icebear

As said, you need to define your goals more clearly. I think you should only pursue more school if an academic career is your goal (not a minor decision). If you're more interested in working, either in business or gov, finish your masters and get started; it should be sufficient for many "economist"/analyst type career tracks except the most specialized or competitive where a Phd my be required. A schools placement record is not a sufficient reason to attend for a *redundant* degree, in my opinion - it doesn't appear motivated, it appears aimless. Instead of 2 more years give yourself some time to apply and then collect real experience.

To expand on another's comment, US citizens are eligible for scholarships from CEMFI. Also, your described level of math should be adequate for most EU masters, especially if you also have a stats/prob class as well (I think this is a shortcoming among many *admitted* students).

Yes. And, specifically, that I wouldn't particularly fancy living 2 more years in SZ (having lived there one in the past). If the program has similar professional placements (and I presume reputation) as Guanghua that strikes me as pretty legitimate/good. Does GSM have english master programs now? I would have liked to go there, but when I looked a few years ago it seemed only the EMBA was...

Not to diminish the PKU program at all: - The program is new, with its first cohort having graduated in 2008 - this alone may be a reason to have lower admission requirements (i.e. to draw in students that are otherwise hesitant). - One thing to note is that the PKU program is actually located off the main PKU campus, by about 2000 kilometers. While they may have a great program, this kind of distance may send a signal that its a cash-cow program (keep in mind the relative value of that low tuition in China, its not uncommon in China for local private schools to borrow/rent the names of Tsinghua and Beida to attract parents, etc). - Being out of a business school, it is important to note how its business placements are. I ask because my main motivation in attending a fee-based program in China (I lived there previously) would be to obtain good connections that couldn't be developed in other programs; not for the necessarily for reputation outside of China (which will depend almost entirely on research connections of your professors). - Very important is to determine how international students perform on the market (academic, private sector) after graduating compared to Chinese students. Are all the programs mixed/international, or do the Chinese take a Chinese language track and internationals in English? But it looks like a pretty enticing program. IF it was on the main PKU campus I would have felt terrible for not applying to it a few years ago (due to my strong location preference towards Beijing and away from Shenzhen). As it is I feel a little foolish it didn't come on my radar :)

Ditto. I missed out too but know some that received it awhile ago. Better luck next year.

It is if you're not infinitely lived.

It may send a negative signal that you're willing to rationalize quitting. Or that you think only half a masters was sufficient preparation even for an outsider. But I'd mostly be concerned about LORs. If those will be fine you will too.

They may become dominant, but it's unlikely they'll ever reach the same level of success in per calita terms (or at least quickly); too many serious problems, the most obvious being pervasive environmental degradation.

I think you'd be better off with one of the mainland EU 2 year masters: good chances of funding, low costs if not, very rigorous, and excellent placement if you perform well (I think mores than most US masters; EU ones have an established tradition of feeding top students to top phds). In the US you'll drop a fortune for a degree that is probably better spent on a MBA, given that you'll likely go into the private sector. Of course that's the case for many students in the EU as well, but at least the tuition is free or low.

Barcelona. Especially if some tuition is covered.

Yes. Try CEMFI or UC3M; I received fully funded offers from both. Not sure if others have any history of funding Americans.

There are several 2 year MAs frequently discussed here that would suit your needs and could place you in the top 10 easily *if* you are the star of the class. If you perform better than average top 30-20 is within grasp. Major downside of ubc (given your goals) is a 1 year program, massive class size, and limited funding. Try some of the two years with funding and classes in the 20-40 range where you can be noticed.

If you're not averse to studying abroad, are unsure between academia and private sector, you might want to consider CEMFI. They have good placements in both routes, a very advantageous faculty to student ratio compared to every other master program on your list AFAIK, and frequently offer full funding for masters students.

I just wanted to add that in my experience, getting into the M2 isn't very difficult - I was shut out of PhDs scatter all throughout the 50s to top 5, but was accepted into M2.

Yes, so long as you meet the requirements (I think 4 years of undergrad coursework).