<p>Hey Guys!</p>
<p>I am very interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Economics upon completion of my undergraduate degree, but I need some guidance and some advice!</p>
<p>I have supplemented my core economics courses (you know, the standard Principles and Intermediates of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, Econometrics, etc.) with several economics electives such as International Economics, International Political Economy, Applied Microeconomics in Social Ventures (an honors workshop) and finance courses such a Investment Analysis and Financial Management (even though I am more interested in natural resource economics). </p>
<p>In terms of mathematics, I have taken Calculus I, II, and III, as well as Statistics and Linear Algebra.</p>
<p>I plan on graduating with a 3.6 (4 scale, no grade inflation in a respected program), and have yet to take the GRE, although I usually do relatively well on generalized tests. I have internship experience at an accounting firm and a wealth management firm, although I plan on volunteering at a coastal or ocean related non-profit because I am interested in studying either coastal, oceanic, or natural resource economics in graduate school. </p>
<p>My favorite schools are Oregon State, Penn State, and Washington State because of their natural resource programs. I'm wondering where I stand, if there are any other programs I should be aware of, or just anything that could provide me with some extra insight. I appreciate any and all advice.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I cannot comment intelligently about specific grad programs, bit if you are serious about grad school, skip the internships, get some research experience, and start steering towards a focus for your research in grad school. Remember that the first stage of grad admission focuses on GRE and overall GPA, but the second stage focuses on research experience and preparation in your prospective research area (completion of and grades in specific courses). You are gaining breadth and work experience, you need depth and research experience.</p>
<p>^I agree to a point, but I think that depends on the focus of the program. Nevertheless, I do think this is true of several of the programs in which you are interested. Penn State’s MS in agricultural, regional, and environmental economics (which I am assuming is your interest) is a research-focused MS program (and they explicitly state this on the website), so research experience would be more important to them than internships.</p>
<p>Oregon State’s appears to be a more middle-of-the-road program (“The Applied Economics Master’s degree trains students in the first-graduate-degree skills leading to success in analytical, policy, or management careers – or as preparation for further graduate education…Focus is on applied economic, policy, and quantitative analysis of natural resources and the environment, sustainable development, markets, and related areas.”).</p>
<p>Washington State’s appears to be a more professionally-oriented one (“Students can earn an M.S. in Applied Economics to specifically prepare for positions in private corporations and government service as management specialists, policy analysts, forecasters or economic consultants. Two options are offered in the degree–thesis and non-thesis.”)</p>
<p>So to that end, I wouldn’t completely skip the internships, but I would make sure that you are doing some kind of analysis work at them AND I would also add research experiences during your term-time. See if you can assist an economics professor with some of his or her research to get some experience in that area, and perhaps investigate the possibility of an independent study or a senior honors thesis. Especially at Penn State it looks like it will be important, but research experience is usually valued even at more professional programs because of the skills you develop.</p>
<p>As for other programs - one of my friends just completed his PhD in Purdue’s agricultural economics program. I just checked and they also have an MA program: <a href=“Agricultural Economics”>Agricultural Economics. You might also be interested in Duke’s program in coastal environmental management: <a href=“http://nicholas.duke.edu/programs/coastal-environmental-management”>http://nicholas.duke.edu/programs/coastal-environmental-management</a>. There’s also the MS in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at the University of Rhode Island and the MS in Resource Economics and Policy at the University of Maine - both in coastal states.</p>
<p>I’m also going to apply to U of Rhode Island and U of Alaska-Fairbanks. Any thoughts on where I stand in terms of acceptance? </p>