<p>I will be graduating from a non-HYP Ivy, but will be working at the Boston Fed for 2 years before applying. </p>
<p>Does anyone know what my chances are for a top 5 program? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Econ--Game theory, econometrics, applied micro research course, intermediate micro, intermediate macro, int'l trade, int'l finance, intro econ, thesis class--all A's</p>
<p>Math--2 semesters of Diff Eq's, linear algebra, topology--A's; Multi, statistics, statistical modelling--B's</p>
<p>Grad Econ--macro, micro, math for econ (mandatory pass/fail)--pass</p>
<p>other
-RA for 1 year with a very well known (borderline famous) prof
-prize for best econ thesis</p>
<p>I've been getting much better at Math, and I will have the opportunity to take difficult math classes in Boston over the next 2 years, including Real Analysis.</p>
<p>Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>Okay, start with the premise that Top 5 is a crap shoot for even the strongest candidate. The program I’m most familiar with had 800+ applicants and took 20. So.</p>
<p>On paper, so far, you look competitive. A Fed RA job is one of the “gold standard” positions. Do well in it, have a fabulous attitude and a great work ethic.</p>
<p>Two courses I’d pick to take on a non-degree basis if you can fit into your schedule while working: Econometrics, Complex Analysis (after Real Analysis)</p>
<p>The high Quant GRE…yeah, I know they’ve rescaled it and I haven’t got the new scoring down…means nothing if you have it but means everything if you don’t. Ace it.
Even 780’s were rare under the old scoring and successful applicants at Top 5 with sub-800 scores had compensating factors like being able to walk on water when it wasn’t frozen.</p>
<p>Finally, get some <em>great</em> recs. Your borderline famous prof might be one. Find another as good as better. For Top 5, the recs are often used to sift the chosen from the unchosen who are otherwise similar.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>There are no “chances.” Graduate school admissions don’t work that way. Some of the top PhD programs have single-digit admissions rates smaller than even the most competitive undergraduate Ivy League, especially in economics, which is particularly cutthroat. So it’s nearly useless to speculate what your chances are.</p>
<p>What we can say is that you’ve gotten good grades, which is nice. Bs in statistical modeling will not look as good, since econometrics is based upon statistical modeling, but I got a B in my first statistics class and I am in another stats heavy field (psychology) with statistics as a main focus of mine.</p>
<p>One year of research is not as competitive when many of your peers will have two or three, and many will have MAs in economics.</p>
<p>I would say that you look like an average to good candidate - your strengths are your grades and the amount of math classes you have taken, and your weakness is the small amount of research. But given that you are going to be working in econ for two years that weakness should diminish. Your personal statement and letters of recommendation will probably be what makes you stand out.</p>