Profile Eval: low GPA and apply this fall

[kiwi123]

Hi everyone!

 

I am currently preparing my applications for Econ PhD. I have applied three times (18 19 20 fall), and this is probably my last chance. I am quite nervous and not sure if my profile is strong enough to get in good program. I would appreciate any advice. Here is my background:

 

Bachelor: bachelor's degree in economics (mainland of China, top 10), 3.54/4.00 GPA (about B+ or high 2-1)

I didn't take any advanced courses in bachelor. One short RA and one TA during my bachelor.

 

Master I: MSc Economics, Barcelona GSE, 7.3/10 (B- maybe?).

I did really bad in the first term (and also why after BGSE I have to do another master)

master thesis, 7.8.

 

Master II: Master of Statistics and Data Science, KU Leuven, 14/20 (barely distinction), just finished first year, the grade of this semester will come out a few days later, hopefully a bit higher

 

RA: two year part-time RA, full-time during the breaks, coauthorship, drafting. we will submit the paper this fall.

 

LORs: 1. my RA boss (from my bacholer uni, he has good publications)

2. my thesis supervisor (ORSTAT, econometic),

3. to be decided (1) researcher from Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, helped with an environmental econ paper

(2) another coauthor of my RA paper (new AP)

(3) my BGSE professors

 

GRE: in September

pervious: V153+Q166

 

Work: 6 month trainee at the OECD in development center, half year external consultant. (mostly cleaning data using Stata)

 

Research Interests: labor economics, applied micro (I still want to try other field, and willing to try theory, but maybe not econometric)

 

Applying to: good mres (leading to PhD) programs in Europe, top 20-50 in US (but not quite familiar with US unis)

for European uni, I am considering Zurich, Bocconi, TSE M2, KU Leuven, UC Leuven, MGSE, Mannheim, Bonn, if any chance get back to BGSE maybe, CEMFI, SSE, Berline School of Economics

I am also considering ANU, Monash, McGill, UT, and UBC.

Concerns: low GPA, no advanced math course.

the program should provide scholarship (maybe German and American programs outstand)

 

I failed twice applying to PSE, science po, and TSE; once bocconi, warwick, and tilburg. I really don't know where I am and where I can go. I am okay with doing mres and taking QE again if with scholarship, but I cannot afford another master or another RAship. Please tell me if I should lower my expectation (to which level) and save the application fee for any of these schools I mentioned.

 

Many thanks to any advice or comment.

[annsteele]

how did you do?

 

[molly]

hi how about u now