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HowlingWolf

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  1. Yeah, I'll definitely check out applied econ masters. I know that UCLA has one. Thanks for the advice, and I'll definitely focus on the Masters in Econ route then
  2. Ok, thanks. I need to improve my math skills for sure, but that's a different conversation. I'll take the Masters in econ route then.
  3. Hi, I'm planning on going to grad school, and am starting the application process now. However, I am unsure about whether an MPP or a Masters in Economics is right for me. I want a career in economic research with a public policy focus. I would love to work at a think tank like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, or the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a government agency like the CBO, or the Fed/IMF/WB. I am ok with math, but not super great, but want to use lots of data and statistical tools like R, Stata, and Matlab in my work. I like regressions, data work, and statistical stuff, and want to use research to solve policy questions. I am also considering getting a PhD in economics later on to further my research career, but am concerned about the math (I am unsure as to whether I can handle real analysis, topology and stuff like that). My profile: Undergrad Degree: BA in Economics and International Relations from a mid-ranked liberal arts college in Southern California Undergrad GPA: 3.36 (Overall), 3.59 (Economics), 3.54 (International Relations) Math grades: Calc I/II/III (B-, C+. C+), Stats (A-) Economics grades: Intro to Econ I/II (A-, A-), Macro Theory/Micro Theory/ Econometrics (B+, B+, A-), Electives: Economic Development/ International Economics/ Macro Policy Since the Great Depression (A-, A-, A-), Senior Seminar (B+) GRE Scores: 158 V, 160 Q, 5.5 W Research Experience: RA for a political economy professor for two semesters, Intern at South African international development think tank, Intern at Council of Economic Advisers LORs: Described by people who wrote them as "glowing" Other: Experience with Stata and ArcGIS
  4. That's what I was saying when talking about addressing my mental health stuff. I would give a short description of the issues, like a sentence or two, and then a sentence or two on how I got better and focus on my application post undergrad, which is where I am now, given that I'm largely over the issues that plagued me in the past.
  5. Thanks for the reply. I think that you gave me good advice. My plan right now is to take the GRE in November, and apply for jobs and work for two years before I apply to grad school in Fall 2018, so that I would start in Fall 2019. I am also planning to do a post bacc as well, and I'll be starting with Linear Algebra at a local community college in the fall of this year. Depending on how I do on the GRE, do you think that I am competitive for Master's programs in Econ? If so, which ones? Also, do you think that grad admissions will take my mental health situation into account? If so, how should I angle it? Thanks again :)
  6. Hi, This is my first post on this forum, but I'm hoping that I can gain some insight as to where to go from here. I recently graduated from university with a BA in economics and international relations (my school doesn't offer a BS), and have been backpacking in SE Asia for the past two months. Once I get back in two weeks, I am planning on studying for the GRE, taking Linear Algebra as part of a post-bacc, and applying to spring internships and full time RA jobs. I am bit lost as to where to go from here. I know that I really really like research, especially the quant stuff, and want to have a career in economic research with a policy focus, at a think tank or central bank, or maybe be a university professor and do economic research applied to policy. I am open to an MA in econ, a PhD in econ or an MPP. Here is my profile: Undergrad: Top 40 liberal arts college BA in economics and international relations Undergrad GPA: 3.36 (overall), 3.58 (economics), 3.54 (international relations) Grad: none Grad GPA: none GRE: Will take in November Math classes: Calc I/II/III (B-, C+, C+), Stats (A-), Linear Algebra (will take in the fall) Econ classes: Intro to Economics I/II (A-, A-), Intermediate Micro, Macro, Econometrics (B+, B+, A-), Economic Development (A-), International Economics (A-), Advanced Macro at study abroad university (doesn't factor into my economics GPA) (see below) (C+), Advanced Macro at my home university (A-), Senior Seminar: Firm-level international trade (B+) Other classes: Various political economy classes that could be tangentially related to economics LORs: One from a macro professor that I'm close with, he told me that he described me as a "top student, with a burning passion for research and was very motivated to succeed", one from the professor who I RAed with, which is very strong, one from my econometrics professor, which is also very strong Research experience: Research and data work for an immigration non-profit, intern at a think tank over the summer (EPRI), intern at the CEA over the summer, RA for a political economy professor who focused on China-SE Asia trade (did some Stat work) Teaching experience: I was a grader and a TA for a macro professor who I took three classes with, for his Intermediate Macro class, my last semester of college Other: I know Stata and ArcGIS pretty well The "see below" part: There is a partial explanation for why my profile sucks so much. When I got to college, I was really really depressed, and had a hard time focusing on schoolwork, especially in the math classes that I was taking. I wanted to go for a math minor, so I challenged myself by taking classes like Calc III that I knew weren't my strong suit, but which only made my depression worse, as I felt hopeless and discouraged. Furthermore, I didn't really get the help that I needed because I thought that I could handle it on my own, which I obviously couldn't. It led me to have crying spells and engage in self-harming behaviors a few times. Things never really got better, and I continued to feel hopeless and depressed throughout my first two and a half years of college. 2016 was a disaster of a year. That year in the spring, I went to study abroad in England, and my depression got a lot worse. I was totally miserable, and started drinking and smoking week to dull the pain. I would break down crying everyday, had no motivation to go class or to do anything, and my grades (see the C+ in Advanced Macro) suffered as a result. I never really talked to anyone about my problems because I felt like I had to solve them on my own. Furthermore, when I got the CEA internship, things just got worse. I continued to drink everyday alone, often getting drunk, and my work suffered as I had no motivation to do anything or care. I took some days off of work to try and feel better, but I just ended up feeling worse. It all culminated in me having a breakdown at work and threatening to kill myself, being sent to the hospital and having my internship terminated. I was at rock bottom. However, since then, things have really turned around. I stopped drinking, started meditating and going to the gym a lot, found friends who are supportive, went on anti-depressants and got a good therapist. Going backpacking in SE Asia for two months helped a lot as well. For the past seven months, I've felt at peace, happy, confident and my depression has virtually disappeared. I've risen like a phoenix, and don't remember a time when I was this happy for this long. It feels fantastic, and I'm ready to see what my next steps should be, now that I've sorted out all of the demons in my head. So, I don't really know where to go from here. Should I abandon my research career dreams entirely, or see how I do on the GRE, or do a post-bacc, or look for an internship or a job, or what? Also, what does it mean that I've gotten research internships at the think tank (EPRI), and at the CEA, and have gotten an offer to be an RA at the CFPB, and interviews for RA positions at Brookings and several Fed positions despite my awful profile? Does it mean that I still have a chance, and that people see something in me? Thank you guys so much for responding, and have a great day :)
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