Canuckonomist 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A (Hons.) Economics, Math Minor with Distinction, Queen's University
Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.75/4.0, Econ: 4.0/4.0, Math: 3.65/4.0

Type of Grad: M.A Economics, Queen's University
Grad GPA: 3.9/4.0
GRE: 790Q 530V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (A+/A+/B), Linear Algebra (B), Differential Equations (B), Probability (C), Abstract Algebra (B), Statistics (A+), Analysis I & II (B+/B), Stochastic Models in Operations Research (A+)

Econ Courses (MA/PhD-level): Micro (A-), Metrics (A), Money and the Macroeconomy (A), Mathematical Economics (A+), Finance Theory (A+) Continuous-Time Finance (A+), Risk Management (Audit), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro (A), Macro (A+), Metrics I & II (A/B+), Finance (A+), History (B+), Corporate Finance (A),
Letters of Recommendation: 1 ANU, 1 JHU, 1 Harvard, 1 BU
Research Experience: R.A for three semesters. Co-authoured paper published in REE, 2008. Working paper with same author
Teaching Experience: UG Finance (fall), Tutor for department in mathematics for economists, Micro and stats.

Research Interests: Financial Economics, Micro, Credit
SOP: Working on it all summer

RESULTS:
Attending: University of Toronto ($$$)
Acceptances: Queen's University ($$), BU (no $)
Rejections: Chicago, NWU, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Rochester, Michigan, Minnesota

Pending: Cornell (will withdraw)
What would you have done differently? The only things I could have done differently would have been to start liking math before second year, and to know economics was the thing for me before second year. So really, outside of changing the fabric of my very being earlier in life, all the decisions on the equilibrium path were correct. Very happy to be attending UToronto. Would I be a true Canuckonomist if I didn't do a Ph.D in Canada? I like to think not. Accepts:

• Attending: University of Toronto ($$$) Acceptances: Queen's University ($$), BU (no $)

Rejects:

• Rejections: Chicago, NWU, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Rochester, Michigan, Minnesota

Waitlists:

• Pending: Cornell (will withdraw)

tangsiuje 2009:
PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: BSc Philsophy, Politics and Economics (Economics major, Philsophy minor), UK top 5
Undergrad GPA: 1st class hons
Type of Grad: MA Economics, University of Toronto
Grad GPA: 4.0 (at the time of application)
GRE: 790Q/520V/6.0AWA (non-native)

Math Courses: Linear Algebra (1st), Analysis (1st)
Econ Courses: PhD Micro I (A), MA Econometrics (A+), MA Trade (A), usual undergraduate courses (A/1st)
Other Courses: Philosophy, Chinese
Letters of Recommendation: Three MA instructors
Research Experience: Nil

Teaching Experience: TA for Quantitative Methods / Math Stats
Research Interests: Labour (and perhaps empirical trade)
SOP: Nope.
Other: -

RESULTS:

Attending: University of Toronto
Acceptances: University of Toronto ($$$)
Waitlists: -
Rejections: -
Pending: -


What would you have done differently? Given geographical constraints, it was either this or getting a job, and overall I'm pretty happy about how things worked out. Despite the "admitee's curse", I don't feel underplaced: looking at Canuckonomist, I'm seriously overplaced. Accepts:

• Attending: University of Toronto Acceptances: University of Toronto ($$$)

Rejects:

• Rejections: -

Waitlists:

• Waitlists: -

z109620 2009: PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics with Minor in Math and Philosophy from a mediocre state school which does have an Econ and Math PhD (NIU)
Undergrad GPA: 3.76/4.00 (Econ: 3.93/4.00 Math: 4.0/4.0)
Type of Grad: Just two masters course Econometrics and Math for Econ
Grad GPA: 3.5
GRE: 750Q, 470V, 4.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Diff Eqs, Undergrad Analysis I, and Prob. & Stats (also Undergrad Analysis II (W))

Econ Courses: Typical stuff, plus Grad Math for Econ (B) and Grad Econometrics (A)
Other Courses: A couple proof based logic courses (B,A)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 really good letter (Senior Prof., Wisconsin), 1 good letter (Visiting Prof., Penn) and 1 ok letter (Chair, London)
Research Experience: Senior Paper
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: My main focus is Applied Micro Development, however, within the above field I am interested in Agriculture, Trade, Behavioral, Public and Political Economics

SOP: I think it is ok, talked about my Senior Paper, my passion for research and my goals for the future.
Other: I did not get into econ until junior year

RESULTS: (all masters programs)
Acceptances: UC Davis ARE (partial tuition and job as grader), UBC (partial tuition), UPF (no$), Cornell AEM (no $), Purdue ag econ (no $), UIC (no $), U York, U Bristol, U Sussex, USF (20k over two years)
Rejections: Wisconsin AAE and Toronto Doctoral Stream

Pending: Queen’s MA

What would you have done differently?
Well I wish I would have known that I wanted to do Econ earlier, as well as gone to a more prestigious undergrad. However, besides that I feel that I did very well, especially considering the tough year. I am very happy with UC Davis ARE, I plan to work really hard and advance to their PhD, seeing as there program is probably one of the best in the world given my prefers.

Attending:
UC Davis ARE masters
Accepts:

• Acceptances: UC Davis ARE (partial tuition and job as grader), UBC (partial tuition), UPF (no$), Cornell AEM (no $), Purdue ag econ (no $), UIC (no $), U York, U Bristol, U Sussex, USF (20k over two years)

Rejects:

• Rejections: Wisconsin AAE and Toronto Doctoral Stream

Waitlists:

• Pending: Queen’s MA