Obsi

I think they're ok... I declined their offer though and decided to go to Coruscant Jedi University, universal economics program. I'll specialize in developing planets economics and economics of sustainable clone production. ..... In case you're serious, accept the offer. It's definitely in top 3 in the world.

Thanks for the advice guys, you've really been helpful. I've actually made contact with a professor from an above mentioned university, and we're gonna meet in Istanbul (where I live). Perhaps it'll be some type of informal interview? It's exciting.

Thanks Fantiki, this is a really helpful post. I'm interested in many areas of asset pricing, behavioral was just one I chose for my thesis. I can also do other finance research (more orthodox research) but I'm not sure if a behavioral finance thesis would seem negative to Econ adcoms even though I might do something different at PhD program? I'd really like to get into business schools but their programs are mostly very small so that's my primary concern.

Umm I guess not? All my math grades are AA (4.0) except one BB (3.0). I only applied to top 20 unis except one top 50 (which I got into without scholarship. I think 770 gre could also have been a problem? I knew I could get 800 if I took it again, but I didn't have enough time. I mean it's easier to get into, for instance, UC Davis instead of UC Berkeley, right? But the thing is, is UC Davis good enough? Can you conduct groundbreaking cutting edge research there (I love these funny adjectives)? What do you guys think? Also I'd like to learn whether a finance heavy MBA would hurt Econ applications?

First of all, let me introduce myself. I am a 24 year old Turkish guy from Istanbul, Turkey. I graduated from economics at a top Turkish university (I mean top in Turkey, not really internationally obviously, but one that has many students who has done phd in the US successfully so I assume has a positive image in minds of professors at US universities). I wanted to do a PhD in economics after graduating. I got a good enough Toefl score (110), kind of mediocre GRE score (770 quant), 3.78 gpa and good reference letters and all. So I applied to some good universities, and how dumb I was. I should have lowered the risk by applying to more modest schools (not necessarily worse), but I didn't. I had an acceptance, but in the bad economic climate back then, they didn't offer me a scholarship, TA or RA position. I didn't have enough money to attend the program. Anyway I said to myself "What the hell, maybe this is not the life for me?" and I got into a finance job with a high salary. I also started to do an MBA with thesis, specializing on finance. I completed all the courses in 1 year, and am now starting to write the master's thesis. The title of the thesis is "Herding in Capital Markets" so it's about behavioral finance, more specifically behavioral asset pricing. I chose this topic as it is not a widely researched topic in Turkey. However, I realized working at a finance institution is not for me. An academic job is like first love to me. No matter whom else you try to love, you just can't forget that first person you loved with all your heart. So I decided to quit the job by the end of August and try to be an academic while I'm still young and full of energy. Now, obviously I want to do a PhD in the US. I am writing a kind of behavioral economics-behavioral finance type of thesis. Should I apply to Econ PhD programs or Finance PhD programs? Finance programs are generally small, so would I have more chance at Econ programs? I need your advice on this, guys. I will also try to get a research/teaching assistantship position in Turkey after quitting the job, in case I fail to get into a US university. I will try to get scholarships from Turkey also, and not just TA/RA positions at unis I hope to get into, maybe that would help admission. Finally please comment on my scores: Toefl: 110/120, but only valid until September, I have to take the test again. Gre: 770 quant, 440 verbal. Quant is ok, verbal is really bad. I guess I should take this again? So this is my story in short. I'd appreciate some feedback.

And the deadline is December. Really interesting.

I think this kind of undergrad books which covers all finance topics are undergrad level easy stuff, too many words. He should buy grad level books which doesn't shy away from math.

Hmm maybe. I'm also interested in risk management which is quite topical now. I believe there may be a demand for people who specialize in it in private sector, especally in research departments of banks.

Youngeconomist: There are economists who specialize in both IO and Corporate Finance (such as Jean Tirole whose name I mentioned) so they may have some similarities. I think Corporate Finance would give you many job options in private sector, cause it's the closest field to the private sector. After all, it's the study of finance of corporates, right? ;) Financial management, risk management for corporates, investment decisions etc. You could be a consultant for corporates or work in research departments. As for myself, I applied to some econ programs this year and only got accepted to one place ranked in 70s on econphd. All others (all in top 50) rejected me, with one exception of "weak spot in the waitlist". Somewhat disappointing, but lack of serious research hurt me badly. Anyway, I'll be writing a finance thesis this time next year, and I'm going to apply to finance programs instead of economics this time. I met a finance professor(tenured) from a famous business school in the US yesterday at a conference here, we talked a bit and he said my ideas for the thesis were good ones, too good for a master's thesis and I should definitely apply to finance phd programs next year, including the one he's in. I hope he's right.

It is indeed one area, but it is a good area for starting to study finance. You can study risk management, asset pricing etc. later. Btw, I'm at a master's program in finance now and I've read many corporate finance books, this is the best by far.

The best book to start with would be: "The Theory of Corporate Finance" Jean Tirole. Amazon.com: The Theory of Corporate Finance: Jean Tirole: Books Tirole, J.: The Theory of Corporate Finance.

Hot girls?

Have they released anything at all? Anyone on TM heard anything?

Hey, did they notify you of rejection, by snail mail or e-mail? I haven't heard anything so far; rejection, admission or waitlist.

Hey, 6-7 months ago I was interested in International Econ. After the recent economic crisis, my thoughts about what field I want to study has changed gradually. To prevent crises like this, we need really good finance phds, and financial economics phds (which is almost the same). We need to them to make better risk management models (value at risk is flawed, for instance), and to set up a better financial system. An international econ guy cannot do this, a finance academic can, by being in the research and development processes of financial institutions. Anyway, what I want to say is my research interest shifted greatly to finance, mainly risk management and corporate finance. I have been currently rejected by most schools I applied due to my lack of research experience but I'm not sad. If I could get in somewhere, I'd specialize in finance. If I can't, no big deal. I'm currently doing a finance master's and I'll write a finance master's thesis next year. I believe that can compensate for my lack of research, and I am thinking about applying to finance programs at business schools next year. Also if it's a business econ program, I can also specialize in industrial econ as a second field, I've always liked micro more than macro. I just wanna make something useful for the finance world, and the easist way seems to specialize in finance/get a finance phd degree.