<p>...to get into top grad schools?
I intend to study Economics and was wondering what the criteria for admissions are. Is it similiar to undergrad admissions?
In addition to grades and scores, what else is looked at?</p>
<p>For instance, any specific kind of courses that I should take? I know that I need to take lots of math classes, for one.</p>
<p>What kind of work experience/research is considered good?</p>
<p>Anything else I'm missing out on?</p>
<p>This is something to discuss with your faculty advisor and other faculty members in the economics department.</p>
<p>The undergraduate economics major often does not include enough math to prepare students for graduate school in economics. Those students who want to go on to graduate school (and this is usually only a small proportion of the total group of economics majors) need to plan a program that includes more math than a typical economics major would take. </p>
<p>Some people who go to graduate school in economics actually major in math rather than economics as undergraduates. They take a few economics courses as electives, but not as many as an economics major would take. This is a possibility that you might want to consider as well.</p>
<p>Research experience is always a good idea for an undergraduate who is thinking about a Ph.D. program. It gives you a taste of what graduate school and a research career would be like.</p>
<p>So is it a better idea to major in math?
I’m definitely planning to take more than the required math classes (say 1 class in each semestor minimum), but I don’t really want to major in math.
MAybe minor in math?</p>
<p>As Marian wrote, the best people to help you with this are the professors in your department and your major advisor. They know which graduate programs applicants from your college/university have been admitted to in recent years, and the academic profiles of those individuals. They also have professional contacts in departments at other institutions which means that they are familiar with the kinds of profiles successful applicants to those institutions are likely to have. If you already have one or two target graduate programs, you can read through any specific admissions requirements that they post on their websites.</p>
<p>Statistics classes will be helpful. Also, there is a lot that is done with computer modeling.</p>
<p>This material from the University of Chicago course catalog may be helpful. First, here’s what the Economics Department says:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The translation is that, at a minimum, you ought to take Linear Algebra, Analysis, and Differential Equations, as well as higher-level statistics and probably some computer science.</p>
<p>Then this is the Math Department section, which includes the requirements of the Mathematics Major With Specialization In Economics referred to above:</p>
<p><a href=“http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf/MATH.pdf[/url]”>http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf/MATH.pdf</a></p>
<p>Basically, as far as I understand it, if a student knows he or she wants to get a PhD in Economics, the student is advised to take the Math/Specialization track, or that with a second major in Econ (which I think is do-able there, with some pain).</p>
<p>My college offers a BA in Math and Eco, and mentions its specifically for those plaing grad school for econ.
So I think that’s what I should do. Oh well.</p>
<p>Can I assume that in general the grad school admisson at top schools is “lottery” like undergrad, with far more qualified candidates than slots?</p>