In the middle of my bachelor. What else to do?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello, guys</p>

<p>I am happy I have stumbled upon this forum and I hope I will finally find a worthy advice here. I am interested in a good Masters Degree in Economics at a good American (or British) university, hopefully Chicago, Ivy or LSE and Oxford. I am right now in the middle of my bachelor and wonder what I could do to improve my chances of being accepted to a good programm. However, my situation is a bit exotic.</p>

<ul>
<li>I am a Ukrainian, studying Econ (Econ - major, Math - minor) in Germany at one of the top universities. Right now I am in the 4th semester, so 1,5 year is left (yes, bachelor in Germany is 3 years);</li>
<li>My grades are not perfect, GPA-equivalent would be 3.0, I guess (in German system it is 2,1). I had bad luck last semester, but I expect to improve (cannot be sure though).</li>
<li>German, which is the language of tution, is my 3rd foreign language. So far I speak 5 languages;</li>
<li>In this semester I hope to become an assistant of our professor who used to teach at Oxford (and later get a recommendation from him), if not - get involved into another semi-research project;</li>
<li>I am also an international tutor at my dorm (responsible for the integration of foreigners at the dorm etc.) and plan to start a programm assissting (integrating, advising etc.) all Ukrainian students coming to my university.</li>
</ul>

<p>I don't worry much about GRE, I still have enough time to prepare, but I cannot be sure about my future grades. So, my questions:</p>

<p>1) How do american schools evaluate foreign universities? My school is considered to be top in Econ here in Germany, but I doubt it is famous in the USA.</p>

<p>2) How important is social engagement and non-academical qualifications? I have a very international background + languages + studying in a foreign language. I am pretty sure that British for example look solely at the academics. How is it in the USA?</p>

<p>3) What else could you advise me to do in order to improve my chances? Get more social engagement, more work experience (so far I have none), focus on grades? Here I cannot get deeper in research than being an assisstant of a professor, unless I start one independently, but it is not feasible. I thought of taking part in some kind of an intl. student competition (essay or smth. like that). Anyone knows smth. like that?</p>

<p>Your input will be very helpful. Thank You!</p>

2

<p>Do you need financial aid?</p>

3

<p>Well, I can provide for myself via savings, external scholarships, perhaps a loan, if necessary, but it will be very tight for me then, so aid is welcomed. However, if I work for a year or so after graduating I will be able to pay for myself. From what I have heard, work experience and ability to pay is also quite a plus, right?</p>

4

<p>Yes, since it’s really competitive to receive funding for a master degree. You probably need to prepare about at lease 80000 dollars for a one year master at a US university if you wish to pay yourself.</p>

5

<p>Well, that’s a bit above what I have expected, but at least there are A LOT more external scholarships available to intl. students for master programs, than for bachelors.</p>

<p>So, how is it with chances and further activites? Any ideas?</p>

6

<p>$80,000 for a 1 yr masters? I do not believe this to be correct. Much less than this.</p>

<p><a href=“http://advanced.jhu.edu/academic/applied-economics/requirements/[/url]”>http://advanced.jhu.edu/academic/applied-economics/requirements/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>this is example of johns hopkin’s economics program. 10 courses at $2800 per course for a masters degree. Books and living expenses extra.</p>

7

<p>well, I’ve checked several master programs and all of them have tuition fee equal to or more than my private college’s one. I would assume then, if you append living cost on top of it, it would be around 50000 to 80000 dollars.</p>

8

<p>[Duke</a> Graduate School: International Student Costs](<a href=“http://gradschool.duke.edu/financial_support/coa/International%20Student%20Costs.php]Duke”>http://gradschool.duke.edu/financial_support/coa/International%20Student%20Costs.php)</p>

<p>heres Duke for international students. Cost of living is high by my estimates.</p>

<p>Tuition $43,000</p>

<p>I chose expensive private schools on purpose. You can get a masters for much cheaper at less well known schools.</p>

9

<p>In the US social and work experience don’t matter for grad school unless it pertains to your area of study. Research can be very important, but less so for master’s than PhD. It is academics, your letters of reccomendation, GRE, personal statement, not necessarily in that order. TA is always good.</p>

<p>My daughter’s friend studied Econ in the US and is at INSEAD now. I believe this is taught in English. She was able to visit Ukraine one summer and enjoyed it.</p>

10

<p>One more question:</p>

<p>Pretty much a lot of undergrads get involved in some kind of research or even have publications. Could anyone explain me the process of getting published? The best research opportunity for undergrads in Germany is to become a TA (Hiwi in German), but obviously it won’t get me published. Is it possible to start research on my own? Are there any international programs that facilitate undergrad research?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>