econosur

Man, I am currently doing the MSc in Manchester. If you can afford any of Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick, then go there. Teaching here is really poor. It is rigorous but poor quality of teaching. The programme is standard in terms that you will see almost exactly the same as in any other master programme (Mas Collel, Romer, Green, etc, etc) and you will work with pure theory, I mean proofs, not just the intuition behind. The problem is that lecturers here are simply not interested on teaching. You can easily asleep in a lecture but then you will have a tough exam at the end of the term. In terms of university, Manchester overall is a very reputable university (I think is 5th in the UK) with great!!!!! facilities, computers everywhere, an enormous library and all you can imagine. I think that few universities in uk can equal that. The economics department is not all in Repec Ideas (i don't know why) and this is one of the reasons why is not so well positioned in the respective ranking. My final recommendation, do not come here if you want to be well taught. Now if you don't mind that and you want something rigorous, then no problem come here, overall Manchester is cool.

haha....ok I think that I just need to practice more. Thanks OneArmedEcon.

Ok I see your point but for example in this exercise you say that you would be able to state the euler eq straight forward without passing for any F.O.C?, and then you have to state the government constraint which in simple terms would be g = t where t are taxes and you need to express it in terms of t and k. So you have to do some substitutions to get to the answer. This takes me more time than the optimal for exam conditions. [ATTACH=CONFIG]6627[/ATTACH]

Thanks OneArmedEcon....you mean writing the Euler eq without stating first the F.O.C?....is that what you mean to save time?

Hi guys, Soon I will have an exam on Macro theory in my Master program (not the final but it is important). The exam involves only problem solving (dynamic opt. in cont. and discrete time). Despite I answer right all the example exercises that I have found for practice, I have noted that I am taking too long to solve them. I would like to ask for some advice regarding some book or anything to be able to see the problem more quickly, I don't know, maybe knowing all macro relations by heart to don't waist time deriving them , some common pattern when you work substituing or showing, etc, etc. Thanks guys in advance. Any words would be helpful

Thanks Walras, I have seen too a few instructors in some colleges or universities which have on their CV the PhD © title from another university. I think they probably do that: finished all the coursework and then went back to their countries to finish their thesis. How is seen that by the programme itself?

Hi guys, I am wondering if one can be only 2 years in full residency on a Phd in Economics programme. I mean, suppose a foreign student who comes from a master in economics and take all the core courses plus electives during 2 years in his Phd, would it be feasible that the student go back to his country to write and finish the thesis there?. What would be the minimum time to be able to do the above?. Thanks!:eager:

....actually I remember that in college I almost never took notes in class more than what the professor used to write in the blackboard. What I did was to be completely absorbed by his speech.

.......yesss....because the speaking section needs specific details unlike listening where the questions remind you the answer or image in your head.

Hi guys, I've been practicing the listening part (lectures) without taking any notes or sometimes no more than three specific names, and I feel very comfortable to answer the questions. In fact, I am scoring better than when I tried note taking strategies. When I try to take notes I miss the conversation so barely I get 70% of it. On the other hand, when I just listen I catch more than 95% of the lecture. I am able to deeply focus, close my eyes and imagine everything that the speaker is saying. Focused 1000%. Is it possible or you don't recommend it at all?. Has anyone tried this before?, How was the outcome?

Thanks maradona....I suppose your are from Argentina. By watching several videos and some books, I've realized that TOEFL is 70% english 30% strategy....and there's a lot for each part of the test. Thanks for your thoughts!

Thanks Mikeil, I am applying strategies that I never applied before. BTW, I will take the test on August 4.

Hi, I hold a "conditional" offer, subject to english proficiency requirements. Regarding your statement about "they are not too fussy", I can tell you that I already contacted the programme's department and also admissions and they answered me the same: We are firm on our requirements. Sorry. If you want my opinion, I think is very stupid that they are willing to leave behind a student ranked 1st of their class (1:1 according UK grades), fully funded by his government by a merit-based scholarship, just for 8 points that probably would improve after a couple of months in the programme. I have been studying several books and videos on TOEFL strategies, and all I can tell about it is that TOEFL is a 70% english proficiency measurer and a 30% strategy test (I just realized a few days ago. Last time I went for the test, trusting just on my english skills). This....bothers me. But wth.....I will have to dance the music they like. Cheers and thanks for your opinion.

guys please, I really need your thoughts. My university allows applicants to take any of the following tests: IELTS 7.0 with a min. of 6.0 in each component TOEFL 100 CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH - B CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE FOR ADVANCED ENGLISH - A PITMAN EXAMINATION IN INTERNATIONAL ESOL - Mastery Level PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH - 69 with a minimum of 59 in each component. In order to maximize the probability of success, I am willing to take up to 4 of these tests. I will take TOEFL and IELTS plus 2 other. Any of you have experience with the other alternatives?, maybe Cambridge or Pearson?.

Hi guys, I need your help please!!!!. Today I received my TOEFL scores and I got 92: Listening 21; Reading 24; Writting 25; Speaking 22. I hold a conditional offer from a top UK university subject to a minimum overall score of 100 with a minimum of 23 in Listening; 24 in Reading; 24 in Speaking and 23 in Speaking. In summary the thing would be: R - L - S - W - T Requirement: 24 - 23 - 23 - 24 - 100 Obtained: 24 - 21 - 22 - 25 - 92 Last date I have to take the test would be August 25th in order to have time to apply for Visa after the university gives me an unconditional offer. I am really scare of not having enough time or skills to achieve the scores required, but I have made a lot of efforts to be admitted to the programme and also to obtain support to fund my education that I don't want to miss this oportunity. Please guys, could you help me with your thoughts and experience. What should I do?. Is it possible to achieve those score levels in this short period?. Please advice me, I really need your help. Should I hire a personal tutor, buy some books, attend an online course??....what???. Thanks in advance for your comments.

oK we won't ;)...sleep well

guys, no need to be rude with the man. Listen, if you want to do good research and work preferably in colleges you need to go for a Phd. It doesn't matter if it's a top whatever....what it really matters is your passion to research on your topics and your willingness to teach. On the other hand, if you want to just apply your current knowledge, then take a step aside and find some related job in private sector. I know that a Phd is a longgggg and toughhhhh route to follow, but you could handle it as long as your true passion is in the academy sector, otherwise you will probably suffer a lot and maybe never finish your degree. Don't care about your age. Think about what you really want to do for the following 20 years or +. Private sector probably will give your more $$$. If that's what you're looking for, then go for it. If you don't care about money or intellectual development is the most important to you, then try to find a programme that suits you and not a programme based on rankings. Hope it helps you at least a bit.

Hey guys, I am reviewing Matrix algebra for my Msc. in Econ. I am working on computations and some applications now, but I'm wondering if it's necessary also to review the pure theory. I have seen that it's not same as for Calculus, where theory specially RA is strongly recommended. I am using S&B, Chiang and Pemberton to excercise in Matrix Algebra. Should I need more for this topic??

The thing is what about if the OP finally decide not to go for a Phd at the end of the first year in the MPhil?....The guy would have nothing. He would has to wait another year just to certify he studied economics at an advanced level. I think that Oxford will have to change its policy sooner or later to the cambridge way where they have a Diploma + 1 year MPhil, so in the case that you can not enter directly to MPhil and you be admitted to diploma first and realize in this year that it's enough economics for you, you can go home with at least a diploma, which from what I know is not the case in Oxford.

I think that you missed the word "too" at the end of your statement.

Nice...thanks!

Personally I really like Oxford as a university and as a department in UK, but 2 years I think is too much (that is one of the reasons why it wasn't in my list). In fact, I realized that this year they added a third deadline in april (are they missing good candidates because is a 2 year programme or what??) when every year has only 2. Check their website. UCL is just 1 year and from what I've heard is really tough, thus preparing you well for a PhD. Many people say it is the hardest programme in UK, only below to LSE EME (not very comparable) and Cambridge MPhil Research.

mm..well in that case von Neumann could be one of the first too in ~ 1930 by proving using vectors, probabilities, etc.

Yes you're right, I just realized that GRE started in 1930. The thing is why some economists these last times claim against the overuse of mathematics in economics. There was some kind of big positive change in the slope on the "maths as the main support" curve? and when did it happen if it so?

I see that you are accepted in UCL. Did you take the offer?. I already did.