EconomBarry

In general, how would LOR writer's specialty impact the influence of the letter? For example, if I am interested in doing macro or finance, how would a strong letter from a professor in fields like labor or micro theory be viewed differently comparing to a semi-strong letter from a professor in macro-finance?

Hi all, I am an applied math and econ major in an Ivy-League school and I am thinking of applying to phd programs in econ this fall. So far I have had three professors agreeing to write me recommendation letters (one I RAed for, one supervised my independent study and one I took seminar and wrote a term paper) and I had good relationships with all of them. The issue is, all of my three recommenders are young assistant professors. Should I try to have a more senior professor as my recommender? (If I do so, the letter from the senior professor may not be very strong, I only took his class and wrote a final paper). And in general, how is a strong letter from a young AP compared to a semi-strong letter from a tenured professor? Thanks.

Your math is enough. Maybe take more computer science/programming since RA is more practical and requires more data techniques.

Thanks for your advice! I just want to follow up with a question about research experience. For the hedge fund I will be working with, it is a very academic firm and researchers in it constantly publish in academic journals. Would that be counted as a research experience? Also, I am wondering if taking research seminars and independent study will be counted as research experience. What is difficult for me is that now it is hard to find RAship in business school since I am not majoring in business, so I would try some alternatives. Thanks again.

Hi all, I am a junior student and am thinking of applying for a finance phd program in the next couple of years, and here is my profile and concerns: Undergraduate: U.S. top 10, major in applied math with minor in econ. GPA 3.85 GRE: not taken yet Math courses: linear algebra(A+), ODE(A), probability and statistics(A), numerical methods(A-), real analysis(A-), stochastic process(A), simulation(A+), optimization(A+), dynamical systems(A), discrete time model(A) . Econ courses: Intermediate macro/micro, econometrics, corporate finance, time series, behavioral finance, game theoryTeaching experience: 2 years as TA in math department for courses in linear algebra, ODE, calculus etc. Research experience: 1. Working with a research scientist in data science with focus on using machine learning to forecast political risk and portfolio risk management. 2. Writing a thesis on solving macro-finance systems and wealth distribution using numerical PDE methods. 3. Summer quantitative research at a top quant hedge fund. Recommendations: One from an Econ professor who supervised my thesis (Princeton PhD doing finance but young), one from operations research professor who also advised my thesis (specialize in quantitative finance, decently known), undecided for the third Here are my concerns: 1. I am not sure if I am going to apply for phd right after I graduate, or should I work in quantitative investment (very likely to get an offer at the top hedge fund). How would doing research in a quant hedge fund perceived my the admission committee? 2. I didn't work as a RA for a professor, how does my research experience look like to the admission? Is this enough to be qualified as "well exposed to research"? 3. Will the recommendations from professors in departments other than Econ/Business help? Due to my major I am more exposed to professors in Operations Research and Applied Math, does the professors in these disciplines help in my applicatoin? Thanks.

Hi all, I am a junior student and am thinking of applying for a finance phd program in the next couple of years, and here is my profile and concerns: Undergraduate: U.S. Ivy League, major in applied math with minor in econ. GPA 3.85 GRE: not taken yet Graduate: NA Math/Operations Research courses: stochastic process, simulation, financial engineering, optimization, dynamical systems, discrete time model etc. Econ courses: Intermediate macro/micro, econometrics, corporate finance, time series, behavioral finance, game theory, international monetary theory. Teaching experience: 2 years as TA in math department for courses in linear algebra, ODE, calculus etc. Research experience: 1. Working with a research scientist in data science with focus on using machine learning to forecast political risk and portfolio risk management. 2. Going to write a thesis in applied math, with focus on modeling economic activities using agent-based modeling. Work experience: Summer quantitative research at a top quant hedge fund. Recommendations: One from the research scientist I am working with, one from my potential thesis advisor (probably a professor in econ). Unsure about the third. Here are my concerns: 1. I am not sure if I am going to apply for phd right after I graduate, or should I work in quantitative investment (very likely to get an offer at the top hedge fund). How would doing research in a quant hedge fund perceived my the admission committee? 2. The researches I have done/will be doing are not too related to finance, but I am afraid I cannot really find a research opportunity in business school. How would if affect my profile? 3. What concentration/schools should I look for if I want to study quantitative finance or investment? And what school ranks should I apply to in general? Thanks.

Hi all, so I am a sophomore and am thinking of applying for Econ phd after I graduate (2019). Here is my profile: Undergraduate school: Top 10 school in US (think Columbia, Upenn, Uchi) Undergraduate program: BS in applied math, minor in econ and operations research GPA: 3.8 GRE: haven't taken Math courses: Multivariable calculus, Linalg, ODE, PDE, Complex variable function, Real Analysis, Discrete time model, Numerical Method, Simulation, Stochastic process, Probability and stats Econ courses: Intermediate micro/macro, econometrics (will take advanced econ classes in the future) RA: working under an environmental economics project, will be working on an applied math project as well TA: TA for two semesters Other internships in the financial industry (data analysis and trading support) Research interest: financial economics, macroeconomics, applied econometrics Here are my concerns: What schools should I apply for? How to improve my profile in order to be competitive in the admission process? What if I apply for phd after I work for several years in the industry? Is it feasible? Any pearls of knowledge will be appreciated.