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Low GPA, High GRE, Master's Econ
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 5:49 PM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin Subject: Give me some feedback! I am dealing with a low GPA. A terrible case of it.
Around 2.6. But my GRE score is pretty damn good--800 Q/540 V
And I have awesome LOR's.
I am thinking about doing master's in econ to open up some options. Do you think this is a good idea?
Also, do you have any suggestions? Which programs do you think I should look into? |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 8:44 PM Author: Sticky becky garrison Go to FSU. Land hot FSU undergrads for a year. After that, who really cares what happens? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13341756) |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 10:38 PM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin Ha, my present discount value isn't as low as it used to be. Thanks for the advice though! :) (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13342866) |
Date: November 22nd, 2009 8:54 PM Author: garnet thriller persian Exactly what will a shit MA in econ open up that a shit MBA won't? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13341831) |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 10:36 PM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin Well, I am currently studying for the actuary exams. It's in high demand, but without a decent GPA no one will look at me in this kind of market.
And while I am trying to pass some exams, if I can get into a program and establish a good academic record ... it will help me lend some interviews.
On top of that, if I stick with the exams and end up becoming a fellow some day then I could go back and get my MBA to move up in management. And having established a better academic record in MA, coupled with success in actuarial exams would give a shot to overcome some of my screw ups in undergrad... thoughts? |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 11:10 PM Author: Sticky becky garrison Why do actuary firms care about your GPA if your nailing the exams? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13343263) |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 11:27 PM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin I have no clue. But the reality is that they do. Unless you have had a different experience and I have been sending my resume to wrong places ...
Oh! I almost forgot to add that I don't have any internships. Obviously considering that I have a lower GPA, it's hard to get any. So technically I am dealing with two problems: low-GPA, and no internships.
Whereas... MA can help me overcome at least one of those two problems. |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 11:32 PM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin I also wanted to add that ... if I did well at a "shitty" MA program then I have a chance to go on to a good doctorate program. And do some consulting work. This route allows me to have that choice in the future...?
Shitty MA program can help you get into a good PhD program, or good B-shool. But once you get your "shitty-MBA", you are done and will have limited your potential career growth to a certain degree. Both MBA and PhD can lead to good careers but where you get those degrees from does matter ... |
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Date: November 22nd, 2009 11:58 PM Author: garnet thriller persian Having gone both the MBA and the PhD route, the only shitty MAs I have encountered were from foreign students. Those who are from Turkey and got an MS from FSU, for example. If you're a white/Asian American with a 2.6, you probably won't get into a decent PhD man. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13343942) |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 12:25 AM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin What do you think about Johns Hopkins MA in Applied? Or one at Central Michigan U?
And maybe I won't get into good PhD, but still have a shot at a decent MBA program after? Would love to hear your opinion since you have been there, done that. |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 2:00 AM Author: Fear-inspiring theater if you do well in your MA program then I don't think a PhD is out of the question. But with that low of a GPA, I don't know how easy it'd be to get into anything but a middling MA program (and MA econ degrees in the US are all pretty middling, TBH). It might be more worthwhile to get an MS in something more applied (like financial mathematics or something) and do well at that. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13344986) |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 2:23 AM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin Another option that I have is to get a MS in Actuarial Science. This is heavy on applied math, with couple of econ classes. For example: http://www.math.ilstu.edu/actuary/grad/
But I would still love to hear your comment on those couple of specific programs that I mentioned in my other post above. There isn't any placement data available for JHU because it's a program through their extension school, but it does seem like a step up from FSU.
Central Michigan's placement doesn't look terrible either: http://eco.cba.cmich.edu/default2.asp?40%2E3
But then again, I am relatively new to researching graduate programs, and I wouldn't know as much as some of you here... |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 9:47 AM Author: garnet thriller persian I know nothing about actuary work. Have you considered accounting? I think these look far more realistic than a PhD in econ, which you don't really seem to want even. Those who want a PhD are pretty clear about it. Don't even try it, unless you're 100% dedicated, which you are not. Explore actuary, accounting, and there are MBA programs that accept GREs as well if you don't want to take the GMAT. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13346177) |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 11:23 AM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin You are right. I am not 100% sure that I want a PhD, but I figured that terminal master's program would allow me to explore both options ... And give me clear view to understand what it is like to pursue a PhD in econ.
I would still like to know if you think that some of the better B-shools might give me a shot with a good record in MA? (Given that it is better than one at FSU) |
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Date: November 28th, 2009 5:39 PM Author: garnet thriller persian A good record in an MA is not going to matter much. Undergrad GPA and GMAT are the two key academic metrics used. Better to get a 780 on the GMAT than a 630 GMAT and a 4.0 in an MA in econ. You would be better off getting work experience and studying for the GMAT than doing an MA in econ if you want an MBA. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13388025) |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 10:20 AM Author: Sticky becky garrison If you're serious about actuarial work, go with the MS in AS then and try again at the job market. Doing well in a MS in AS is probably more impressive than doing well in a MA in Econ. IMO, a MA in Econ is really only for people who want to do applied econometrics work (I think). (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13346324) |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 10:55 AM Author: Fear-inspiring theater an MA in econ (in the US) is almost an oxymoron; only a handful of schools even offer a terminal MA in economics, and those programs aren't very prestigious. Economics at the graduate level is very theoretical and academically-oriented -- it's very tough to touch upon truly 'graduate'-level economics in a one- or two-year MA. That said, some foreign econ MA programs (think LSE) are very well regarded.
To the OP: I interned in the investment consulting division of one of the big actuarial firms a few years ago, and it seemed like the actuaries enjoyed the perks of the job (decent pay, manageable workload) but not necessarily the work. Apparently it's not uncommon for an actuary to lateral into investment banking, although I don't know at what point in the exam process one could do that. |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 11:13 AM Author: excitant stubborn bawdyhouse turdskin It's interesting that you guys say that. I will apply to masters program in econ and actuarial ... and decide later.
I know for fact that Illinois State's actuarial program is pretty well regarded, but it isn't as difficult to get into as some of the other schools. And it is definitely easier to get accepted to it than some of the most competitive master's program in applied economics like ones at Michigan, or Minnesota. I bet there has to be some benefit for those coming out of places like Michigan and Minnesota?
Why are these talented people going to Michigan, and Minnesota if it is such a waste? I would really like to find an answer to that question... |
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Date: November 23rd, 2009 1:35 PM Author: Sticky becky garrison Those programs are more geared towards to putting their grads on the job market, not really to prepare them for a Ph.D. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13347365) |
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Date: November 24th, 2009 9:44 AM Author: Spectacular well-lubricated halford NYU has the top stand alone MA program in Econ, but with your numbers you have zero chance of getting in... (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13355544) |
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Date: November 28th, 2009 12:08 PM Author: Aphrodisiac Ungodly Weed Whacker Brunch i think the jhu applied econ masters program in dc is relatively easy to get into. look into that. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13385794) |
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Date: November 28th, 2009 5:15 PM Author: medicated stage Timothy Smith, you got a PhD? in what? what can't you get/do with a PhD (I'm assuming yours is in econ but let me know), that you can with an MBA? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13387873) |
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Date: November 28th, 2009 5:37 PM Author: garnet thriller persian I dropped the PhD, got into both econ and poli sci. Recruiting is completely different for an MBA, which is standardized. If you want to do IB, then you do an MBA and come in as an Associate. If you do a PhD, then you will have to work your ass off to get that Associate interview, since it's not a standard route into IB, you will have to justify why you did a PhD, you will probably have no work experience, and you will still be at the same level as the MBA (who has access to a huge alumni network to boot). A PhD is only good for roles that require it, like academia, but otherwise you will have to work twice as hard to get a job that an MBA gets, and your network will be tiny. Network is a huge part of the MBA's upside. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1145242&forum_id=2#13388012) |