0

I understand there are many people who major in math or physics and get into elite economics graduate schools. I'm sure that I will be able to find math professor who will with letters of recommendation that say I can successfully do research in math, but it would be hard for me to come up with such letter from economics professors. What do non-econonomics majors generally do for letters of recommendation?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4

Most committees are happy to see letters from mathematicians, although they might like at least one from an economist (and you probably should have at least one upper division course in economics if possible).

Just be careful. One eminent mathematician once wrote "X is not smart enough to be a mathematician, so I suggested he study economics." I don't think we admitted him.

Improve this answer
2
  • Are the letters generally tailored to economics (i.e. suppose I wanted to apply to both economic and math grad schools. Would I need different letters?)
    – vukov
    Commented Jun 26, 2016 at 16:06
  • I think they should be tailored differently, although it wouldn't have to be much. Instead of recommending "Graduate program in math" it should recommend you for the "Graduate program in economics".
    – ericf
    Commented Jun 27, 2016 at 16:47

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .