<p>Hi there!
I'm currently and undergraduate student at a reputable university majoring in economics with a minor in mathematics.
I want to attend graduate school to obtain a PhD in economics.
These are the math courses I'm planning on/or have already taken:</p>
<p>Calculus I-III
Multiple regression analysis
Matrices and linear equations
Linear algebra
Differential equations
Advanced calculus of one variable
Applied multivariate analysis
Advanced Calculus I
Introduction to topology
Stochastic Processes I
Design of experiments</p>
<p>Is this enough math to get my foot into the door to some of the higher ranked universities?</p>
<p>Real Analysis is the one critical class that you are missing, but then again, I don’t see how you took a topology class without it. Pick up a copy of Rudin’s Real Analysis book to see what it is. </p>
<p>Basically, while it is a very theoretical class, it provides the necessary analytical tools to deal with optimization in an abstract way. Optimization is the key for the study of advanced economics. Traditional calculus only works in places where functions are differentiable. Not everything is.</p>
<p>To take real analysis I would have to drastically alter my schedule as the class is only offered on particular even or odd years in the spring at the university that I am attending. I’m studying abroad at the University of Economics in Prague this coming fall so I will be devoid of math classes for a semester. I would have to pick up a couple math courses next summer to have the required prerequisites for real analysis and also be unable to take stochastic processes if I do so.</p>
<p>While I know that many high ranked universities strongly recommend this course, is it a make it or break it class? Would not taking real analysis significantly decrease my prospects of acceptances?</p>
<p>Wow, a key math course is only offered once every two years? Does hardly anyone major in math, statistics, physics, or economics (with graduate school aspirations) at your school?</p>
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<p>What prerequisites would these be that you do not already have in your list?</p>
<p>ucbalumnus:
Real analysis at my college is a graduate level course and is unfortunately only offered in the spring during even years. I would have to take Advanced Calculus I during the summer and take 20 credit hours the semester before real analysis if I want to maintain the list of courses (I’m trying to fit in complex variables and some programming courses too). I also have an internship opportunity for next summer so I’m not sure how that would work out.<br>
My first year in college I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so many of the credits where focused towards microbiology, immunology & pathology. I didn’t start to really focus on math and economics till sophomore year. I was planning on graduating in three years as I had enough AP credit in high school to graduate early, so the first year wasn’t too detrimental. But I am playing some catch up.</p>
<p>Would you also recommend trying to take real analysis?</p>
<p>Some colleges call undergraduate real analysis “Advanced Calculus” and reserve the term “Real Analysis” for the graduate-level version. If that’s what your school does, your advanced calculus course should be sufficient.</p>
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Why’s that? I recall those two classes being independent at the undergraduate level.</p>
<p>b@r!um:
Thanks for pointing that out! I called the mathematics department at my university and Advanced Calculus is the equivalent of an undergraduate Real Analysis course.
Awesome!</p>
<p>ClassicRockerDad:
Thanks for the link.
Based on the desired math courses listed by Penn and some other research I’m going to add a graduate probability theory class.</p>