Interesting . I looked at a couple other schools and they don ' t seem as draconian as Cornell . MIT Is it required or recommended that I complete any specific undergraduate coursework ? No specific coursework is required . Some students come to us after finishing master ' s degrees in economics , some come from undergraduate economics program , and some have degrees in another field . What we look for depends on the student ' s background . Successful candidates whose prior background is primarily in economics have typically excelled in advanced undergraduate or graduate courses and taken math at least through linear algebra . Many have taken real analysis or some other advanced prooforiented course , though this is not necessary . For candidates who were not economics concentrators we look for evidence of exceptional performance in their prior field of study , strong technical skills , and some economics background . It would be unusual for us to accept a student who has not taken intermediate microeconomics . Harvard Mathematical preparation The minimum level of mathematical preparation to be considered includes calculus and linear algebra and demonstration of proficiency with mathematics . Increasingly , successful applicants will have taken more mathematics . In particular , most successful applicants now take real analysis , although that is not a requirement . We do not require a minimum GRE score , however among students admitted in the last few years , scores ranged in the 97 th percentile . Chicago faqBefore you enter a PhD program in economics , you should try to learn as much as you can about the substance and methods of research in economics . In work or in study , you should try to get some significant exposure to research in economics . It is very valuable to take some graduatelevel classes in economics or related fields . We would strongly encourage you to take some advanced courses in mathematics , such as real analysis , to develop your ability to read and write rigorous mathematical arguments . Berkeley seems in line with Cornell Applicants must have knowledge of multivariate calculus , basic matrix algebra , and differential equations completion of a twoyear math sequence , which emphasizes proofs and derivations . Some knowledge of statistics and elementary probability is highly desirable , as is additional coursework in algebra and real anaysis . On the other hand , Penn adds topology and measuretheoretic probability to the musthaves p r o gramadmissionsinformation .