Duck

Profile with $30,000 - $40,000, made in two easy payments?

Thanks sulebrahim. There goes my evenings after work next year.

Also, have you considered European programs yourself (LSE, UCL, BGSE, Oxford)?

By 'B', do you mean H2A/Distinction? When comparing yourself to US profiles where there are comments like 'that B will rule you out of T50', keep in mind that Australian/UK universities commonly equate it with an 'A' on the US scale. According to my coordinator, people from our university with 85 and above have placed in Top 20/30 (though not sure about funding), and with 90 and above in the Top 5/10 (like two or three a year). So it looks like you're pitching you applications at the right level. In any case, good luck. It will be interesting to see how you do (my profile is weaker - less maths, slightly lower average - and I was hoping for the same Canadian MA programs, along with a few in Europe).

Hi all, This program has been mentioned in passing a few times: Diploma for Graduates in Mathematics | University of London International Programmes To me it looks like Abstract Analysis and Advanced Abstract Analysis would refer to Real Analysis I/II. Further Calculus seems to refer to Calculus 2/Vector Calculus (in Australia at least), and it also contains an advanced Linear Algebra course. I'm not sure - does this look like enough preparation for a PhD? Has anyone had any experience with this program (particularly admits to LSE/US afterwards)? It looks more attractive to me than taking a three year BSc, which I previously proposed here.

Thanks for this information. Are there places apart from Illinois and Wisconsin that offer a greater selection of courses? Where did you do your courses, sulebrahim?

Thanks for the feedback. Taking maths courses is not the norm in Australia (it is an optional track in the B.Com, and not possible at all in the B.A), although students clued up about the US system invariably take some. A H1 is equivalent to an A at my university, although in the US system my understanding is that it could translate to anything between a 4.0 and 3.0. However, I guess an 80/100 is an 80/100 anywhere. In the end it would really come down to what makes a better impression to the admissions committee - a low A in Advanced Micro/Macro followed by a (hopefully higher) A in PhD Micro/Macro a year later, or a solid maths degree four years later, with a smattering of Masters level Econ classes (where permissible).

Hi there, I'm finishing off my BA(Hons) in Economics at a leading Australian university this year. I love Economics and am looking to get into a PhD program but I have a (major) concern - middling marks. I'm averaging around 80/100 which puts me somewhere in the middle of the honours cohort, and probably out of contention for US Top 20. I should be able to get this to 85/100 in my final semester by taking easier subjects (which I suppose defeats the point... but anyway). Advice from a professor is that with these grades I might sneak into 20 - 30, but with no funding. I've come up with two possible paths, and it would be great to get your opinions on this: 1. I could take the M.Ec at the same university, and try and boost my grades into Top 20 contention in that year. This year functions as the first coursework year of my university's PhD program, so Micro/Macro/Econometrics are taught at a high level. 2. Finish honours and take a BSc. in Maths. It takes three years, taught at undergraduate level. Hope the extra three years overshadow my middling marks this year. I guess this would also put me closer to the 'frontier' of economic research. What are your thoughts? Here is the obligatory profile, any feedback would be great: PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BA(Hons) in Economics, top Australian university Undergrad GPA: projected 85/100 (H1) Math Courses: Calc 1 (H1) Econ Courses (grad-level): Advanced Micro (H1), Advanced Macro (H1), Econometrics (H2A) - 80/100 average (so far) Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro/Macro sequence (all H1), Econometrics (H2B), Mathematical Economics (H1) - 83/100 average Research Experience: Honours thesis (in progress) Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: Development Economics, Political Economics H1 (80 - 100) H2A (75 - 79) H2B (70 - 74)

Hi, I am an Australian student at the University of Melbourne. I've been looking into graduate Economics study, and I understand that a solid background in mathematics is important. I have almost completed my B.A in Economics. My GPA (or equivalent) is strong, but irrelevant, because I have not taken any formal maths classes. Given I want to enter top US/UK graduate schools, I have two options: 1. Spend a year taking maths subjects through the B.Sc (Calc 1/2, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Vector Calculus, (calculus based) Statistics), withdraw, then take honours (equivalent of US fourth year - Advanced Micro/Macro etc.) in 2014, apply to US in 2015. 2. Complete a B.Sc (Pure Mathematics), and undertake honours in 2015, apply to US in 2016. I'm guessing these would be necessary to enter a top US graduate school. Cost isn't an issue, as fees are subsidised and deferred in Australia, but quality of life is. As you can see, the second option would set me back a further year, and I'm not sure if the material would be relevant for admission and/or the course work when I (hopefully) enter a program. What is your advice? Would completing the B.Sc afford me any real advantages over the first option? Would the top schools give me serious consideration with the maths classes listed in the first option (and a strong honours degree)? Thanks for your help.