessionary environment! ~Explorer

Dude (or Dudette), the adcoms use the GRE scores as a filter (not to make their final decision). Something tells me that your scores are just fine. The ultimate decider is the quality of your transcript!

Hi All,Here are two questions that one is required to address in a SOP for this particular school.1) Is your research interest well-defined or fairly open at this point?2) Based on your current knowledge, what research problem(s) would you hope to pursue while here.My questions are:First, I am not sure what we mean by "well-defined". How defined is well-defined? Is specifying your intended field of specialization and talking about certain points in that area qualify as well-defined? By "fairly open", do we mean flexibility as far as fields of specialzation.Second, what is the best way to address the second question. That is, does it hurt to not know the specific research problem(s) that you would like to puruse? Does it help to know and specify that?Thank youExplorer

I just thought I would start a dicussion on Institutional Economics. I was wondering what the current status of institutional economics is within economics and which schools seem to be good in this particular area. Anyone is welcome to comment or share their ideas in this field.

What do you think are the chances for an economics major who withdrew from an economics PhD program to pursue a PhD in Sociology (keeping in mind that I intend to specialize in economic sociology)? Of course, this question has been asked here before, but I thought that my intended specialization might make me a better candidate than other applicants who mostly might have a background in Sociology. ~E

Somebody! anybody!

Okay, as some of you who have read my recents posts might know, I am switching from Economics PhD to Sociology PhD, which means that I am doing another round of applications. I applied to 10 economics PhD programs exactly two years ago and now I am asking the same people (my three undergraduate mentors) to write LORS for me one more time. They have agreed. Keeping this in mind, what is the optimum and reasonable number of LORS that I can ask from people who have written 10 for me two years ago? Personally, I can do as many applications as I think is required, but my limitation would be the LORS. How many is totally unreasonable to ask in this context? What do you guys advise?

Hey Canuck, I didn't think there was anything cruel about what you said. I actually thought that what you said was good news to me. I mean, at least it's not an obvious thing that I wouldn't satisfy the grad school gpa requirement. That can only be hopeful. But anyhow, I will take your advice and drop an email to the graduate secretary at one of the schools on my shortlist.

Hi guys, I know that 3.0 is a pretty standard gpa requirement for admission in graduate school. I am wondering, if a student has a 4.0 undergraduate gpa and 2.9 graudate gpa from one-semester course work in a PhD program in economics, does he/she not satisfy the admission requirement for a PhD in Sociology? Even if he/she satisifies the admission requirement, is the hope of financial aid totally lost? Thank you in advance for your comments/suggestions. ~e

Any other comments/suggestions?

If my lack of sociology background or failing to demonstrate my commitment to sociology is going to be the reason that adcoms might have doubts about me, then that can be fixed. However, the low grad gpa is a bigger concern if it is going to create problems. Just so I clarify as far as my low graduate gpa, you can view my performance as a straight B in econometrics, micro, macro and mathematical econ (math econ being where I got the B-). Is this really a disadvantage as far as going to graduate school in Sociology?

Thank you all for your valuable advice. Asquare, you have confirmed my fear that people will see my switch to sociology as a fall back plan. My low grad GPA is attributed to a medical situation (which I can document) and the fact that as a result I joined the program halfway in the first semester. The 2.9 is my first (and last) semester gpa in the PhD program. So this is basically my WEAKNESS and I will do everything I can in the months to come to make sure that I have a convincing application this fall. That said, on the other hand, I am only thinking that this weakness will only keep me out of the top schools and if I invest sufficiently, I will be able to get in somewhere. Or am I mistaken? Or is it possible that one semester of bad grades in graduate school could discredit your "big" accomplishment as an undergraduate. After all, this is going to be a different PhD program.