neuroeconomist

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! My biggest weakness does seem like my LoRs, but I would note that I can get them from economists as I mentioned in the OP. Namely, my micro and macro professors and my current Development Economics professor. Would these still be too weak? These economists have not seen me do economics research, although they have seen me excel in coursework. I'd rather do a Master's program or research experience before a PhD program if it makes a difference of Top 20 vs. Top 10 admission. If I take this route, I'd love to hear opinions on the best options. And on smaller notes: Yes, about other things although it did include my profile. I don't think we corresponded. Plenty, actually. The natural sciences look for general investigative capability, which can be communicated by experts in other disciplines. Economics is the only discipline I know of with such a strong focus on "letters from high-level economists."

Hey friends. I'm not an economics major. I haven't done economics research. And I don't know award-winning economists for LoRs. But I'm excited about economics graduate school and have a decent academic record. I'm pessimistic about my chances at the top econ PhD programs, so I'm thinking a masters might be a better fit. Any ideas? I'm interested in behavioral, developmental, and environmental economics (as well as other things). PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Neuroscience major/economics minor at flagship state school Undergrad GPA: 3.9 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: Will be taking this fall. Math Courses: AP Calculus BC (5); Multivariable Calculus (A); Differential Geometry (A); Taking Real Analysis and Linear Algebra currently. Econ Courses (undergrad-level): AP Micro/Macro (5/5); Intermediate Micro (A); Intermediate Macro (A); Econometrics (A); Taking Development Economics currently. Other Courses: AP Statistics (5) Letters of Recommendation: 1.) Neuroscience research mentor; leader in his field, is actually moving this fall to become Stanford faculty. I've been told he writes great LoRs! 2.) Neuroscience research mentor; post-doctoral fellow who I work with a lot personally. Not as famous, but knows me very well. 3.) I correspond regularly with two of my previous economics professors who were both graduate students at an Ivy league (I transferred from an Ivy League). One now works at Columbia and the other in Southeast Asia. But I am hoping to find an economics professor to work with this summer and get some direct research experience and have a letter of recommendation from him/her. SOP: Haven't written it yet. Concerns: I haven't done economics research! My research area so far has been studying risk-taking behavior, so it's more psychology based. I also work with large fMRI data sets. If I can't get enough research experience in time, I can take a gap year and go work somewhere doing economics research. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this. Other: I have near-perfect SAT/ACT scores and expect to do very well on the GRE. I transferred from an Ivy League, and the difference in course requirements is a large part of why I switched to neuroscience when I transferred. But I know I want to study economics in graduate school. Applying to: Unsure.

This is my goal. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear.

I am the OP, and I have taken economics courses and am doing economics research this summer (and hopefully this fall as well with my Development Econ professor! Also, all three of my econ LoR writers are published as are my neuroscience LoR writers (although I think I should use the econ ones, but am unsure here). I am also published :P This is an attractive option to me! Do you think doing well in such a program would propel me into admission for top 30 schools or higher?

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Neuroscience major/economics minor at flagship state school Undergrad GPA: 3.9 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: Will be taking this fall. Math Courses: AP Calculus BC (5); Multivariable Calculus (A); Differential Geometry (A); Taking Real Analysis, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra this fall. Econ Courses (undergrad-level): AP Micro/Macro (5/5); Intermediate Micro (A); Intermediate Macro (A); Econometrics (A); Taking Development Economics this fall. Other Courses: AP Statistics (5); Taking Biostatistics this fall Letters of Recommendation: 1.) Microeconomics professor. Knows me and my personal goals very well. Was a grad student when they taught me, now teaching in southeast asia. 2.) Macroeconomics professor. Knows me a little less, but thinks very highly of me. was a grad student when they taught me, now post-doc at Columbia. 3.) I am getting to know my Development Economics professor for the fall. I also have two neuroscience mentors who know me very well. One is my direct mentor, a post-doc, and the other is my Principal Investigator, who is moving to a faculty position in arguably the best neuroscience department in the nation. SOP: I'm applying this upcoming fall. Concerns: I haven't done economics research or taken many economics courses :( So I need to show interest. Other: I have near-perfect SAT/ACT scores and expect to do very well on the GRE. Even though I'm a neuroscience major, I know I want to study economics in graduate school. I am also doing an internship this summer doing non-profit research on global health interventions, much of which is economics-based. Applying to: Unsure. My primary goal after the PhD is academia, so I'd really like to attend a top-ranked program. Would I have better chances if I sought an economics MA beforehand? If so, could you give me some examples of programs that'd fit this path? Thanks!

My math background is: Calculus (I, II, and III or however you want to put it), Differential Geometry, and the courses I take this fall: Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, and some course on probability theory. This is the most rigorous version, from what I've heard.

So I am in a bit of a dilemma. I am trying to figure out what courses to take in the fall and whether to apply for graduate school in this cycle or the next one (stay in undergrad for a fifth year). Unfortunately, I am having trouble taking upper-division economics at my current university (I'm a transfer student majoring in Neuroscience). I took the basic econ courses at my last university (ranked much higher than my current one): intermediate micro, intermediate macro, and econometrics. However, the Faculty Advisor refuses to acknowledge my courses as equivalent to the ones here. With a lot of fighting, I managed to get the Faculty Advisor here to give me a pre-requisite waiver for Micro Theory (allowing me to take economics courses that require it), but she still won't give me the waivers for Economic Statistics (Intro to Econometrics) or Macro Theory. I am appealing to the department chair to overturn this decision, but I'm preparing for the worst. So these seem like my two major options. Which do you think is better, or do you think an option not listed here is best? (A) Take a rigorous mathematics schedule this fall: Real Analysis, Stochastic Processes, and Applied Linear Algebra. Then apply this cycle for PhD programs without upper-division economics coursework (B) Retake my econ basics in the fall: Micro, Macro, and Economic Statistics. Then spend take an extra year of undergraduate to complete an economics degree (in addition to my neuroscience degree), hoping to take graduate-level econ/mathematics courses and to find an economics professor to take me as a Research Assistant. Then apply in Fall 2015 for economics graduate programs. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to probe her for actual, concrete differences when I meet with her tomorrow. I have my old professor on speed dial; she's ready to help me if there's anything she can do.

Thanks for the feedback. I emailed the advisor with a color-coded copy of the syllabus I used and the syllabus at the university here, showing perfect overlap of the topics. She responded saying that it wasn't just topics that mattered, but the tools of analysis. However, my intermediate microeconomics was calculus-based, using a lot of integrals and partial derivatives. And from what I've gleamed from this school, they don't cover anything beyond that here either. What am I missing? How do I make my case? I meet with her in person tomorrow.

I'm a transfer student and plan to take Game Theory in the fall, in addition to some upper-division math courses to prepare for PhD admissions. But my new university won't accept my old university's micro/macro/economics pre -reqs! I've checked the syllabi and my courses covered at least te material the courses here do, but the professor in charge of pre-requisite waivers here disagrees :( I have a meeting with her tomorrow to appeal, but how do I make my case? I only have the syllabi, but not any of the old tests or anything.

What are the best schools to go if you're interested in studying business ethics and social impact?

Feel free to refer me to another thread on the subject!

What are the best undergraduate courses for Business PhD admissions? Do graduate schools like to see math? Economics? Etc.?

That's so helpful! I'll look up all of these people. Thanks. So nobody can make higher than a 92nd percentile their first time on the GRE? Sounds unlikely, although hard to research because most high-achievers won't go in without studying. It was just background information. And it's actually much easier to earn a high GPA here. Even though a smaller percentage of students earn A's here, it's much easier to earn an A grade. Thanks for the ideas.

I completed the full calculus sequence and plan to apply to graduate school this fall. So for the fall semester, that'll be my last chance to take more math courses. I know Real Analysis is usually recommended, but at my university, it has pre-requisites of "Discrete Math" and "Introduction to Number Theory." From what I've read on here, it seems these pre-reqs aren't really necessary as long as the student can handle a proof-based course. Should I take Real Analysis? Discrete Math? Linear Algebra? A computing course? Or some combination of these.. I enjoy math a lot and have always been the top student in my math courses but am not attracted to any of these options any more than the others for personal interest.