Vici

Hi midrankedprof, Thanks for the reply! I have a few questions for you, however. For starters, you say that outside the top few programs, all ag econ programs are terrible. What is your actual experience regarding all these ag econ programs? What caused you to draw this conclusion? Additionally, where exactly do you draw this distinction between the top "few" and the remaining "terrible". It seems you are splitting 50+ programs into two very distinct groups (with about 5 schools in one and 45+ in the other) without any sort of middle ground. I find this very odd. Additionally, please tell me why someone who is interested in commodity marketing, market structure, and commodity price forecasting would want to go to a program like Berkley or Maryland. It appears to me (please correct me if I am wrong) that Berkely and Maryland (and Davis) only offer concentrations in "ag econ" within their ARE departments. My guess is that all these programs have very few faculty doing heavy research in the things that interest me most- outside Davis; I have little interest in doing a phd if it means going the environmental or the resource route. At these types of places, I may take two or three ag econ courses. Please contrast this with Oklahoma State, where, within their ag econ department, I can do a concentration in commodity marketing. This however, all depends on where you draw that "top to terrible" distinction, I suppose. You also say that needing an MS to get into a PhD is a sign of weakness or low talent. You do not seem to attribute any value to the personal growth a MS could offer to someone with little to no research experience, whether or not they go on to get a phd or not. Almost all of the tenure tracks in my UG department got a MS before going on to get a phd. Finally, you say academics is brutal. I would say that what good, independent, hard-but-enjoyable job isn't competative? That's just the world we live in; it's dog eat dog. The best jobs in any sector attract the top candidates; that's just capitalism but I'm guessing you know that. Please let me know what you think, and thank you for replying!

Hi YaSvoboden, Thanks for responding! I guess my question from you would be (not trying to sound like a jerk at all): based on what? From what I have seen THE OSU is both a top (public) econ and ag econ program, meaning I would be competing against students from around the world who have more impressive backgrounds than mine. I'm not just trying to get in but also succeed, and from what I can tell, I would be bottom of the rung at a school like THE OSU. Now, that's all based on what I have seen in this forum and on their website, so you probably have better information than I do... So please let me know what you think!

Hey thagzone, Thanks for the reply. I apologize if I have seemed to insinuate that all ag econ phd programs require a masters before entering into the phd program. What I meant to say was that most the phd programs I will be competitive for and looked into (for obvious reasons I have not considered Maryland) want people who have done a masters. I know I am not ready for a phd in (ag) econ for a few reasons. (1) I have done scant research compared to most other applicants in the field, it would seem. Calling my work with the extension program "research" is a bit of a glorification (I did some basic data analysis and implementation and helped format and layout the game). As such, outside of measly term papers and my capstone project, I have no real research. Just jumping into a phd without a background in true research seems like a death wish to me. I feel a masters would give me a chance to actually try out independent research to see if I even have the mental capacity to do it. (2) I will not take a true real analysis course (unless I have time to take it in a masters). I lack true mathematical "sophistication" according to some on this forum (I assume), since I have not taken any proof based math. More and more profiles seem to list courses in measure theory, topology, etc.. Now I don't necessarily think I don't have the mathematical ability to learn these subjects, but I obviously don't have the time for this admissions cycle. I love ag econ but I realized too late just how much math I would need if I wanted to go on. I highly doubt, even if I got into THE OSU (or another school on their level) that I would be able to keep up with peers who can prove all the convergence theorems right off the top of their heads (I'm only slightly exaggerating). With that all being said, my question is whether or not a masters at any of these schools will set me up for a phd at a decent program? I'm just not sure. Thanks for the reply!

Hey startz, thanks for the reply! Per your first comment, I guess it is oddly comforting to know I know I don't know very much... as per your second, I didn't mean to insinuate I think every institution offering a phd in ag econ requires a master first... Merely the ones that I am considering do... for obvious reasons I have not considered schools like Berkeley, THE OSU (you're welcome Buckeyes), Davis, Minnesota, etc. At any rate, I appreciate you taking the time to give me a reply!

Hi all, First time poster, long time reader here. I know a lot of people on here are mostly interested in doing pure econ but that there is a growing number who are looking into the ag/resource/applied side of things. I am currently applying to grad school for fall 2017, and I was hoping to get some opinions on the types of schools I should be looking at (for Ag Econ). Any advice, both current ag econ and econ grad students, as well as from people who are applying for the 2017-2018 school year is greatly appreciated. PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Ag econ major and math/stat minor; large US state school with a mid-tier ag econ and econ program Undergrad GPA:4.00 GRE:166Q, 164V, 4.5AW Math Courses:Calc (1-3), diff eq, linear (non proof), intro math stats, basic and intermediate stats; currently in probability theory and will take inference theory and 'elementary' real analysis in the Spring (yeah, after admissions) Econ Courses: Intros, intermediates, international trade, metrics, and lots of ag econ (food economics, ag trade, commodity marketing, price analysis, policy analysis, etc.) Letters of Recommendation: Associate professors; one I TA'd for (intermediate micro), one I did research with (see below) , and one who oversaw my "capstone" project (basically a less extensive senior thesis that I finished last semester over Brazilian ag trade). Research Experience:I helped integrate state level data into a commodity simulation "game" that will be used by our extension program to help teach producers in the state how to better market their crop.Nothing major. My concerns: Where to begin? Basically, I have taken a lot of math compared to other ag econ students in my department, but I know I am lacking compared the vast majority of applicants out there; but all the profs I talked to about grad school (a whopping six or seven) have been very encouraging and seem to think I have what it takes However, I won't be taking my school's intro analysis class (read as intro to proofs under an analysis context; the textbook is Lay) until after I apply. I'm basically just hoping to use it to better my proof writing and reading and get familiar with the notation. I am trying to put together a list of realistic schools I have a shot at getting (and succeeding) in. I realize that in most ag econ PhD programs, I will have to take the econ departments micro and metrics prelims. My research interests are in commodity marketing (as a risk management tool), price and demand forecasting in commodity markets, consumer behavior, and international trade. Applying to (all ag econ): Texas Tech MS, Oklahoma State MS, Nebraska MS, Iowa State MS, Purdue MS (ha), Auburn MS, and University of Florida Resource Econ MS. The reason I am doing the masters route is (1) I'm probably not ready for an ag econ Phd yet, and (2) all ag econ programs that I have seen require an MS before you can apply to their PhD program. Please give me any advice on schools that might be a good fit and what I should be doing to be a better application. Don't hold any punches.