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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:
Canuckonomist 2008:
Type of Undergrad: Queen's University, Canada (Top 40, depending on where you check.)

Undergrad GPA: After conversion, 3.75/4.0: Econ 4.0/4.0, math 3.7/4.0

GRE: 790Q, 530V, 5.5 AW


Math Courses: Calc I-III, probability, statistics, abstract algebra, differential equations, analysis I, stochastic models in operations research

Econ Courses: Standard package in the 300/400 levels, Grad math econ, Grad Financial Theory, Grad Cost benefit analysis.

Letters of Recommendation: 1 JHU, 1 BU, and one fairly extensively published and quite influential finance prof. Funny, his alma mater is not one anyone would think would be big, but he's made a name for himself, at least so he says (ANU)


Research Experience: RA for one term for Prof with JHU PhD. Worked on a paper to be published in a year.

Teaching Experience: private tutoring for 7 years.

Research Interests: Financial Economics, Micro Theory


SOP: Standard.

Other: Male, 21 years.

RESULTS:
Attending: Queen's University, M.A Econ
Acceptances: Queen's MA ($$), UBC MA (no $), LSE F&E MSc (No $),

Rejections: Northwestern, UPenn, UCSD, Cornell

What I would have done differently: I would have started taking math earlier, but from someone who didn't like math in high school, things changed around fast enough for me. With my fall marks in graduate courses, the RAship this summer, and stronger letters from the same people, I expect things will look up next year. I did, after all, get past the first few rounds of rejections @ NWU, and almost all of them at Cornell. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Legatus 2008:
PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: Tucked away Canadian university
Undergrad GPA: 3.7
Type of Grad: None
GRE: Haven't taken
Math Courses: Calculus I,II,III, Intro ODE,Intermediate ODE, PDE (why oh why am I still taking DE's...?), Matrix Algebra, Real Analysis I, Math Stats I/II, Bayesian Stats

Econ Courses: Advanced Micro/Macro, Game Theory, Information and Incentives, Econometrics I/II, Grad Econometrics, Public Finance, some econ history classes (my favourite econ classes)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from Economics professors, my advisor and a teacher I TA'd for
Research Experience: Undergrad Thesis
Teaching Experience: Lab instructor for Econometrics I
Research Interests: Econometrics, Labour, Macro??

SOP: Only UBC required a SOP, talked about my research interests, that I wanted to do a PhD eventually
Other: I'm a Canadian, 23, applying to the best my country has to offer. Not sure if I'll end up south or not, but for now I'm happy up here.

RESULTS:
Acceptances: UWO($$), Queen's($$)
Waitlists:

Rejections:
Pending: UBC(?), UofT
What would you have done differently? Probably wouldn't have applied to UBC if I had known they would lose parts of my application and then be impossible to get in touch with. I kind of wish I had written the GRE and had applied to programs in the states, but I am really happy with my results. Also, grades are important but I really think the decisions are made off of only a few key courses. Plus awesome recommenders doesn't hurt either (not in the famous way but in the 1000ehind you way). Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
canecon 2008:
School: UBC

Major: Econ (Hons)
GPA: 3.5 (3.98 upper-econ, 3.98 math (excluding failed calc 1))
GRE: 800q 480v 5.0 AWA (despite the awful verbal I am native English speaker / English background)
Courses:

Econ:Hon micro/macro I (A+'s) Game Theory (Hon) A, Hon Macro II A+, + intro metrics I/II (A+) + lots electives (mostly A+)
Math: Calc 1 (F first time then A), Calc 2, linear, multivariable, ODE's, probability(calc based), intro proof A+'s intro analysis A
Now Taking: Honours Thesis, Advanced Macro, Econometrics
Research: Thesis
LOR: 3 Assistant Profs, I say mediocre since I had no special relationship, just took their classes.

SOP: Pretty bad I think... that might just be me - but I didn't have any professors read it since I thought it was crappy (very bad reason I know - I expect I might have had spelling/grammar errors as well :) ). But I guess for Master's it doesn't matter that much.
Interests: Macro, Int trade/finance/development.
Schools:
Decided to apply only for Masters:
LSE, UCL, Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, UPF, UBC, Toronto, Queens, UWO, Stockholm.


My Concerns:
First year really sucked, second year was average. Only have 1.5 years of good grades.

RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE Msc (1 year, Res), UCL MSc, Warwick MSc, Oxford M.Phil (??), UPF MSc($$), Queen's MA ($$), Toronto Doc. Stream MA ($$), UBC MA ($$), UWO MA ($$),

Still Waiting: Cambridge M.Phil (B), Stockholm University MSc (Research)
Rejections: None (yet)

What would you have done differently?
-known that I was going to go for grad school (in econ) earlier :p

-started preparing to apply in the summer, or early sept, or early october. (didnt start applications earlier because very math-packed semester. No time in summer though b/c courses and GRE - basically crammed all the math I needed in last 8 mths I would have grades for).
-Looked into scholarship opportunities for study in UK (many seem to have deadlines around sept/oct. ) I started looking the next february/march.
-Basically I did what I could. Maybe should have applied to some PhD straight away, but still not sure what I want to do and I didn't really have time to put together good apps.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
MoustaBill 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in econ. from UQÀM

Undergrad GPA: 4.20/4.30
GRE: n/a
Math Courses: Calculus I (A), Calculus II (n/a), Probability (n/a), Analysis I (n/a), programming courses (A+), Math for economist 1-2-3 (3x A+)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Macro 1-2-3 (A-,A+, A+), Micro 1-2-3 (3x A+), Intro. Econometrics (A+), etc...


Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ. prof. (Stanford, UPenn)
Research Experience: some brief RA experience
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Monetary, Macro.


Concerns: Just a few math courses...Don't have a plan B if I'm not in at Queen's

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Queen's MA.
Waitlists: None
Rejections: None

Pending: None Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
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: Rejects: Waitlists:
Rejections:
pevdoki1 2008: Type of undergrad: Mid-sized state university (SUNY Binghamton)

GPA: 3.99 (math/econ double major)
Type of Grad: none
GRE: Q800, V470, AWA 4.5
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Intro to Higher Math, Complex Analysis, Real Analysis I-II, Mathematical statistics I-II
Econ Courses: The usual. No graduate level courses.

Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 1 really good one from an economics professor who knows me well, 2 from math professors
Research Experience: Virtually none. Started a thesis, never finished
Teaching Experience: TA intermediate macro for 1 semester. 1 year of tutoring experience.
Research Interests: Macro and monetary, but these can change

SOP: Pretty good, I think. Standard 1st page, customized second (mentioning professors and all)

RESULTS:
Acceptances:
University of Minnesota ($)
WUSTL ($)
UT Austin ($)

U Toronto (MA, $)
UBC (MA, $)
Indiana ($)
Rutgers ($)
Purdue ($)
Virginia (no funding)
Cornell (no funding)

Waiting list: none


Rejections: University of Western Ontario

No word: Queen's

What I would have done differently:
Applied to less lower ranked schools. However, I'm quite happy with getting into Minnesota (and WUSTL, for that matter).s
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
manho 2008: PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: Civil Engineering major, economics minor. One of the top engineering school in Canada
Undergrad GPA: 800verall, 75 0n Econ, 83 0.000000inal year
GRE: 790Q, 320V, 3.5 AWA... me no good wif words...
Math Courses: Typical engineering package. Calc I, II, III, "Advanced Math for Engineers", Linear Algebra, Differential Eq'n, Prob & Stat, Operation Research

Econ Courses: None worth mentioning, really. All undergrads.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a finance prof, 2 from engineering. Nothing stellar, but pretty sure it was solid and above average.
Research Experience: Two research/term project as part of the engineering deal
SOP: Basically story telling that why I want to do economics, although I did a civil eng undergrad

RESULTS:

Acceptances: Toronto MA (no $)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Queens (MS Finance), UBC (MS Finance)
Pending: Toronto MFE
What would you have done differently?
I had a job lined up if I didn't get in, so that was my reason of applying to the few number of schools.


If time and money wasn't a factor, perhaps doing my GRE again and bump the verbal part up.. (320 was just ridiculous...)
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
ranjan123 2008: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Economics from a large South Asian University, best in my country.
Undergrad GPA: 63.5% (60 0s considered first class)
Type of Grad: M.A. in Economics from the same institution

Grad GPA: 66.2%
GRE: 800Q, 420V, 4AWA
Math Courses: Mathematics for Economists (Chiang), Mathematical Economics (Simon & Blume) (covers Multivariable Calculus , Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Introduction to Real Analysis among others)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): All typical economics undergraduate courses

Other Courses: Masters level micro, macro, econometrics and international economics.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 economics professors (1 Harvard PhD, 1 Sussex PhD, 1 Manchester PhD) first two should be solid, third might be a general one.
Research Experience: 6 months for a policy research institute in my country.

Teaching Experience: Teaching in a public university in my country; 2 semesters micro, 2 semesters development, 1 semester labor.
Research Interests: Microeconomic Theory, Game Theory, Applied Microeconomics, International Economics.
SOP: Just wrote about my interests in economics
Other: Male, 26
RESULTS:
Attending: Simon Fraser University (MA)

Acceptances: MA: SFU ($$), Concordia (no $)
Waitlists: PhD: NYU (later rejected)
Rejections: MA Programs: Waterloo PhD Programs: Cornell, Duke, Virginia, Vanderbilt
No Result: Queen’s (MA), Toronto (PhD)

What would you have done differently? May be my relatively unknown undergraduate institution harmed me. I had to apply for an MA right after completing undergraduate.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
ariel1987 2009: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: International student atbadly Ranked Canadian University - B.Sc Mathematical Economics. Highest average among all economics students in my university.
Undergrad GPA: 3.96/4.00
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 730Q/560V/4.5 ; 780Q/410V/4.0

Math Courses: Calc I-IV (A+, A+,A+, A+), Linear Algebra I-II (A+, A+), Intro Probability (A+, A+), Mathematical Stats I-II (A+, A+), Ordinary DEq (A+), Topology (A-), Mathematical Econ I-II (A+,A+), Stats for Econ (A+)
Econ Courses: (All A+) All micro and Marco Sequence, Econometrics I and II, Public Finance, Research Thesis, Research Methods for Economics.
Other Courses: Lots of Arts in first year, and some political Science
Letters of Recommendation: 3 really good ones from unknown profs
Research Experience: RA for my econometrics prof. CUrrently co-authoring a paper that will be sent to a not very highly ranked journal
Teaching Experience: TA, Marker, Tutor for Econ & Math

Research Interests: Labour Economics, Economics of Education
SOP: Standard, nothing special.
Other: Undergraduate full scholarship throughout my 4 years, 3 other internal scholarships,4th best average in all university among graduating students

RESULTS:
Attending: UBC MA ($$$):grad: Acceptances: SFU MA ($$$$), LSE (MSc Econ)
Rejections: Queens (only accepted two int'l students:mad:), Berkeley, Cornell, Michigan, UCSD, Chicago

Pending: UofT (MA)What would you have done differently?
1) Taking Math earlier: Basically started taking math in 3rd year and overloaded to get my degree.
2!) Going to a better university: Couldn't get good references. But again, I have no money to pay for int'l tuition in Canada, and I was fully funded.
3) Not applying to LSE --- I don't know how I was expecting to be funded by them.
4) Not Applying to Queens: Horrible treatment towards intl' students

Overall, I am very happy with the outcome. UBC is a fantastic place for my MA and probably my PhD!
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Waitlists:
tangsiuje 2008: Type of Undergrad: UK (top 5 in Economics), 3-year PPE degree (not from Oxford), economics major, second year on exchange in Canada.
Undergrad GPA: "First" (70+) in all first year modules; 91.2/100 overall (all A) in Canada; third-year results in June/July.
GRE: 790Q, 520V, 6.0AWA (<--that's why you should do philosophy: philosophers average 5.0 on AWA)

Math Courses: quantitative techniques in economics (first-year course in economics department on constrained optimization and some matrix algebra), Analysis I+II, Linear Algebra (first-year courses in the maths department, taken as overload courses this year: in progress)
Econ Courses: more micro than macro, one-year econometrics course (in progress), the usual hotchpotch of field courses.
Letters of Recommendation: One from Canada, one from the UK. I think that both are very good economists, but I just took their classes and letters cannot possibly have been that amazing/personalized.
Research Experience: Nil.
Teaching Experience: Nil. (Or, I've actually done quite a bit in the private sector, but I never mentioned that in my applications.)

Other: female, 23, non-native English speaker

Results
Acceptance: Toronto doctoral stream MA (funding with TA/RA duties) <-- attending :grad:
Waiting: Queen's MA

What would you have done differently? Not stressed out as much. Had a bit more faith in myself. Been a little less obsessed with what people on TM say. :p

Comment: I suppose Toronto had not filled their quota for females from insignificant Scandinavian countries.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
EMEQU 2008: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Good Latin American university
Undergrad GPA: 15.4/20

Type of Grad: Good Latin American university
Ggrad GPA: 8/10
GRE: 800Q 500V 4.0AWA
TOEFL: 260/300
Math Courses (undergrad and grad): Calculus, Probability, Statistics, Real Analysis, Mathematical Economics (optimization and optimal control)

Econ Courses(grad): Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Aplied Econometrics.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 strong LOR from one very well-known senior professor, 2 strong LORS from two assistant professors.
Research Experience: Master's thesis, few working papers.
Teaching Experience: TA (undergraduate), Lecturer (undergraduate)
Research Interests: Macroeconomics.

SOP: Explained why I wanted to pursue a PhD in economics.

RESULTS:
Acceptances: University College London (no $), Texas A&M ($$), UC Davis ($$), University of Virginia ($$), Arizona State University ($$$), UIUC ($$$, 1st year fellowship), Carnegie Mellon ($$$, 1st year fellowship).
Rejections: UC San Diego, Brown University, UC Santa Cruz, JHU.
Pending: Queen's University.

What would you have done differently?
I think LORs matter a lot, specially for international students (since one professor may recommend 4 or 5 students at the same time to the same university). I wish I applied to fewer safety schools.
Accepts: Rejects: 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: Rejects: Waitlists: