What am I looking at for grad school?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>I know, I know: “call the admissions people at the schools you’re interested in and ask them!” I will. But you people on here have quite a bit of knowledge, and I’d like to hear your thoughts.</p>

<p>The good:
I graduated in 2012 from Duke with a BS in Economics & a BA in Environmental Policy. I wrote a thesis that was awarded high honors in economics & was selected for a symposium and publication in a campus journal. Through this work, I know that I will have excellent recommendations. I also plan to do extremely well on the GRE (my practice tests have been going well, I test well in general, and I am willing to re-take if I’m not at 162 (quant) and 158 (verbal)). I’m also currently working as an economics consultant for an energy efficiency start-up, which is highly relevant to what I’d like to continue doing.</p>

<p>The bad:
3.38 GPA. So that’s that.</p>

<p>Dream schools:
LSE
NYU</p>

<p>…they both say they require 3.5 GPAs. What does this mean?</p>

<p>Of course I’m fine with any other tier one or two schools, but just how low do I need to drop my expectations? What is the best school that I could call a safety? What’s a fair shot for someone with these stats?</p>

<p>Thanks so much - good luck to everyone who’s hearing back right now!</p>

2

<p>No one knows the answer to what you’re asking. So much depends on the individual departments and their current needs.
If I were you, I’d use my contacts (those profs writing your recs) for advice on where you might apply that would make sense with what you want to do. Unlike undergrad, the individual departments choose their grad students, and the profs at each school, especially privates, have a lot of say over who gets chosen.<br>
Duke should have some excellent resources and your old professors will be ready to help you choose some good target schools. They know who is working where, and what research is being done. They will guide you. Good luck.</p>