MasterJaguar

Thank you dogbones and tutonic for the responses! First, some responses to questions asked - For secondary and complimentary interests, I also am interested in macro, consumer finance and more public policy related questions. - My senior thesis topic isn't finalized but will be in an area related to labor, public policy and taxation - After a PhD I am open to many things like staying in academia or returning to the Fed. I would most enjoy entering a think-tank at some point or working in a more policy oriented area of government at some point in my career. - I am interested in both the micro and macro side of labor, but, I favor the micro side slightly Now, some follow ups - I know that some schools have different admissions processes for business economics or financial economics, do you think I would have an advantage in those admissions processes? - Students in the past have gone on to many different schools in the past including some breaking into the top 5 - Thanks for the heads up with the second letter I'll try to do some work with this professor or find a new letter writer - I will definitely ask my letter writers for their opinion of where I should target once the semester starts back up. - Also, I have committed to working at a bank in an economic research role after graduation. I'll be working with PhD economists and doing research similar to academia but more brief. Will this have a positive impact on my profile or just be neutral for adcoms? Thanks again!

Anyone?

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: State School, Ranked Top 50 on U.S. News, top 25 Math US News Majors: BA Economics, BA Math, BA Computer Science Undergrad GPA: Overall 3.98 | Economics: 4.00 | Math: 4.00 GRE: Haven't taken yet Math Courses: Calc 1 - 4, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, Statistical Theory, Stochastic Processes, Real Analysis, Advanced Real Analysis, Quantum Theory Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro/Macro/Metrics, Advanced Micro Theory, Banking Field course, Senior Thesis seminar, PhD Cross Sectional Metrics, PhD Times Series Metrics, PhD Labor Economics Field Course Research Experience: 1) Fed RA (intern) for one year, wasn't able to coauthor but was cited as an RA on a working paper 2) Spent a year on engineering research using stat/machine learning (May be not relevant) 3) Senior thesis Letters of Rec: 1) Fed Economist who is very experienced and well regarded but PhD is in Finance (not sure if that matters) 2) Labor Economics PhD course instructor, very highly ranked economist but only took one course with this Economist 3) Thesis Adviser: From top 10 program Teaching: None Research Interests: Labor Economics SOP: Not written yet Other: Internship at top US Wall Street Bank ​Concerns/Questions 1) Where would I get in now? 2) How is my profile for pre-doc fellowships? 3) What is the biggest thing I can improve on in my senior year?

Hello everyone, I currently am planning to apply to pre-doctoral fellowships and RA'ships at the Fed to improve my application. However, I have been thinking lately that it may make sense to apply now since if I got into a good program I would rather start my PhD in this cycle. I am curious of what range of schools I would get into now. Thanks! PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 50 US News Economics and Top 25 US News Math Majors: Economics (BA), Mathematics (BA) and Computer Science (BA) Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.98 | Economics: 4.00 | Math: 4.00 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: Haven't taken yet, but, pretty sure I could do well based on prior standardized tests Math Courses: Calc 1 - 4, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, Intro Proof Writing, Real Analysis I, Quantum Theory, Advanced Real Analysis, Statistical Theory, Stochastic Theory Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro/Macro and Metrics, Advanced Micro Theory, Field Course on Banking Structure, PhD Labor Economics, PhD Cross Sectional Metrics, PhD Time Series Metrics, Honors Thesis I and II Research Experience 1) Was an RA at the Fed for a year, referenced as an RA, though not an author, on working paper. 2) Spent a year as an RA in Engineering research, not sure if relevant but it was statistics/machine learning focused 3) Will have my senior thesis as more experience Letters of Rec 1) Fed Economist, very well established though PhD is in Finance 2) From very well established Economist who taught my PhD labor course though I've only taken one course with this Economist 3) From Thesis Adviser who came from Top 10 school Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: Labor Econ SOP: Not written Other: Internship at a top US Bank, probably not relevant Questions 1) What is my biggest weakness now? 2) Where would I likely get in if I applied now? 3) How is my profile for getting into top pre-doc positions?

How valuable is a LOR from a professor who is in their first year at a University after finishing their PhD and possibly work experience at a Fed/University as a researcher? Is it advised to avoid getting a LOR from such a person? Thanks!

Hello all, I've done very well grade wise, all A's in my Math/Econ courses with two Grad econ courses so far, I am a Junior. However, this semester I have managed to mess up a software engineering course to where I'll get between a C+ to a B+. Would this kind of course be treated as irrelevant to an econ Ph.D. or could it have an impact? I'm coming from a so-so public state school so I'm worried that any blemishes will hurt a lot. Thanks!

Hi everyone, First post here! I interned this past summer at a regional fed bank in research. I am a rising Junior and have an offer from a bulge bracket bank (MS,GS,JPM) to intern in risk management. I am thinking that it would be a good opportunity to see the banking sector from the inside. However, I am not sure how it would impact Ph.D. admissions. Would doing another summer at the fed help me in applications substantially more? Thanks!