Best to go to an Economics Masters program first or PHD program (in my case)?

<p>I am an economics major at UConn (in my 6th semester) with a 3.717 GPA. I've gotten A's in both intermediate micro/macro, another upper level econ course, and am currently taking a couple of other upper level econ courses. I was late to the game with math (didn't know econ grad programs req'd so much math exp)--thus, I am only in linear alg and diff equations right now (expecting A's in both, however), and will be taking multivariable calc in the coming fall, along with probability and real analysis in the following spring (when I'll be graduating). I'll be taking the GRE in the fall. What I'm wondering is if applying for an MA program for econ would be something to seriously consider, rather than a PHD program. I do not have any research/internship exp yet, nor am I confident that I could get any particularly good letters of rec. I love studying econ/math, however, and would love to continue my studies until the achievement of a doctorate. If anyone has any thoughts/wants to know more info, please let me know. Any opinions/advice is very appreciated. Thanks!</p>

<p>Not sure if I worded one part as best I could–I plan on taking probability/multivariable calc this fall, and real analysis in the spring of 2015 (wish I could take it sooner).</p>

<p>You need to talk to some of your profs who can give you all kinds of info on this. Perhaps the department chair/ If you are looking for money, like financial aid, stipends, grants, tuition remission, that sort of thing, in many fields it has to be a PHD program, not Masters. How do you expect to pay for all of this? This might be your first project in economics. </p>

<p>Apply to both master’s programs and PhD programs. Pick the PhD programs you’d really like to attend, and also pick a range of really good, solid master’s programs that will help you get into PhD programs (and perhaps are funded).</p>