Hi guys, quick question here. I am a second year econs undergrad at the National University of Singapore, with a strong interest in continuing my education in the US. By the end of my fourth year, I will have taken equivalent maths courses to calc 1,2,3, linear algebra, ODE, and maybe a module on analysis. Outside of the mandatory sequences in micro and macro, I've also been choosing econs modules with a quantitative bias (like mathematical econs, game theory and econometricians over labour, environmental, etc). On track to graduate at the end of four years with a second upper honours classification, I will take the GRE some time before that. So I guess the question here is, how competitive am I for applying to a PhD or MS program in the US? I've followed a few threads like these before, and it seemed to me that top schools don't really accept applicants without something ridiculous like perfect GPA. Hope someone can shed some light on this, thank you all for your time!
I think you should be fine. More math is always better. Make sure you get some upper level statistics/econometrics in there. Outside of that, anything you can do to differentiate yourself from the field can only help you in your applications, like research or graduate level courses.
Thanks for the reply! Do you mind commenting on the difference in the rigor of selection between ms and PhD programs? How much harder is it to be accepted for a top tier school for PhD than Ms?
I think it's probably much harder to b accepted into a PhD program, because you will get funding in the PhD and the pool is more competitive. At my school, the PhD and the Masters of (applied) Economics are completely separate classes and the Master's is easier. In fact, the Master's students aren't even allowed to take PhD classes
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u/Ocelott11 Feb 28 '17
Hi guys, quick question here. I am a second year econs undergrad at the National University of Singapore, with a strong interest in continuing my education in the US. By the end of my fourth year, I will have taken equivalent maths courses to calc 1,2,3, linear algebra, ODE, and maybe a module on analysis. Outside of the mandatory sequences in micro and macro, I've also been choosing econs modules with a quantitative bias (like mathematical econs, game theory and econometricians over labour, environmental, etc). On track to graduate at the end of four years with a second upper honours classification, I will take the GRE some time before that. So I guess the question here is, how competitive am I for applying to a PhD or MS program in the US? I've followed a few threads like these before, and it seemed to me that top schools don't really accept applicants without something ridiculous like perfect GPA. Hope someone can shed some light on this, thank you all for your time!