<p>rhg, thanks for your mature and thoughtful response. I appreciate it. You’re correct that I need to take a lot of rigorous math courses since econ at the grad level is basically applied math. I’m planning on taking linear algebra, real analysis (critical course), probability, ODE, and maybe PDE as well. </p>
<p>I actually like columbia’s core curriculum, smaller class size, and NYC location. I was waitlisted there, along with yale and princeton last year. </p>
<p>Correct that MIT will probably prefer engineers. I love boston, and their econ department is amazing. There are a few professors there whom I would love to take classes with. </p>
<p>Worse case scenario, if I don’t get in next year as a transfer, I will just try to kick ass at Penn and do an econ Phd at a top program or go work at a great finance/consulting firm and maybe do an MBA at harvard or stanford. The key though is to keep my gpa up since college gpa is the best predictor of future professional success.</p>