danik

Thank you for your answer! With your questions you answered my question)) i think i will not get a ref letter from him. \ Thank you again:verydrunk:

Hi urch,:dejected: I am going to get a reference letter from my thesis adviser, who is currently unemployed and probably will not be employed until next year. Is it ok to get a reference letter from him. As far as i understand i need to identify where he works and provide his email, which in general has to be an email from his institution (.edu or something). So is it ok to choose him if he is unemployed right now? Thank you in advance!

Well, i understand that my gre score does not indicate that i a math genius, but at least adcom will not worry about my math abilities. I actually took math classes, which are math for economists. I don’t remember what was the syllabus of the classes, but we covered staff like: calculus, linear algebra, differential equations matrixes, and from all of them I got either A or A- But I got your general point, and I totally agree with it. That was the main point why I am asking the question here. I really have a very bad profile. The only thing that I am hoping for is my published paper. It is not some kind of low level journal. It is among top 100 economic journals, according to SSCI, and it uses serious econometrics. My point is: universities require high grades from econ and math courses and look for recommendations from good scholars because they are looking for signals that the applicant can become a researcher and publish papers. If I already have a good solely written paper, they do not need that signal they have real example of my abilities. That is what I am hoping for. I could not find in the internet an example like this, when an applicant had a publication in a good journal, and that is why I cannot understand how much it can help. Yes, I would say I want to get to a good phd program, mainly because I want to work in academia. Yes I might be able to get into a top 100 program and get back to my country, but my goal is to do real research, but, unfortunately, in my country nobody interested in research. In addition, I think that getting masters somewhere in Europe is not a desirable option for me. I am already 26 years old, if I go to phd after 2 years of masters I will get my phd degree only at 33-34. And it is too expensive to study in Europe, I think I cannot afford it. But still thank you gays for your advice!

Hello Urch, I am going to apply for a Phd program this year. I have some concerns regarding my chances because I have a bit controversial profile. If there is one who have some knowledge regarding my situation could you please share your opinion? Type of Undergrad: Unknown University in Asia in Finance Undergrad GPA: 3.5 (good finance courses grades) Type of Grad: Masters at the same university in Finance Grad GPA: 3.8 (good finance courses grades) GRE: Q168, V156 Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Microeconomic (B+), Statistics © Statistics II (B-), Macroeconomics (A-), Principles of Economics (C-), Principles of Economics ll (B+), Econometrics (B), Government Regulation of Economy (A). Math Courses (undergrad-level): Mathematics for Economists I to IV (All A- or A), the courses covered calculus, linear algebra, differential equations matrixes, and from all of them I got either A or A- Econ Courses (grad-level): Macro and Micro Economic (A-) Letters of Recommendation: I am currently working in a research institute in country which is not know abroad. And I plan to get one reference letter from 2 of my coworkers (I think they are not known abroad), and 1 plan to get from my prof who taught me some finance courses at university. Research experience: I think it is the only thing that can help me to get into a phd program. I have a solely written empirical paper, which uses advanced econometric techniques and is accepted at a quite good journal. The Journal have an impact factor at about 1.6. It is a fairly new journal (founded about 20 years ago), but it has some good economists published there, some of them the Nobel laureates. The paper is on Institutional and Political economics. Concerns: Small amount of econ and math courses and bad econ grades. Unknown university and references from unknown profs and scholars. By the way, i had bad grade only in the first two year of my undergrad, but in the last i got As from almost every course. Unfortunately, all econ, statistics and econometric courses were taken during the first two years. My question is: Can my paper and quite high GRE Q scores help me to get into a phd program. My thoughts are: Good gre can show that I do not have any problem with math. And the published paper can show that I can do original research, I am good in statistics and econometrics (since the paper is empirical and uses a lot of econometric techniques), and since it is on Institutional and Political economics it can show that I have quite good knowledge in these fields. Moreover, I have 2 years of experience in a research institute as a junior research fellow, and about 2 years as a market risk manager (requires a lot of econometrics and statistics) in financial institutes in my country. I know my application is really controversial. If someone had such profile or know someone who has, could you please share your experience. I am planning to apply to top 30-60. Any help will be appreciated! :snowhuman: