Grad School Application Advice

My name is Omar Avendano and I graduated in the spring of 2007 from Humboldt with a degree in Economics. In the fall of 2006 I applied to graduate programs in Economics and these are some tips and impressions I have about the application process after going through it. If you want advice from an institutional source, here is also the advice Stanford University, Georgetown University and Davidson College give their students.

Start as soon as possible
Applying to graduate school is like having a part-time job. Before you apply you will need to research programs as well as professors to find a match. Once you start the actual application you will have to write a statement of purpose (links below provide examples of statements), ask for letters of recommendations (do this with enough time for the professor to write the letter and for you to mail it out), send transcripts of school work, find either external funding or funding within the institution, and some schools might require more.

Take as much math as you can handle
Mathematics is an essential part of graduate courses in Economics. Harvard Economist Greg Mankiw said this of mathematics and economics, "You cannot get this solid foundation (of economic theory and econometrics) without understanding the language of mathematics that these fields use." Because Mathematics is important to Economics most Masters Program will require one semester of calculus and statistics while Doctoral programs usually recommend Single & Multivariable Calculus, Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra and some proof based courses like Real Analysis in addition to Statistics.

Become close with faculty members 
Professors are a very important link to graduate school. Since they have already gone through the process, they possess a wealth of information regarding the topic. They can help guide you and provide information as you navigate through the graduate school journey.

Try to get research experience
Research is important because graduate school is a training ground for researchers and graduate programs would like to see students with some prior experience. The department is a good source for information regarding research opportunities. In addition to the Economics department, there are research centers on campus like the California Center for Rural Policy and The Office for Economic & Community Development  as well as non-profit group in the area that could also help with an internship opportunity. Below are links for undergraduate research opportunities as well as links for undergraduate economic journals.

Undergraduate Research
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/srp/gdspur.htm
http://cba.unl.edu/dept/economics/gradPrograms/summer_ugrad_research_fellowship.html
http://www.epa.gov/careers/
http://econ.duke.edu/research

Undergraduate Journals
Illinois Wesleyan Undergraduate Economic Review
Issues in Political Economy: Undergraduate Student Research in Economics

Examples of Various Statements of Purpose
http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/langel/PS.LA.pdf
http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~natalia/studyinus/guide/statement/samples.htm
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/gcallaghan/graduate/winningstatement.htm

Other Important Sites:
http://www.econphd.net/
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AEA/students/index.htm

Forums/Blogs
http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/

Law School Application Advice

My name is Michelle Gienger, class of 2007.  At the beginning of my junior year at Cal Poly Humboldt I had no clue as to what I wanted to do with a degree in Economics.  The first assumption from those around me is that I would get a Master's or Ph.D. in Economics.  Makes sense, right? I thought so too, but then I took a business law class, Legal Environment of Business, and became interested in becoming a lawyer.  From there I researched the career path, took an internship with the Public Defender's Office, and applied to various law schools. 

So, here I am a year later getting ready to graduate and move to San Francisco to spend three years at law school. Economics greatly helped me in preparing for law school, particularly the dreaded Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).  Economists are trained to think critically and consider various answers to one question, which is a vital quality for a lawyer.  If you're considering a similar path the following are several pieces of advice that I had to learn on my own.

Be well rounded
Every law school I have talked to said they prefer their students to have a wide variety of interests and undergraduate activities.  There are no prescribed sets of courses that are required for law school, so you're able to take whatever you would like.  I double-majored in History and Economics, which I have always been interested in, but I also branched out to other areas that attracted me  I took classes in art, music, leadership, and women's studies.  Since the profession is so broad, ranging from criminal law to intellectual property and environmental law, any undergraduate major can find a niche.

Study for the LSAT early
To study for this enormously important test I spent every Saturday for six months engrossed in a test prep book.  I scored well on the test, but I think I could have done better had I been better prepared.  If I could go back I would probably have enrolled in a preparation course.  There are multiple ones available and they may be very helpful.  I cannot endorse any particular one because I didn't utilize any, but law schools or the Law School Admissions Council have approved ones.

Experience
Interning or working in the field looks fantastic on an application or resume.  It could also be the deciding factor in your admission to a law school.  I interned at a branch of the Humboldt County Public Defender office during my senior year and it really made a difference in how I view the profession and law school itself.  I got great advice from the attorneys and worked in a real setting.  It made the career real for me, not just a far off idealistic job.  The Career Center has listings for jobs and internships for all fields and advice about jobs and graduate school.

Research potential law schools
I was constricted to applying to schools in the San Francisco Bay Area because my fiance had a job in the area, but there are hundreds to choose from in the nation.  The Law School Admissions Council has a list of all American Bar Association-approved schools and information on admissions.

Apply early and revise your applications multiple times!
The biggest mistake I made in this process was that I did not edit my personal statement more than once.  A month after I sent my applications in I realized I made two typos in the letter.  Luckily, I was accepted to two schools, but I was afraid that those mistakes would cost me.  Applying early is very important too.  Most law schools admit on a rolling basis and the earlier you apply, the better you appear.