James Taylor

I read the General Theory, but couldn't really tell you what in Gods name Keynes was talking about. All I took away from that book was that the previous owner must have done a lot of reading in a very good smelling coffee shop.

I have had a professor with a beard and crazy eyes! He began each lecture with an enthusiastic, if not slightly demented, "good afternoon scholars!!!" It definitely catches you off guard the first few times. He ended up being my favorite professor.

Ok I turned it down. Now I'm going to go back to growing out my beard and hair to an unprofessionally long extent.

Yes its the school that offered me the position. Honestly money was never the issue, I think having the experience would be more valuable. I'm just worried about the time I'd have to commit to it. I'm more of a micro theory guy, and I would have to re-acquaint myself with all the intermediate macro stuff if I wanted to do anyone any good. I'm taking Calc II this semester, and I've been devoting about 3 hours a night to that class so far. Also I'm taking a math econ class that doubles as a grad class, and thats going to require a lot of preparation. This tutoring position is such a great opportunity, but if I get an A- in any of the classes I'm taking this semester I think the signalling benefit of tutoring would be completely negated. I think I'd rather devote those 9 hours a week to studying.

$85 an hour! Jesus, I wouldn't think twice! I've been offered a measly $8/hour. I haven't discussed reducing the hours.

I have been offered a position to tutor economics at the intro/intermediate level on campus 9 hours a week. The problem is, I'm afraid of biting off more than I can chew, as my workload this semester appears quite daunting. So would the benefit of saying "I tutored economics for a semester" on an application be worth the possible added stress that taking the position will bring me? Not to mention the possibility of my grades suffering.

I appreciate the "On (subject)" headings. A nice 19th century scientific touch.

Well I think it'd be helpful to know how much outside work time is necessary because of actual assignments and how much is necessary to due the challenge of understanding the concepts. There may be overlap here, but I feel like stuffing your nose in a book for hours trying to grapple a theory would be more demanding. I don't think I ever had homework in undergrad theory classes, are grad classes similar in that respect?

Yeah I believe his first book was initiated by Mary Paley, and when they married, he just assumed control of it. But to be fair he probably taught her a lot of what she knew; he was her professor at Cambridge, and championed women's education at a time when that was taboo. Also, I want to say that she edited and compiled his last book, when he was at the edge of life and demented.

I'd rather her not know much about economics, that way I can pretend I know what I'm talking about.

My school doesn't actually offer a course called "Real Analysis." I asked the advisor about this, and he just pointed me to a list of their "Analysis" courses. I think that this course called Advanced Calculus may be their Real Analysis... Not sure though, because I've seen some econ departments say "courses like Real Analysis and Advanced Calculus are recommended." heres the description: MAA 4226. Advanced Calculus I (3). Prerequisites: MAC 2313, MAS 3105, and prior experience with mathematical proofs (MGF 3301, MAD 2104 or other proving experience). Functions, sequences, limits; continuity, uniform continuity; differentiation; integration; convergence, uniform convergence. For strong students with adviser approval only. Theres also this: MAA 4402. Complex Variables (3). Prerequisite: MAC 2313. Analytic functions, Cauchy-Riemann conditions; complex integration, Cauchy's theorem and integral formula; power series, analytic continuation, Riemann surfaces; residues and applications; conformal mapping. And of course theres an Intro to Analysis. I'm planning to take one of them. Anyone have any advice?

I calculate them independently. Its actually 98.3460768398268%[TABLE=width: 118] [TR] [TD=align: right][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

I got a 98.35% in Calc 1. Stoked for Calc 2 YEAH! Also read Debunking Economics by Steve Keen. Took a long damn time. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I took it yesterday and got a 162Q/164V. Though thats not stellar, It was a drastic increase over the first time I took it (151Q/161V). This time I studied for a month out everyday for 1-2 hours. It felt a bit easier this time, though I may have just been better prepared. Also I think taking it in the morning at 8:30 made a big difference (the first time I took it in the afternoon). My mind becomes duller as the day drags on. Plus this time I didn't devote one second of study time to the verbal portion, whereas last time I split my time about evenly. Strangely I scored better on the verbal this time! I plan to take it again in the winter, after studying all semester (albeit passively). The first time I took it I was given a writing prompt that actually had some bearing on cost minimization. I dropped terms like fixed and variable costs, though I held back from diving into marginal rates of technical substitution. I thought I nailed it. Got a mediocre 4.5...

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 50 US; BA Economics - Minors in Math/Sociology; Undergrad GPA: 3.5 cumulative (3.92 Econ; 3.5 Math) Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 162 Q, 164 V Math Courses: College Algebra (B), Business Calculus ©, Precalculus (A), Trigonometry (A), Calculus I (A) Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Principles Micro/Macro (A/A), Intermediate Micro/Macro (A/A), History of Thought (A), Growth of American Economy (A), Health Economics (B+), a couple other electives (A's) Other Courses: Intro Applied Statistics (B-) Letters of Recommendation: One from a reasonably well-known public choice professor whom I have a good relationship with, and another I hope to get from the professor teaching the Math Econ class I'm taking this fall, who's a well-published experimental/game theory economist. Research Experience: Minimal: interned with local Economic Development Council, wrote a report on status of local businesses, some menial research on companies for database. Teaching Experience: None, trying to get a tutoring gig on campus. Professors are automatically assigned grad student TAs by the department, so its not likely I can gain a TA-ship, and undergrad RAs are quite rare. Research Interests: Urban Economics, Industrial Organization, Business Cycles, Georgism, Pure Theory, Heterodox economics. SOP: Will emphasize my passion for the subject. Concerns: Mediocre undergrad performance. Business Calc and College Algebra were taken during freshman year, when I wasn't too concerned with getting A's. Hoping that A's in more advanced math courses will negate those grades. No formal academic research experience. Mediocre GRE quant. Other: My next year will be mostly devoted to Math and Statistics. This fall I'm taking Calc 2, Discrete Math, Math Econ, Econometrics, Applied Regression Methods. I plan to acquire Calc 3, Linear Algebra, Intro Math Stat, maybe Ordinary Differential Equations, and perhaps Real Analysis. Also, I plan to apply for a RA/intern position at the Fed after I graduate. Applying to: This fall: UBC and UToronto for MA program. Next Fall: I've got my sights set on UVA, though I plan to apply all over the Top 50 range.