Getting Into A Good Economics Phd Program

Graduate School
1

<p>This is my situation:</p>

<p>I currently am a undergrad at the University of Illinois at Chicago, beginning my senior year... roughly 3 semesters remaining.</p>

<p>I want to get into NYU, Northwestern, or Berkeley.</p>

<p>I'm part of the College of Business Admin. seeking a BS in Economics. I know getting into a graduate program for a PhD in Economics is tough & demanding! I'm trying to prepare myself over the next 3 semesters as best I can. Mathematics is obviously something I must strengthen but my projected completion of classes/majors/minors are as followed:</p>

<p>BS Economics
Minor Mathematics
Minor International Business</p>

<p>ECON CLASSES:
Micro & Macro Introductory courses (100 Level)
Micro Theory & Application (200)
Macro World Economy Application (200)
Econometrics (300)
International Economics (300)
Economics & Law (300)
Economic Development (300)</p>

<p>To come over the next 3 terms:
Monetary Theory (300)
Mathematical Microeconomics (300)
Econ Elective - Suggestions?
Econ Elective - Suggestions?</p>

<p>MATHEMATICS:</p>

<p>College Algebra (100 Level)
Finite Math for Business (100)
Business Calculus (100)
Calculus I (100)
Calculus II (100)
Calculus III (200)
Differential Equations (200)
Intro. Linear Algebra (300)
Advanced Mathematics (200)
Intro. Statistics (200)
Elective - Suggestions?</p>

<p>Okay I know the course information is probably a bit overwhelming. I have a few Econ electives to take and one remaining math elective. Any suggestions on something that schools admire over other Econ/Math classes? More Micro? Macro? Analysis? Topography? ??? </p>

<p>My current GPA 3.5
Hopefully by the end of 3-4 more graded terms I'll bring it up to 3.7+</p>

<p>Acceptance into the UIC Honors College for Spring & Fall 2009.</p>

<p>Have been on the Dean's list varies semesters...</p>

<p>I will be tutoring in the College of Business under two different Math classes starting in the spring, it's a paid (very min.) position but I will help fellow students on Finite Math & Bus. Calculus.</p>

<p>I am trying to get an internship for next summer with the Securities & Exchange Commission located in Chicago... any other suggestions on interns that would look appealing?</p>

<p>Also, I'm trying to get an Independent Study next term to focus more closely on development & trade... so there will be my research with a faculty member... at least I hope.</p>

<p>I know many of these ideas are plans but the course work is set in stone, the internship has a good chance, the tutoring is also a go, I'm just waiting on the independent study/research opp. for next term..... So what ELSE?? </p>

<p>Like I said NYU, Northwestern, Berkeley. </p>

<p>I originally started in fine arts at the Academy of Design here in Chicago for roughly 2 years so I don't come from a solid 4 year Business/Economic background. I spent those 2 years completing Gen. Eds. and finer art courses and leaving with a strong 3.5 GPA. I don't know if this will hurt my chances at the good PhD programs or increase them, seeing as I have experience else where and can be both creative and logical at the same time. What do you think?</p>

<p>Most of my Econ and Math classes are A's and B's... mostly A's.</p>

<p>Help Help Help Insight Insight Insight </p>

<p>Please?
:) Thanks guys</p>

2

<p>Did you ask your advisors about potential economics grad schools? They should give you a realistic list of schools probably more so than what posters here can offer. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the three schools you have listed are incredibly competitive for economics. There are people with close to 4.0s at top undergrads with near perfect GREs dying to get into berkeley every year. Your profile isn't bad. Just expand on your list of schools.</p>

3

<p>I am definitely going to cast a larger net, I don't have that bad of tunnel vision. What I was really interested in knowing is what else can I do? I've heard of students leaving Univ. of Ill. Chicago to UChicago & Northwestern. I know they are rather outstanding but I'm wondering if location has something to do with it, since were all within the city. </p>

<p>Any way, I am probably being hopeful but I'm going to continue that thought and do my best.
Thanks</p>

4

<p>If you get the chance, peruse the job market profiles of some of the grad students at these schools. Here is UChicago's for instance: University</a> of Chicago: Department of Economics</p>

<p>Look through the domestic grad student profiles for a clearer picture as the international student admissions are far more competitive.</p>

5

<p>i heard a real analysis course is useful for phd candidates</p>

6

<p>You have a very slim chance based upon your current academic record. Real Analysis is a necessity for top Econ phd programs. You also should take complex analysis, functional analysis, ODE's, and PDE's. If you want to focus on micro theory, you need yet even more math. To have a realistic shot at those schools, first you will probably have to get a terminal Masters degree in Economics. Do well in the program and take as much math as you can. Then you would have a chance.</p>

7

<p>are admissions really that difficult? i know that in the sciences, specifically physics, if you have anything above a 3.0 from a top program and have a lot of research experience (and recs) then you're definitely going to get in to top programs. i'm assuming econ isn't much different, but correct me if i'm wrong.</p>

<p>also, what kind of research experience is necessary for admission? i, as a math major, have had a lot of experience in programming and computational science but it has all been applied to biological problems. my advisors are physicists/applied mathematicians -- would such research experience be satisfactory or does it need to be specifically economic research?</p>

8

<p>MolSysBio: depends how on how theoretical it is...for math / theoretical physics, I heard below 3.7 its out of the game for top programs.</p>

<p>I'd be interested to know the answer for your question on how specific the research needs to be.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
if you have anything above a 3.0 from a top program and have a lot of research experience (and recs) then you're definitely going to get in to top programs.

[/quote]

Where did you hear that? I'd be surprised if that were true.
I know a brilliant guy with a 4.0 from MIT (they call it a 5.0 actually) who didn't get in everywhere he wanted.</p>

10

<p>^^</p>

<p>well basically everyone from my program. i know people with 3.1 - 3.4 who got into princeton and mit. i'm also referring to theoretical condensed matter, mainly. they all had great research exp. and great recs from well connected PI's, so that might be it.</p>

<p>i think the difficulty of getting into a phd program is a little overstated.</p>

11

<p>I have to echo the sentiments of the previous posters. Physics PhD admissions is pretty damn hard. If you look at Peterson's guide, the acceptance rates are usually around 12% to single digits for the top programs. I personally also know more than a few friends who made it into stanford, mit, and harvard physics this past year along with others who were rejected at the top programs. The ones that got in were closer to 3.7 rather than 3.0. These were undergrads at princeton, and columbia, among others. The same can be said for some engineering programs depending on the school. PhD admission for structural engineering at cornell for instance is under 5% in a given year.</p>

<p>Edit: My friends also referred me to this site as evidence:</p>

<p>Profile of harvard physics admissions:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/107.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/107.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"A high undergraduate GPA is expected but no rigid minimum is specified".</p>

<p>Berkeley:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/270.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/270.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Stanford:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/301.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/301.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>MIT:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/122.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aip.org/gpb/pdf_files/122.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

12

<p>however, like i said, it all depends on how well connected you are. if you have great research experience with possibly a publication and if you're working with a professor/PI who has a good publication record and is notable in his field then you're probably going to get a great recommendation. obviously this is provided that your research experience with him has went well. gpa is only one part of your application and research trumps all. i'm assuming this is the same for econ phds.</p>

13

<p>Northwestern econ website says their program receives approximately 600 applications and admits about 18 to 25 applicants each year. The admit rate is 3-4%!</p>

14

<p>Not to be argumentative, but in Econ admissions research does not usually trump all (although having experience in research is good). The most important part of an Econ PhD. admission file is how well you have done in advanced mathematics courses, and your LORs.
They don't care about internships (for the most part).
This is a great website to give you more info, [url=<a href="http://econphd.net%5Deconphd.net%5B/url"&gt;http://econphd.net]econphd.net[/url&lt;/a&gt;].&lt;/p>

15

<p>well, i guess it's not like a science phd. doesn't really make too much sense to me, though...</p>

16

<p>I don't think it matters one way or another. When the admit rate is only 3-4%, the lucky few are gonna have high GPA, good research experience, and advanced academic training. It's not like we don't have plenty of those that are pretty good in all three. I think Chicago/Northwestern are definitely reaches. My guess is NYU may be easier but only slightly.</p>

17

<p>Research experience is something I definitely am trying to get under my belt. I just got the information on Independent Study for next term... meaning I'll receive 3 hrs for doing research with a faculty member under an area of specialization... EXCITED!</p>

<p>As for the advanced Mathematics.... does anyone have suggestions? I've completed the Calculus series, and Differential Equations.... any other suggestions? Is Analysis that prided as people say? Also, what type of GRE scores should I be shooting for? I'm sure the quantitative section is valued more than other sections...</p>

<p>Last but not least!</p>

<p>What programs of specialization are these schools known for in Economics?</p>

<p>Berkeley
NYU
Northwestern
Chicago</p>

18

<p>[url=<a href="http://www.econphd.net/rankings.htm%5DRankings%5B/url"&gt;http://www.econphd.net/rankings.htm]Rankings[/url&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/p>

19

<p>Thanks! Forgot all about this section of their site.</p>

20

<p>What are the non-academic job prospects for good economics PhDs ?</p>