Profile evaluation for 2015

Hi all,

It's finally (almost) time to start the fall applications. I got a profile evaluation earlier last year and want a final evaluation for the 2015 cycle.


Specific questions:

• Should I retake GRE?
• What should I be focusing on during the current Fall term? Is there anything left I reasonably can do to improve my chances?

• Range of schools to shoot for? (Other than the reaches I listed.)

Type of Undergrad: Top 10 US undergrad. Math/CS major.

Undergrad GPA: 4.2/4.33 (A+ = 4.33, A = 4.0).

Type of Grad: Nope.

Grad GPA: See graduate courses. (4.3)

GRE: 170Q/166/4AW (might retake to improve AW)

Math Courses:

• Calculus I, II, III. (Proficiency exam).
• Linear algebra (honors). A+
• Intro to real variables ("baby" real analysis) A
• Analysis I (A) -- standard Baby rudin treatment
• dAnalysis II (A+) -- (e.g. lebesque int., dominated conv. thm,etc type stuff)
• Complex analysis (A)
• Differential geom (A+)
• Commutative algebra (graduate level) (A)
• Probability (grad level) A+
• Stochastic processes (grad level; a rigorous treatment of Stochastic diffeq that were frankly over my head) A+
• Intro to Discrete mathematics (A)
• Discrete mathematics (A+)
• Functional analysis (pass/fail) :victorious:

Ongoing math courses:

• Topology
• "Hardcore" graduate level real analysis (might just pass fail this one).

Econ Courses (grad-level):

• Decision Theory (A+)
• Gen. Equilibrium Theory (A)
• Game Theory (A+)
• Micro sequence (A+, A+)
• First year grad. macro (A+)

Ongoing:

• Grad metrics sequence.
• Topics in micro theory.
• Topics in probability/statistics (essentially a math class).

Econ Courses (undergrad-level):

• Principles of Micro, Intermediate micro (A, A+)
• Industrial Organization (A+)
• Game theory (A)
• Environmental Econ (pass/fail) :watermelon:

Ongoing:

• Nothing.

Other Courses: A bunch of advanced CS classes (mostly A+). Also some ongoing.

Letters of Recommendation:
I have 4 economics/business school profs who will write very good letters (because I had the best score in their respective graduate/upper undergrad level classes).

Of these 4, I have a decent amount of RA experience w/ 2 of them (see below).


Research Experience:

• RA'ship with a couple profs -- ongoing. Just the general type of undergraduate research. Profs generally/very satisfied with my work, though I made no original contributions.

Teaching Experience:

• TA'd for various CS classes.

Research Interests: I/O. Probability theory. Finance.


SOP: Not written. (see concerns).


Concerns: Low GRE writing score.
NO publications :upset:.
Never taken a diff eq class (have no idea how to even solve a simple one) except SDE.
No optimization classes.
Large undergrad, so there'll definitely be other people, possibly as good as me (but in another area, say, physics), competing for the same schools.


Other: High ranking in the Putnam math competition.

Applying to: Want to get into a top 5 (reaches), but need some targets and safety schools to apply to. Thoughts?