UK student applying for US economics phds - how to navigate the admissions process?

[30milestolegoland]

Hi all!

I've been doing loads of research on this but still have a lot of questions! A bit of background: I studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford and got a 1st (top 15 of a class of 240). I am now qualifying to be a lawyer (and got an MSc in law en route). I now realise that econ is what I really want to do, so I wanted to brexit to the land of the free to get my doctorate. Top 5/top 10 is my aim.

Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of the admissions criteria really translate that well. So for instance, the programmes mostly ask for courses in linear algebra and real analysis. I covered a lot of these topic both at A-level (which you do at the end of high school) and within the individual economics courses, which are very mathematically focussed (I took int. micro, int. macro, econometrics, game theory).

So, assuming I get good grades on the GRE, what do you guys reckon my chances are/how could I maybe improve them?

To complicate matters, I'm 4 years out of Uni now. I had a few economics tutors who I will be reaching out to for letters of recommendation, but I don't think I'll be able to get three fawning this-guy-is-the-greatest letters. To what extent will this put me at a disadvantage?

The other thing is that at Oxford you don't really get the chance to RA or do any sort of proper research at undergrad level. I did do a small 3000 word research project to 'upgrade' my law school professional qualification to an MSc. Would you therefore recommend that I get two recommendations from economics tutors and one from the law school? Or do they really only care about econ?

Thanks!

[Admissions Advice Online]

To be competitive at the PhD level in the United States, an applicant needs to display strong quantitative skills. A-Level records will not replace a strong post-secondary record. You must score at least a 160+ on the quant section of the GRE. You may find it beneficial to take a few math courses at a local university if you can. Lastly, ensure that your SOP displays your quant ability. Econ, government and law usually go hand-in-hand, you should be able to find common connections to write about. - www.selectiveadmissions.com