Softway
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When I started this thread I asked for advice about two paths. The discussion changed totally and became one about if I should or not to attend a phd program in economics. Your points had a serious impact on me and I will ponderate some adverses scenarios. I noticed you already have made your mind, then there is no point in try to continue explain or discuss nothing. Besides that, I know you want the best to people who come here and ask for advice: Have a true Picture is Always better then have an illusion. Thank you very much and have a nice new year eve.
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Thank you too, Kaysa and greg3. I will consider your advice too.
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Thanks Chate for dedicate your time preparing a so complete and balanced answer. I appreciate your words. Thanks a lot!
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Thanks for your advices, tm_member. Thanks a lot.
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tm_member, I know you are an expert. Probably you are an AP at some very good program. Besides that, maybe because of my broken English, I could had sound arrogant in some way. Trust me, it is not the case and I apologize if you and chateauhaert or other people here understood in this way. I totally aware that I am an weak and old candidate. I listen to good advice from you and people close to me. The problem is the inverse, I listen to too much good advices and when I put all them together some are conflicting. I recognize yours advices probably are the most rational ones, but at the same time I remember you told to some candidate asking for advice that people here were speaking about his life and that he should take the advices with a grain of salt (not exact with these words). My feelings are the same, I have listened to all of you, but I feel I need to try, I want to try. You make your point and now I know it is a irrational choice, but I can nor fight against it. Maybe two years from now I can change my mind or new issues make me avoid this path. I am very gratefull to all you for being sincere with me. Thanks!
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My case is really very idiossincratic. :distracted:
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Ok. I will analise your points seriously. But think twice. I can not totally open my situation, for a identification question. Maybe I work at something close to a research enviroment. Maybe it will be possible I be surrounded by researchers that will help keep my focus. Not academic advisors, but competent people. Maybe it will be possible that I spend the most part of my time to conclude the thesis. Will it be sufficient to finish the thesis? I do no. There are lots of variables here. The field, how deep I will dive at the thesis, find an advisor with a root in reality (biased to empirical work, for example), how my skills will improve until the end of the program and much more... As I already told, I work 10 or more hours a day. Work hard will not a problem... I will face it as a new job and do my best... In my case it is not the case of a degree to find a job after, but the experience, the challenger of test my limits. I have tryed understand this process for a long time and have learned lots with you guys. I have a good idea of the amount of suffering does it involves... My initial question was only about the better path (the trade-off between age and preparation) and I have not decided this point yet. For now, I am risking only my peace and some marginal money. I need only a tuition waiver and that a good program accept me...:distracted: Thanks again!
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Dear tm_member, I know you want help me and, in fact, you sounds like a good friend, but I will try to do the program abroad. My wife part was only in the sense that my doubts make she confused. But she is supportive in the case the opportunity of atend the program abroad shows up. The four years limit is related to the physical attendance. I can manage to conclude in 6 or more years if necessary, since it be possible prepare the thesis from my home country (returning to participate of some meetings and to defend the thesis). I am totally aware of my weakenesses and because of that I came to this space to ask for advice... I have taken the decision of go to a phd program. My A plan is to do it abroad. My B plan is to do it here in my country. I will pay the costs... Kill my marriage is not an acceptable one thought... If I feel it will be the case, the A plan will be aborted. Easy! Thanks again!
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My formal training was more than 15 years ago. I have been refreshing it and now I am finishing multivariated calculus and linear algebra. I can understand the basics of real analysis at Rudin´s level. Those six or eight classes that I spoke about at the begin include graduate level analysis and theoretical probability... Then I will have formal math to show... It is too late to take formal undergraduate classes... :blue:
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I consider it almost every day. In fact I am becoming crazy and make my wife crazy too. kkkk The trade-off needs to be positive, what means I need a really good program to compensate the costs involved in such adventure. This is the reason I need a good preparation, good LORs etc... and my doubt of the better way of collect these things... My job will be waiting for me for 4 four years...
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tm_member, World is not black or White. There are lots of others things in the middle. It would give me much more options inside my "company", it can works as a transition path as the retirement approaching (I do not want retire in fact but only reduce the speed). Besides that, I can teach and do research until my mind give up. My "company" has close ties with academy here in my country and some friends do research, publishing at good journals. As I stated at the begining language is a serious barrier in my case, but I can improve... Thanks
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Thanks, YaSvoboden. I will give a good look at these opportunities too.
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Thanks, tutonic. But I know some cases in economics. Its rare and probably the person should have very special skills and contacts at the departments... I have not seem its happen in business schools. People in their early 40 I can identify some cases, but at their late 40? Empty set until now in my research. Sad... Thanks again!
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Yes, YaSvoboden, I have considered them. But I think they are much more seletive, since only 3 or 4 people are admited each year. I would like concentrate in financial economics. But I can find something more interesting in the way... In my mind, economics programs have more room to accept an exotical applicant. I can be wrong... Thanks
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Thanks, tm_member. You understood the problem. In fact, I want to do research and teaching as adjunt teacher in my country. In terms of wage, nothing will change (my salary will be the same). Off course there are some costs, like travels with the family, that will become higher. The part of weakening family and romantic ties, really worried me... But if I decide go down in this route, it is good to know that there is not a huge difference between 45 and 49. Thanks a lot, tm_member.
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People, I really need your help. Could someone do a try. Do not be worried, it is one additional elements to form my scenario about the possible routes... Thanks!
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Option 1 is a load of 8 master/phd courses (almost the economics core). I can imagine no or little research experience here. Targeting 45 year old when apply. Option 2: a full master degree here. Standart research experience and maybe some papers in low tier journals while I wait to compensate the leave on absence. My formal math is for more than 15 years ago, but the subjects at the school I am talking about is math heavy and I think the adcom know this… But I have being study math for my own in the last two years and begin to have regrets of do not started a new undergraduated degree, in statistics for example, to test myself on war conditions and have a formal track of undergraduated courses...
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If this time my post pass, the sort answer is that I have some time constraint at my job. The full master will require a leave in absence (without lose my salary). After that, I will need return to the company for the same time before be allowed go out again to attend the phd program. Then we have 2 years (master, with the leave) plus 2 years to compensate the leave.
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tutonic, I replied your post, but the answer is under moderation...
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Tutonic, It seems weird, but the explanation is simple: if I take the second option I will do it under a leave in absence at my current work, but keeping my salary, when I finish I will need return to work and spend the same time before ask for a new leave in absence... My institution do a mix of research and control. But I do not do research there... I have studying math, statistics and economics for my own. Option 1: I will try be sucessfull at the 8 master/phd classes (almost all the economics core)... and beg to someone give me a LOR. If I do well, it can be possible. Option 2: It is the complete master. This path is too long, but I will not have problem with the LORs and will be possible have research experience, what means better LORs, except if my age will be a problem to teachers recommends me to good programs where they have contacts. I am not saying that they need make a call or something like that to help me. I want only they give me good LORs if I deserve them based on my merits as a student during the master. Then we came again to the question, which is better, an old sudent with a core economics master completed and almost no research experince or a super old student with a full master and some research experience (and good LORs, I expected). Thanks a lot!
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I do not know if the first thread will appear after moderation, then I will send my question again... I am old but I dream about study abroad. In fact I am becoming crazy with the idea of attend economics phd in a good university. But there is a problem: I do not have the complete package. At this point I see two possible tracks. Option 1: attend 8 phd courses at one of the best departments of South America. It is common they send people to top 10. If I adopt this path, I will apply when my age reach 45. Option 2: take the full master degree at the same institution (the courses at master and phd are the same). Here, research experience is possible. If this route be addopted, my age will be close to 49 when I apply. Do you see the dillema? I am old and the fast path will be full of holes in my application. The other choice will deepening my age problem... Which do you think is the best option? My profile: - Business degree at a well recognized university in my country. - MBA at another good school here. I am not worried about the job market question after the PHD. I know that I need improve my skills when using English... I will appreciate very much your opinion... Thanks!
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I posted a new thead, but it did not happear...