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Hi all! First post here. I'm applying for econ phd program for 2020 intake and i ran into a problem. My uni offers a combined intermediate micro+macro econ theory course, titled "Intermediate Economics", rather than two separated ones. It was intensive and really challenging for all the students. The course content is given below. I'm worried that this might not be enough for econ phd application, since most programs require two courses in intermediate theories, though I've learnt a lot from this course and through self study. Any suggestions/thoughts on this? Should I take some other courses to make up for the repercussions brought by this one? Thank you all for your help! :)

Hi all, I was an international student and I graduated 2 years ago. I was interested in doing graduate studies but I ultimately returned to my home country to work for 2 years, trying to reduce the financial burden as an international student. After 2 years, I have paid off most of the debts and I am thinking of returning to university in 2020 to do a master degree (and eventually a phd in public policy/economics). My gpa is a bit mediocre as I did pretty bad in most of the arts and humanities courses. Just want to know if graduate programs such as oxford econ mphil / lse msc econ etc. would be a long shot for me? I understand that they are typically looking for 3.7+ GPA students and I am not sure if this is a hard admission requirement and would they focus mainly on econ/math courses only? I am also quite concerned about the courses in red. Are these red flags to admission that will lead me to a quick ding? I am particularly concerned about my withdrawals and C+ in a seminar course. Also, if I am lucky enough to receive an offer and perform well at these masters programs, will it overcome my academic deficiencies in undergrad? Thank you so much! ------------------------- Profile: Economics undergraduate at Columbia (transferred from a top 20 majoring in econ and business) GPA: 3.55 Math courses at old uni: Calcs I II (A) Business stat (A) Maths for economics (W) Math courses at Columbia: Calc I III (A, i have taken them again at Columbia) Intro to probability (A) Intro to statistics (A) Maths for economics (A) Stat reasoning (W) Economics at old uni: Microeconomics for Business (A-) Macroeconomics for Business (A) Political economy (B+) Intermediate micro (A) Intermediate macro (A) Intro to econometrics (A) Economics at Columbia: Intermediate micro (A) Intermediate macro (A) Financial economics (A-) Money and banking (A-) Public economics (A-) Corporate finance (B+) Industrial organization (W) Monetary policy seminar (C+) Planned: linear algebra and real analysis from harvard extension or illinois online

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on applying to RA positions or masters programs in preparation for eventually applying to PhD programs in economics or public policy. I had a rough time during undergrad due to the deaths of a few close family members and I'm worried about the low grades in important courses. I would like to apply to a AREC Masters program or a two year full time RA program to make up for the deficiencies in my profile and to better define my research interests before applying to an AREC PhD program. Do I have a shot at either of these two routes? Would one be more advantageous for PhD admissions than the other? Thank you! Undergraduate: Top 5 in Econ (Princeton, MIT, UChicago) 3.45/4.00 GPA Graduate: N/A Math Courses: Calc 1 (B+), Calc 2 (B+), Calc 3 (B+), Intro to Proofs (B-), Real Analysis I-III (B+, A, A), Linear Algebra (B), Abstract Algebra I (C+), Abstract Algebra II (A-), Formal Languages and Computation Theory (A), Measure and Integration (B) Econ Courses: Intermediate Microecon I (C+), Intermediate Microecon II (A-), Intermediate Macroecon I (B+), Intermediate Macroecon II (A), Econometrics (B+), Economics of Domestic Policy Analysis (Poverty and Public Policy related) (A), Environmental Economics (A), Economics of Crime/Law (A) Misc Courses: Statistics I (B), Computer Science Intro Sequence I-III (A-, B, A-) Research Experience: (1) Five months RA experience for a research institute on campus (2) RA to prof at university's business school for eight months (3) Wrote independent research paper for environmental class, earned top grade in the class. Potential Rec Letters: Letters from UC Davis AREC grad, MIT grad, and Berkeley grad. Other Information: Been working as an analyst at a economic consulting firm for the past few years.

Undergrad: Large State School around 50th nationally GPA: 3.8 Major/Minor: Econ Major, Stat and Math minor GRE:167Q/160V Econ Classes: International Monetary Economics: A Environmental Economics: A Intermediate Micro: A Intermediate Macro: A Econometrics: A Time Series Econometrics: A Game Theory: A Math Classes: Calc 1: B+ Calc 2: A Calc 3: A- Intro to Proofs: A Intro to Analysis: A Linear Algebra w/ Proofs: B+ Stat Classes: Statistical Inference: A Applied Experimental Designs: B+ Applied Regression Analysis: A Mathematical Statistics I: A Mathematical Statistics II: A- Last Set of Classes that I'm taking in the fall: Senior Thesis Econ of Education Differential Equations Real Analysis Coding Experience: R (strong), RATS (used for one class, I think this program is awful), LaTeX (learning this for a nice looking thesis) Other Experience: Did Literature Review for a Professor one semester on a research topic he was exploring. With the same Professor, did a one-on-one class where he taught me discrete choice and how to code the models Tutored Intermediate Micro for 2 years. Interned at Porsche Cars North America last fall where I used some techniques I learned in Time Series to forecast car sales. Personal Info: During my Junior year I developed Crohn's Disease, it has been very hard for me. However, I recently found a treatment that looks like is getting me back to "normal." For this reason I am graduating in 4 and 1/2 years, which is not what I originally planned. Thesis: Writing my thesis on transportation demand estimation (using the famous Train discrete choice book). My adviser says that its the most ambitious senior thesis hes ever seen, however I don't go to an amazing school so I'll take that with a grain of salt LORs: One really strong letter from a professor I've worked with a while. One from My Intro to Analysis professor, and one from my thesis adviser. (I think the two economist letters should be pretty good Goals: My adviser seems to think that anything below 30 I should be really strong for, and have a decent chance 15-25. What do you guys think? Thanks for reading!

Undergraduate Institution: Simon Fraser University (Canada) Major: Economics Minor: None GPA: 3.31/4.33 Type of Student: International Upper Division Courses: Calc I (B), Calc II (B-), Intermediate Macroeconomics Theory (A), Intermediate Microeconomics Theory I (B+), Intermediate Microeconomics Theory II (B-), Intermediate Econometrics Methods-seminar course (B), Statistical Analysis of Economic Data (B), Linear Algebra (C+)GRE: 159V, 160Q, 4.5W Recommendation Letters (I plan to request the following. See note below): -well-known economics professor who taught me Advanced Macroeconomics Seminar (A-) -Economics Development Seminar (A) -Econometrics Methods Seminar (B) Previously I asked these 3 professors for reference letters for graduate economics programs & was accepted to all of them. However, I didn't attend graduate school due to personal reasons i.e. mandatory military service in Taiwan. I've now changed my mind and decided to go for Statistics. Applying To: MS Statistics (Rutgers) , MS Statistics & Data Science (University of Houston) Skills: R, Python Research Experience: Public Policy Professor - co-author for academic journal article using statistical analysis discussing civil service culture I know my GPA is quite low, but I've been told that: 1. SFU is known for its relatively harsh grading scheme i.e. the percentage who get grades in the "A" range are quite low- 10% or less I've been told. 2. SFU is a still relatively top ranked school in Canada so unless you're applying to top ranked grad programs with these grades, I should still have a chance.

Test Scores (GMAT/GRE): GMAT 720 (M50 / V38) Undegrad GPA: 3.93 (major in econ / math) Graduate GPA: - Research Experience: one year with an economics professor. Research on behavioral economics one year with financial accounting professor. Financial & Managerial related research Teaching Experience: 1 semester linear algebra, 1 sem real analysis Work Experience: - Classes taken : Microeconomics - Intermediate/ advanced Macro - intermediate / advanced Economectric - intermediate / advanced Game theory Financial economics Math - cal I, II, III, linear algebra, real analysis, complex analysis, differential equation, etc. Accounting - Basic, intermediate, research seminars (about 4 of those, classes for accounting masters) Concentration Applying to: Financial accounting Number of programs planned to apply to: 10 - 15 Dream Schools: Harvard, mit, chicago, Upenn, Stanford, UIUC, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell etc Questions or concerns you have about your profile? Well, I only hold bachelor in those two fields and only accounting exposures I have are classes listed above and an year of a research with a professor. I love accounting research and I want to pursue it! I was wondering if my GMAT score is a little bit lacking by any chance? You guys think I have shots at those schools? I still have an year till graduate, so I have 2 chances to apply. I go to school that is ranked 3rd in accounting program.

Hi, I am currently finishing my 3rd year at UofT, and I'm interested in pursuing a MA in Economics in Canada. This is my profile below - I would appreciate any advice regarding my chances at some Canadian schools for an MA: Type of Undergrad: UofT Undergrad GPA: 3.76/4.0 Major: Economics, Environmental Management GRE: 168Q, 164V, AWA 5 Math Courses: Calculus I and II (A-) Linear Algebra (A) Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (B+): (Class average was quite low at C-, which is indicated on transcript) Intermediate Macro (A+) Environmental Economics (A) Public Economics (A+) Advanced Public Economics (A+) Econometrics (A) Teaching Experience: TA for Macroeconomic course for 2 years during undergrad. Gaps in application: - Lack of Advanced Micro and Macro is the real thing that's causing some uncertainty. I could choose to take one of these courses during the fall semester of my last year, but I can't fit the other one in. Which one would be more important? I'm assuming Advanced Micro, because my intermediate mark is the worst one I've gotten in Economics so far. Any advice about which schools to apply to is appreciated!

Hi everyone, I am currently a junior and taking intermediate macro theory this semester. I am a math and econ double major. But the problem is that this professor who's teaching my intermediate macro is just giving everyone a very hard time and no one is doing too well (he's on his two-year term at my school and this is his last semester lol). I was wondering if dropping this class and getting a W in it would significantly hurt my chances of getting to top 20 phd programs? I will be re-taking the course with my advisor in the coming fall, and I expect to do well in that class maybe my advisor could even mention in the recommendation letter that I am doing it fine (assuming that I do) in that class. Let me know what you guys think! FYI: I have gotten good grades in other challenging courses including multivariable calculus, real analysis, comp sci courses, etc.

Hi all, So my school allows me to replace the intermediate macro requirement for the econ major with PhD Macro 1. From what I've heard, the materials covered by the two courses are fairly disjoint, with the intermediate macro course covering IS/LM and the phd course covering dynamic programming-type DSGE models. I'm planning on taking the PhD Macro course for 1) signalling and 2) preparing myself better for the first year in a PhD program, since I will have seen the mathematical techniques used in Macro before (dynamic programming is also relevant for structural IO, which I'm interested in). Could anyone who has taken both chimed in about this? Will I be at any significant disadvantage for not having taken intermediate macro before the PhD class? I know it will be hard, but I'm pretty good at math and programming so I think it will be doable if I put in the effort. As far as research interests go, I am not interested in macro (more interested in applied micro/structural IO), so I don't think any intuition lost from not taking the intermediate class will be too detrimental for me personally, if I never end up using macro in my work. Thank you! Pulsars

Hi guys. I need some advice for applying Ph.D. this year. This is my brief profile. My profile is quite different from others as I have two undergrads. I have no idea my plan is reasonable. It would be wonderful if you cast some advice. ------------------------ Under: Type of Undergrad: Top 5 school in my country (One of East Asia) Major: Economics, minored Political Science GPA: 3.95/4.00 1: Intermediate Micro (I), (II), Intermediate Macro (I), (II), Statistics, Intro to Economics, Mathematical Econ etc. all A. 2: Calculus I - B (This is only B in my transcript) And then, I transferred to a U.S. University Type of Undergrad: Top 3 public university. (Econ Top 15) Major: Double Majored in Mathematics and Economics. GPA: 3.76/4.00 (Econ 3.74/ Math 3.87) 1: Intermediate Micro – B (This is super critical. That was my first semester in U.S. school and I was in trouble in the new environment and had language problem), Intermediate Macro – A, Intermediate Econometrics - A, Labor – A- 2: Calculus (A+, A-), Analysis(A), Differential Equation (B+), Mathematical Stats (A), Linear Algebra (A), Abstract Algebra (A-) Numerical (A-), Nonlinear (A-) [This is from other summer school, but] Real Analysis – A+ ---------------------------- Graduate: Type of Grad: One of a Top econ departments in UK GPA: In progress Currently taking Ph.D- level Micro, Macro, Metric and one elective course. ----------------------------- GRE: 155V/167Q/3.5W Research Experience 1. Two independent researches from the two undergrads respectively. 2. One senior Thesis. Currently preparing a master thesis. 3. Doing RA at the Lab in grad school. Professor is really famous. 4. Doing another RA for the professor at Oxford. He is not very well-known LOR (1) From professor at the university in my country. He graduated Upen but not well known. However, he is kinda of my supporter, so he always writes strong letter for me. (2) From professor supervised my senior thesis. Graduated from Berkeley, he is not mature scholar, but rising star in his field. So, quite well known in his field. Also, he knows me quite well so will write strong letter (3) From a professor in current school. He is also not well known, but he usually writes a strong letter for students TA Experience: Calculus, Macroeconomics for a year. Field of Interest: Macro, RBC, Monetary, International Applying: Thinking of only applying few school, as prepare for the next year round doing RA: Berkeley Columbia, Upenn, UCLA, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Concerns: Relatively low GRE. Also, low GPA at the second undergrad school, diluting my performance. One bright point is after I screwed up the first semester, my CGPA was strictly increased. Current grad school has a very good reputation and known for landing many students at least in Top 15, but I don’t know that will help my profile.