PhD without strong math background

kndx5

no, your weakness is not that you do not have advanced math and stat training (PhD level courses in math and stat) but that you do not have basic math and stats training (master level courses in math and stat), this is not a big issue if you have solid microeconomics and econometrics background, but unfortunately, you do not have neither, that is why you do not have chance in top 20 school.

Actually, you are competing with american applicants rather than chinese applicants since your background has more similarities to that of american applicants.

ckylwy

Then how about the top 20-50? Do they consider the math and stat training extensively?

kndx5

well, every school wants to get students with solid math and stats training, strong economics background, and some institutional knowledge, but even chicago and mit may not be able to get this kind of students every year.

They care, but could they get that perfect candidates? and more important, can you improve your math, stat and econ background in half or or say even one year and half?

ckylwy

For PhD application, I think there are lots of so-called perfect candidates, strong math, strong GMAT, strong GPA, but from my observation (dont know right or not), these people are usually science major. Therefore I am kinda worried.

kndx5

high gmat and gpa are just prerequisite.

you can check "yession"'s  background to see what is perfect background for undergraduate students applying directly from mainland china. For applicants with master degree, they may expect applicants to have solid master level stats and econ training, but i do not think math matters a lot.

so-called? i do not think so, that is just from your perspective.

ckylwy

ai.......

just still hope that I can improve more my GMAT score and hope that I can get admitted by top 20-50 without strong math background.....

Thank you, all dudes.

龙旋九天

a silly question: u went through undergrad study twice?

ckylwy

You mean the BYU bachelor and Oxford Brookes Bachelor?  For the Oxford Brookes Bachelor in Acc, I did it by top up degree from ACCA with one research project. BYU Finance is my real bachelor.

For Econ Courses I took (hope it will help a little), I took Mic-Econ(year 2 course), Macro-Econ(year 2 course), Econ of market system(year 3 course), Econ for businss decision(year 3 course), Managerial Econ for banking, money, and business (year 4 course)

Grades are A, except for one A- (I am not trying to show off or something, but I really think that my math background sucks, because many people's profiles are much stronger than mine)

Hope that although I do not have strong math background, this Econ course will help me a little bit

FindNeverland

这些都是undergrad的，跟graduate的还是差挺远

fzxc613

i don;'t think acct requires too much math background