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Hi community :) I'm thinking to apply to Economics PhDs Specializing in Macro / Monetary Economics and maybe Environmental Economics to start in the fall of 2022. However, I don't know if my profile is strong enough to get into a good program - let me know what you think ! Interdisciplinary bachelor's degree with a major in economics. 7.5/10 Dutch GPA (the grading conversion is quite weird, it's about a B) and 216/180 ECTS (lots of extra politics courses). MSc Economics, specializing in Macro & Monetary, 8/10 Dutch GPA (~ A-). Grades in general 8 or higher, except for Econometrics (7), Microeconomics(6.5). Good thesis, 8.5. MSc BGSE, not Economics, content-wise mostly applied Econometrics, 8.4/10 GPA (conversion is also weird here, think it's about an B+/A-). I believe my LORs are pretty strong: My thesis advisor (leading monetary operations at a Central Bank), a well-ranked Econometrics professor (several papers with Gali, Gertler), and could get some more probably from my future bosses. GRE: in September Work (in 2021/ spring 2022) : Trainee at the ECB in Forecasting and Policy Modelling, RA for high-ranked Finance professor I'm worried about a) a lack of math and microeconomics classes - I only have one foundational math class in undergrad (7 Dutch grading) and two foundational Microeconomics classes (graded 6.5 and 7.5) - For math, is this something I can make up with the GRE score ? - Should I try to take additional classes somewhere b) not having an Economics undergrad (hence the missing math and micro classes) - Is this something I should ask LOR writers to highlight - Can it be positive or are school risk-averse? Let me know what you think - I guess it's an unusual profile so any feedback will be massively helpful.

I've been looking for some advice regarding my current profile as I prepare for PhD applications. I'm planning to apply for Fall 2022 admissions. My goal is to narrow down or add to (if necessary) the schools I'll be applying to. Thank you for your feedback in advance. Profile: Degree: B.S. Economics with a minor in Mathematics from Utah State University GPA: 3.70/4.00Econ Courses: Principles of Micro (A), Principles of Macro (B), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Applied Econometrics (A). Math Courses: Calculus I (A), Calculus II (A-), Calculus III (currently enrolled, but I have an A- which could change to an A), Linear Algebra (A-). I'm taking Differential Equations and Probability Theory in the fall. Additionally, I'm taking Foundations of Analysis and Mathematical Statistics in the spring. GRE: Will take in the fall. LOR's: one from my Applied Econometrics professor, not a well-known professor. One from my Development Economics professor who I've done research for and bounced ideas off of, graduate of Yale. Also, not famous. One from my Mathematical Economics professor who can attest to my mathematical ability and research ideas. He's also not well-known. There really aren't many popular economists at Utah State University. Research Experience: Worked on application of Malthusian model to colonial Haiti. Additionally, I used Bayesian econometrics in an effort to predict stock market returns. Research Interests: Labor, Development, Macroeconomics, and Economic History (only at some universities because many don't offer this emphasis). Planning to apply to: University of Illinois University of Notre Dame Purdue University Texas A&M University University of Colorado Boulder University of Arizona University of California - Irvine University of Oregon University of Kansas Vanderbilt University Concerns: My GPA is nothing stellar. I attended a community college two years prior to attending Utah State where my GPA was 3.33/4.00. My Utah State GPA on the other hand is 3.95/4.00. Additionally, I have four W's on my transcript from dropped courses. I dropped Linear Algebra, Calc II, Differential Equations, and a history general. I dropped Linear Algebra and Calc II because my wife was very sick during the start of her pregnancy and I needed to be more available. I ended up taking both in a later semester and received an A- in both. I dropped Differential Equations and my history class this summer because I found I overloaded myself with the birth of my daughter. However, I plan to take Differential Equations this fall and the history class again in the spring. None of the research I've contributed to has been published. I also feel like I have weak research experience as a whole. However, I have spent the last six months as a data analyst for the company I work for (not sure if this adds to my profile). I'm also concerned about the classes I'm taking in the fall and spring not being on my transcript given the application deadline for some of the schools I have in mind is prior to the end of the fall semester. I might be overthinking this given schools can admit you provisionally. Thank you so much for reviewing my profile. I look forward to your advice.

Hi Everyone, I am a master student in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at Tilburg University. I'm currently hoping to apply to Econ and Finance PhD programs for fall 2022. Hoping to get feedback on my profile to help narrow down the range of schools that I plan on applying to. Thanks in advance for the feedback. PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Economics from Beijing Normal University Undergrad GPA: 2.70/4.00 overall Econ Courses Bachelor: Principles of Micro(B), Principles of Macro(B), Intermediate Micro(B), Intermediate Macro©, Econometrics(B) Math Courses: Calc I ©, Calc-II©, Linear Algerbra©, Probability Theory (B), Mathematical Statistics(B) Type of First Grad: MSc. in Economics and Business, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam Grad GPA :6.8/10(approximately 3.0/4, B) Type of Second Grad: MSc. Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, Tilburg University Highlighted courses: Data Science: 8.0/10(A); Microeconometrics:8/10 (A); Panel Data Analysis:8.5/10 (A) GPA: 7.5/10(approximately 3.5/4) Thesis: working, estimated grade would be 8/10 (A) GRE: Will take this fall LOR's: 1 LOR from my thesis supervisor. He's a recent graduated PhD, the letter would be strong as I am expecting, but he's not famous. 2 lecture LORs from an Econ professor. One of them is a very famous professor with 54 h-index and high ranking in the (microeconomics) field; another is an AP and she'll be my third choice. Both of these lectures are interactive lectures, I earned top ranking on both of them. However, I did not have the opportunity to know if the letter would be strong or not(but you know, how strong a lecture LOR could be). Research Experience: Thesis works Research Interests: Macro-Finance, Asset Pricing, Monetary Economics Applying to: Top EU Econ + few Finance programs, listed below [TABLE=width: 0] [TR] [TD]Name of School[/TD] [TD]Program[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Tilburg[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]F&E[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Tinbergen[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Groningen[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]SSE[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]E&F[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Stockholm U[/TD] [TD]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Aarhus[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]CBS[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Finance[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #C9DAF8]BI[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #C9DAF8]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #C9DAF8]Glasgow[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #C9DAF8]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Boston College[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Maastricht[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #FFFF00]Finance[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #CFE2F3]Sfi-Lugano[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #CFE2F3]Finance[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: #D9EAD3]Lund University[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #D9EAD3]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Aalto University[/TD] [TD]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Barcelona GSE[/TD] [TD]Economics[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]INSEAD[/TD] [TD]Management[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Goethe University Frankfurt[/TD] [TD]E&F[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Concerns : Bachelor, first Grad and Math courses are a piece of ****, lack of publication. Even failed to get excellent GPA in second Master. Didn't have sounding research experience. I know my experience is a piece of ****, so if you think I'm not qualified to any of the listed school, it's always welcome if you can recommend me to somewhere I deserve. Thank you very much no matter you replied or just take a glimpse and read till here.

Test Scores (GMAT/GRE): (Note: It often helps a lot more if you list the percentiles each of your raw/composite scores are associated with): QA 168 (97 percentile) VA 165 (98 percentile) Undegrad GPA: 8.5/10, Top 20% of class, Bachelors in Chemical Engineering (Top 10 Engineering College India) Graduate GPA: 7.1/10, Top 20% of class, MBA in Marketing and Operations (Top 5 B school from IndIa) Research Experience: Not much research experience from an academic standpoint, just general MBA assignments which involved secondary research. During my professional career I have been working with think tanks like the World Resources Institute and the UN Environment Programme on projects which required heavy primary and secondary research. Teaching Experience: None Work Experience: I have been working in strategy consulting with a Tier 2 consulting firm for the past two years in the Sustainability Services practice. My work has revolved around supporting non profit organisations (WWF, Red Cross Society, World Resources Institute) and multilateral institutions (UN agencies, EBRD) in various strategy projects. For example, one of my previous projects involved developing science based targets for business to reduce their impact on the ocean. The project that I am currently working on involves the largest assessment of palm oil buying companies and their impact on nature. These involve qualitative research and interviews, surveys etc. I am also proficient in data analysis and data visualization, at least at a level required for strategy projects- perhaps not at handling big data. Concentration Applying to: Strategy Number of programs planned to apply to: At least 8 Dream Schools: Yale, Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, USC Marshall, University of Minnesota- Carlson School of Business, University of North Carolina (Kenan Flagler), University of Washington (Foster), (still a WIP list) Letters of recommendation: Almost all from my MBA courses- will mostly be from professors and associate professors. Having little research experience, I'm expecting the letters of recommendations to be of a moderate strength. I will only be asking those professors for a recommendation in whose courses I have ranked among the top 5 scorers. Note: I have attached a one pager resume for more info. Other Questions: What made you want to pursue a PhD? I am deeply interested in how businesses can operate responsibly and partner with other stakeholders in the ecosystem like governments and communities to drive impact. I believe that businesses who are doing this at the moment will have a major first movers advantage going forward when regulations become more strict very rapidly and consumers become more aware of their environment. What businesses lack in this space is established research which proves this hypothesis and gives guidance on how to go about operating responsibly. Academia will have a big role to play here going forward and having worked with non profits for the past two years and being deeply aware of the situation around us, I want to be a part of that journey. Questions or concerns you have about your profile? 1. My major concerns are around graduate GPA which is not extraordinary- it might come to 3.4/3.5 after conversion to a 4 point scale using the conversion chart on the Columbia business school site. Given my overall profile and experience do I have a shot at any of the top 30 B schools for a PhD? 2. I am a complete novice to this- am I even targeting the right schools based on my profile? 3. I've been hearing that I should be applying as early as possible as early admissions are the only ones that are considered. Is this true? What is the optimum date by which I should be applying (given that deadlines are generally in December and I've been hearing people say that I should complete my applications in October) Any additional specific questions you may have: 4. Are there opportunities to undertake any remote part time research with professors in the US? I can't quit my job due to financial constraints. Given the COVID situation in India, it is extremely difficult to do that with professors here. I know this is a big ask but if anyone can share any input, I would be extremely grateful

Hi all! I am in a bit of a tricky situation. I want to apply for PhD programs in the fall. I am interested in Organizational Behavior. However, I am not sure if I am 'ready' to get in. I finished my undergad in 1 year (did dual credit in highschool), and most of that 1 year was during COVID, so I didn't have a lot of opportunities for research. I just started my Master's (MHA) and will graduate Spring 2022. Here's what I have so far. Undergrad (Public Health) GPA: 3.7 Current graduate GPA: 4.0 I have not taken the GMAT yet, but my scores have been around 710-720. I am currently on a research team for my school's business department, and I am authoring my first research paper. I will also be the co-author on other papers, although none will be published in time for applications. I will continue this position until Spring 2022. I am hoping to gain another research assistant position over the summer, but I have not heard back yet. I have two great professors that I could get letters of recommendation from, but I could get more if I get an additional research position over the summer. Now that I've written it all out, it seems that I don't have anything at all :miserable: What do you think? Should I apply in the fall or just wait? I'm trying to do my best with the limited time available, but research opportunities are hard to come by.. even for something like data cleaning! I'm 21 and I got started right out of highschool, so I hope it's understandable that I don't have a huge amount of research under my belt. I'm just worried that applying this fall will be a waste (especially considering the application prices!). I'm not picky, a top 50 school would make me happy as long as I get to do some great research!

Edit: This is for applications to a PhD in Economics Edit2: And GRE is 170Q, for what it's worth. I've posted something similar on Reddit, but I since discovered these forums. My profile is "strongly mixed," to say the least. I have a very high grad average (only comprising a few classes over two years; the rest of the time I was a predoc at a strong department.) And a ~3.2 undergrad GPA from a recognizable place, including a litany of graduate math and economics classes. Some of these I did very well in, some not. The discontinuity is due to a chronic health condition, which was finally treated late in my undergrad. My predoc has led to a publication. And one of my undergrad professors (who wrote me letters for this predoc) described me as "by far the best undergrad I've ever seen," so I have some hope that my letters are strong. Perhaps I should have asked this prof to referee me for PhD applications, but I figured recent is better. The other thing to mention is that I probably have unusual skills in computer programming. I'm the maintainer of some "big in Japan" (i.e., popular amongst a small set) open-source economic packages that have been accepted for talks at conferences. I've applied to about 15 well-known departments in the 10-30 range, including some Master's programs, and a smattering in 30-50. My predoc institution is probably my best shot for a good placement, in my mind. Mainly I'm opening this thread to calibrate my expectations, and get advice on how to approach this profile in any remaining applications. And to see if there are any schools I should apply to before the Jan. 1/Jan. 15 deadline. Thanks in advance.

Hey all, this is my first reddit post so bear with me. I am currently in my my last year of my undergrad and I plan on doing a thesis based MAcc degree which I will complete in the summer. I am wanting to get a Ph.D in accounting and was wondering how much a lower undergraduate GPA might hold me back from that. My undergrad GPA is gonna be around a 3.3 and my masters GPA will be a little bit higher. I know that the GMAT is a large part of the application process, and I'm confident I can score 700 on that. I also completed 3 internships up to now, one in a small cpa firm and the other 2 in investment banking, I do not know if I need more work experience in order to get accepted into a program? So, based on what I wrote above, would it be possible to get into a decent PhD program after I complete my MAcc? I don't care much about getting into any really good schools, but i dont want to go anywhere where i wont learn the skills I need to be a good researcher. Finally, does anyone have any tips for the admissions process? I plan on applying to a really wide range of schools, but does anyone know which ones in particular i would have an expecially good chance at?

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: B.B.A. in accounting from large state university Undergrad GPA: 2.32 Undergrad GPA last 60 hrs: 3.93 Type of Grad: M.S. in accounting from same state university Grad GPA: 3.90 Type of 2nd Grad: M.P.P. from top-ranked public university Grad GPA: 3.84 currently - exp graduation 05/21 GMAT: 44V 47Q - approx equiv to GRE: 168V 165Q, plan to take next summer Math Courses: calculus 1-3 (A), linear algebra (A), business statistics (B), applied stats & optimization (A), business calculus (B) Undergrad Econ Courses: intermediate micro/macro (A), business economics (B), international economics (A), quantitative analysis (A) Grad Econ Courses: history of economic thought (B+), micro (A-), macro (A+), quant analysis (A-), international development economics (A+), econometrics I (A+), econometrics II (A) Letters of Recommendation: two relatively strong letters from respected econ professors at current program who can speak to research I've done in their classes, one very strong letter from previous boss who is partner at CPA firm Teaching Experience: n/a Professional License: CPA - 3 yrs private sector employment at regional firm Research Experience: no RA experience. several graduate research projects and papers, extensive use of STATA and econometric analysis Research Interests: Public Policy, Labor, Monetary Policy My undergrad GPA is cringeworthy, I know. I had a serious injury my junior year that left me in a wheelchair and changed my priorities a bit. Theres a clear shift in my grades post-injury, so anyone looking at my transcript would easily notice the medical withdrawal, gap years, then mostly all As after. But Im worried that the cumulative GPA will be an automatic rejection in the first round of sorting/cutoffs at most schools. I'm applying for RA positions in the DMV area now, hoping to get some experience at the FRB or a think tank in the area to add to my application. I'm also taking math classes online through IU's CITL program, planning on having real analysis, differential equations, and a proof class or two done before applying. Maybe some statistics as well. Questions: 1) What type of schools should I target? 2) How irredeemable is the undergrad GPA? I've got some mitigating factors like the grades trending up post-injury, private sector work experience and professional license, and the graduate degrees but I'm not sure how much weight these carry. 3) Mostly, though: what can I do to improve my application? Is taking any extra math classes worth it? Or are grad econ classes more important?

Hi everyone. I am applying to finance PhD (2021 intake). I would appreciate if you could advice on my profile. Thanks so much in advance! Applying to: PhD in Finance (Research interests: credit risk, intangible asset on corporate finance decisions) Test Score (GMAT): V38, Q50, AWA 4 , Total 730 96% Undergraduate: reputable school in China; Bachelor in Economics; Poor overall GPA: 3.00/4.00, but did good on relevant courses - Calculus and Linear Algebra etc. Graduate: Top school in Hong Kong; MSc in Finance; GPA: 3.83/4.00 References: Two professors from the grad school. They have not supervised me but I did great on their courses. Work Experience: 5 years banking experience in China (prior to the master's program). 2 years as a general investment analyst in Hong Kong. Qualifications: CFA Research Experience: - Master thesis in green bond, not published. Teaching Experience: none Questions or Concerns: - Should I just forget about the top 50 schools (or even top 100), given the low undergrad GPA? - Will the CFA help in any way in the admission process? - Also a bit worried about age, as I'm already 30 yo. - I'm also targeting programs in Canada. Are they less competitive than US ones? Thanks in advance!

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Small Liberal Arts University - Double major in economics & Spanish Type of Grad: MA in applied economics at a top 100 university Undergrad GPA: 3.38 cumulative, 3.7 ECON, 3.77 Math Grad GPA: 4.0 and top of my class GRE: 164 Q/160 V/4.0 W Math Courses: Calc 1 (A), Calc 2 (A), Stats (B+) Grad Math: Math for economists (A), Economic Statistics (A), Applied Data Mining (A) - these are all actually PhD level courses Grad Econ Courses: Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Micro (A), Research Methods (A) Letters of Recommendation: 1) Letter from Graduate Advisor 2) Letter from my math focused economics courses in graduate school 3) Letter from a specialist in health economics All there letters will be very positive Research Experience: Research on comparing machine learning techniques to traditional methods of forecasting of interest rates, specifically Box-Jenkins method. This is an attempt to bring machine learning to the forefront of economics. Teaching Experience: Graduate teaching assistant - grading papers and holding review sessions Research Interests: Econometrics primarily focused on macroeconomics. SOP: briefly mention finding purpose and correlating it with my GPA. I am still working on this and would love suggestions. Other: Experience with Stata and R. Some SQL and Python as well I had a rough undergrad my first two years, my GPA was a 3.0 I nearly had a 4.0 in my last two years. I have study abroad experience in Ecuador for 6 months, none of these classes counted towards my GPA but I had a 4.0 on the 6 classes I took. I am hoping to get into a top 50, the higher the better. The university I'm currently at is willing to admit me into their PhD program, but I would like to move on to a new program with a higher reputation. Do I have any chance? I was feeling confident, but now I am completely lost. Some programs of interest: CU-Bolder, Oregon, MSU, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Syracuse I'm open to other program suggestions (my current list is actually much longer)

Hi, I am considering applying for PhD in OB for Fall 2021. I am looking for advice on whether my profile needs some work and which schools might be feasible options. Test Scores (GRE): verbal 165 (96%); quant 169 (96%) writing:4.5 Undegrad GPA: 3.85 Graduate GPA: 3.97 Research Experience: 1. MA thesis on social networks during org changes 2. Pre-doc at a Top 10 business school researching on corporate culture using statistical and machine learning methods Teaching Experience: NA Work Experience: 3 years at a global financial technology firm as a strategy analyst Concentration Applying to: Organizational Behavior (MACRO) Number of programs planned to apply to: 9-12 Dream Schools: MIT, HBS, INSEAD, Kellogg Questions: What made you want to pursue a PhD? Would like to continue exploring the questions regarding networks and uncertainties inside corporations using innovative methods. Questions or concerns you have about your profile? 1. My MA thesis used qualitative method (interview+survey), would it be ok to use it as my writing sample? I have background in economics and big data analysis. Just wasn't sure if the committee may view the writing sample as ill-fit for the types of research I plan to do there (mixed-method). 2. How to differentiate myself with my training in qualitative methods from the applicant pool with most people with strong quant background?

Hi, I am looking for suggestions to apply for a PhD Program in the US. Profile - I have completed my bachelor's in Economics from a top state college in India and my master's in Economics from a Tier 2 private research university in India. I am currently working as a Research Assistant in a project. I have done several term papers and other research projects and I have some professors who would vouch for my research skills (although they might not be very well known internationally). I have also been a Teaching Assistant for the two graduate Macro courses and one undergrad Micro course during my masters. Undergrad GPA - 6.1/10 (Second Class) Masters GPA - 9.52/10 (Highest in Class) Gre - 323 (167 - Quant, 156 - Verbal) Master's Courses - Graduate level two-course sequences in Micro (A- in first course, B in second), Macro (A in both courses) and Econometrics (A in both courses). Electives in Labor Econ, Development Econ, Political Econ, Time Series, Trade, International Finance (All A's except Trade in which I got a B). My research interest spans Macroeconomics and Applied Econometrics. Problems - 1. The only maths courses I have taken are the mathematical methods courses which have covered everything from analysis to optimization and multivariate calculus briefly but I know that they are not worth much to PhD admission committees. I am taking online courses while working in Multivariate Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Probability and Statistics but I don't know how much that would it help my prospects. 2. My undergrad GPA is very low (might be equivalent to a low-B or a C). I guess the high master's GPA would compensate for that to some extent but since it is from a lower ranked uni, I don't know how much good it will do exactly. I am looking for suggestions to improve my profile and the kind of universities I should target. I am also considering doing another Master's in Europe to compensate for the low undergrad GPA, do some math courses and get better LORs. Any suggestions regarding European master's programs will also be helpful. I will be applying this year for admissions in Fall'21.

Past threads like this have been very helpful for applicants like myself, so let's keep the tradition alive! PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Undergrad GPA: Type of Grad: Grad GPA: GRE: Math Courses: Econ Courses: Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: Research Experience: Teaching Experience: Research Interests: SOP: Other: RESULTS: Acceptances: Waitlists: Rejections: Pending: Attending: Comments: What would you have done differently?

US Citizen Test Scores: GMAT, 710 Undergrad GPA: 3.6 at a T50 US state B-school Graduate GPA: N/A at a T10/T15 US private B-school Research Experience: RA in undergrad, working paper Teaching Experience: None Work Experience: Big 4 Internship Concentration Applying to: Information Systems Number of programs planned to apply to: ~10 Dream Schools: USC, MIT, Carnegie Melon, University of Pennsylvania, NYU, Emory, Columbia, Northwestern Questions or concerns you have about your profile? Is my research experience strong enough to make a convincing case for my PhD candidacy? Is my GMAT strong enough for a top PhD program? What would you rate my PhD chances at? Any additional specific questions you may have: Any general advice/tips are much appreciated, thank you for time!

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Hello everyone, I was planning to apply for the 2020 cycle and would like an evaluation on where to expect acceptances (or rejections). PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 30 USNEWS Econ, BS Econ Undergrad GPA: 3.45 (Econ GPA ~3.8) Type of Grad: Top 60 USNEWS, M.A. Econ Grad GPA: 4.00 GRE: 162 Q (Ouch)/159 V/5.0 AW Math Courses: Calc I ©, Calc II (B-), Calc III (A+), Linear Algebra I (A), Discrete Math (A+), Intro to Proofs (A-), Differential Equations (A+), Optimization (A), Linear Algebra II (A+) Math Stats I (A+), Math Stats II (A-), Real Analysis I (A-), Real Analysis II (A). All at MA school except Calc I and II. Econ Courses: The standard for undergrad and grad in econ. These grades are A/A- Letters of Recommendation: The best part of my profile, I think. 3 well-known economics professors who can speak firsthand to my abilities in research, all graduated from top 20-30 programs. One is my thesis advisor, the other two were my research supervisors during the master's program. Took econ classes with all of them, earned A's. Research Experience: Master's thesis, 2 years in research center through my graduate school in areas of public finance. Research Interests: Labor Economics, Public Economics. My biggest concerns from my profile are the low GRE scores and the first two calc grades (I did not have my head on straight when I started undergrad several years ago). Is it realistic to be aiming for schools in the top 30-70 range? My feeling is that the GRE score will get me filtered out of the higher schools in this range (~30-50) without a second look at the rest of the profile. Is it better to try again in the next cycle with a higher GRE score (and perhaps another math class)? The undergrad GPA is low primarily due to low grades in hard sciences in my first two years - my GPA went up dramatically after that. I would appreciate candid advice on what to expect and how to move forward. Thanks to anyone who can answer.

Hi, i am an undergraduate preparing for the econ PHD application. Below is my problem, wish you can help me. I got bad scores(but i past) in two courses: elementary probability theory, and a liberal arts course. I talked with both professors, who proposed to change my grades to "fail" so that i can retake these courses if I want. I am confident to earn a better score if retaking, and by doing this my cumulative GPA is expected rise from 3.6/4 to approximately 3.7/4 (top10%, and the entry of high graduation honors). However, I don't know how graduate colleges will think of these two fails, and how important some increments in cumulative GPA are (my econ-major and math-major GPA is 3.9/4 and 3.8/4) Thus, is this worthy to retake with two "fail"s? Thanks

Hi all, I'm applying this year for Quant Marketing or Marketing Strategy, and I took the GMAT a long time ago (4.5 years) and got 730 (Q50, V40). My profile is not too good, with mediocre UG GPA (unis in my country have very harsh grading tbh) and better grad GPA (Near 4.0 in the US). My target school is around top 20-30, and I'll only apply to 1 or 2 top 10 (just to tell myself I tried :) ). Do you guys think retaking my GMAT to get it up to 51 Q is worth it?

Hello everyone, I am hoping to get some insight on how to proceed with my goal of getting into an Accounting PhD program. I know I don't have the best profile right now, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to improve my stats before applying. About me: 30 year old female Bachelor's in Accounting - 3.43 GPA (3.5 Business GPA) at a reputable state university) GMAT: 660 (Q: 49 V: 31 IR:6) 5+ years of work experience (2 years - top 10 national public accounting firm, 3 years - Federal government, Active CPA license Active CFE license No research experience No teaching experience Math classes taken in undergrad: Statistics I, Statistics II, Calculus I As you can see, nothing about me is great (yet!). So my question is, what would be the best way to proceed? Should I go for my Master's and try to get as high of a graduate GPA and GMAT score as possible? I don't have a strong quantitative background, so I am thinking obtaining a Master's degree in Data Analytics might be more beneficial. At the same time, Master's in Accounting will expose me to accounting professors and give me the opportunity to earn some good letters from them. I'm leaning towards going for Master's in Accounting and completing courses in Calculus II and Data Analytics (i.e. SAS, SPSS, SQL, etc.) through Coursera and/or community college to compensate for the lack of research experience/quantitative background. I should note that I am not necessarily going for a top-tier school, as I know those are likely out of my reach regardless of what I do in the next couple of years. I am just really passionate about learning and education, and I want to pursue a PhD and further my growth and learning. FYI, my research interests lie in the areas of auditing, financial reporting, and the linkage between financial and non-financial variables. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance for the help!

Hi Urch community. I have been an avid reading of this forum since february, and it has been very useful to me. Right now I'm preparing for the application process of a Ph.D. in Economics, but I'm a little worried about how admission committee will assess my GPA since in my country grades go from 0 to 10, and you pass with a 7, but there is a lot of variance depending on the professor. If I scale my GPA to the U.S scale it is only a 3.32, which from I understand is pretty weak for a US university. However, I was first of my class in my math major and in Economics, and top 5 in my Economics major. I also was able to ask for a letter of recommendation from a very prestigious professor of Economics in a top 10 US university whom I was able to work and made a great impression on him. What do you think? Is this a deal breaker for any admission committee? I am aiming to a wide range of Univs, but decided to take a shot at a master in another country if I don't get at least in a top 30. A little more info: Country: A small one from the Americas with few recognized economists. University: The most recognized university at my country. GPA: 8.3/10.0 LoRs: One from a professor in a top 10 in US, the other two from professors at my university with whom I have a great relation. GRE: 170Q, 162V, 4.5 AW TOEFL: 107 (28R, 29L, 25S, 25W)

Hi, I am an international student (Iran) and I want to apply for masters or Ph.D. degree in economics in Canada. But I am in a complicated situation. my bachelor degree is in Mathematics with a low GPA (2.50/4). I changed my field for masters and studied economics with a great GPA (4/4). I prefer to study masters of economics again in Canada (don't ask me why. I am living in Iran:)) ). But honestly, I don't know it is the right decision or not. My bachelor GPA is lower than all the university requirement. if I apply for masters degree again would they consider my masters GPA or Bachelor GPA? Am I eligible to be admitted to one of the universities? Furthermore, If I want to study Ph.D., how much my undergraduate GPA is important?

I've been pretty dead-set on pursuing an Economics PhD since my sophomore year of undergrad, but I came into college with a very bad math foundation. In high school I almost failed Algebra 2, and that poor early exposure has haunted me through undergraduate courses. I feel like I've definitely improved, and my math grades this semester should be As or at least A- (doing well so far), but I would like some blunt honesty here. There is no doubt in my mind that I want to do an Econ PhD, I just would like to know exactly what I'll need to do in order to compensate for my mistakes/deficiencies. I am open to RA-ships or masters programs to strengthen my application, but only if absolutely necessary. Thanks! Type of Undergrad: State flagship, ranked top 20 USNews for Public Schools, Top 40 Econ IdeasRepec Undergrad GPA: Overall 3.63, Math GPA 2.51, Econ GPA 3.81 Type of Grad: N/A (1 course taken while undergrad) Grad GPA: N/A (A) GRE: 170Q, 170V, 4.5W Math: Calc 1/2/3 (B-, A, C), Linear Algebra (B), Intro Proofs (B-), Math Probability( IP), Real Analysis 1 (IP) Econ: Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (B-), Wrld Econ Hist (A), Econometrics 1 (A), International Econ (A), Pub Econ(A), Global Econ Dev(A), Econometrics 2 (A-), Labor Econ(A), Graduate Micro Theory (A) Other Courses: Intro Stat Analysis (B+), Data Analysis w/ R (A), ArcGIS(IP), Land Use (IP), Econ Research Methods (IP) Recommendations: 3 currently ready, looking for more. One is my grad micro theory prof that I also RA'd for, he is an Assistant Prof. The second is full professor from our agricultural/environmental econ dept, she is my thesis advisor and I've been in her graduate research group for 2 years. Third is Fed economist that I RA'd for over a summer. Research Experience: RA for micro professor, RA for Regional Fed economist (top 10 PhD), senior thesis, NSF-REU internship. Research Interests: Rural/Urban economics, Labor Economics, Political Economy, Environmental Concerns: My math grades are abysmal, but I believe with an upward trend (will be too late for my real analysis/probability grades to show up on applications). Also my strongest/most passionate letter is from an AP who is well published (two top 5 pubs) but not well known. Other: I have the option to return to the regional fed I interned at and work as an RA for 2-3 years. I would take this option but I would much prefer to pursue a PhD now, unless I have a clear plan on how to maximize the return from the RAship. Applying to: I want to leave nothing to chance, so ~30 schools (using internship money to finance app fees). All top 10s (reach), majority of top 20, then regional preferences from 30 to 40. I would be very happy to get into specifically Penn State or Michigan State, but I know that I'm probably a weak candidate so I'll be grateful for anything.

I have an engineering undergraduate degree from a generally well-known college in a developing country, but with a GPA which is good but not stellar (some of my courses grades are bad, some decent, some great). I also have a Master's in economics with the best grades. I have two questions - first, would admission committees (top 10, top 20, or top 30) care about my undergraduate grades at all? If yes, how would they evaluate my grades (given that they would not have seen too many applicants with the same undergraduate degree)?

Hi everyone, Was wondering if anyone has any idea about the GPA cutoff that gets screened out in the initial stage for PhD Econ admissions. My overall GPA is 3.5 (graduated with honors) with Econ major GPA around 3.7 and Math major GPA around 3.6 (you can see my previous evaluation post here: https://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/161111-profile-evaluation.html). Could 3.5 be automatically screened out at top 10 schools or so? Thanks.

Type of Undergrad: Top 5 US undergrad Undergrad GPA: 3.64 (economics), 3.4 (cumulative) GRE: Taking very soon, with some more work should be able to get Q167+ and V162+. Aiming for perfect quant score of course. Coursework: Post-bacc @ Stanford: Real Analysis (A), Differential Equations for Engineers (B+) Senior thesis: (A) in both semesters Junior research: (A) in both semesters Undergrad math: Probability & Stochastic Systems (P), Linear Algebra (B+), Calc 3 (B-) Other undergrad economics: Analysis of Big Data (A), Political Economy (A-), Market Design and Auction Theory (A), Internet Economics (B), The 2008 Recession (B+), Public Finance (B), Mathematical Econometrics (B), Health Economics (B+), Macroeconomics (B), Mathematical Microeconomics (B), Statistics for Economics (B) Research Experience: - Junior paper under macroeconomist applied quant financial econometric models in a novel domain. (very applied quant) - Senior thesis under top game theorist analyzed biases in an auction market (empirical, not so quant). - Worked as a research assistant under a top political scientist - contributed exercises to statistics textbook. - Current job (2-3 years) out of undergrad is all quant econometric research, but private sector and no public-facing work. I will write about this in my statement of purpose but it doesn't seem SOP is so influential. LORs: 1. My junior paper professor told me earlier this year he would write me his best LORs. He's sent people to top 5 programs. However, he said he usually only has time to write LORs for ~10 schools so I have to pick carefully. 2. Asked my senior thesis professor if he'd write me a strong rec. He said he would, but I'm not as sure it'll be as strong. 3. For my third, I'm thinking about asking my current manager who leads our team of statisticians / computer scientists / economists at a private firm. But my manager is from computer science so I'm not sure that would be well regarded for economics programs. I could ask some of the economists on my team for a rec / contribute to the letter, but they're new PhDs so not sure if that's even helpful. The other alternative is to ask my political scientist professor (very famous in the field) but it's been a while and my work was more textbook/teaching oriented than breaking novel research ground. Overall: I had a rough undergrad until junior/senior year, then realized too late I wanted to go for academic economics and post-grad managed to get the critical A in real analysis from a good school. Grades have trended up. However, my math coursework is still very patchy, and I've been out of school for 2-3 years (albeit in a research position), so I'm thinking it may be best to cast a wide net in terms of schools this cycle. Do you think I have any chance at breaking a top 20, 30, even 50 program? I'm open to doing a master's first and plan to apply to a mix of PhD & master's programs. Potential schools (mix of PhD and Master's programs): PhD: MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, U Mich, USCD Master's: Europe - LSE (both EME and 2-yr econ), BGSE, CEMFI, UCL Canada - UBC