PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics from top2 Russian U
Undergrad GPA: 2,89 (at present)
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: Haven't taken yet, but will study hard to get a good score.
Math Courses: Calculus (C+), Linear Algebra (B-), Differential and Difference equations (A-), Probability and Statistics (A-), Dynamic Optimization (A), Game Theory (B-), Stochastic Processes (B-), Discrete (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): International Trade (B-)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro (B-), Macro (B-), Econ. Demography (A-), Introductory Econometrics (A), Institutional Economics (A+)
Other Courses: Philosophy (A-), Sociology (B-), Accounting (A-), research seminars, projects etc.
Research Experience: RA of a professor in my university, intern in one of the top research institutes, also unofficially (yet) working in the international laboratory in my Uni. Likely will become an RA of another professor.
Letters of Recommendation: Will get one from somewhat famous American professor (He has written a book and has dozens of publications), one more from my supervisor (He has publications and he is somewhat known in European community). Searching for someone ho could give me another good recommendation. Probably will get one from my research institute supervisor. There is a slight probability that I will work with very famous American professor and get a very valuable recommendation, but not clear yet.
Teaching Experience: Tutored Macro once for Management faculty students.
Research Interests: Macroeconomic Policy, Political Economy, Inequality and Growth.
SOP: none as of yet
Concerns: Very low GPA (but not only for not working enough), what chances do I have to get to the places I want and what level of school would fit my level?
Applying to: UCSD, UCLA, UCD, probably NYU, Boston
Greetings!
I realize that I want to pursue an Economics PhD, but I'm not sure whether I have considerable chances to get to the programs I want with my GPA. It is low for several reasons: (1) I have actually transferred to my current university from another one (in the middle of the first year), and because of specifications of the education system of my country some good grades were transformed as satisfactory what spoiled my GPA dramatically; (2) I have not good marks for some subjects (e.g. Game Theory, Inter.Trade) cause I was overloaded with studies when I was passing them (I had 9 exams and tonnes of HW); (3) finally, I was not working at the limit all the time cause I understood that I want to go to the academia just a year ago, before that I had an internship in bank and other experience.
My dream is Berkeley or NYE, more realistic dream is Northwestern or Boston. I would love to study at the UCSD, or UCLA, or USC. I don't want to enter a university lower that John Hopkins or California-Irvine.
I have an alternative to go to the prestigious MA in Economics in Russia and after that probably to get to a higher-level program (Berkeley and the like), but that's not the variant I want.
What chances do I have to get to the programs from that I've mentioned (from California-Irvine to NYU)? What programs will I fit with my level? In your opinion, should I take an MA or apply for programs that I want to?
Will be very grateful for your advice!
