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Most Recently Selected profile:

The data below comes from testmagic forums and shows accepted, waitlisted, and rejected applicants for 2007-2009 for economics graduate school. Clicking on the graph above will make the most recent profile appear to the right of the graph.

All profiles:

Acceptances:
cooper 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small state school, no PhD program in Econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.2

Type of Grad Mid-size public uni, no PhD program in Econ
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 770 Q, 370 V, 4.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc 1-3, Diff Eqs, Linear Alg, Operations Research (Linear programming, Integer Programming, & Dynamic Porogramming), Math Stats 1, Adv Calc 1. (All A's) Taking final semester: Adv Calc 2, Topology, Stoch Calc.

Econ Courses: Micro and Macro up to masters level, Math Econ up to masters level, Econometrics up to masters level (including regular Econometrics, Time Series, and Financial Econometrics), and Game Theory. (Two B+'s in undergrad courses and rest A's)
Other Courses: Some programming courses.
Letters of Recommendation: Strong letters from not well known Profs (two econ and one math). One more letter from a well-connected econ Prof, not sure how strong it was.
Research Experience: Research asistant for Prof for two years in masters program. Research Assistant for another Prof for one year. Completed Research paper at AEA summer program. Completed a masters research paper. Did some Matlab programming with another professor for independent study on oil and monetary poicly.
Teaching Experience: Tutor for calc 1&2 in undergrad. Tutor for Principles of Micro in undergrad.

Research Interests: Macro: RBC theory, monetary policy, oil and empirical macro
SOP: Talked about my interests and experience, and a little about the particular school.
Other: AEA summer program

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Iowa (full $$), Vandy (full $$), Indiana (full $$), Virginia ($$-?), Rutgers (no $$)

Waitlists: I guess Pitt since I emailed them and never got a decision
Rejections: Princeton, Duke, WUSTL, U Wash, Illinois, JHU

What would you have done differently? I think I found my range, but I probably should have tried some more top 30's and mayber one or two top 20's just in case. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
millertime416 2008:
Type of undergrad: Small private university in Nebraska

Major: Economics with a minor in mathematics
GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: none
GRE: Q760, V530, AWA 5.0
Math Courses: Calc I-II, Linear Algebra, Diff EQ, Intro to Analysis, Stats
Econ Courses: All that were offered (note: no grad available)

Other Courses: 2 directed independent econometrics courses
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from relatively unknown econ proffs, 1 semi-well known in econ
Research Experience: Two independent research projects, one pending publication
Teaching Experience: Just some tutoring
Research Interests: IO or health economics
SOP: Discussed research I had completed


What I would have done differently: Should have applied more broadly and included more reach schools. Also should have taken more math and made it a major. Practice for GRE.

Results
Acceptances: Iowa ($$), Iowa State ($$), Kansas State ($$), UNL (?)
Waiting list: None
Rejections: None
Pending: Wyoming, WUSTL Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
desimba 2008:
PROFILE:
Field you are applying to: Business Economics-type departments in business schools & conventional Economics departments as well
Type of Undergrad: Chemical Engineering (IIT)
Undergrad GPA: 3.88
Type of Grad: Business Adminstration

Grad GPA: 4.0
GMAT: 750
Math Courses: Vector Calculus; Linear Algebra with Applications (Graduate); Mathematics – I , II & III; Transform Calculus & PDE (Undergraduate: Topics covered include Complex Analysis, Multivariable Calculus, Numerical Methods, and Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations) (No real analysis)
Econ Courses: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Game Theory (Graduate-at the MBA level); Economics (Undergraduate)

Relevant Finance Courses: N/A
Other Courses: N/A
Letters of Recommendation: 3-4 from professors at my graduate institution
Research Experience: RA in Engineering during my graduate studies; some experience during my consulting job at our firm's economic think tank
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Institutions; trade; development; transitional economies

SOP: 2-3 page SOP talking about why I am qualified; what got me interested in these topics; why interested in the school and briefly on future plans of joining academia. Provided citations to some academic papers which had kindled my interest on these topics
Other: GRE-800 Q; 580 V; 5.5 AWA; TOEFL:116

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Economics @ Wisconsin-Madison (without funding for 1st year); University of Michigan Ross School's International Business & Business Economics; Global Economics & Management at UCLA Anderson; Economics @ U. of Iowa; Business Economics & Public Policy at Kelley (Indiana) (all with funding)

Waitlists: None
Rejections: Stanford GSB Economic Analysis & Policy; Chicago GSB Economics; Economics @ University of Maryland; Economics @ Arizona State University; Economics & Public Policy at Tepper & Heinz, CMU
What would I have done differently? Nothing during the application phase; from a long term stand-point though, I would have tried to get my senior year thesis published & also during my MBA studies, I would have probably tried to get involved in research with faculty members at my institute Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
bertthepuppy 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 private university by US News
Undergrad GPA: 3.61

Type of Grad: a couple semesters of non-degree courses, medium-sized, well-ranked state school
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 790/500/5.5
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Lin Alg, Real Analysis, 3 semesters of Stats
Econ Courses: Int Micro & Macro, Money and Banking, Public Finance, Int'l Trade, Int'l Finance, Thesis Course, Econometrics...

Other Courses: many policy-related analytical courses
Letters of Recommendation: solid, all knew me very well one Yale, one Johns Hopkins, one Berkeley, and one Northeastern (but ironically, probably the most well-known)
Research Experience: RA in undergrad and currently RA for one of my letter writers
Teaching Experience: TA for Econ for Public Affairs and Macro
Research Interests: Labor, Applied micro

SOP: well-tailored to each school, and given emphasis on my drive, with comparisons to running the two marathons I did

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Wisconsin (short list for $), Texas (w*it list for $), UNC-CH($), Ohio State (no $), Iowa ($), Colorado (?), Illinois ($), Cornell (no $), Vanderbilt ($), Kentucky ($)
Waitlists: Georgetown (then given fellowship)
Rejections: Duke, Michigan, MarylandWhat would you have done differently? I wish I would have realized that April 15th seems like this magical day when everything will be done. However, this is not always the case, especially if you are near the middle of the pack at some good programs. Even though I've been formulating preferences for months, I feel like they have all changed within the past week. I'll probably go to Wisconsin if I get off the wait list for $, otherwise I think I will go to Texas, perhaps unfunded. Ask me tomorrow and I will change my mind again. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
EconJames 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: International students. Good university in my home country but not well known.
Undergrad GPA: Major in Econ, minor in Math, GPA 3.8
Type of Grad: N/A

Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q 570V 4.0A
Math Courses: Mathematical analysis, Advanced algebra, Numerical analysis, Analytical Geometry, ODE, Real analysis, Complex analysis, Functional analysis, Probability theroy, Mathematical statistic, Dynamic optimization, Stochastic process
Econ Courses: many, all basic courses including intermediate marco,micro,metrics.
Grad Econ Courses: Advanced macro, Game theory, Advanced finance
Letters of Recommendation: Not famous professors, but know me well

Research Experience: Two papers published in domestic journals
Teaching Experience: No
Research Interests: Macro

RESULTS:
Acceptances: UMN, JHU, OSU, UBC, IOWA, IUB, ASU
Waitlists: Princeton UPenn (rejected on April 15)

Rejections: UCLA, UCSD, Michigan, Cornell, WUSTL, Rochester, Duke, CMU

What would you have done differently? Perhaps attend a MA first. Or maybe should prepare a paper with a DSGE model.

Comments: The undergraduate school's reputation matters a lot. If you cannot change this, try to get strong LOR then. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Rejections:
sonicskat 2007: PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: Small Liberal Arts...Not well known
Undergrad GPA: 3.76
GRE: 760/510/5.5
Math Courses: Calc 1-3, Proofs and Topology Class, Linear Algebra, Diff Eq
Econ Courses: Inter. Micro/Macro, Business, Math, Experimental, Forecasting, Econometrics, Statistics, Int'l trade and finance
Letters of Recommendation: Two Associate professors (Duke and MSU), and one Assistant Professor (FSU)
Research Experience: One paper published in undergraduate journal, research using dynamic programming with two professors ongoing, presented at professional conferences twice, associate editor for undergraduate journal for two years, presented at campus research forum twice.
Research Interests: Macro, Int'l
SOP: Wrote how I have adequate math skills, despite no real analysis. Briefly discussed extensive research experiences. Then honed in on a couple professor's who's work I enjoy.


RESULTS:
Acceptances: UVA, MSU, UC Davis, Vanderbilt, Rice,UCSB
Waitlists: Pitt (i guess), ASU (i guess)
Rejections: UT Austin, Iowa

What would you have done differently?
Taken more math and gotten an 800 on the gre

Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
indyecon 2007: I've been avoiding posting my profile because of slight paranoia (and the fact that I do not compete with most of these profiles), but I guess now that I know where I'll be next year what is there to lose?

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: small LAC no one has heard of (unless you're from Indiana - and even then it's a stretch). Majors: Economics, Math Education (I'm licensed to teach 5-12...basically a math degree plus student teaching)
Undergrad GPA: 3.85 (overall), 3.95 (Econ), 3.75 (Math Ed), summa cum laude, top 10%
GRE: 800Q/570V/4.5A

Math Courses: Calc I (high school), Calc II & III, Linear Algebra, Math Models, College Geometry, Discrete Math, Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis
Econ Courses: Intro to Micro, Intro to Macro, International, Intermediate Micro, Money & Banking, Topics in Contemporary Econ (focused on corporate tax policy)
Letters of Recommendation: two from professors (one math and one econ) - I'm pretty sure they were good and spoke very highly of me - they're just from lesser-known profs, and one from my boss at my current job (consulting) - also good, and I know because he asked me to proof it
Research Experience: none to speak of, other than a research paper (junior year) on none other than...college admissions

Teaching Experience: only tutoring at the college level (math and econ), but LOTS if you include middle and high school (math and history). I also taught linear algebra when I student taught (at an IB school in Australia).
Research Interests: mainly economics of education, lots of areas of public economics
SOP: I think it was good, but who knows? I tailored it for every school (for the most part)
Other: I'm a white female from the states, which I've heard is rare and might help, although I don't think it did. I was awarded the top econ student of my class and graduated with honors in math ed. I've been working for three years, but not in the field of econ.


RESULTS:
Acceptances: Georgia State ($26K + tuition), Indiana (no money at first...then$13K...then it was $15K...then $17K)
Waitlists: well, I'm w*iting on Purdue :doh:
Rejections: Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Stanford (School of Education - Economics of Education PhD)


I'll be attending Georgia State in the fall!

What would you have done differently? I probably would have branched out of the 'I want to go to a Big 10 school' mentality. It just so happens that the Big 10 is more competitive than I had considered, which I didn't realize until the rejections started rolling in. I think I got caught up in reading posts on this site and the idea of a 'safety' for many on here is just not realistic for those of us who went to no-name schools and have little research experience. I probably would apply to more schools, but I'm happy with my final result, so I guess the money I saved can go towards moving to Atlanta.:)
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
TruDog 2007: PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: Top-five public LAC
Undergrad GPA: 3.69, cum laude and with general honors
Type of Grad: None
GRE: Q800, V610, A5.0
Math Courses: Calc I/II/III (B/A/C), differential equations (pass), linear algebra (C?), nonparametric stats (B), two semesters of graduate probability (C/C?)
Econ Courses: Intermediate micro/macro (A/A), mathematical economics (B), econometrics (B), numerous electives (3.7 major GPA)

Letters of Recommendation: Strong, but from unknown professors (one each in economics, finance, and statistics--all familiar with my research)
Research Experience: Presented finance research at American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences' annual conference, also submitted to professional journals. Also interned at US Treasury's Office of Economic Policy in Washington.
Research Interests: Public (higher education, pensions)
SOP: Fairly general--highlighted my writing and research experiences

RESULTS:

Acceptances: Wisconsin (no $), Ohio State (deferred one quarter)
Rejections: Minnesota, Michigan, Northwestern, Chicago, Emory, Duke, WUSTL, Iowa, Virginia

What would you have done differently?
My problem was that my institution never emphasized the quantitative aspects of economics, so I had to overload on math courses late in the game after discovering econphd.net. That hurt my GPA, which certainly hurt the strength of my application.

Advice: Take math courses early on, and do lots of research and writing. My writing background was the only reason why I got accepted anywhere.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
sonicskat 2007: Profile
Type of Undergrad: LAC in US, not Graduate program in Econ

GPA: 3.78
GRE: 760/510/5.5
Math: Calc 1 and II (A-), Calc III (A), Stats (A), Linear Algebra (A), Differential Equations (A), Math Reasoning [Intro to real analysis](A)
Econ: Inter Macro (A) and Micro (A), Math Econ (A), Int'l Trade (A), Econometrics (A-), Experimental (A), Bus. Econ (B+, stupid class)
, Econometric Forecasting (A)

Honors: Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Alpha Psi, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Pi Mu Epsilon, Magna Cum Laude
Letters of Recommendation: Three econ (MSU, Duke, FSU, and also a Vanderbilt econ Phd)
Research Experience: 1 published paper in undergrad econ journal, associate editor for undergrad journal for 2 years, multiple conference presentations, multiple grants for co-authored paper with professors
Teaching Experience: Writing center tutor and casual econ tutor
Research Interests: Computational economics (Macro, int'l)
SOP: Addressed my lack of Real analysis, my research experiences, passion to contribute to modern research, talked about the professors that made me apply to the school


Results:
Acceptances: UCSB ($15k), Rice ($20k), Vandy ($15k), MSU (no $), UC-Davis (no $), UVA ($12.5k)
Rejections: UT-Austin, ASU, Iowa, Pitt
What would I have done differently? Known that I wanted to do this earlier.I would have applied to less lower schools and more higher waited (20-50 range). I also wouldn't mind finding out about some of my rejects. UT was a reach, but I was pretty surprised about ASU given the interest I expressed in my SOP.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Nymaj 2008: Type of Undergrad: Big Ten School

Undergrad GPA: overall 3.0 degree in Econ
Type of Grad: mid size university - terminal master econ program
Grad GPA: 3.9
GRE: Q 770/ V 410 / AWA 5.5
Completed Math Courses: Calc 1-2, Multivariate Calc, Diff Eq, Stats, Prob, Real Analysis
Completed Econ Courses: Micro, macro, metrics and many others

Letters of Recommendation: Strong LOR's from two Duke prof. and two strong LOR from my home university
Research Experience: One research project with professor from Michigan State University and also with an professor at Duke. Currently working on another research project.
Teaching Experience: Teach Principles of macro and also TA for advance micro and metrics
Research Interests: Alot of stuff

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Michigan, Maryland, UT-Austin, Texas A&M, Rice, Houston,

Waitlists:
Rejections: Brown, Duke, Boston College, Iowa
Pending: Cornell

What would you have done differently? Should have listen to my professors and drop some lower ranked schools and applied to Yale and Harvard for kicks.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Luckykid 2008: Undergrad Institution: UW-Milwaukee
Major: Economics/Math Minor

GPA: 3.4 (3.6 Econ) (3.6 Math)(3.6, 3.75, 3.8 The last 3 semesters)
GRE: 770q 460v 4AWA
Tofel: I am an American but my verbal suggests otherwise...
Courses:
301 Int. Micro B
302 Int. Macro A

325 Money B
353 Devlop A
413 Stats B
351 Intro Int A
447 Labor A
513 Econometrics B

454 Trade A
404 Game Theory B
506 Math Econ I A-
Spring: Math Econ II

Math:
Business Calc A

Calc I B
Calc II A
Intro to Proofs B+
Spring: Calc III, Linear Algebra

Research: Working on undergrad research two semesters...nothing special.
LOR: 1 should be stellar Associate prof(U-Mich)., 2 others pretty good-good one assoc. one tenured.


Interests: Experimental, Applied Micro, Labor

Results: Admissions:
Michigan State University ($0)
University of Arizona ($0)
University of Kentucky ($12+3)
Florida State University ($16+3)
University of Georgia ($p*nding)

University of Houston ($9.5+6)
University of Tennessee ($14)
University of Connecticut (MA)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (MA-spring)

Rejections:
University of Michigan Ann-Arbor
University of Virginia
University of Iowa

Pennsylvania State University
University of Indiana-Bloomington
Vanderbilt
Arizona State University
Iowa State University
North Carolina State University
Rice University
University of Oregon
University of Massachusetts


Waiting:
Ohio State University (Long Shot)
Texas A&M University (Perhaps)
Purdue University (Probable)
Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Probable)

Goals: Tenure track at a Ph.D. Granting research institution. To live comfortably(upper middle), like my job, and be able to spend ample time with my family.


What I Learned: Applying to all of these school was worth it by far; if I was not getting married I would go to MSU in a heart beat. I think my profile is weak for that institution but the probability jump of many applications has paid off in the upper level schools. Almost all if not all of the schools I got accepted to are top in the areas I mentioned in my sop. I strongly believe that your SOP is a YES OR NO qualifier in the admissions process. It is hard to gauge what schools are good in what field so I think I should have asked my professors before I applied to better position my SOP and eliminate schools that are not fits and add schools that are.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
catvoice 2009: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BSc in Economics, State University in Turkey, Istanbul.
Undergrad GPA: 3.8/4.0 High Honor Student
Type of Grad: MA in Economics, State University in Turkey, Istanbul. Medium of Instruction was English.
Grad GPA: 74/100
GRE: Q 780; V 330; AW 3.5
TOEFL:94
Math Courses: Mathematics I, II; Mathematical Economics; Methods in Dynamic Economics
Econ Courses: Many, both undergrad and grad level.
Other Courses: Some elective courses…
Letters of Recommendation: 3 (My senior project supervisor; MA thesis supervisor and Instructor from BS degree); all Professor of Economics and well known.
Research Experience: 4.5 months Research Assistant in a private university, Senior Project, MA Thesis
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Econometrics
SOP: Fine, I guess.
Other: Scholarship of national research council during MA studies; Research Prize for outstanding MA thesis; Ranked second in graduation, BSc Degree, both in department and faculty.
Applying to: Rutgers, Virginia, WUSTL, Emory, GSU, Vanderbilt, Iowa, UConn, Pitts, Purdue, and some others
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
Waitlists:
Rejections: Rutgers (--was my dream :( --)
Pending:
What would you have done differently?: Start applications earlier and consider more universities to apply. I would get TOEFL again and get a better score, above 100 would be perfect J.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Waitlists: