<p>Hi, I am currently attending University of Illinois and ending th first semester of myjunior year. I don’t have so stellar GPA due to a personal hardships I went through the last two years. However, I really turned around during the summer and have a new goal in my life-being an economist. I am ready to dedicate myself to this goal.</p>
<pre><code> Sadly,I got really bad grade in my Calc 2 and other math classes, and my GPA is 3.38. I am not horrible at math but it’s relatively tougher for me than a rhetorical subject. However, I am determined to make it. (At least I am getting all As for this semester for a starter.)
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<p>Basically I have 2 questions</p>
<li><p>I know I am a bad position now. With this kind of GPA, what kind of expectation should I have? what is possible at this point?</p></li>
<li><p>For a more short-term goal, what should I take for my next semster.
Now, I am currently registering or my next semester. Wondering what kind of things I should take. I am thinking about taking :</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Math: Calculus 3
Fundamentals of mathematics
Econ: International economics
Political Science: Governing globalization</p>
<p>I think this is pretty close to my limit of taking math class, would it be better to I push myself and take one more math class or take a “safe” class ensuring higher GPA?</p>
<p>I'd say you should go for it. You definitely have a shot. A 3.38 isn't a horrible GPA, and GPAs vary a lot from school to school (a 3.5 at Harvard is a lot easier to get than a 3.5 at Princeton, for example... haha I kid). Not everyone does well in calc the first time around.</p>
<p>And I can't for the life of me think why any econ major would have to take real analysis.</p>
<p>It is Real number systems, basic topology, numerical sequences and series, continuity, differentiation, riemann-stieltjes integrals, sequences and series, and maybe more. All proofs. That is what I did anyways.</p>
<p>Nowhere is it written that you have to finish this pre-grad school program in only four years. There are plenty of us out here who changed fields (sometimes more than once) AFTER finishing our undergraduate degree, and others who switched majors or became focused mid-way through the undergraduate program. </p>
<p>You need to look at the specific requirements for admission to the graduate programs that you are interested in. Then, you need to look at your coursework so far, and at what is offered at your university. When you know which classes do you need to take, and the kind of GPA those graduate programs are looking for, you can compare this list to what you need in order to graduate from your current university and draw up your plan of studies for the next two years or so. </p>
<p>Math is not impossible to learn, you just have to be willing to do every single problem in the book, and you have to be willing to take all of your questions to the instructor/T.A. If you find that you will need more math than you honestly feel you can do well in each semester, then plan an extra semester or summer session into your program. Sometimes slow and steady really is the way to win the race.</p>
<p>Nowhere is it written that you have to finish this pre-grad school program in only four years. There are plenty of us out here who changed fields (sometimes more than once) AFTER finishing our undergraduate degree, and others who switched majors or became focused mid-way through the undergraduate program. </p>
<p>You need to look at the specific requirements for admission to the graduate programs that you are interested in. Then, you need to look at your coursework so far, and at what is offered at your university. When you know which classes do you need to take, and the kind of GPA those graduate programs are looking for, you can compare this list to what you need in order to graduate from your current university and draw up your plan of studies for the next two years or so. </p>
<p>Math is not impossible to learn, you just have to be willing to do every single problem in the book, and you have to be willing to take all of your questions to the instructor/T.A. If you find that you will need more math than you honestly feel you can do well in each semester, then plan an extra semester or summer session into your program. Sometimes slow and steady really is the way to win the race.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, in your statements of purpose, put a little comment in there about why your GPA is where it is as long as you have a truly legitimate reason. That is the advice I got from several Professors here (also the University of Illinois) when I started applying. My GPA took a hit when I got really sick during finals, so I mentioned that. Don't make it the focal point of your essays, but there is no reason not to mention it.</p>
<p>Boneh3ad's advice is true. Also, if there is a legitimate reason, sometimes you can ask your professors to address it for you in their letters of recommendation. It sounds less..."whiny" this way, although there's certainly a way to do it so that it sounds better.</p>
<p>I had a 3.4 when I applied and I got into all of my programs, including the Ph.D program I'm currently at. I didn't mention it in my SOP, I just let it stand in comparison to the rest of my achievements.</p>
<p>When you say you have a 'new goal,' how new is this goal? You do need to be relatively strong in math to become an economist -- not that anyone who math was not their best subject never got into grad school for economics. To answer your question, a lot is possible depending on the rest of your application. Do you think you can get high GRE scores (especially high quantitative scores, but in a field like economics both would be important? I'm talking 1200-1300+). Do you have any research experience in economics, and if you don't, how are you working on getting some in the time you have left before grad school application season comes around? Do you have three to four people who can write you strong recommendations (and ideally one a math professor who can attest to your dedication)?</p>
<p>Also, as one other poster said, you don't necessarily need to do everything in fast-forward. You can take an extra semester or year to complete your degree (and take more math courses, if you like and need that time); you can also finish your degree and take some time off before graduate school, perhaps working in a business environment or even at a university where you can take some graduate-level economics courses. You should also apply to MA programs and not just Ph.D programs -- they are less competitive and can be a stepping-stone to a great Ph.D program.</p>
<p>You're absolutely certain you want to be an economist? Is this because you are truly fascinated with economic theories and want to devote your life to research, or because you're interested in finance? I know a lot of kids at my school who say they want to study economics, when what they really mean is they want to go into business management, stocks, venture capital, banking etc. You might do better with an MBA or finance masters--just something to consider.</p>
<p>With regards to your actual question, though: don't sweat too much yet. You've got a whole year and a half to get it up, and to beef up your credentials with research or part-time work.</p>