PHDism 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Business Admin and Computer Science double major. A small US University nobody has heard of. Pretty certain nobody has gone to Econ PHD from there.
Undergrad GPA: 3.9 (But that was all A's and one C)
Type of Grad: Policy oriented degree in US, one of the top of its kind.
Grad GPA: 3.6
GRE: 790/650/5.5
Math Courses: Calculus III (A-) and Linear Algebra (B+) only by US applications deadline and before Toulouse. Taking Real Analysis and ODE in Spring, and was able to show this to LSE, UPF and HEI
Econ Courses: Some in undergrad, but not rigorous. A whole bunch during the grad school - but they count as intermediate undergrad level.
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: One from econ and one from stats professor from top 10 Econ. Both very strong. Also two professional from World Bank economists, very strong.
Research Experience: Three years at the World Bank
Teaching Experience: TA for econ course.
Research Interests:
SOP: Had a lot of explanation to do for non-traditional profile. Was logical for whoever cared to read it - but I do not know if they ever do.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE, UPF, Geneva HEI($$)
Waitlists:
Rejections: NYU, Princeton, Yale, Toulouse M2
Pending:
What would you have done differently? Many things. But mostly taken more math. I was clueless that just third semester Calculus and Linear Algebra was not enough - till I discovered this forum in December. But by then it was too late, and my US and Toulouse applications were out. I have been out of school for 4 years, but I registered as non-degree and am taking ODE and Real Analysis now in spring. That probably helped in European applications sent in February. Maybe indicated motivation.
Accepts:
- Acceptances: LSE, UPF, Geneva HEI($$)
Rejects:
- Rejections: NYU, Princeton, Yale, Toulouse M2
Waitlists: