EconUnplugged

Hey, I dont entirely agree with Mathemagician. In my opinion, schools have have a higher word limit do so on purpose to accommodate those that actually need a higher word limit. I have no idea what your story is, but there are certainly some people that apply to these programs that have several years of different work experiences, and to tie their profile together, it would justify having a 3/4 page SOP. I think one of the most important things about the SOP is to make sure it is not verbose - adcoms will stop reading it. Instead of wondering how many words you should put into it, you should be asking yourself what do you need to put into it, and how can you make it succinct. Good luck!

Good post? http://www.www.urch.com/forums/images/buttons/ha_plus.png | http://www.www.urch.com/forums/images/buttons/ha_minus.png PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Undergrad GPA: Type of Grad: Grad GPA: GRE: Math Courses: Econ Courses (grad-level): Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: Research Experience: Teaching Experience: Research Interests: SOP: Concerns: Other: Applying to:

Hey Anik, It is possible, but you need to disclose a lot more information: What do you wish to study? what is the ranking of your undergraduate institution? Do you have work experience? etc Please look at the standard format for posting a profile - you may get more responses that way.

Sorry for the confusion - was actually referring to the UC system (University of Cali), but thanks for your input on U of Cincinnati. I'm actually an international student -so I guess if U of Cincinnati has very little funding for U.S citizens - it is going to be even harder for me.

Thanks Economyclass - are there any programs in Canada that you would recommend with my profile?

Hey, I know i'm the OP - but I would recommend that if you have a better gpa (and math/econ grades) you should step up the schools a notch. I would add tufts, and BU to the reaches. Move clemson, American down to Safeties (take out UNCG and Bowling), and add a couple of 20-30 ranked programs in the middle. Hope this helps.

I would not assume that the recommend-er would know.But might not hurt to ask the school. And for the sake of politeness - I would suggest informing the professors that you decided not to apply to the school and your reasoning. Sorry cant be of more assistance.

Correct me if I am wrong - but I was under the impression that the UC's offer funding to masters students. I hope someone here can shed light on that.

Hi Anurag, Relocating to the US is extremely difficult on a work visa by yourself. If you want to relocate - I would suggest applying to a multinational in India and getting transferred through the company itself to another branch. I share your work frustrations - India is still greatly lacking in workplace professionalism. Canda is easier to apply to for a work visa. Alternatively, as you mentioned - I would suggest you apply to a professional degree in the U.S (hopefully on partial scholarship), and relocate that way. I would not recommend applying to a Phd for relocation purposes. You will probably not be able to finish it - if relocation is your main goal. good luck.

Hey - I would suggest applying as soon as possible. Your profile looks fine for a masters. I think the only reach school on your list is LSE - but nothing that a excellent SOP and strong letters of rec should not be able to fix. I remember seeing on some department website a list of how many academic and professional letters they accept depending on how long you have been out of school. I would suggest you write to the admissions department and see if they are ok with 1 academic and 2 professional. Good luck!

I believe all universities request you to submit all degrees from all universities. I would suggest perhaps having a paragraph in your SOP explaining the motivation for change of track. I would not recommend not disclosing a degree.

It would help if you posted your profile in the standard format. From your current GRE scores, you should should be fine with econ (they focus mainly on the quant), perhaps a higher score for public policy would be recommended. I would suggest having a few outside the top twenty for safety. What is your work ex? Is it related to econ? What about your LORs?

Good post? http://www.www.urch.com/forums/images/buttons/ha_plus.png | http://www.www.urch.com/forums/images/buttons/ha_minus.png PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Undergrad GPA: Type of Grad: Grad GPA: GRE: Math Courses: Econ Courses (grad-level): Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: Research Experience: Teaching Experience: Research Interests: SOP: Concerns: Other: Applying to:

I my opinion - it really depends on a school by school basis. Some departments websites explicitly mention NOT to contact their professors. Other websites conveniently list the professors' role in the admission committee. By a general guideline to follow is never to write to them about your profile. Write to them expressing interest in their research, discuss their paper etc, and it does hurt to throw in a 'btw, i'm thinking about applying to x program for fall 2014 and would love to discuss this in person with you' etc. I know writing to prof's is much more standard for phd applications, not very much so for masters, and by no means is it mandatory.

Thanks tomripley. Do you think I should be aiming a bit higher? Do you think I should add Tufts to the list? Their deadline is fast approaching!

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Hi guys, Right off the bat, I want to say I realize my profile is not competitive at the Phd level, and even though I may consider a Phd down the road (no plans in the next 10 years). PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BA Econ Undergrad GPA: 3.00 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 165(v)/161(q)/4.5(awa) Math Courses: Calc I,II, LA, Stats Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Macro/Micro, Intermediate Micr, Environmental, International trade, Metrics (and a bunch of sideline development studies courses - my concentration was development) Letters of Recommendation: 1 Phd JHU, 1 Phd unknown school, 1 Work rec (phd) Research Experience: Consulting (1 year) Teaching Experience: N/A Research Interests: Development, international trade SOP: Development and the usual stuff. Talked about my development consulting experience in the developing world. Concerns: Low GPA, poor math grades, unknown undergrad institution Applying to: ALL MASTERS Reach: JHU, Yale IDE, Duke Target: (Econ) UC Irvine, UC Riverdale, Boston U, U Cincinnati, UC Santa Cruz, Clemson, American Safeties: U of South Florida, UNC Greensboro, Bowling State, Any suggests as to how I should adjust my target schools? Thanks!

Kaysa, thanks for the input! I have not posted my full profile, but in short - I have research experience, and a degree in economics, but have poor math grades (especially Linear Alg) - which I know is what adcoms focus on. If I did a MA in applied econ, it would be mainly to take upper level math and econ courses - but I feel like those courses are mostly covered in data analytics programs.

Hey Forum, I just came across the masters in Data Analytics offered by a some schools - for example this one at NC State. I came across it accidentally when I was googling the list of hard econometric skills I would expect to gain from a M.A in applied econ with a focus on econometrics. I found this program that is a year long, but is geared more towards business decision making, rather than data analysis that I currently use (to a certain extent) in managing RCT data in Dev Econ. Am I right when I think that there is a great overlap between the hard skills gained from a applied econ program with econometrics focus? Are the skills transferable? Also, down the road (after selling my soul to some investment company for a few years to pay back HUGE loans), if I wanted to do a phd in economics, how much value would such a program add to a profile compared to a applied economics program? Could anyone that is enrolled in such a course shed some light? Thanks! :)

Looking forward to getting through this app season with all of you guys! May the best make it, and the rest squeeze through. Unfortunately, all GRE dates are booked up, I'll be taking mine on 20th of Nov, therefore there are about 6 schools (from my list of 12) that I may or may not apply to depending on my GRE results. Have any of you been in this situation before? Any advice? Thanks! p.s - i'm applying to all masters programs - so I guess the deadlines are generally a month of two later.

My Econ grades are not bad (A+Bs), its mainly the math that is keeping my GPA down. I never really enjoyed pure math in college, it did not have any application sense to me. Now in my job, i'm required to read papers, so I am familiar with regressions and analysis. Also picked up stata on the job. I know I will enjoy learning math a lot more now as I can see it in application. I've also familiarized myself with many development researchers - dean karlan, A Banerjee... Thanks!

Hey everyone, So a while ago I posted a thread on list of schools for people with a not so fantastic back-ground. Now I am looking for schools to apply to for Fall 2014 - I look forward to your responses. UG: regional university - barely known outside of small town. Major: Combined Business and Economics Deg CGPA: 2.9. Math: Calc I ©; Stats (C+); Linear Agl (C-); Calc II (B) Econ: Micro Macro + a bunch of electives outside the major and business courses. After graduation I worked for a non-profit on a development program. By Fall 2014, I will have worked for two years. I had some exposure to RA work, and I am really interested in development research. I want to go back to school in 2014 - this is something that I really want to do. Also, most places I look, people suggest that doing an MA in Economics is a waste of time, if you plan on doing a phd - which I eventually do. Can you guys suggest Masters/phd programs that would accept someone with my profile - with excellent score on the quant section of the GRE. Ideally this program will have a strong development focus, has decent placements, (if a masters) will help me get into a top 50 phd, provides funding (too much?)... Thanks guys. This is an amazing forum with so much econ uni knowledge base!

Hey Everyone, It seems like you all have stellar back-grounds, and amazing profiles (pat yourselves on the back - yes even you, Troll), but I am sure once in a while there are people like me that trod in here (and feel out of place.) You know who I am talking about - those with the below 3.7, dare I say, even close to the 3.0 (sometimes below!! (gasp!)! So I was wondering, can we compile something for us? Schools that took in students with way less than stellar profiles (late bloomers / 40-hr week works / late careers pickers...), and where dd they go from there? Are there people on this forum who actually had a bad profile and were somehow able to turn it around? Without doing another UG? List of schools that take a more holistic approach on admissions, departments that are low ranking and offer partial funding? Departments that accept less than average profiles, but can help transfer/place students to a good PHD program? Thanks! :)