<p>Hi all,
I am currently a sophomore at a state university and will transfer to another top 50 state university and major in math & econ with minor in statistics. I will finish 170+ semester credits in 3 years and I have several B's in non-major classes. Will these grades kill my chance of getting into a top program? I currently have 3.7 GPA and I will try to keep straight As in the coming semesters. I want attend a top 20 program in economics or business/financial economics. I wonder how my undergraduate school will matter when I am applying to graduate schools comparing to top 30 colleges. Will I be in disadvantage? I will begin to take some graduate econ & math courses(in math & econ) when my junior year begins and start to do research. I am also an international student so I am preparing for the GRE & TOEFL tests as well. Will a CFA certificate be useful when I am applying? Is it really hard for a state school undergraduate to enter a top 20 program directly from undergraduate? If I take GRE MATH subject test, will it be helpful? How important is a high GPA, I cannot get 4.0 though since I transferred after this quarter? I really want to go to a good program and I will do my best to improve my possibility.Could I have some suggestions from you? How much research experience do I need to have as well as other activities? Are Bs terrible in the first 4 quarters?
Thank for your patience and responses.</p>