u/Responsible_Slip_803

Hi y'all! I plan on applying for a Master's in Economics (both APE and PPD) for the year 2027-28 and would really appreciate any advice.

My background: I'm a ug student, studying Econ in a t5 institute in India. My GPA is 8.6/10 and I am looking to publish a paper in behavioural econ by the end of this year. I've gotten AA's and AB's (9-10/10) in nearly all Econ courses, the major concern is 3 C's is some first year (common) courses. Apart from this, I have done an internship in finance and some projects related to coursework. Also, I'm working on some independent articles related to current events and their economic impact.

Some questions I'd really appreciate guidance on:

1. Do I have realistic chances of getting into PSE for a masters?
2. Are there some things I can do at this point to improve my profile? Any particular aspect I can focus on like a research project under a prof?
3. Will the GPA or a couple of poor grades be a dealbreaker?
4. Are there any other programs/unis I should target? My backup is Indian Statistical Institute