stelath4933

When you say "lower ranked" program what do you mean? I make no qualms with the fact that I am not going to a top 20 institution and might not get into a top 30 institution, but I would think that top 40 is still well within my reach. Is that a decent assessment?

I will not be able to apply to PhD in Economics programs this go around due to timing issues, however I was wondering if it would be better to: 1. Spend 2 years getting a masters at the University of Alabama(it would be in state and cheaper) or 2. Take a year off and reapply to PhD programs next year. As far as my personal life goes neither option is better than the other one so it comes down to whether or not the extra year spent in the masters program and the possible debt would be worth it. Here are a couple facts about my profile: Undergrad Degree: Math and Quantitative Economics Economics Courses Taken: Lower lever Micro and Macro Theory, Upper Level Micro and Macro Theory, Game Theory(only B in an Economics course), Econometrics, Behavioral Economics Economics GPA: 3.86 Economics Courses taking this semester: Economics Institutions and Law(Class about basics behind incentive theories) Math Course taken: Cal 1,2, and 3(A's in each), Intro to Differential Equations(A), Mathematical Modeling(A), Vector Analysis(A), Linear Algebra(B), PDE(B), Advanced Calc 1(A), Probability(A), and Financial Mathematics(B-Deals with all financial theory up to Black Scholes and was primarily concerned with Calls and Puts) Math GPA: 3.75 Math Courses Taking This Semester: Advanced Calculus 2, Advanced Probability(A masters course dealing with topics on the P/1 Actuarial exam and Markov chains), Mathematics Statistics, ODE, Modern Algebra(Abstract Algebra course) This my school transcript. My school is not extremely prestigious, but I had heard of people going directly from it to top programs in Economics(usually in the 10-20 range). GRE will be retaken and I have some very minor research under my belt that has been a learning experience(IE a disaster when I get to the data collection stages). I currently barely have 3 letters of Recommendation, but they are there. If there are any other short term options available to me other then the 2 I provided I am all ears, but the end goal is to get an Economics PhD eventually.

Well I do not necessarily want a top 20 admit. I have a brother who is going to a T3 PhD in Finance program and his life basically sucks right now. I know that PhD life sucks no matter what, but I would rather take a lower program that might allow me a little more free time even at the cost of having a harder time getting a job after graduation. I cannot transfer since I only have a year left. Or rather, transferring would be extremely unproductive.

We have a pretty good math department at my school and an extremely mediocre, probably tending towards bad, economics program. We only have three teachers with economics PhDs and only two regularly teach economics courses, the other one teaches business stats courses. I assumed that it might be a better idea to get rec letters from math professors than econ for this reason. Also, I was curious as to why a masters in stats would not look good? I figured that would probably be my best bet for graduate school. Just for clarification: does on campus activity help at all with getting into graduate school? I have a lot of on campus activity experience, but I did it mainly for personal development reasons and did not expect the experience to really help me in the long run.

I am currently an undergraduate student and want to know if my profile is good for getting admitted into PhD programs. If not I would like to know where I could potentially get a masters to make me more appealing and if so I would like to know where would be good places to apply: Current majors: Mathematics and Quantitative Economics Minor: Biology School: Medium Size State School in Alabama (regionally known in the southeast, not really outside of it though) CuGPA: 3.53 (I was a biology major, which I hate, and that is what is killing my GPA) Economics GPA: 3.9 Math GPA: 4.0 Relavent classes I have taken: Advanced Micro and Macroeconomics(As in Both), Game Theory(Only B in economics), Behavioral Economics(A), Finance(A), Business Statistics(A in two seperate courses), Calculus 1,2, and 3(As in all three), Differential Equations(A), Mathematical Modeling(A), Vector Analysis(A), and Linear Algebra(A). Classes I will have taken once I apply: Econometrics(with STATA tools integrated), Probability, Financial Mathematics(This is an abstract math course applied to finance. Teaches Black-Scholes, stochastic modeling, etc.), Partial Differential Equations, and Advanced Calculus(basically undergraduate Real Analysis). Classes I will be taking when I apply: Mathematical Statistics, a masters level probability course, Economics: Institutions and Law(Teaches basic theories dealing with public policy and incentives), and an Abstract Algebra Course. That is my basic profile as of now. I have one year left in my degree and all of the classes that I am taking in the fall are in the second list and all the classes I am taking in the spring, when I plan to apply, are in the third list. I will also be doing a little econometrics research under a professor in the fall and presenting it in the spring, but that research will probably not be finished by the time I apply to graduate school. I currently have a solid rec letter from one economics professor, probably a solid one from a math professor, and no one for the third rec letter in mind. My current options I am considering are: 1. Apply and go to a PhD program right now. The problem with this option is that I know I could probably get into a program if I applied, but I would like to get into a top 30 program, so I am essentially wondering what my chances are of that based on my profile. If I could go this route it would be preferrable because it involves fewer student loans. 2. Go to a masters program. If I go to a masters program before PhD I would like for the masters to be in something I could very easily apply to the private sector (i.e. not a masters in Economics) so that if the PhD does not work out for one reason or another I have a fallback. The programs I have considered are Masters in Actuarial Sciences, Masters in Public Policy, Masters in Probability and Statistics, etc. If I were to go the second route I would like to know which masters programs I might be eligible for and which masters programs would look best for a PhD in economics admissions board. I know this is a lot to swallow, but I would appreciate any feedback that anyone can give.