Is Johns Hopkins Applied Economics Worth It? Low GPA Friendly? Admission Tips & Real Cases

发布时间：Date: 2023-03-25 返回新鲜资讯Back to News

Johns Hopkins University’s MS in Applied Economics is often mislabeled as a “fluff” program, but it is in fact a STEM degree with lenient admissions and rigorous coursework, welcoming students with GPAs of 3.0–3.5. Housed under the Advanced Academic Programs, the curriculum zeroes in on econometric analysis, modeling, and tools like SAS and Stata, encompassing cutting-edge topics from public policy to machine learning. It aims to substantially strengthen students’ quantitative analysis and economic reasoning, offers high academic value, and provides a 3-year OPT period after graduation.

Regarding the student experience and application strategy, the program features spring, summer, and fall intakes, small classes of 15–20, and flexible completion of 10 courses; international students must maintain full-time enrollment for F-1 status. CheersYou（清柚教育） advises applicants to look beyond the admission threshold and focus on its rigorous coursework and career advantages. If you seek to overcome a low GPA for a top-name school or to bolster data skills, this is a highly cost-effective choice. For detailed application guidance, consult a CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor.

Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Economics program is relatively friendly to students with a lower undergraduate GPA, which often leads people to question whether it is a “fluff” program. But is that really the case? CheersYou（清柚教育） has prepared a detailed analysis. If you’re considering applying, be sure to read on～ For more specific details, you can also consult a CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor～

School Details

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the first research university in the United States. Besides its world-class schools of Medicine, Public Health, and International Studies, JHU also ranks among the top in fields such as finance & economics, social sciences & humanities, and music & the arts. It placed 24th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings and 9th in U.S. News.

Program Overview

The MS in Applied Economics (AE) is housed in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, with a duration of 1–2 years. It falls under the school’s Advanced Academic Programs (AAp). The program aims to cultivate students’ econometric and other quantitative analysis skills to enhance modeling and economic reasoning ability. The curriculum emphasizes data analysis, modeling, etc.; students are required to become proficient in common data analysis software such as SAS and Stata.

JHU’s Applied Economics curriculum is very comprehensive, covering various economic fields. Examples include Public Policy, International Trade and Development, Environmental Economics, Spatial Economics, Quantitative Methods, Financial Economics and Macroeconomy, as well as cutting-edge areas like Machine Learning.

Program website: https://advanced.jhu.edu/academics/graduate/ms-applied-economics/

Program Strengths

Johns Hopkins University’s AE program is also a STEM program, granting a 3-year OPT training period upon graduation. Moreover, AE is one of the easier programs to get into at JHU, and applicants with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.5 can give it a try.

Although the entry bar is relatively low, the coursework is not easy at all—the content is definitely not “fluff”; it follows a “wide entry, strict exit” philosophy. The core revolves around mathematics and various programming languages, allowing you to acquire genuine economic knowledge.

The AE program offers spring, summer, and fall intakes and features small-class teaching with 15–20 students. The three intake options allow students who graduate early to start right away, ensuring a seamless transition with no wasted time.

International students are enrolled in Full-Time mode. You can graduate after completing 10 courses. To maintain F-1 status, international students must take at least 3 courses per semester and can take them alongside MBA and Certificate programs.

Suitable Candidates

Students with average undergraduate grades who wish to pursue further study at a prestigious university

Those with some economics background who want to develop employment-oriented skills, such as econometrics and other quantitative techniques, economic reasoning, and the ability to build and evaluate economic models

Individuals aiming to advance their careers, expand their professional network, and who work during the day.

Career Paths and Development

Graduates of the Applied Economics master’s program mostly go on to work in government agencies, international organizations, private trade, business sectors, financial institutions, and similar industries.

Application Timeline and Requirements

Application Timeline:

Three intakes: Spring, Summer, Fall (Fall 2023 applications are currently not being accepted; applicants are encouraged to apply for the next term)

Application Requirements:

Official degree verification and transcripts from your graduating institution
2 letters of recommendation
Resume/CV
Personal statement
If your undergraduate education was not in English, you need to provide IELTS or TOEFL scores
No GRE required

CheersYou（清柚教育） has also helped students gain admission to the above programs. If you would like to learn more about students’ backgrounds (major/GPA/GRE etc.), you can add a CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor to inquire～