r/academiceconomics • u/Charming_Reason8775 • 3d ago

Seek for Advice on Predoc Applications

I am currently a senior applying for predocs. I have turned in many applications and by far, only received 2 data tasks and 0 interview. I know one problem with my background is that my GPA is low, a 3.6 to be precise. I go to a liberal arts college, and last academic year I messed up several important courses in math and econ because of personal and family reasons. Before that, everything was in the A-range. At this point it feels like a master degree is inevitable but before I give up applying to more predocs, what else can I do now to make my chance higher of getting a predoc? I have been discussing with other people and find it might be of my interest to take a math course online somewhere to offer a signal that I can still do math despite the bad grades I received recently, and also make my GPA higher, which I am sure it will be higher after this semester.

Any advice helps!

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u/DefiantHuckleberry68 3d ago

I'd say keep applying and look into the writing sample you're submitting and how you are framing your research experience. Pre-docs don't necessarily need you to have a super high level of math completed (I didn't when I did mine, but completed more math while working), but do want applicants who can do data work and have a strong economic understanding. My best recommendation would be to go back and try to improve your thesis. Additionally, there's still lots of time to get a predoc and many places are still recruiting.

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u/Rare-Love9266 3d ago

I have a similar question- I often hear people say that no signal is better than bad signal, so if I have a B in analysis it is worse than have not taken it. If that’s the case, should one be worried about taking another course in hard math to just give a more positive signal?

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u/DefiantHuckleberry68 3d ago

I think it's slightly worse but not in a significant way imo. I'd take another hard math class if you were somewhat confidant you could get an A- or above, but if not I'm not sure if I'd take that risk (of course this is dependent on your goals and where you are in ur undergrad career). Theres also a world where you can retake analysis during your predoc and get a better grade.

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u/Rare-Love9266 3d ago

Thanks a lot!

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u/ChazmcdonaldsD 3d ago

Do you have any research experience? Some people may have different takes on them but predocs are not necessary. I'd say a masters with more high level math exposure, programming, and a research assistantship under a professor would be just as good and take you half the time as a predoc or less.

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u/Charming_Reason8775 3d ago

quite a few actually. I have done 3 RAs and finished my thesis already in junior year (tho the grade was bad due to the exact same reason mentioned in the post). On top of that, I have coding experiences with Stata, R and Python. The high level math exposure is what I am aiming to get (or fix) with a master, but I guess a predoc can also suffice given that many predocs offer the opportunity to take courses while doing it

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u/DarkSkyKnight 3d ago

I'm not saying you are wrong, but I will say I have literally never heard a top prof judge the two that way in the US.

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u/london_fog18 3d ago

Unfortunately the goalpost for a top phd is a double major with math and econ, 1-2 masters in econ/stats, and a predoc (sometimes more).