hoyas9488

Just relax, go over the materials you thought about and just give yourself a break. You'll pick it up once the time comes.

Anyone have any thoughts about George Mason? It obviously caters to a specific ideological base, but I was wondering what others' views were. I'd love to go there for my graduate studies.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'm finally coming to the realization that I need to just relax and let things shake out the way they will. Good luck with applications for all those who are still waiting!

I've been told by many of my professors that going to a school below the top 30 is pointless. (This always strikes me as odd because my school, although ranked top 15 for undergrad, has a pitiful grad econ ranking.) Nevertheless, as I continue to try to put together the best application possible for when I apply, I cannot stop worrying about whether or not I'll be able to pull off the necessary grades in the remaining classes to be remain competitive. I have constant nightmares about what will end up happening if my application isn't strong enough to compete at the top 30 schools or if I don't get into a school I want to go to. Does anybody have any similar apprehensions/doubts? i know people do, especially this time around, but what do you do to cope with them? How do you get yourself to relax and stop worrying about this? Any contingency plans? I know I'll eventually get into a program of some sort of caliber, but the pain until that happens is getting to be overwhelming. Any suggestions/empathy?

affording it wouldn't be a problem. I was just a little unsure because some professors I had talked to seemed to think it was a bad idea. I think that has to do with the school's ego of getting their students out in four years, but who knows. Thanks for the thoughts. If anyone else has anything to say please let me know.

Would staying an extra semester and graduating in 4.5 years be looked upon negatively by adcoms? Or would they not care as long as you have all the necessary credentials? i.e. good grades, research, math classes, etc. I'm asking this because I transferred schools after my freshman year and will either have to cram way too much stuff into the next 2 semesters to apply on time, or I can space it out normally, make sure I do well on everything, get more productive research done and apply after being in school for 4.5 years. To me it doesn't seem like it would matter. My first year of college was at one of the military service academies, so I was not able to get the right head start like normal college students were because I was required to take a lot of military classes that didn't apply when I transferred out. (Also, if I did stay 4.5 years, the spring semester after I finish up could be used to do research or something else of the sort.)

this has to be one of the most enjoyable threads ive ever read.

congrats, that's one less person to be stressed out of his mind for the next few months. hopefully we hear more soon

That's fair enough. I appreciate the advice.

he's right. as long as its sealed/etc. by the registrar's office it's as good as gold. you shouldn't have any worries. even if they do question it they'll verify it before they accepted you.

if i do that, i run the possibility of only having these math classes done before i apply: calc I-III, linear algebra and probability and statistics. if i do skip out on the good professor, i'd be able to add diff eq's and possibly even get the prereq for analysis done next semester as well. i think if i don't do that, my math background will be too weak.

i mean i'll take real analysis in the spring semester after i apply. i really cannot fit the prequisite into my schedule because it's either finish my major on time or not take the prequisite. and it's kind of important to graduate lol.

hey thanks for all the responses everyone. as of now i have calc I-III and linear algebra, and i'll have a probability/statistics course from the math department next semester. as of now i cannot fit the prerequisite for real analysis into my schedule, so i'll end up having to take real analysis after i apply next year. so, if i don't take it next semester, my math background will be: Calc I-III (all A's), Linear Algebra (B+ probably, B if i do bad on the final), and Probability and Statistics. Will this be too weak of a math profile? I thought that adding Diff Eq's would at least make it stronger, especially since I wont be able to fit real analysis into my schedule until after I apply. What do you guys think?

say you are tight on your schedule and need to fit in certain classes. i have a tremendous intermediate macro professor but am unable to take a diff eq's course because of the time slot. i am able to switch into another intermediate macro class (with a much worse econ professor) but in doing so it would allow me to take the diff eq's course as well as allowing me to switch into another section for a probability course (that has a much better professor than the section I am in now) so, should i take the worse econ professor in order to free up a slot to take this math course? or stick with what i have now?

im not sure exactly what book is used for the course. but it's offered through the math department, so i would think it's focused more on the math aspects. anyone else have any thoughts?

my main concern is this. i'd like to take a math course that's relevant and the only other course that would work is a computer programming course where I would learn C+ to solve math problems. i'm not sure whether either of these is worth the time. i think this one for physics students covers a lot of useful topics, but i'd like to hear other people's thoughts first.

i am stuck trying to organize my schedule for next semester. although I would have liked to take more relevant classes in the math department at my school, the most relevant ones conflict with requirements for my economics major and thus i cannot take them. consequently, i was looking to take some sort of math course that would at least be useful and look good for the adcoms. this course happened to fit into my schedule and i had the right prereqs for it, but it is for physics majors typically. anyways, would this at least be useful or would it not matter at all: Math Methods in Physics II: A study of methods of mathematical physics. Topics include linear algebra (including matrices and determinants), vector and tensor analysis, vector calculus, curvilinear coordinates, series, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, orthogonal functions and vector spaces, special functions (including Bessel, Legendre, and Hermite), calculus of variations, Fourier series, and group theory.

I have room in my schedule for a course of my choosing and I was wondering if this course would be useful at all (it's offered in the math department): 1) Computer Programming/Problem Solving: An introduction to solving mathematical problems using computer programming in high-level languages such as C. I thought it wouldn't hurt to learn a programming language, but I wasn't sure if it'd be a waste of time in regards to economics.

at my university the following two courses are offered: Ordinary Differential Equations: An introduction to differential equations. Topics include first-order equations, n-th order linear equations, power series methods, systems of first order linear equations, non-linear systems and stability. Differential Equations: A second course in differential equations. Topics include higher order linear equations, numerical methods, Laplace transforms, linear systems, non-linear systems and stability, and an introduction to partial differential equations and Fourier series. Obviously the second course is more advanced, but would it be good enough to only take the ODE course? (My reason for asking this is because there is a pre-req for the Differential Equations course that I'd need to take before I took that course, but I can take the ODE course right now)

know that i'm taking real analysis in the springtime*

real analysis at my school requires an Introduction to Math Proofs course as a prerequisite. i haven't taken it yet and am unable to take it this upcoming semester because i have a schedule conflict with my econometrics course. thus, i'd have to wait to fall of my senior year to take the introduction to math proofs course and would only be able to take real analysis spring of my senior year, after i've already applied. because of this, i was going to take the prereqs for diff eq's and at least get that on my record as well and hope the introduction to math proofs course works for applying (since the graduate schools will know i'm taking it in the springtime)

im an econ major from a top 25 university with a weak econ program. gpa is 3.9; i expect gre quant to be >780 and should have strong letters from 3 decent econ professors. the math classes i'll have will be calc I-III, linear algebra, prob/stats, diff eqs, intro to math proof course; ill be a research assistant for 2 years when i apply and will probably have written my own paper by than (probably wont have it published though); i'm looking at anywhere in the 30, but am also very interested in george mason's econ/law program

i know if you're trying to show your math potential, real analysis is critical. but, i'm kinda in a tough spot with classes and might not be able to take real analysis before the deadline comes. i know this might hurt for the top schools, but is it absolutely vital for me to take real analysis for me to apply? fyi, i've taken Calc I-III (all A's), linear algebra (A-), and i plan on taking Prob/Stats, a math proofs course, and diff eq's before I apply

i assume there's been threads related to this topic but I was hoping to find a list of all programs in the United States with masters in economics programs or something similar that would be a stepping stone to a respectable phd program. information about funding available at various masters programs would be useful too.