Terabyte

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've logged on here. Over the past year or so, I've been re-thinking my future plans. My desire to get a PhD in econ has waned as I've realized that I don't want be a professional mathematical modeler/researcher. I do still want to pursue graduate study. After spending a couple of semesters interning on the public policy scene in Washington DC, I've realized that I'm more interested in law & economics (mmm... intellectual property and net neutrality!), public choice economics, government/public policy, etc. I'm not ready to invest $100K+ in a law degree right now, and I'm hesitant to go for an MPP because it seems a bit... "squishy," if that makes sense. I certainly don't have the background to get into any top school (B.S. from a mid-sized state school), although I've considered applying for an MA in econ at George Mason U. My thought is that GMU might be a good place to get some exposure to the econ+law field to determine if law school is for me - plus, their econ department has some niche fields (Experimental econ, public choice). Also, their law school is up-and-coming. Thoughts/suggestions?

Veroniquaz, I was thinking the same thing as you when I first got the offer. However, I felt that the experience of doing professional research, working for a think tank, and more generally, picking up and moving to DC for 3 months would be a huge benefit to me, whether I choose to follow the economic policy path (or a PhD in general) or not. I'm aware that they don't do rigorous work, nor should they. They focus on policy formulation, not mathematical models. I've already planned that if, in fact, I do go through with the PhD plan (still up in the air right now because of my ticking biological clock, LOL), then I would state clearly in the SOP that the Cato internship taught me about working professionally with others, writing skills, etc etc and make NO MENTION WHATSOEVER of political ideology (except maybe to downplay the influence it has on my academic goals). And anyway, I'm not planning on going to a top-20 school (don't have the background for it). I'm hoping that this opportunity can make my profile look more promising to a top-50 (American) school. And if all else, there's always good old George Mason, LOL. They seem to be the factory that churns out one cato scholar after another. :tup: (I don't mean to slam GM. It's a good program. Their specialization in policy-focused econ is just not my strongest interest.) And youngecon: lol, I'll send you an email from my cato address, so you can (sort-of) know someone working there. :p I'm actually hoping they make logo hoodies, since I'd totally wear it everyday once I got back home, ha ha. EDIT: I totally forgot, I wanted to state that I'll be working in the Health and Welfare Policy Center. Social Security reform, here I come!!!! And one question: how come female economists seem to disproportionately go into welfare economics? Some sort of "ethics-of-care," maternalistic, compulsion? IDK.

Recognizing that this is a policy think tank and not as useful for phd admissions as, say, working at the Fed, I'm still super-freakin'-excited! Now, to figure out how to score an apartment off craigslist...

To gain a position in a PhD-granting, research-oriented university, you should: 1. Come from a top school 2. Have a butt-load of published papers 3. Do very progressive, ground-breaking research. 4. At least 2 of the 3 above. To gain a TT position in a non-PhD-granting school (like a large state school, private LAC, or possibly a business school): 1. The rank of your school is much less important (given that if a top MIT grad actually wanted a teaching job, he'd probably already have it) 2. Still do research (what else?) 3. Learn something about teaching during your TA-ship To find work in the private sector: 1. School rank is least important here, it's more about business know-how. 2. You'll probably still need a better-school degree for jobs at top places like the Fed, WB, well-known investment firms, etc. 3. Try not to come across as an idiot in the interview. :P What about cushy government jobs? What kind of credentials does a government position require? My biggest fields of interest are Political Economy, Applied Micro, I/O, though I still like (but somewhat less) Macro, GT, Metrics, Financial, Welfare. FYI, I'm a caucasian american female, if that helps paint a picture. So far, I've only really wanted either a non-research academic job or a private sector job. Doing research for the rest of my life, while it would be rewarding, doesn't appeal to the part of me that wants to have lots of kids. Also, I realize that I don't have the shining profiles that many of you have, and that's okay with me (hell, we're all super-intelligent simply for understanding economics, which makes us would-be philosopher kings, if we believed in that sort of garbage.) :) At the school I go to now (mid-sized regional state school, about 13K students), most of the econ profs come from schools ranked between 40-80 (my advisor came from a school that's not even ranked, at least, not on econphd.net). However, I still think they are great teachers and I would really like working in a school like this.

MBA's on average earn higher wages than econ PhDs. Plus, there are several MBA programs in the country that offer night school.

Heh, yeah, I've seen it. Held my interest until the last line of the congressional hearing scene. He could have made a real statement about free choice, but instead just said some defiant teenager crap. Katie Holmes was such a ho' in that movie! Day-amn.

Internet start-up entrepreneur. Critic. Independent investor. Columnist for a magazine. Creator of the newest quirky 12-minute cartoon for Adult Swim. Political hack. Adult entertainer (now THAT would be sexy...a pr0n star with a PhD).

Hey, I was just informed today that my app for a Cato Institute internship has made it to the 2nd round. I realize that a lot of people apply for these kind of things, and my chances are pretty slim, but they really liked my writing on the app (yay, except dammit I don't have much research experience!). Coming from the very non-prestigious academic background I have, I'm seriously taking this as a compliment to my ability (or at least as a nod from one libertarian to another). ;) Sorry to devote a thread to this...it just sort of made my day. :)

I'm female. Kids. Others' expectations. Difficulty finding the allusive middle-line between being a push-over and being a hard-ball playing b!tch (assuming the women's studies profs were right). That's my :2cents:, anyway. Personally, Claire Huxtable from the Cosby Show is my hero. :tup: I hope to have 4 kids and a successful professional career. And several dogs, too. ^^

Everybody, even heartless adcom members, appreciates a good redemption story. Not that I would make my SOP about that, certainly not. However, if the facts are that you were too immature to handle life's complexities back then (you said you were much younger than your fellow students), then I see no problem having a section of your SOP address that while leaving out the details (unless asked). Also, if you're as intelligent as I assume you are (to have graduated from such a difficult program at a young age), it won't matter which school you go to, you'll be a success. :) I have a feeling that the kind of real-world experience you have is seriously lacking in academia. Good luck to you.

If I understand this correctly, one does not need to come from a top school to land an academic job at a non-research university? Personally, I'd rather teach than crunch data all my life.

My understanding is it's like being an economist, only instead of saying "On the one hand...on the other hand..." you get to say "here's how it is...here's what you should do about it..." lol. I believe it's training for a career in public policy, but in the end you will have more knowledge than a typical politician. :)

My school is finally going to require an "intro to mathematical economics" course for the 2007-2008 year. About dang time. >:|

Here, here! I concur.

mmkay, I found an e-copy of Baby Rudin. Perusing through the table of contents... There are a few things that I will have to brush up on (Cauchy sequences, Fourier series...things we sort of blew through in class), but it mostly looks like undergrad level calculus. Is that a fair assesment?