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TheFez

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Everything posted by TheFez

  1. You are in the wrong place... this is a forum for grad school topics. Do a search in JSTOR.
  2. Yup - Northwestern is not going to like 165Q with a 3.24 GPA unless other aspects of your application are really strong (LORs, research, SOP).
  3. With so many other ways to approach the topic - I would not describe a mental health issue in applying to a grad program. There is no upside.
  4. Letters from employers are a bad idea. The problem is that your son is what he is - somebody who did not lay the right groundwork for grad school and is less desirable from that aspect than other candidates. That's what the process is designed to find out - who can get quality letters from 3 academics attesting to more than their coursework. LORs are not the only measure of a candidate, but the inability to get them is a signal that adcoms are looking for to help decide things that a transcript and GRE scores won't tell them. Inaction has consequences. Hopefully if your son is committed and motivated he can overcome the obstacle with a strong SOP, good grades, strong GRE, a writing sample, etc. The idea of taking a few classes for one semester to establish some bonds with faculty is not a bad idea.
  5. Seems to me what's stressing you out is your GPA dropping. That's a bad reason. You don't need a 3.94 GPA and maybe you are realizing that graduate work will be harder and an awakening as your coordinator points out. It's not that you are a perfectionist - it's that you are not perfect, and the harder courses get the less perfect you are likely to be. Welcome to the big league.
  6. 1. If you want to go into academia then you must have a PhD 2. If you don't then it's probably not useful. 3. You should have a very strong desire to do research and to be an academic. At many schools that means also teaching. That's it.
  7. One week nearly done --- and I am exhausted! The PhD program is so much different from anything I have ever experienced as a student. Here's a few observations: 1. There's a huge amount of reading. I mean huge. Many difficult journal articles. I am in a quantitative type field (Econ) - so I never payed much attention to my reading speed (I got a 165V GRE) - but man could I use some speed reading training. 2. They treat us like "colleagues". There's a new level of respect for PhD students that is so pleasant. I got an MA, and felt like I was given more regard - but this is way different. The dialog is more frank, and consultative. They keep telling us not to sweat the small stuff. That what we do is our own decision - they are just their to support and guide us. Many of my courses (4 of them) don't have exams... seminars, papers. 3. I had to start teaching right away. Not thrilled about that. It takes time away from reading and thinking about research. 4. There's a lot of heterogeneity among my cohort. Some get it - some seem 1/2 under water in a week. 5. I like having office. Not crazy about having to share it with another PhD student - but we get along (except he like to close the door and it gets too damned hot). 6. Doing well seems to be a good bit about time management. The profs seem to want to overload you by design. Problem sets, readings, papers, teaching... they expect you in the office from sun up to sun down. 7. I bought two things that were really smart: A great desk chair (the first years get the worst hand-me downs imaginable). And my own laser printer (heavy duty, duplex type unit). Most everybody prints over the network to a central printer. Today it was broken --- I was printing happily away. Sweet. 8. They want us thinking about research right away... not sure yet how to fit that into the mix. That's my first week.
  8. "Because I am to smart to work...." That's to too funny.
  9. Yes, according to ETS 154V = old 520 = 61 percentile, and 154Q = old 690 = 60 percentile. If you have your heart set on UPenn I think you will sleep better if you retake the exam.
  10. Agreed. Get done early to avoid unforeseen disasters.
  11. Maybe I missed something... How bad were your GRE scores? Aside from the AWA which doesn't get nearly the same weight as the Quant and Verbal scores. If you have marginal scores -- why not retake the test. Now that ETS has their ScoreSelect program there's almost no downside to retaking the exam except the fee.
  12. Posts like this always leave me scratching my head. If you are applying for a PhD in CS at a top school like Harvard or MIT don't you already sort of know the answer...? Of course you run a risk of losing a Top 14 slot since the competition changes, funding changes, the decision makers change. There's also an odd lack of weigh to the original post. I agree that finding a mistake in a problem (perhaps one of zillions who found that same error) doesn't belong in the same zip code as having published in several fields... assuming this is in legit journals and you made a significant contribution to the papers. Talking about writing ACT math problems and teaching SAT students only calls into question why you only got a 160Q on the GRE -- so better to avoid that IMO.
  13. I think it poses more downside problems than upside. Funny though 1Q84, this is one of the few posts of yours I have read - the other being about school choice and relocating where you mentioned locating close to your "partner". This seemed to signal your possible sexual preference to me when I read it. So it's funny how even without explicit statements, ad comms may infer your status from other clues in how we write. (Perhaps wrongly).
  14. The ad comms will pay attention to your entire record which includes: 1. All your coursework. With an emphasis on the tough subjects and all of your math courses. An econ PhD is very quantitative. 2. Your GRE score - in particular your Quant score. On the old scale above a 750 is typical of students entering an econ PhD (90th percentile) and it's not uncommon for people to have 780-800 scores in T10 programs. 3. Your 3 letters of recommendation that attest to your ability to succeed in a tough PhD program, and to do independent work. 4. Your SOP. Which needs to really make your case about why a PhD in econ, and the details of why that program, your research interests, etc. To get into a top program (i.e. Princeton) you need to be top-rate in almost all of these areas. Sure you can have a "B" in a class. But you need to be an "A" math student with the minimum courses I described above (note: it's not numerical analysis but Real analysis - which is a tough, proof-based course). My candid assessment is that you need to also apply to some lower ranked programs as Stanford and Princeton are a dice roll even for top candidates. With a record of withdrawals, summer courses, community college, "B"s in math...and unless you have done some great research, etc. with a 3.6 GPA, you will likely get many rejections. So cast a wider net.
  15. I agree - pick up the phone and call her.
  16. Not a good thing. What is your GPA? ow did you do in all your other math classes? What is your Math GRE score? No one will really care about the reasons. The many "W"'s signal a potentially low grade you bailed out of.
  17. Most PhD programs in econ want to see good grades in regular coursework in: 3 semesters of calculus (through multivariate), linear algebra, stats, and real analysis (a big plus). Dif eqs. is a bonus. Non-traditional econ programs (such as AG-econ, AED-econ, environmental econ) sometimes have more relaxed math requirements. How is your Math GRE score?
  18. PhD programs in econ will want the following: 3 semesters of calculus, 1 semester linear algebra, 1 semester real analysis (big plus), 1 semester diff eqs. is nice but not essential., some stats courses - one or two. A math for econ course will not get the same acceptance as the above courses from a math department. In addition a good math GRE score (>160)
  19. I think a letter from a co-worker would have very little value and might just cause more problems than it solves. My opinion. The 3-letter standard is not a fluke - it is designed to separate those who have a record of doing research, and independent work from those who just go through the paces, attending class and even getting good grades - but without distinguishing themselves. LORs from academics adhere to a unwritten policy of candor, and expressing opinion on your ability to succeed in a graduate program (not just on your abilities).
  20. So - a PhD in economics requires a very strong mathematical background. Not necessarily a strong economics background (though it doesn't hurt). You will need to be in the 90th percentile in the GRE quant exam for top programs, and have done well in 3 semesters of calc, linear algebra, and real analysis. Most good masters programs require at least a 3.0 GPA and some a good deal more. But a PhD program would want to see a 3.5 GPA minimum and many applicants have done graduate work as well. Of course there is a wide range of programs so there are exceptions to all of this.
  21. ? Phoenix - Weirdwitch has an 83 percentile score? And 50th percentile would never get you into a competitive econ program. 33rd percentile is lower - not higher... I think you are doing your percentiles backwards. Still --- 83rd percentile is not enough to counteract "decent" grades. I say find the time to study and take it again.
  22. Your chances are 65.3% Seriously... how can we answer that with the scant info you have provided. I suggest you go to URCH (Test Magic's) econ forum and post your full profile there for better evaluation. Unless you are looking for folks to comfort you because of a mediocre GRE-Q score which the Grad Cafe folks do a pretty good job at.
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