surekhan

How does one explain low grades in a particular examination? I'm doing my MA Econometrics in India. I fared not so well in a paper that is not my core but an elective. But it's an important quant paper nevertheless, numerical methods. Scores I got in other quant electives and core papers are way above this one. My real reason for a low score is that the prof never turned up to teach us, took very few classes and it turned out I was the only one who had no math background (BA in economics)...just managed with the given material...I just didnt ask for help when I should have I guess... But How do I explain this? Should I explain it even? How will the admission committee look at large variances in math paper scores? If at all they overlook it why would it be? Would my explanation make a difference? If someone has faced a similar problem could you pls let me know what you did abt it? Thnaks.

@ariely More than anything else I was just shocked at your inputs. You're absolutely right about Indian BAs in Economics not being up to stds when comapred to North American BAs. But about the rest I think I couldn't disagree more. Please do not tell me that all current indian graudate students in economics in American Unviersities are engineers from IITs and MBAs from IIMs. If these were the only people with brains then why would we have any other educational institutes in the country. the economists that are making polcies for india are NOT IIM graduates. But have passed out of either Delhi University, Hyderabad University, University of Bombay or University of Madras. This also does not go to show that people from UP or Bihar are not sitting in the Planning Commission right now directing Indian policy. Did you know that a majority of people who get into the IITs are people from Bihar or Orissa or Rajasthan apart from the economcially more advanced cities. And if you were not aware already Indians no matter which unviersity they come from have to have 16 years of education to apply to he US, hence the need for an MA. My question was abt math requirements for Grad Economics, I did not need you to list out prestigious indian institutes for me. No ahrd feelings though, I just think your points seemed like they were based on incomplete research. @Batjik Syutfu thank you for your response. Do you think that an SOP could be used to elaborate on what my math and stat courses actually entailed? Do you think this would give them a better picture of my background adding to the info I give in the form on the list of advcd courses taken and text books used?

Thank you for your response. I think Im going to go ahead and take those additional courses. I will have to manage getting good grades in them. Thanks :-)

Hi. I have a specific question regarding math requirements for admission of Indian applicants. I'm assuming all those who get in from India are the ones with an MA degree (that is if your not an engineer or Bsc in any Science field or anything similar to that). Im assuming that those with no BSc in let's say Statistics or Math need an MA as basic requirement even to just apply. Here's my question: For these applicants (who do MA Economics from India) how are courses such as "Mathematics for Economics" or "Statistics for Economics" at the MA level looked at by admission committee? Are different unviersities touchy abt the coruses titled like this on different levels? So the idea is that mostly Indian applicants are fulfilling eco theory and math requirements, i.e., to fill the gap between the low standards of our BAs with an MA. But does this help? Is this all I need to be on par with American Undergraduate applicants who have a flexibile sytem through which they can opt for formal math courses from maths or stats departments - such as a course in Linear Algebra or Multivariate Calculus or Real Analysis or mathematical statistics? Or am I going to be judged along with other Indian applciants who with an MA in economics also like me would not have a formal math course in the MA level or BA level (if not BSc Maths). I have touched upon these topics in the courses that I meentioned above. But not really equal to a semester in these topics alone. I'm doing my MA in Econometrics from a well reputed university in India. But there is a chance I could take such courses outside my department, if time permits. Should I take on this extra load now or do you think that with respect to Indian applicants this requirement is fulfilled by a course like Mathematics and statistics for economcis in MA level, at least for admission. I hope some Indian students who ahve been admitted can help me out. Thank you.

Hi Everyone, I wish to be applying for fall 2012 in the US for Economics Ph.D. I have been doing my best to contact indians at universities I may apply to with questions on my profile and addmissions process. The hit rate has not been too impressive hope this forum helps in getting better repsonses. It would be of immense help if Indian applicants who got admitted in US econ phd programs since 2008 could share their profiles and results. If the responses are good it would really encourage me to share my profile to get your valuable comments on it and get any other assitance from the Indians who made it!That could be in the next post :D