rauldt

Hi-- Based on my profile, I believe I have a greater shot at being admitted in a good ARE phd than in a regular Econ phd program. So here is my question: Top 5 ARE phd or 30-40 Econ phd, what is more valuable? (I am interested in professional research, not necessarily in academia. Although, I can see myself as a professor publishing papers and teaching a little bit.)

Cool. Thank you. What program are you in? I may have some more questions. Could I send you a PM?

Sounds good. Thank you all.

Yes, mathematical statistics is very theoritical, topics include: distribution theory, sampling theory, estimation, sufficient statistics, hypothesis testing, multivariable normal distribution. So, if I took diff eqs, do you recommend taking this class at all?

Sorry, yes, I have taken stats: statistical methods I, sm II, econometrics, non-linear models, advanced statistical methods (which was more econometrics), and program evaluatin (which dealt with psm, regression discontinuity, difference-in-difference models, FE and RE models.)

I have taken calculus I, II, multivariable, linear algebra, and I am taking real analysis. I am targeting UC Davis, Arizona State, UCSB, schools in the 25-35 range.

Hi-- I am deciding between taking differential equations and mathematical statistics this coming fall. It's not that I can only take one or the other, it's a matter of which one I want on my trancript by the time the transcript goes to the admission committee. What do you all think?

Thanks. I am interested in econometrics, especially impact analysis and program evaluation. I can also see myself getting into forecasting (time-series and all that good stuff). Yeah, the economists at MPR I've worked with are economists from MIT, Chicago, and Columbia. Do you think I should have professors write them?

Yeah, the applied econometrics course counted towards the stats minors too. It was a graduate minor, 18 credits.

Yeah, the stats classes covered some probability theory (combinatorial analysis, Bayes rule, set theory, distributions, variance and covariance, and the CLT), nothing too fancy like measure theory though. The micro classes were basic. We did some optimization and linear programming using Excel, but again nothing too fancy. My interest research are basically econometrics. I like impact analysis and program evaluation. I can see myself getting into forecasting too. I basically like research. I am also looking into getting a more rigorous treatment of econometrics than what I got in the applied courses. (I want to know the asymptotic, the math, behind the estimators, not just how to interpret coefficients.) I hope to do research for a living and for that the PhD is a must have.

Yeah, UT Austin would be really good. I was also looking into ASU, UC Davis, UCSB, and UMD. As far as letters of recommendation, I was thinking the economists at MPR I've worked with could write them. Perhaps, the professor I RAd for at UT. In your opinion, what could I do between now and December (when I'll be submitting my application) to strengthen my application (besides taking real analysis and diff eqs)?

My undergrad is in history, so as far as admissions committees go, I have no undergrad. I have, however, an MPP from UT Austin with a graduate minor in stats. (Not too impressive, I know.) So my forte is my research experience using SAS and Stata. Allow me to explain in more detail: At UT Austin, I picked up Stata and SAS programming as part of my MPP. I really liked econ, especially econometrics. I RA'd for an economist my last year at UT. After graduation, I took a programmer job with Mathematica Policy Research and have now been working for for them as a senior Stata/SAS programmer for the last 1.5 years. I am the author of 6 Stata commands (ado files) and have written dozens of do files for data management and data analysis (fitting all kinds of models from OLS and FE to PSM and regression discontinuity). Bottom line, I am very comfortable with SAS and Stata and have over two years of relevant economic research experience. I know that to make the application stronger I have to put more math in my transcripts. So, I took several math courses from a local community college. Here is a breakdown of my courses: Math GPA 3.5 (from the courses I have taken) Calc I, Calc II, Multivariable, Linear Algebra, (Real Analysis this summer), (Differential Eqs this fall--possibly) Stats GPA 3.9 Stat Methods I, Stat Methods II, Discrete Multivariate Models, Program Evaluation, Advanced Research Methods Econ GPA 3.75 Economics 101, Microeconomics, International Trade and Finance, Applied Econometrics I, Applied Econometrics What schools would be realistic for me to be admitted? (top 15? top 25? top 35?) What's the value added of my research experience given my background? What could I do this year (besides taking Real Analysis) to make my application stronger? Thanks

Hello-- So I have a similar question. I am applying to econ phds this year. I graduated from BYU too, but with a BA in history (so, forget I said that). I have an MPP from UT Austin with a graduate minor in stats.At UT Austin, I picked up Stata and SAS programming. I fell in love with econ, especially econometrics. I RA'd for an economist my last year, and have now been working for Mathematica Policy Research as a senior Stata/SAS programmer for the last 1.5 years. I am the author of 6 Stata ado files and have written dozens of do files for data management and data analysis. Bottom line, I am very comfortable with SAS and Stata. During my masters, I took a bunch stats and some micro. I have taken calculus I, II, and linear algebra. I am enrolled at a community college taking multivariable, and I will take Diff Eqs and Real Analysis this this year. So, what kind of schools do you think I should be looking at? (I have As and Bs in math, stats, and econ.)

Hey, I just wanted to ask a follow up. I have been programing in Stata and SAS for a think tank in DC for the last 1.5 years. I have written dozens of do and sas files (I even authored 6 ado files) describing, transforming, and analyzing data for Economists. I am now interested in a phd in econ, and given that my background is in applied stats, I find that I need to take more math to boost my chances. (I plan on taking real analysis and diff equations this year at a local university.) Having said all that, do you think programming experience in SAS/Stata and having done so professionally for 2 years (by the time of application) would set me apart from other candidates as to increase my chances of being admitted?

Hi-- Thanks for replying. We did cover very basic probability in one of my econometrics courses. (I mean it was univariate distributions, sets, combinations and permutations, bayes rule, expectancy, variance, and covariance.) The probability theory class that I could take is not intense. It covers same as my econometric course I mentioned above plus a more mathy CLT treatment and moment generting functions. The textbook is Probability and Statistical Inference by Hogg and Tanis. (Not to be confused with Introduction to Mathematical Statistics by Hogg.) The real analysis class is an intro to analysis and it uses Walter Rudin's book. An alternate section uses Tom Apostol's book. I am leaning more toward real analysis, the more I think about it. I guess the question would be Apostol or Rudin? Why?