Profile Evaluation for Fall 2022

[gangshit]

Profile:

Type of Undergrad: Double bachelor in Economics, and Mathematics and Statistics (top universities in Spain), which is equivalent to undertaking both bachelors independently (double bachelors are very intensive programs quite valued in Spain, but relatively unknown abroad)

Undergrad GPA: 1. 3.56/4.00 (top 2% of my cohort)

                             2. 3.52/4.00 (still unknown, but I expect to be among the top students)

GRE: 156V, 165Q

Econ Courses: 4 courses in Introductory and Intermediate Micro + a course in Game Theory (B+, B+, A+, A, A+), 4 courses in Introductory and Intermediate Macro (B, B+, A+, A+), 3 courses in Introductory and Intermediate Econometrics (B+, A, A+), Undergraduate Thesis (A+, I received 1 national and 1 regional award)

Math Courses: Calculus I-II (B and B+), Linear Algebra(B), Probability and Stochastic Processes (A), Statistical Inference (A), Numerical Calculus (A+), Optimization I-III (B+, B+, A+), As in several courses on Statistics (i.e. Multivariate Analysis, Bayesian Inference, Non-Parametric Inference, Experimental Design, Generalized Linear Methods, etc.)

Research Experience: 8 months of part-time RA in Applied Statistics in my home university + 1 month in Cemfi + 1 year at UPF (ongoing)

Recommendation Letter: 1. From a professor at a top 10 University in the US (currently on leave at UPF), very strong

                                            2. From a professor who taught me public economics and my thesis advisor, very strong

                                            3. From an associate professor who taught me advanced macroeconomics, relatively strong

Research Interests: Applied Micro in general but I specifically like IO, Public Economics and Urban Economics

Application: Oxford (MPhil Economics), Cambridge (MPhil Economics Research), LSE (MSc EME, MSc Economics), UCL (MSc Economics), PSE (M1 APE)

Concerns: low GPAs (as far as I know, grades in Spain tend to have a downward bias relative to the US but I hope that the admission committees will understand that double programs are more demanding), low grades in maths and I lack a course in real analysis or advanced linear algebra...

Looking for: Honest opinion on the schools I'm applying to. Am I good enough for these masters? I am late to apply for US PhDs this year, but do I have any chances to top 20-30 schools* next year with my current profile? I am considering to repeat the GRE and to take more courses in Maths. Besides, next year I expect to have two publications in relatively good journals. Or do I need to go for a master first?

* I am thinking about Duke, Cornell, Wisconsin-Maddison, Michigan, Brown, Boston University, CMU but I would be glad to know about other similar programs. Thank you in advance!

[tutonic]

Given that you are Spanish, is there any reason why you're not applying to Barcelona GSE or CEMFI? Those are one of the top programmes for students looking to continue on to a PhD since they offer PhD-level coursework.

There are quite a number of schools that have mid-Jan deadlines for PhD applications, so you should check those out, if you wish to apply to some programmes this cycle.

[gangshit]

8 hours ago, tutonic said:

Given that you are Spanish, is there any reason why you're not applying to Barcelona GSE or CEMFI? Those are one of the top programmes for students looking to continue on to a PhD since they offer PhD-level coursework.

There are quite a number of schools that have mid-Jan deadlines for PhD applications, so you should check those out, if you wish to apply to some programmes this cycle.

Thanks for your reply! I just want to go abroad a while, but these do seem good programs. I have considered applying for some US schools, but most Europeans admitted have already done a master...

[kun09]

I think at least you’ll get into Cambridge MPhil. I applied for it as well for this cycle. From the statistics, its not that selective. If you’re unsure about your chances, you could go for a master’s in UK or US.