<p>The Vandy MA is geared towards those wanting a position at an NGO, government or financial institution. You have the option to go for the Ph.D, but many chose to just sign up with one of three mentioned.</p>
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What is the purpose for getting the MA in Economics, job, Ph.D. program, self-edification...?
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<p>Job. Don’t have enough funds for a top tier MBA and don't have the time commitment for a PhD. A terminal master degree like ones offered at Vandy, JHU or Duke would serve me best. I want one that's geared towards placing people in financial institutions or government.</p>
<p>I am currently a Rice undergraduate and I would highly recomend it. Overall Vanderbilt and Rice are at the same academic level. I think Rice is 17 in the nation and Vanderbilt is 18. It all depends on what you want in your social life. Vanderbilt has a very strong Greek system (the main reason I chose Rice over them) which is very intimidating to some. Rice however, has an amazing college system which makes social life here really easy to get into. </p>
<p>Also the Rice ECON program is AMAZING. I know a ton of friends who are in it currently.</p>
<p>Ruben: It would be helpful to know more of your background, such as undergrad. school, what type of job and where you would like to live and work after school. On the basis of your posts thus far, you need to decide based on the particular program and degree as both schools are outstanding.</p>
<p>Major: International Relations. Medium range GPA.</p>
<p>Type of job: want to get into either investment banking, management consulting, work for World Bank/IMF or related groups. For Profit Development Consulting firms like Chemonics or Developement Alternatives would likewise be fitting. </p>
<p>I want a rather quick program that offer an MA or MS in Econ. The degree should be geared towards the practical rather than the academic. So far I have found programs at Duke, JHU, Vanderbilt and Rice (Masters awarded without disertation).<br>
But I am deciding on either going back to Houston (hometown) or trying out Vandy's program.</p>
<p>It seems as if Columbia or NYU would really help with respect to your career goals, even if done part-time while working at a paid internship. Rice is better in some departments than even the Ivies, but I an not familiar regarding economics as Rice is often thought of as more of a science school. Vanderbilt is also great. University of Chicago, NYU or Columbia would, in my opinion, be better for your fields. I'm sorry as I realize that my response does not properly address your query.</p>
<p>Hold on, you were an international relations major and Vanderbilt are letting you into their MA econ program? Do you have any background in linear algebra, differential equations, advanced econometrics or advanced stats? Or is this a masters in econ that somehow doesn't require any real background in the field...? That actually seems pretty dodgy, since it would be a quick indicator of the level of the econ courses being offered to students who are supposed to be doing grad level economics.</p>
<p>I believe all that they require is entry level calculus, macro, micro and international economics. I already have all that under my belt. I'm minoring in Econ.
Besides Rice doesnt require you to an Econ undergrad either.</p>
<p>Okay, I suppose that's the difference between American masters in econ programs and those of Canada/Europe. So it really wouldn't be a good idea for an econ major to do a masters of economics in the US since that year would basically be review of stuff already covered in undergrad... (?)</p>
<p>maybe some of the core classes I believe. But when you have your electives to cover it goes into a more practical stage. The MA is not academic focused. It's more of an applied Econ degree. The concentrations are international development, finance and banking and public finance. Grads usually go straight into financial instutions in both the private and public sector.</p>