Index of Schools AnalysisAbout the Site 2012 20112010 20092008 2007all years
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Most Recently Selected profile:

The data below comes from testmagic forums and shows accepted, waitlisted, and rejected applicants for 2010 for economics graduate school. Clicking on points in the graph above will make the most recent profile appear in the space below the graph.


Acceptances:

anx1ous 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ & Int'l Affairs from top 10 U.S. public (with an 'unranked' econ dept.)
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800Q, 680V, 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Diff Eqs, Stats I, grad Prob & Stats
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): the usual suspects
Other Courses: lots of poli sci/int'l affairs
Letters of Recommendation: all econ, 2 'unknown' (Berkeley ARE & Michigan State) and 1 'known' (MIT)...probably 2/3 were 'really' strong
Research Experience: in my 4th semester as an RA, worked on 2 projects that led (or rather, are leading) to a working paper & a senior thesis
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: applied micro--labor (specifically education) & development
SOP: standard?
Other: did a summer research program at a top 20 dept. (which I think was incredibly instrumental in my outcomes); tried to show that despite my weak math background I at least had some programming skills
Concerns: LACK OF MATH...everything else was ok, I think
What I would have done different: TAKEN MORE MATH, but I didn't know I wanted to do an econ PhD until 2nd semester junior year and was always drawn more to the social sciences than math (and had no idea they could be one and the same!)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Columbia ($), Maryland ($), Berkeley ARE ($), Texas ($), Vanderbilt ($), Georgetown (waitlisted w/ $), GW (no $)
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Brown
ATTENDING: Columbia
What could I have done differently?
In terms of the application process: applied to 2-3 fewer lower ranked depts. and put that money/time/effort towards applying to a few more top 10 schools (probably just to cover my bases, as I have no reason to believe that I would've done any 'better'). Also: stayed away from TM/Gradcafe during admissions season!
In terms of preparation: again, done a math minor/double major (for admissions as much as self-preparation--I'm pretty worried now!), but you can only take this 'should've/would've/could've' question so far, since I simply didn't know until later that I wanted to pursue this path or what was required of me.
All in all, however, I am extremely happy with my outcomes. I obviously had zero expectations or I wouldn't have applied to such a wide-ranging group of schools.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Columbia ($), Maryland ($), Berkeley ARE ($), Texas ($), Vanderbilt ($), Georgetown (
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $15.9K Notification date: 2/9 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: UC-Berkeley ARE PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship nomination Notification date: 2/5 Notified through: Email Anxiously waiting on: lots
  • Institution: U Texas-Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 02/25 Funding: ?? Notified through: E-mail, but via a grad school flyout invitation Comments: Been hearing some negative things about the department recently...
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $22K Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $18K + $5K first summer Notification date: 3/5/09 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Brown
  • Institution: Yale Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/20 Notified through: E-mail link Comments: No surprise, but still sad (first rejection)
Waitlists:
    waitlisted w/ $), GW (no $)
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted for admission w/ funding Funding: $18.5K if accepted Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: Email Comments: Oh well?

bigleaguechew 2009:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ / B.S. Math from a top 100 econphd.net public school
Undergrad GPA: 3.5 Overall, 4.0 Econ, 4.0 Math
GRE: 790Q, 610V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: One year of real analysis (A+'s); two quarters each of theoretical linear algebra (A+'s), numerical analysis (A+'s), math prob stat, nonlinear dynamics and chaos; one quarter each of PDE's, abstract algebra and complex analysis
Econ Courses: applied metrics (A+'s), public finance (A+'s), labor, game theory (A+), and a few others in addition to intermediate micro/macro
Letters of Recommendation: It seems as though I had one very respected letter writer, and other letters were more or less ignored at many schools (just what I gathered from my conversations with grad directors where I was accepted)
Research Experience: Virtually none. Started an undergrad research project that was never finished
Work Experience: 2 years in consulting (business, but not econ)
Research Interests: Applied micro, IO
SOP: Talked about how my experiences and coursework have influenced my research interests. Tailored last paragraph to each school I applied to. I cannot say this with enough emphasis... THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE DEFINITELY MATTERS AT SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF THE TOP 10. IF YOU DO NOT COME FROM AN IVY AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SPOTLESS MATH/ECON RECORD WITH SOLID RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME ON YOUR SOP AND START WORKING ON IT EARLY!
Concerns: I had about a year straight of abysmal grades (yes, we're talking about F's and W's here people) in my sophomore year of college due to some family issues. I think it was important that this occurred when I was an english major, and I made up for it by excelling in all of my econ and math courses. So, if you have screwed up and permanently marred your transcript like I did, HOPE IS NOT LOST! It just means that you have to work extra hard to outperform your classmates from here on out.
RESULTS:
Attending: UCSD ($)
Admitted, Declined: Stanford GSB Marketing ($$$$$$$$), Penn State ($$), WUSTL ($), UNC ($/2), UVA ($), Texas ($$), ASU ($$), Arizona ($$), Pittsburgh ($), Ohio State ($), U of Washinton ($), Maryland (stiffed me)
Waitlists: Minnesota, BU
Rejections: Top 10, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan, JHU, Wharton (but it doesn't count in my mind cuz I hardly showed up for the interview)
Never heard back from: USC (not that I care anymore, but seriously WTF?)
What would you have done differently?
Nothing really. I had a huge black spot on my record with that one atrocious year, and nobody knew how that would affect me. My letter writers were extremely supportive in helping me apply to as many places as I could afford, and cover a broad spectrum of programs. I thought UCSD was a long shot heading into this process, and I am thrilled to be going there. I can honestly say that I would have been happy at just about any of the programs that I was accepted to, and it was incredibly difficult for me to turn down so many attractive offers. Obviously, this is a problem that I am happy to have, but you'd be surprised how gut wrenching it is to turn down a fellowship offer from a school that you had been day-dreaming about attending just a few weeks earlier. Still, I would advise everyone who isn't a superstar with stellar letter of recommendation's to adopt a similar strategy and apply to as many places as you can afford.
Accepts:
    Attending: UCSD ($) Admitted, Declined: Stanford GSB Marketing ($$$$$$$$), Penn State ($$), WUSTL ($), UNC ($/2), UVA ($), Texas ($$), ASU ($$), Arizona ($$), Pittsburgh ($), Ohio State ($), U of Washinton ($), Maryland (stiffed me)
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding:24k Assistantship Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Email Comments: Suck on that Duke!
  • Institution: Washington University, St. Louis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: UNC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: Univ. British Columbia MA Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: email
  • Institution: University of Maryland Decision: accepted Funding: waitlist Notification date: 3/10/2009 Notified through: email
Rejects:
    Rejections: Top 10, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan, JHU, Wharton (but it doesn't count in my mind cuz I hardly showed up for the interview)
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb 18 9:07 AM EST Notified through: Email Comments: Easier to take since I already have some other options.
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Decision available through ApplyYourself website - not the separate link they sent for decision status.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Chicago Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: snail mail
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: checked website after seeing other posts here (no email)
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: randomly checked website Comments: Not at all surprised. I had lost interest in this program prior to my interview, and I pretty much let that be known to them.
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Minnesota, BU
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail

Dr. Who 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Big state school
Undergrad GPA: 3.2 BES
Type of Grad: MBA (2008) and MA Economics (anticipated 2009)
Grad GPA: 3.98 MBA, 3.97 MA
GRE: 770Q, 680V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Recent math GPA (3.78) all taken in my spare time while in MBA and summer. Calc I, II, III, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Grad Math Stats, Grad Real Analysis
Econ Courses (MA level): Micro, Math Econ, IO, Econometrics I & II, Macro, Environmental, some other electives, and finance courses
Econ Courses (undergrad): Macro and mirco only (took as prereq’s for the MA)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ from masters and 1 math
Research Interests: Labor and HR, IO, Business economics
SOP: probably adequate
Research Experience: GA for economic forecasting shop
Concerns: MBA to Econ, older than your average student, less math than some
Attending: WUSTL
Accepted: Missouri ($), CU-Boulder ($WL), Indiana (no $), WUSTL ($)
Waitlisted: WUSTL (with $ if accepted), Vanderbilt
Rejections: Northwestern, UMich, MSU
Never heard so assumed rejection: OSU and UIUC
What I would have done differently: I should have spent more time on my SOP. I think for someone like me, who is older, it could have made all the difference in the world, especially on funding decisions. It was a lot harder than I anticipated talking about myself and articulating my goals. Also, I don’t think I did a very good job matching myself up to programs strengths.
If you are in school, take a lighter load in the spring semester. Dealing with school decisions has been a HUGE time waster and I haven’t been able to concentrate for months.
I didn’t appropriately account for the economic downturn…My reaches were unattainable and seeing the decline, I should have added in a couple more safeties. Also, I should have taken more care with the safety choices. Out of the top 50 it gets a lot harder to get good info on the programs. For my interests I think KY and WY would have been solid.
Advice: For older candidates…don’t let people intimidate you into thinking there is a “ceiling” on how old you can be when you go back to get your PhD. You might not get into the top 5, but top 50 is achievable.
Find advisors that are familiar with the PhD process and what it takes to get in to a good school TODAY. My school does not grant PhD’s in business/econ and I found my advisors to be out of touch with the process. Hunt down the newer faculty and hit them up for advice.
I think the recent math background was crucial in my outcomes. Take the math. It’s never wasted.
When I returned to school, I had no idea I would end up following this path. If you are planning on a terminal masters, choose your graduate institution carefully. It will make things easier just in case you decide to continue your education.
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of Missouri, Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: GA+ tuition+ health Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD later Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: Indiana University, Bloomington Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I emailed to check on application status. They are still working on financial aid decisions.
  • Institution: Washington University, St. Louis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted off the waitlist Funding: min. 9K + tuition waiver with hope of increasing the stipend Notification date: 4/9/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Whew! One waitlist down one to go.
Rejects:
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website Comments: Well at least it is one less thing to worry about...
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/25 Notified through: response to my inquiry email Comments: Finally knocking some of the unknows off the list
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Totally shocked! So frackin' happy to still be in the game.

knickerbocker 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Economics, Math, Applied Math, Top 7 econ program, Minor Japanese Language and Culture
Undergrad GPA: 3.94/4.0 PBK, Econ 4.0/4.0, Math 4.0/4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q 790; V 620; AW 5.5
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Math Stats, Real Analysis I,II, Higher Level Math
Econ Courses: A lot
Other Courses: Mostly Japanese
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ full professors, no nobel prize winners, but know my work well
Research Experience: NONE
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Economic History, Macro
SOP: Sub par, I fear
Other: Good summer jobs the past three summers
Applying to: Columbia, Yale, Harvard, MIT, Penn, Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, Chicago
Worried I didn't apply to any safeties. Low GRE. Reassurances greatly appreciated.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship: 25.5K from University fellowship +11k from growth center for at least 4 years + Health Insurance Notification date: 2/19/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck everybody.
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Ph.D Decision: Accepted Funding: 22k Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: Email from graduate prgram coordinator Will not hold this spot for long
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted/ "A member of the one out of ten". Are they quoting W.E.B. Du Bois? If so, not cited. Funding: ?? Notification date: received by mail today Notified through: postal service Comments: As always good luck all, good stuff is coming.
  • Institution: U Penn Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: , waitlisted Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship and stuff Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: E-mail Comments: It looks as if I will be returning to the garden state. Good luck all.
Rejects:
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck everybody and for those in at MIT and Harvard, please choose MIT
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics Ph.D Decision: Waitlisted Funding: -100 for now Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: An email. I would really like to get in. Guys and Girls, Good luck to everyone you will all get in great places.

softsquirrel 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: France's top Grandes Ecoles(2 years in a top "Classe Princeton Reviewépa" if anyone knows it)
Undergrad GPA: 4.35/4.4, 1st out of 500 (Our school thinks its students merit a 10% bonus on GPA and that's why they add that, which made me some trouble as I always have to explain that)
Type of Grad: Same school(The system is weird in France, basically it's 2+3 years after high school and they deliver a somewhat Master-equivalent degree at the end)
Grad GPA: FALL
GRE: 800Q, 720V, 4.5AWA
TOEFL IBT: 115(27Speaking and 28Writing)
Math Courses: basically everything, almost like a math majoring student
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): baby micro+macro+corporate finance
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro, Macro, Econometrics, Development , Growth, Game Theory, Financial Economics etc.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a well-known French prof teaching economics in US top universities, 1 Oxford Phd (eco), 1 School prof(eco), another 1 schoolprof(math)
Research Experience: only one team-based research on auction theory
Teaching Experience: 2 years TA on maths for 2nd-year math students (the so-called "colle" in our argot)
Research Interests: macro+international
SOP: quitewell-written, I think
Applying to: Princeton, Yale, Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Stanford, NYU, UPenn, Columbia
Commnet: little research experience, but it's the problem for all candidates from French Grandes Ecoles
Accepts:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship: 25.5K from University fellowship +11k from growth center for at least 4 years + Health Insurance Notification date: 2/19/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: now I can wait for the rest with much more patience
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: no funding but placed #1 on the wait list for funding... Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: Email Comments: now I start to have the intuition that I'm out at Harvard...
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 28k for 2 years + TA + tuition Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: e-mail Comments: I woke up and saw the email, it was great!!!!!
  • Institution: Chicago Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not mentioned Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: snail mail Comments: and I went downstairs to check the mailbox and found THIS, now it's marvelous!!!!!!!
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "high on the waiting list" Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 28,5k+tuition waiver+TA Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/6 Funding: info coming in letter Notified through: email
Rejects:
  • Institution: Harvard Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Postal dated 3/13
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: email Comments: I was just looking for how to withdraw the application and received this....
Waitlists:

masterplan00 2009:
Institution: Columbia University
Program: Economics, PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: tuition+22k
Notification date: 03/02
Notified through: E-mail
Comments: Very happy!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition+22k Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Very happy!
  • Institution: Duke University Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: details in the mail Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Very happy day!
Rejects:
Waitlists:


Rejections:

ImProcrastinating 2009:
Profile:
Type of Undergrad: Top 25 with a top 40ish econ program. BA in econ.
Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.74, Econ: 3.8ish, Math: bad.
Type of Grad: Not highly ranked, top 100ish. MS in applied math.
Grad GPA (at application time...): 3.9
GRE: 790Q / 740V / 5.0 AWA.
Math Courses:
Undergrad: Calc III (B+), ODE (C- (Ouch...)), Real Analysis (A-), Linear Algebra (A).
Grad: Analysis (A-) (taken at the summer school of a top 10), Measure Theory (A-), Math Stats (A), ODE (A), Functional Analysis (A), General Topology (In progress at application time...)
Econ Courses:
Undergrad: Intro. Micro (A), Intro. Macro (A), Money and Banking (A), Economy of China (A-), Intro to Econ Stats (B+), Mathematical Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (B+), Econometrics (A), International Trade (A), Distinguished Majors Seminar (A), Independent Study (A)
Grad: PhD Micro I (A-), PhD Micro II (A), PhD Micro III (IP)
Letters of Recommendation:
1 from an undergraduate econ professor, not well known.
1 from a graduate math prof, very well known among mathematicians but I don't know if that counts...
1 from a graduate econ prof, very well known.
Research Experience: Summer at the Fed, senior thesis, 1 year + 1 summer as an RA for a professor, RAing at the IMF while applying.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Micro Theory, I/O, International Finance
Results:
Acceptances: NYU ($$$)
Waitlists: None
Rejections: A lot, Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Yale, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, and UPenn.
Pending: None.
What would you have done differently? If I could do it ALL over again, I'd probably go to an undergrad that was stronger in econ, take more math courses earlier on, and work as hard my first couple years in college as I did my last couple. But I was expecting to get rejected everywhere I applied this time around, so I'm ecstatic to be going to a dream school like NYU.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: NYU ($$$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: A lot, Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Yale, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, and UPenn.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

MorgieLilly 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A in Econ-Phil and Math. Ivy League, top 10ish in economics Uni.
Undergrad GPA: 3.85, summa cum laude.
GRE: 780Q, 510V, 3.0W
Math Courses (undergrad):
Cal I, Calc III, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Analysis and Optimization, Probability and Induction (P/F), Probability and Statistics, Advanced Logic, Independent Reading Course, (all As)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro-econometrics (A-)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro/Macro(A-,B+), Advanced Econometrics (B+), Advanced Macro (A), Economic History (A-), International (C, took abroad in Ghana.)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ, both well known. 1 math, well known in math. 1 philosophy, well known in the philosophy of science.
Research Experience: REU Intern in geophysics at Lamont Earth Observatory, summer 2007 (My paper was accepted to the 2008 ASLO Conference). Full-time economics RA this year.
Research Interests: Development, Economic History, Alternative Theories in Economics, Econometrics.
SOP: Talked about why I chose interdisciplinary study, my work abroad in Ghana and my experience this year as a research assistant. I stated that I expected to change my mind about my specialization anyway, so I didn't want to state a particular one.
Applied to: LSE, MIT, NYU, Harvard, UCSD, UC Berkeley, Chicago, Stanford, Columbia, UMich, Princeton, Yale
Rejected: Everywhere
Waitlisted/Accepted: Nada
What would you have done differently? I dunno. Feedback from my home institutions admissions committee (where I was also rejected) says that I should have taken more econ (at the expense of my philosophy and science courses) but I would not give that knowledge and my resulting world outlook up for an admit to this discipline, because I feel that this will inform my research abilities more so than having taken much more economics. I have to do a lot of thinking now about whether I belong in this discipline, seeing as the adcoms don't seem to think so. Today is sad.
Accepts:
    admit to this discipline, because I feel that this will inform my research abilities more so than having taken much more economics. I have to do a lot of thinking now about whether I belong in this discipline, seeing as the adcoms don't seem to think so. Today is sad.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/20 Notified through: e-mail directing me to website.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: I asked Jody.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: e-mail
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: e-mail
  • Institution: LSE Economics Phd. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4th March Notified through: E-mail. They said to forward my app to the masters program.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09, 11:25AM California Time Notified through: E-mail Comments: I am currently 0-11. I only have two schools left. What did I do wrong????
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: Post.
  • Institution: LSE Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/06 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Deferred me to masters applicant pile.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/09 Notified through: E-mail, from Marjorie after prodding.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: A while ago, I forgot to post it. Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: postal service
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: I called. That was my last chance. No phd. for me!
Waitlists:

ilikefreefood 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ major from a top 5-10 liberal arts college.
Undergrad GPA: 3.73/4, magna cum laude with distinction in major for senior thesis research.
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q 640V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc II-III (A,B+), Linear Algebra (Pass), Statistics (A), Mathematical Structures (A-), Real Analysis (B, taken as a non-degree student at a local school this Fall)
Econ Courses: Principles Micro/Macro (A-,A), Intermediate Micro (A) Intermediate Macro (B), Econometrics (B+), pre-thesis seminar (A-), Ag. & Food Econ. (A), Development Econ. (B+), Econ. of Inequality (A), Econ. of Water Policy (B+), British Econ. history (B+)
Other Courses: A pass/fail seminar on game theory, a Poli. Sci. course on agent-based computer modeling (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 ECON professors (liberal arts college profs but with Chicago/Stanford Ph.Ds), including my thesis adviser who has previously stated that my thesis was one of the best he's ever advised. Where possible, 1 VP at my Econ. consulting firm with whom I've worked extensively on econometric analyses.
Research Experience: ~3 years as an RA in a major Econ. consulting firm; I specialize in statistical and econometric analysis within my office.
Awards: Thesis award from state Economics association, thesis presentation award from state science association, college fellowship for (non-research) work in development related to microfinance.
Research Interests: Development, environmental/resource economics, urban economics, general applied micro.
SOP: Well-written but fairly standard; mentioned specifically my interest in development and applied micro fields.
Other Concerns: Didn't anticipate the B in analysis and received it after I had submitted applications; I don't think I have enough additional math coursework to make up for exercising a pass/fail option in linear algebra way back when.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Minnesota ARE ($$)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, MIT, NWU, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, Yale
Pending: Chicago, Cornell
What would you have done differently? Applied to Berkeley ARE and not Berkeley ECON when they made me pick just one; applied to more schools in the 20-30 range and not limited myself by the fact that I applied to 15 programs; discounted the advice of my former professors w.r.t. how far my school's reputation would get me; learned of and read the TestMagic forum earlier in the process.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Minnesota ARE ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, MIT, NWU, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, Yale
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

LagrangeJames 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. econ, B.A. math, large state university, EconPhD top 60
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0
GRE: 800Q, 650V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc III (A+), Linear algebra (A+), Differential equations I, II (A-, A), Introductory probability theory (A, fall), Math modeling (A, fall)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Optimization theory (A-, fall), Econometrics II (spring)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): All of them, including two econometrics courses and game theory; A- in intermediate microeconomics, A's otherwise
Other Courses: Spanish minor
Letters of Recommendation: Four economics professors -- nobody famous, but I had collaborated on research projects (that I had initiated) with three of them
Research Experience: Two working papers co-authored with faculty
Teaching Experience: Teaching assistant for introductory microeconomics, spring
Research Interests: Growth and development, specifically microeconomic development
SOP: Used a standard template for all statements but tailored last couple paragraphs to specific program, mentioning examples of faculty research I was interested in (but did not mention any faculty by name)
Concerns: No real analysis, but optimization theory provided a good crash course
Applying to: Maryland, Brown, MIT, Harvard, Yale, UCSD, Berkeley, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Boston, Columbia, LSE (M.Sc.)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale (with funding), Michigan (no first-year funding), Boston (with funding), UCSD (with funding)
Waitlists: Minnesota
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Columbia, Maryland, Brown, NYU
Withdrawn: LSE
What would you have done differently?
If I had discovered this forum sooner, I probably would have taken more proof-based math courses, which most likely would have boosted my chances at top top schools. However, I think research experience, letters of recommendation from faculty involved in that research and a good "fit" (in terms of my research interests) -- factors that are often overlooked, including by myself -- helped my chances at several schools. Good luck, everyone.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Yale (with funding), Michigan (no first-year funding), Boston (with funding), UCSD (with funding)
  • Institution: Yale Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: E-mail, with Word document attached, detailing funding
  • Institution: UC-San Diego Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted (Provisionally) Funding: Not mentioned Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: E-mail Comments: E-mail says I have been admitted provisionally but must submit official transcript confirming receipt of undergraduate degree before I can be officially admitted. Good luck, everyone
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Website (U-M Friend) Comments: "We are happy to report that the Admissions Committee of the Department of Economics has enthusiastically recommended to Rackham Graduate School that you be admitted to our PhD program. A letter outlining the specific details of this offer is being sent to you shortly."
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail Funding: $18,700 + $5000 summer stipend Comments: Good luck, everyone
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Columbia, Maryland, Brown, NYU Withdrawn: LSE
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: E-mail Comments:Good luck, everyone
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck, everyone
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: U.S. Postal Service Comments: Good luck, everyone
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail Comments: If it's brown, flush it down. Good luck, everyone.
  • Institution: NYU Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck, everyone.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Minnesota
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09, 11:58 Indiana time Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck, everyone

Internationalstudent08 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top-5
Undergrad GPA: 3.7
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q800, V670, A4.5
Math Courses: Real Analysis, Optimization (As)
Econ Courses: Typical undergrad courses, intro+field courses
Letters of Recommendation: 3 good ones
Research Experience: 1 year RA (+2 summers as an undergrad)
Teaching Experience: Some tutoring
Research Interests: Mostly applied micro
SOP: Must have been good
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UChicago (waiting to hear about funding), UMaryland (18k), Penn State (25k)
Waitlists: Wharton AE
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, Brown
Total Score: 10-1-3
Pending: None
What would you have done differently?
I really didn't take advantage of my undergrad school as I should have. I should have started RAing earlier, and I should have taken graduate-level courses as an undergrad, instead of being a chicken. Also, I made some bad thesis-related choices hehe
However, since last year's admission cycle, I did everything that I could to improve my profile, and ended up working with some great people. I learned a lot- perhaps more than what I'm going to learn in grad school.
The only significant econ-phd-related mistake I made was to apply to all top-10 schools and almost none of the schools between 10 and 20 (except for UMaryland). I rejected most of the schools in that range based on location preferences. Since my profile was not clear-cut top10, I should have been more careful.
Anyway, I'm glad I made it!!!!!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UChicago (waiting to hear about funding), UMaryland (18k), Penn State (25k)
  • Institution: Penn State Decision: Accepted Funding: 25k Notification date: Today Notified through: Email Comments: Very happy
  • Institution: UMaryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted, 18k Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Third admit!
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, Brown Total Score: 10-1-3
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments:The battle rages on
  • Institution: Yale Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: a few days ago Notified through: E-mail to check website. (Kinda worried that not only top-5 is impossible, but top-10 is a stretch too)
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: They should never complain that I didn't give them a second chance . These days I celebrate the anniversary of the last rejection they sent me!!!
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Another donation to support the top 10 schools
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: Same sweet letter
  • Institution: Harvard Business School Business Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Letter Comments: Not a surprise...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Wharton AE

icebear 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Econ (2006), large state university, poorly ranked economics department
Undergrad GPA: 3.89
Type of Grad: A few courses during my BA
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 750/570/4.5 (2006)
Math Courses: Calc 1 (A), Calc 2 (B+), Matrices and Linear Equations (A), Statistical Methods (A), Foundations of Quant Econ Analysis (graduate level math/econ course intended as a refresher for incoming PhD students) (A+)
Econ Courses: Micro Prin & Inter, Macro Prin & Inter, Econometrics, Independent Study x 2, Comparative Economic Systems, Recent Economic Thought (i.e. History of Academic Economics), Transformation of Central and Eastern European Countries, Privatization and Foreign Capital (B), Globalization - Social and Economic Aspects (B), Games and Decisions (B), Senior Seminar on Globalization and Trade, Political Economy I (graduate level) [Note: all A's except where noted, the 3 B's were received while studying abroad if that's worth anything].
Other Courses: Java Programming, Electrical Engineering courses for one year (A's, if these helpfully display math/computer competency...?)
Letters of Recommendation: PhDs from MIT, Cambridge, and Harvard. The first was my advisor in University, the latter two colleagues on a research project during 2007/2008 (see below).
Research Experience: Working at a European consultancy (China office) for about 18 months in 2007/2008, as a project manager for government funded economic development/trade research projects dealing with China. The job had me doing about 500usiness related tasks, 50% working with our PhD economists who did the modeling/analysis in a RA type of capacity.
Teaching Experience: ~1 year teaching English in China between my BA and the research listed above.
Research Interests: International trade, economic development in Asia (China/ASEAN), political economy in China
SOP: Talked about my strong interest in being involved in trade policy, emphasized my research experience and particular interest in each respective department (faculty, papers, topics, etc), and provided a few interesting research questions which I had brushed upon with previously and would like to continue working on as examples. Maybe a bit weak, should have sought more advice here.
Other: I decided to apply late last fall as my job was expressing an interest in fast tracking me along a management path and I knew research was more my goal. I knew my math was deficient and sought the advice of my LORs, whom all strongly encouraged me to apply to fewer, higher ranked schools with the explanation that my research experience should outweigh my deficiency in math and hiatus from formal education. This cut my plans of applying to 6-10 schools with a range of competitiveness to only 4 reach schools. Knew my GRE Q score was very low but was unable to retake once I had decided to "go for it" as China only has several mass-test dates per year and the next one wouldn't be available in time for that round of applications (definitely was not interested in the $1500+ option of flying home for a weekend to take the GRE )
RESULTS:
Acceptances: -
Waitlists: -
Rejections: Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Princeton
Pending: -
What would you have done differently?
I knew my math was deficient (both coursework and GRE) and a likely sticking point, but went for it due to encouragement from LORs. In the next 8-9 months I guess my goal is to rectify that situation as best as possible, although my circumstances make that a bit more complicated (will cover that and ask some questions in another thread).
Also, I should have included a few 'safer' options, as only top 10/20 doesn't seem realistic given my profile now that I've read a bit on TM over the past few weeks. More broadly, should have taken more math as an undergrad and perhaps considered transferring schools once I switched majors (my school was pretty good for engineering) - although my scholarship there would have made any transfer unlikely.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: -
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Princeton
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: -

Swingkid 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: University of California, BA Econ & Applied Math, French Minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.85
Type of Grad: micro
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800/700/6.0
Math Courses: Multi-var Calc, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Probability
Econ Courses: Grad Micro, Intermediate Micro and Macro, Metrics, Applied Metrics, Corporate Finance, Game Theory, Contract Theory, Development
Other Courses: a lot of French
Letters of Recommendation: 3 letters, one of which was from a fecund researcher that I've worked with for two years. The other two are from my grad micro professor and my undergrad development professor; the former barely knows me, the latter I've spoken to about my research ideas.
Research Experience: Two years undergrad RA. Thesis (?)
Teaching Experience: Does dance count? =P
Research Interests: Development, Applied Micro
SOP: I don't think it was that special. In any case, it probably didn't carry much weight.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCLA, Yale, Berkeley, Brown
Waitlists: U Penn
Rejections: MIT, Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern, NYU
What would you have done differently?
I would have definitely submitted a better-prepared application for the NSF, since funding is kind of an issue for me. I found out about the fellowship a week before the deadline and decided to apply anyway. That said, I wouldn't have done much else differently, since I'm really ecstatic about my acceptances! :-)
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UCLA, Yale, Berkeley, Brown
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: nominated for Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship Notification date: Feb 13, 2009 Notified through: Website, email
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 36.5K altogether Notification date: 2/19/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I am still in shock...
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: no first year funding, then TA Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I almost cried from happiness!
  • Institution: Brown Economics, PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: 19k + summer stipend Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail (personal) Comments: I will probably decline soon though.
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern, NYU
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: HA! Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: 20-22 spots, 700 or so applicants
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: U Penn

scrobles 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Econ and Math, MIT
Undergrad GPA: 4.7/5.0 (equivalent to 3.7)
Type of Grad: none
GRE: 800Q/740V/5.5W
Math Courses: Calc 1&2, Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Real Analysis, Intro to Discrete Math, Modern Algebra, Intro to Stochastic Modeling (Grad course). About half As and half Bs, with more As in the later years.
Econ Courses: Intro and Intermediate Micro and Macro, Econometrics, Education, Development, Behavioral, Public Policy, Environmental, Econ research class. Mostly As.
Other Courses: Chinese
Letters of Recommendation: 3 profs with PhDs from MIT. The first was my development teacher and I RA'd for her a couple of semesters. I worked for the second two doing field research for 2 years after graduating.
Research Experience: Working at a econ research NGO for 2 years after college. RA for a bit in college.
Teaching Experience: Tutoring probability course in university, and general tutoring stuff.
Research Interests: Development, Behavioral, applied micro
SOP: My experiences and my interests. Why I like econ.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCSD, UCLA, UC Davis ARE, Northwestern, Chicago, Duke, USC, Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford
Waitlists: nope
Rejections: MIT, Columbia, Brown
What would you have done differently?
My results were great, I think mostly because of my LORs so I think my after-college job really saved me. If I had to do it again, I would get As in key courses (mostly math) and do an economics thesis, but this is just theoretical since it wasn't necessary.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UCSD, UCLA, UC Davis ARE, Northwestern, Chicago, Duke, USC, Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford
  • Institution: Duke University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: will be sent via USPS Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: email with link to applyyourself website
  • Institution: Harvard Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: I don't know and I'm not thinking straight enough to care Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: E-mail from susan athey(I was away from the phone) Comments: I am so happy.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 2/27/09 8 AM Notified through: Looked on applyyourself no email yet Comments: I can't believe it
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: funded, but details in the mail Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: woohoo!
  • Institution: USC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship and stuff Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I meant to withdraw my application today, but oh well. At least it tempers the MIT rejection...a little
  • Institution: U Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: USPS Comments: I am out of town so my mother checked the mail late at night.
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Columbia, Brown
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: bummed.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Funding:bah humbug Notification date:March 5 Notified through:E-Mail Comments: I emailed them last week asking them to please withdraw my application from consideration, but I guess they wanted to say "You're not dumping me, I'm dumping you"
  • Institution: Stanford University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected, then Accepted Notification date: 3/6/09 2:50pm for the reject, then 6:15 pm for the admit Funding: details in the mail Notified through: E-mail Comments: WTF
  • Institution: Brown Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: e-mail Comments: This is the final school I had pending since I withdrew my app from NYU. Final count: 3 rejections, 10 acceptances.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: nope

shubhamk 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B. Tech. from IIT Kanpur (Best Techno-Managerial school in India)
Undergrad GPA: 3.0/4
Type of Grad: MBA also from IIT Kanpur
Grad GPA: 3.2/4
GRE: 800Q, 660V, 4.0AWA
Math Courses: All quantitative courses for Electrical Engineering (Communication Systems specialization). That also means related courses on probability, calculus and Linear Algebra
Econ Courses (MBA-level): Micro, Macro and International business economics
Other Courses: 4 Sociology courses (during undergrad). 1 Development Economics course (during MBA)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 econ Prof (IIT Kanpur), 2 other Prof (IIT Kanpur)
Research Experience: 1 research case study was done for UNICEF while I was UN intern for 3 months in India itself. This was published for internal UN circulation. I have been working on development field for 3 years with small IIT Kanpur reports being published internally.
Research Interests: Development Economics, Labor Economics and Public Policy
Results
Will be attending: Penn State ($$, Economics)
Rejections: Wharton (Applied Economics), UCLA (Economics), Columbia GSB (Economics), Cornell (Applied Economics)
Pending: CMU Tepper (Econ and Public Policy), ERIM (Labor Econ)
What would you have done differently?
Nothing!!! I am happy that I am finally going to do research in Economics which is more important than many other parameters we try to judge our acceptances and rejections on.
Accepts:
    attending: Penn State ($$, Economics)
  • Institution: Penn state Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: 20k for 5 years Notification date: 11-Feb-09 Notified through: email Comments:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Wharton (Applied Economics), UCLA (Economics), Columbia GSB (Economics), Cornell (Applied Economics)
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4th March Notified through: Email to check website
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Here goes out the only West Coast program I had applied to
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: E-mail asking to chk ApplyYourself
  • Institution: Cornell Applied Economics and Management PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Snail Mail dated 3/6
Waitlists:
    Pending: CMU Tepper (Econ and Public Policy), ERIM (Labor Econ)

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 $)
  • Institution: Queen's University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $25K first year, minimum $20K every year after. Notification date: Feb 18 9:24 AM EST Notified through: Email Comments: First offer. It's nice to have some kind of future. NB: One of the early offers. I imagine they will likely make more.
  • Institution: University of Toronto Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $27K first year, $23K years 2-4 pending satisfactory progress. Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email with an attached letter Comments: Now that's an offer. Bickety-Bam.
  • Institution: Boston University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail Funding: None Comments: It's kind of nice to be in somewhere in the US. The no funding offer makes this one kind of a no-brainer-declining.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Chicago, NWU, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Rochester, Michigan, Minnesota
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Onwards, upwards.
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: 9 Left, not looking good for NWU.
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Still needing that one.
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: This does not seem like my year at all.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: Same letter. Count 'em up.
  • Institution: U Chicago Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: If admitted, funding. Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Post Comments: No worries.
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website Comment: This is becoming habitual.
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/23 Notified through: e-mail Comments: was just waitin' on that one, really.
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/6/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Ditto, Wind up.
Waitlists:
    Pending: Cornell (will withdraw)

Sonaar 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, minor in History from a Latin American University
Undergrad GPA: 4.3/5.0, ranked 2nd in cohort.
Type of Grad: M.A. Economics, same Uni as undergrad
Grad GPA: 4.4/5.0, ranked 7th in cohort.
GRE: 790Q, 500V, 4.0 AWA. Second time.
Math Courses: Calculus I, II and multivariate (A, B+, A), linear algebra (A), Math for economics (A), Math statistics I and II (both As), Econometrics I and II (both As)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (A+), Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Growth theory (A), International Economics (A), etc. for M.A.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I, II and III (A, B+, A); Macro I, II and III (A, B, A+), Fiscal and Monetary theory, Public Economics... lots of them, lots of As.
Letters of Recommendation: one from a pre-tenured economics professor, one from the senior economist of a IFI, other from an economist of another IFI. One from a prof of a Public Policy School.
Research Experience: lots, almost 7 years between an Latin American think tank, now at IFI.
Teaching Experience: tutor of linear algebra and other econ courses, TA and later main instructor.
Research Interests: Applied Microeconomics, Health economics, Development, Labor
SOP: Done, pretty good
Concerns: some weak grades and econ and math courses (I was young and stupid then), and no formal, more advanced math.
Other: M.A. thesis published at local refereed journal, presented at an international conference.
RESULTS:
Attending: Maryland ($)
Acceptances: Maryland ($)
Rejections: Michigan, Duke, Michigan St, UT Austin, Johns Hopkins, U British Columbia, Brown.
Pending: BU
What would you have done differently? A lot. besides the obvious (more math, better grades, apply to more safeties), I should have applied earlier. Too much RAship (7 years!) probably hurt my application. I was extremely lucky to get a funded offer.
Accepts:
    Attending: Maryland ($) Acceptances: Maryland ($)
  • Institution: Maryland - College Park Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $18+tuition waiver+health insurance Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: pheeeww... relieved at last!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Michigan, Duke, Michigan St, UT Austin, Johns Hopkins, U British Columbia, Brown.
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb 18 9:07 AM EST Notified through: Email Comments: I thought I had a chance there...
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/11 Notified through: shortest rejection email in history. Comments: A micro guy applying to JHU, trying to fit into health economics... long shot, but it worthed!
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website Comment: there goes my dream school...
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: email Comments: and there goes Canada for me...
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail Comments: expected
  • Institution: Michigan State Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: E-mail Comments: nah, I don't care anymore
  • Institution: University of Texas - Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/30/09 Notified through: Website Comments: why did it take that long?
Waitlists:
    Pending: BU

elcapitano 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BSc Economics, University of Sussex
Undergrad GPA: ~3.9+
Type of Grad: MA Economics, UBC
Grad GPA: ~3.8+
GRE: 800Q, 720V, 4.5 AWA. Second time.
Math Courses: Not many, all (A's)
Econ Courses: A bunch, mostly (A's)
Letters of Recommendation: Will have been enthusiastic, although might not have the highest profile in the US.
Research Experience: fairly little, two years working in government, undergrad thesis.
Teaching Experience: TA for introductory courses.
Research Interests: Political Economy, Development (macro/institutions/policy), Trade, Economic History
SOP: Short, dull.
Concerns: Not much real math.
RESULTS:
Attending: LSE (MRes/PhD) ($$$)
Acceptances: LSE (MRes/PhD)
Withdrawals: Cambridge, Oxford, Cornell
Rejections: Columbia, Brown.
What would you have done differently? Not too much, LSE was one of my two target schools. Could possibly applied to more of the top ten, however given the funding and location offered there are only perhaps 5-6 schools that I might have taken ahead, and my chances at these were probably infintessimal. I think British undergrad certainly helped applications to British schools and probably hinders in the US.
Accepts:
    Attending: LSE (MRes/PhD) ($$$) Acceptances: LSE (MRes/PhD) Withdrawals: Cambridge, Oxford, Cornell
  • Institution: LSE Economics, PhD MRes (Track 1) Decision: Accepted Funding: 4 year fellowship ($$$) Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Likely to attend
Rejects:
    Rejections: Columbia, Brown.
  • Institution: Brown Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/23 Notified through: e-mail Comments: I should've e-mailed to dump them before they got the chance to dump me.
Waitlists:

veryshuai 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Nicely ranked midwest LA
Undergrad GPA: 3.62
Type of Grad:Econ
Grad GPA: ~85/100
GRE: 800/700/4.5
Math Courses: Calc 1-3 (A,A,A-), Stats (A), Real Analysis (A)
Econ Courses: Grad series Macro, Micro, and Econometrics and some other stuff...A's except Micro 1 (B) and Time Series (B) (no pluses or minuses in our program)
Other Courses: Nothing that should matter
Letters of Recommendation: UCLA (thesis advisor), Brown, U Mich
Research Experience: RA for a semester, Master's Thesis
Teaching Experience: Nope
Research Interests: Development, Applied Macro Theory, not sure...goal to work in the research dept. of international organization
SOP: Spent a lot of time on it, but who knows...
Other: Fulbright fellowship and some other money awards...
RESULTS:
Acceptances:Penn State ($$),BU (no$), UW Madison(no$)
Waitlists: none
Rejections:Michigan, Minnesota, Brown, Harvard, U Chicago, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Berkeley, UCLA,
Pending:Georgetown
What would you have done differently? Applied to a few more mid-ranked schools...it would be nice to have another funded option or two. Having said that, I am glad that I got firm rejections from all the top 20's, so that I don't have to wonder "What if?"
Accepts:
    Acceptances:Penn State ($$),BU (no$), UW Madison(no$)
Rejects:
    Rejections:Michigan, Minnesota, Brown, Harvard, U Chicago, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Berkeley, UCLA,
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

Ecolocomex 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics top LATAM university
Undergrad GPA: 3.78
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: None
GRE: 740Q, 410V 3.5 AWA
Math Courses: Throughout then whole BA studies, never knew about real analysis. Lots of Statistics.
Econ Courses: Advanced Micro, Advanced Micro, Monetary Policy, Industrial Organization, International Trade, Public Sector Economics, Econometrics
Other Courses: Environmental economics, financial markets, etc.
Letters of Recommendation: Professors of economics who also happen to be directors of the graduate school I attended.
Research Experience: Issues in international trade and industrial organization at the construction sector firm.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: International Economics, Monetary Policy, Financial markets
SOP: Application of economics in public policy issues.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UBC MA (no$), McGill MA ($)
Waitlists: None
Rejections: Yale Phd, LSE MA, Columbia Phd, Harvard Phd, UT Austin Phd.
Pending: UofT
What would you have done differently?
I’d have improved my GRE, and done more research. Perhaps that’s the way the cookie crumbles, and I’m rather into applied economics than a PhD. Perhaps I needed to improve my knowledge of economics through a MA program first, and then decide over MBA or PhD.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UBC MA (no$), McGill MA ($)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Yale Phd, LSE MA, Columbia Phd, Harvard Phd, UT Austin Phd.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

treblekicker 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ (Honors I think) and Math Double Major; U.S. Private University ranked 35th overall by US News (the one that isn't a top 20 Econ School)
Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.65/4.0, Econ: 3.71/4.0, Math: 3.89/4.0 (at time of application)
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 790Q 590V 4.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (B+/A/A), Linear Algebra (A), ODE (A), Probability (A), Math Stats (A), UG Analysis (A-), Complex Variables (A), Topology (took in the fall, B, did not submit the grade), PhD Analysis (W), Abstract Algebra (currently taking), Intro to Proof Writing (currently taking)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A-), Money and Banking (A-), Labor (B+), Antitrust and Regulation (A), International Trade (A-), Econ Stats I & II (B, A), Metrics (A), PhD Micro (took in the fall, A, did not submit)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 PSU, 1 Duke, 1 UNC; All three knew me very well, two I have had significant research experience with; I am sure all were strong.
Research Experience: Independent Study on Nonparametric Statistics; Senior Thesis on Monetary Policy; Research Assistant for Health Econ.
Teaching Experience: n/a
Research Interests: Metrics Theory
SOP: nothing special
RESULTS:
Attending: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (Fellowship)
Acceptances: UNC
Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, NWU, Yale, Penn, Columbia, UCSD, Duke, Berkeley
Waitlist: PSU (will withdraw)
What would you have done differently? I knew I wanted to do a PhD early enough that I could have transferred to a Top 15 department. However, I would never in a million years regret staying at my current school. I love my professors and have made some fantastic friends and memories.
I would not have taken the course load that I did in the past fall. I would have taken Financial Calculus and PDEs instead of Topology and PhD Analysis. That way, I would have better grades in the fall (and no W) and I could have gotten the chance to submit my PhD Micro A. That probably would have gotten me into at least one school that I got rejected from, but whatever.
Accepts:
    Attending: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (Fellowship) Acceptances: UNC
  • Institution: UNC Chapel Hill Econ PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Will be notified in Mid-March Notification date: Feb 3rd; Feb 13th Notified through: By Email from Econ Dept.; By Mail from Grad School Comments: Hooray!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, NWU, Yale, Penn, Columbia, UCSD, Duke, Berkeley
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb 18 9:07 AM EST Notified through: Email Comments: Knew a rejection was going to come, but it still stinks.
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Another one bites the dust
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Same as previous posters. I'm drunk and loren connors is playing so i don't care.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I never really liked Krugman's Op-Eds anyway
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: at least they finally got around to sending it out.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09, 2:45 PM EST Notified through: E-mail Comments: well that was expected.
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Come on UCSD, give me your decision so I can be over with this horrible process.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail Comments: 'bout time.
Waitlists:
    Waitlist: PSU (will withdraw)
  • Institution: PSU Econ PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: ? Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: email Comments: "I am writing to update you regarding your application to the Economics Ph.D. program at Penn State for Fall 2009. Our admissions committee has finished the first-round of evaluations. We have found you to be certainly well qualified for our program but due to the many applications we received, have placed you, for the moment, on our waiting list. We hope to communicate a final decision to you by April 1 once we have a better idea of how many of our first-round of offers are likely to be accepted. In the meantime, please let us know if receive an offer of admission from another university, and whether or not you wish to continue to be on our waiting list."

bigleaguechew 2009:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ / B.S. Math from a top 100 econphd.net public school
Undergrad GPA: 3.5 Overall, 4.0 Econ, 4.0 Math
GRE: 790Q, 610V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: One year of real analysis (A+'s); two quarters each of theoretical linear algebra (A+'s), numerical analysis (A+'s), math prob stat, nonlinear dynamics and chaos; one quarter each of PDE's, abstract algebra and complex analysis
Econ Courses: applied metrics (A+'s), public finance (A+'s), labor, game theory (A+), and a few others in addition to intermediate micro/macro
Letters of Recommendation: It seems as though I had one very respected letter writer, and other letters were more or less ignored at many schools (just what I gathered from my conversations with grad directors where I was accepted)
Research Experience: Virtually none. Started an undergrad research project that was never finished
Work Experience: 2 years in consulting (business, but not econ)
Research Interests: Applied micro, IO
SOP: Talked about how my experiences and coursework have influenced my research interests. Tailored last paragraph to each school I applied to. I cannot say this with enough emphasis... THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE DEFINITELY MATTERS AT SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF THE TOP 10. IF YOU DO NOT COME FROM AN IVY AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SPOTLESS MATH/ECON RECORD WITH SOLID RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME ON YOUR SOP AND START WORKING ON IT EARLY!
Concerns: I had about a year straight of abysmal grades (yes, we're talking about F's and W's here people) in my sophomore year of college due to some family issues. I think it was important that this occurred when I was an english major, and I made up for it by excelling in all of my econ and math courses. So, if you have screwed up and permanently marred your transcript like I did, HOPE IS NOT LOST! It just means that you have to work extra hard to outperform your classmates from here on out.
RESULTS:
Attending: UCSD ($)
Admitted, Declined: Stanford GSB Marketing ($$$$$$$$), Penn State ($$), WUSTL ($), UNC ($/2), UVA ($), Texas ($$), ASU ($$), Arizona ($$), Pittsburgh ($), Ohio State ($), U of Washinton ($), Maryland (stiffed me)
Waitlists: Minnesota, BU
Rejections: Top 10, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan, JHU, Wharton (but it doesn't count in my mind cuz I hardly showed up for the interview)
Never heard back from: USC (not that I care anymore, but seriously WTF?)
What would you have done differently?
Nothing really. I had a huge black spot on my record with that one atrocious year, and nobody knew how that would affect me. My letter writers were extremely supportive in helping me apply to as many places as I could afford, and cover a broad spectrum of programs. I thought UCSD was a long shot heading into this process, and I am thrilled to be going there. I can honestly say that I would have been happy at just about any of the programs that I was accepted to, and it was incredibly difficult for me to turn down so many attractive offers. Obviously, this is a problem that I am happy to have, but you'd be surprised how gut wrenching it is to turn down a fellowship offer from a school that you had been day-dreaming about attending just a few weeks earlier. Still, I would advise everyone who isn't a superstar with stellar letter of recommendation's to adopt a similar strategy and apply to as many places as you can afford.
Accepts:
    Attending: UCSD ($) Admitted, Declined: Stanford GSB Marketing ($$$$$$$$), Penn State ($$), WUSTL ($), UNC ($/2), UVA ($), Texas ($$), ASU ($$), Arizona ($$), Pittsburgh ($), Ohio State ($), U of Washinton ($), Maryland (stiffed me)
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding:24k Assistantship Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Email Comments: Suck on that Duke!
  • Institution: Washington University, St. Louis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: UNC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: Univ. British Columbia MA Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: email
  • Institution: University of Maryland Decision: accepted Funding: waitlist Notification date: 3/10/2009 Notified through: email
Rejects:
    Rejections: Top 10, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan, JHU, Wharton (but it doesn't count in my mind cuz I hardly showed up for the interview)
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb 18 9:07 AM EST Notified through: Email Comments: Easier to take since I already have some other options.
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Decision available through ApplyYourself website - not the separate link they sent for decision status.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Chicago Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: snail mail
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: checked website after seeing other posts here (no email)
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: randomly checked website Comments: Not at all surprised. I had lost interest in this program prior to my interview, and I pretty much let that be known to them.
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Minnesota, BU
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail

jeeves0923 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Math, B.A. Economics (Both Honors), Virginia Tech
Undergrad GPA: 3.90
Type of Grad: M.S. Math, Virginia Tech
Grad GPA: 3.90
GRE: 800Q, 610V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses(undergrad): through Real Analysis I & II.
Math Courses(PhD): Abstract Algebra, Stochastic Processes, Measure Theory, Matrix Theory
Econ Courses: Lots of electives + PhD Micro, Metrics, Labor.
Other Courses: Half an engineering degree, history minor.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 Econ Profs (didn't end up using the math prof). All extremely good (at least that's what a couple adcoms told me)
Research Experience: A couple of papers, 4 semesters of econ research, one math theory paper, a bunch of presentations
Teaching Experience:Quite a lot- Calculus, Vector Geometry, Writing Coach, Micro Econ Theory, and some tutoring
Research Interests: Micro Theory, Political Economy, IO... maybe some other applied micro
SOP: I think it was too long, and I would have done a bit differently (see the link below)
Other: I fly airplanes and cook, but not at the same time
RESULTS:
Attending: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Accepted: NSF, MIT($$), Kellogg (MEcS) ($$), UChicago ($$), Minnesota($$), Duke ($$), Michigan(no $), Berkeley Law School
Wait List: Princeton, not eventually admitted
Rejections: Stanford GSB, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Penn, Harvard, Berkeley
What would you have done differently? http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...te-school.html (And What A Strange Ride It's Been- Advice if you Come from an Unknown State School) I did better than I expected
Nothing too drastic. I'm so happy!
Accepts:
    Attending: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Accepted: NSF, MIT($$), Kellogg (MEcS) ($$), UChicago ($$), Minnesota($$), Duke ($$), Michigan(no $), Berkeley Law School
  • Institution: Northwestern Kellogg Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 30K for 5 years Notification date: 2/23/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Life couldn't get much better right now.
  • Institution: Duke University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fully Funded - specifics in the mail Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Withdrawing once I get official Kellogg offer
  • Institution: University of Michigan Programme: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 31/03/2009 Funding: None Comments: Same as Fille. I will be declining.
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Complicated with NSF Notification date: 4/9/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Said they were going to accept me anyway
  • Institution: MIT Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: April 15, 11:59 AM Notified through: Phone Call Comments: I will be attending!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford GSB, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Penn, Harvard, Berkeley
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Even though it wasn't a good match for me, it stings bigtime.
  • Institution: Stanford GSB EA&P Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/23/09 Notified through: Email/website Comments: Psh... Still too happy about Kellogg to let this get me down
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: This one hurts a lot, actually... but it will probably end up making my final decision easier...
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Came home after a 16.5 hour drive today to this...I guess they liked me better last year without graduate math classes... one step closer to Evanston...
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: Shazam! Bam! Out at Columbia!
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: That makes 0-4 on target schools! 1-3-1 on reaches. 1-1-1 on safeties. What a strange year! 1 safety, 2 targets left...
  • Institution: Harvard Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Postal dated 3/13 Comments: I compared it to last year's rejection. There are only two differences: 1. The date in the top left. 2. We regret to inform you that you have not been admitted for 2009 (last year it said 2008). Nice.
Waitlists:
    Wait List: Princeton, not eventually
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: What a random process! I'm surprised, but not upset. Nothing can upset me after yesterday
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: 25,750 if admitted Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Ecstatic! This is fantastic news!
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Phone Comments: Joining Fille. 4 waitlists. 2 from reaches and 2 from safeties. What an odd year.

funkychinamen 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 Econ program, transfer from top 40 Econ program, Econ major
Undergrad GPA: 3.892 /4.000
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 780Q 480V 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I, Calc II, Calc III, Vector Calc, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Probability Theory, Linear Algebra - proof-based, Intro to Proofs, Real Analysis, Math Stats (Spring)
Econ Courses: Intermed Micro, Intermed Macro, Topics in Macro, Analysis of Econ Data, I.O., International Micro, International Macro, Labor, Intro to Mathematical Econ, Game Theory, Econometrics, Grad Micro I, Applied Econometrics (Spring)
Letters of Recommendation: One from an associate professor in the Ag Econ department who I researched with, one from an assistant professor at Business School who I researched with, one from professor who taught grad course
Research Experience: One year with an associate professor in the Ag Econ department, One semester with assistant professor in Business school, senior thesis in progress
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: I.O., Micro Theory, Labor
SOP: Looked back at it the other day. I HOPE they didn’t read it.
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
USC Marshall ($), Duke ($), Northwestern ($), UCSD (No $), Texas (No $), Boston U (No $)
Waitlists:
UPenn (rejected), Caltech (rejected)
Rejections:
Yale, Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Minnesota, Maryland, UCLA Anderson, Harvard, Michigan, NYU, Cornell, Brown
What would you have done differently?
I would have studied harder for the GRE, finished a major in applied math, and applied to UCLA econ.
(Not-so) Fun Facts:
-Not accepted to any Ivy League school (UPenn waitlist)
-Not accepted to any school that used the Embark system (Caltech waitlist)
Attending: Northwestern!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: USC Marshall ($), Duke ($), Northwestern ($), UCSD (No $), Texas (No $), Boston U (No $)
  • Institution: Duke University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: In the mail Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: email to website Comments: Hoo- and -ray!
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Doesn't say Notification date: 2/26/09 9:00PM PST Notified through: Checked applyyourself Comments: Take that, Minnesota!
  • Institution: UC San Diego Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted (Provisionally) Funding: Not mentioned Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: E-mail Comments: YAY! One of my top choices! Feels good after a whole week of Top 10 rejections
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Dunno... still confused. Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Website Comments: No e-mail...just checked the website. It says: "We're pleased to inform you that you've been accepted to The University of Texas at Austin. We recommend that you contact your graduate adviser as soon as possible. It's a pleasure to welcome you as a graduate student." Although, I did receive an e-mail from Eugenio J. Miravete making a correction to an e-mail he sent earlier regarding the date of the flyout...I never received the first e-mail...
  • Institution: Boston University Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "Financial Aid Alternate" Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I think getting accepted without aid to schools that are lower on your list than ones you've already been accepted to is absolutely great. You don't feel bad about being rejected, but it doesn't really change the set of schools you have to make a decision on. Will probably decline soon.
Rejects:
    rejected), Caltech (rejected) Rejections: Yale, Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Minnesota, Maryland, UCLA Anderson, Harvard, Michigan, NYU, Cornell, Brown
  • Institution: Stanford University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail AND Postal Comments: What a better way to end a week of 5 rejections and 1 wait-list (not to mention 2 problem sets, and a Stat lab report), except with, not only another rejection from my dream school, but the official rejection letter in my mailbox when I come home? YAY!
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website Comments: Kind of feeling like Northwestern was a fluke...granted, the most AMAZING fluke of my life.
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/6/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Not an Ivy-Leaguer
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UPenn (
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email

Nebuchadrezzar 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: european, gpa scale
Undergrad GPA: 3.8/4.0
Type of Grad: european masters
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800 q, 440 verbal, 4.0 awa
Math Courses: calculus 1, 2, 3, diff eq, real analysis 1 2, topology, lin alg
Econ Courses: int mic, int mac, labor, game theory, io, phd micro 1 2, phd macro 1,2 , phd metrics 1, 2, optimization
Other Courses: -
Letters of Recommendation: 3 from home inst, at least 2 of them should be good
Research Experience: term paper, honors thesis
Teaching Experience: ta in several courses
Research Interests: micro-macro theory, game theory
SOP: standard sop summarizing my profle
Other: -
RESULTS:
Acceptances: rochester($), wisconsin(no $), michigan($)
Waitlists: wustl
Rejections: harvard, mit, chicago, nw, upenn, nyu, columbia, stanford, berkeley, caltech, cornell, yale, princeton...!!
Pending: -
going to: university of michigan
What would you have done differently?
i could study more in masters and send my transcript and get a letter of recommendation from there maybe. i don't know if that would help with the top 10. but i am happy to go to michigan!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: rochester($), wisconsin(no $), michigan($)
Rejects:
    Rejections: harvard, mit, chicago, nw, upenn, nyu, columbia, stanford, berkeley, caltech, cornell, yale, princeton...!!
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: wustl

Fig01123 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Big state school; not sure how it's ranked in econ--probably mid-tier;
Undergrad GPA: 3.9
Type of Grad: Top 10 private. It's top 5 in econ, but I did my M.A. in East Asian History.
Grad GPA: 3.94
GRE: 800Q/660V 5.0
Math Courses: Calc I-III (multivariable), Linear algebra, stats and Fortran (not a math class, I know, but several apps asked for programming classes) in undergrad (all As). Since this was more than 13 years ago, I've also been taking "brush up" math this past year-- Linear Algebra I, II, multivariable calc, diff eqs, and currently auditing real analysis
Econ Courses: intro to micro, intro to macro, intermediate micro, international trade, public economics, economics of Japan, labor economics seminar, advanced micro seminar (which I took at a second-rate state school, so was a joke) grad level micro class. All A/A+, except the grad level class, which I took pass/fail, and econ of Japan (B+)
Other Courses: I only minored in econ in undergrad, but I started out in engineering, so I have 1.5 years worth of math/science classes--mostly As except 1 class.
Letters of Recommendation: I would've gotten excellent recs from my ugrad profesors, but I lost touch w/ all of them, so I asked my grad thesis advisor (non-econ), my current boss (econ, but no PhD), and a math professor for a class I was taking in the fall to brush up on math.
Research Experience: I do some economic research at work, but it's more like compiling data, so essentially no.
Teaching Experience: tutored math subjects and have taught English abroad.
Research Interests: originally environment, but now that it looks like I'm headed to LSE, I think I will try to do this from a development standpoint.
SOP: standard.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: GMU (no $), and LSE Ms Econ 1 year (no $)
Waitlists:
Rejections: pretty much everywhere I applied! I won't list them all, but think of the schools in the top 20 or so--Berkeley, Yale, Michigan, NW, NYU, Columbia, etc.
Pending: BU. I still haven't heard from them!!
What would you have done differently? First, I did not discover this board until after I applied, which was my first mistake. Clearly, being out of school for over 10 years (well, undergrad), I've been out of the loop.
Second, I waited too long. I had top grades in econ and math (often the highest in the class and had 100 avg in several of the classes), so had I applied straight out of undergrad, I think I would've gotten much stronger recs. But this renewed interest in econ is mostly due to my past few jobs, so I didn't anticipate that I'd be applying to grad school. Again. I think they really penalize you for age--and it makes sense, b/c I've forgotten a lot of my math, etc. It doesn't matter if you got top grades 10-12 years ago, if you can't remember how to run regressions now.
Third, I also didn't take my undergrad classes w/ the assumption that I'd do an econ grad degree, so my classes were very micro-heavy. If I had any inkling that I'd apply to econ grad programs, I would've taken a lot more math. In fact, I probably would've majored in math.
Fourth, related to #3-- I think my LoRs hurt me. I didn't have any strong ones from econ professors. I'm sure my work and my advisor LoRs were strong enough, but one is not econ, and the other is econ, but not well known. I probably should've asked some of my undergrad profs, but I lost touch w/ all of them, so I felt uncomfortable asking.
Fifth, I wish I had planned and coordinated this much better. Between taking classes and studying for GREs, I underestimated how much time that would take up--especially the classes. I spent a lot of time focusing on classes, b/c I knew I had to get As. As a result, the first "free" time I had to even think of apps was early Nov-- by which time it was too late to apply for NSF. Really stupid planning on my part.
Finally, I already said this, but I wish I had discovered this board sooner. I selected the schools I applied to based on what several econ profs I interact w/ at work suggested. One is even on ADCOM for our school, so I thought his assessments would be accurate. He told me to apply to top 15 schools, so I did. I think he overestimated my abilities, b/c as I noted above, I got rejected everywhere. And after looking through people's profiles, I realized that contrary to what these profs said, I really had no chance in the top 10 schools. I should've applied to various levels of schools. Anyway, it's too late for me to learn from my own stupid mistakes, but I hope someone else will.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: GMU (no $), and LSE Ms Econ 1 year (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejections: pretty much everywhere I applied! I won't list them all, but think of the schools in the top 20 or so--Berkeley, Yale, Michigan, NW, NYU, Columbia, etc.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

zshfryoh1 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Math and Econ (double major), large public college in Northeast
Undergrad GPA: 3.78
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 770Q/630V/5.5A
Math Courses (Undergrad level): Calc I&II (A, A-), Multivar Calc (B+), Lin Alg (B+), Intro to Prob and Stats (B-), ODEs (C), PDEs (A-)
Math Courses (Grad - Masters level): Non-Measure Prob Theory (C-/A on retake), Numerical Analysis I&II - Proof based (B, A-), Stochastic Methods in Operations Research (A-)
Econ Courses (Undergrad level): Intro Macro (A), Intro Micro (A+), Mathematical Intermediate Micro (A+), Mathematical Intermediate Macro (A-), Money and Banking (A-), Investment Analysis (B+), Financial Markets (A+), Independent Study & Research Paper on Real Options (A), Computational Finance (A+)
Econ Courses (PhD level): Econometrics I (B-)
Other Courses: Algorithmic Programming I (A+), Algorithmic and OOP II (A+), Full Science Honors Research sequence including three research presentations (all A or A+)
Letters of Recommendation: One excellent from a Econ Prof who is fairly well known. One excellent from an Econ Asst Prof that I RA'd and TA'd for. One Excellent from CS prof I took for Computational Finance.
Research Experience: A lot.Three years as an RA for a prof doing research into financial markets, and as part of this research I am in the process of developing a new method of programming simulations of financial markets for market microstructure research. Currently working in paper explaining new method, which I hope to submit to journals before September. Project for the Independent Study course on an application of Real Options to labor bargaining in sports. Will be submitted to a journal in May or June. Honor's thesis on applications of real options to natural resource and agricultural investment.
Teaching Experience: One Semester as TA for Intermediate Micro. Subbed multiple times for professor in Options and Futures class
Research Interests: Financial Econ (specifically Market Microstructure and Real Options Analysis), Micro Theory, Mathematical and Computational Methods, secondary interests in everything but monetary macro.
SOP: Decent and pretty standard. Customized it for each grad school and explained some extenuating circumstances.
Other: Full time student (35+ hours per week) at a school for the advanced study of Talmudic Law, simultaneous with my college schedule. Six student seminar presentations of original research in Talmudic Law. Five publications of original research in Talmudic Law. Two semester of extenuating circumstances (taking care of ill grandmother). Applied for NSF, did not receive.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: A number math/stats/FE masters programs
Waitlists: UPenn
Rejections: NYU, NYU Stern Econ, NYU Stern Finance, Columbia, Columbia GSB, Wharton Applied Econ, Wharton Finance
Pending: None
Attending: MA Stat, same as UG
What would you have done differently? Nothing really. All my profs told me that with 20 more points on my GREQ I would have an excellent shot at 15-30 range schools and a chance at top 15's. However, my plan from the start was to only apply to a few top 15 programs, and if as expected I didn't get in, to go for a math/stat/FE masters and re-apply next year. I did not have the time to study to re-take the GRE anyway. Getting the UPenn WL this year is a good sign for next year's apps. Anyway, I will now have a chance to study for and re-take the GRE, take grad real analysis, a couple more PhD level econ classes and a few more stat classes. It is a one year MA with very flexible electives. I also hope to have two papers submitted to journals for publication as well as at least one conference presentation before application season next fall.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: A number math/stats/FE masters programs
Rejects:
    Rejections: NYU, NYU Stern Econ, NYU Stern Finance, Columbia, Columbia GSB, Wharton Applied Econ, Wharton Finance
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I only applied to reaches this year, pretty much expecting all rejections, with the intent to go for a masters in math and re-applying next year or the year after. Still, I was hoping on getting in somewhere.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: I was expecting this to come sooner or later.
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Expected. Still, I would have liked to do the RM concentration.
  • Institution: Wharton Finance PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Two Wharton rejections in one afternoon. Both were expected though.
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail to check the website Comments: Expected
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Finance, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail to check the website Comments: Expected
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Expected
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UPenn
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: Email Comments: I was expecting straight rejections, so this is a positive sign. I guess my letter of recommendation's were better than I thought.

postgradecon 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BSc in Economics and Mathematics from a well-known but not so good in economics university in Canada.
Undergrad GPA: converts to about 3.85/4
Type of Grad: LSE
Grad GPA: not yet known
GRE: 780Q/530V/4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-II-III (A/A+'s), Linear Algebra I-II (A+'s), Real Analysis I (A+), Differential Equations (A+), Logic and Set Theory (Proofs) (B), Sampling (B+), Prob and Stats (A+), History of Logic (A).
Graduate: none
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro and Macro (A+'s), Advanced Macro (A), Advanced Micro (B+, level of grad Varian), Econometrics (A+), Labour (A), Cost-Benefit (A), Math econ (A), Development (B, abroad), Industrial Organisation I-II (A-, A)
Graduate Econ Courses: Before my masters: Time series econometrics (A), Institutional economics and China's development (A+, with a mini-thesis). Masters: econometrics, micro, macro, political economics (no grades yet).
Other Courses: A bunch of biochemistry classes before switching to econ (grades between A- and A+). Some philosophy classes as extra electives (A+ in all).
Letters of Recommendation: 3 from my undergrad, all really enthusiastic (PhDs from Princeton, Queen's and from a German university). One I wrote a mini-thesis with during a graduate class. A fourth was from my graduate program, didn't know me well, was in the beginning of the first year. I sent a different combination of 3 letters to different schools (deadlines were not at the same time and got the fourth a bit later, more on this below).
Research Experience: 2 years as research assistant in a well-respected small Canadian think tank, focusing on productivity and other welfare issues.
Teaching Experience: none.
Research Interests: Political economy, microeconomics, development.
SOP: Talked mostly about my interest in economics, my research interests, and why the school would be a good fit.. pretty standard and not that good.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UBC PhD ($$), UPF Masters ($), LSE (no $)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Caltech, MIT, NYU, Columbia
Pending: none
Attending: UBC (did not want to do a second master's degree before re-applying next year and UPF did not recognize my masters as good enough for their PhD).
What would you have done differently?
As mentioned earlier, I have sent different sets of letters to different schools. Instead, I would have sent the 3 letters from undergrad to all schools and not bother to send a not-so-good letter from my grad teacher. At first I thought it was important, but thinking back I think this might have ruined my chances at most US schools. I was accepted at all schools that didn't receive that letter.Also, I would have applied to much more schools, but I decided late and did not have much time to think about it.
In the end, I am satisfied since UBC is well-respected in its country and on par with a lot of top30 schools in the US.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UBC PhD ($$), UPF Masters ($), LSE (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Caltech, MIT, NYU, Columbia
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

tmdruie 2009:
So I can get on the shiny charts!
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Physics and Economics from a top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.14/4.0
Type of Grad: One stats class
Grad GPA: 3.3
GRE: 790Q, 600V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III(I took them in high school, I really dont remember and nor do my transcripts), Linear Algebra (B), Mathematical Probability and Statistics (B-, B), Real Analyst(A, at a different school then my undergrad), Stochastic Processes (B+, grad course, at a different school then my undergrad)
Econ Courses: AP Micro and Macro (A, in high school), European Economic History (B+), Law and Economics (B), Intermediate Price Theory (B), Intermediate Macro Theory (B), Econometrics (B), Contemporary British Economy (B), Industrial Revolution-Britain (A-), Econ of Multinational Corps (A-), Thesis (labor econ)
Other Courses: Physics, which I put in my math lists. Quantum Mechanics I, Partial Differential Equations (B+), etc. I only did the bare minimum for a liberal arts major
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (my thesis advisor and the person who led my study abroad), 1 physics professor (thesis advisor), 1 economist who is my supervisor
Research Experience: RA for 2.5 years at a central bank
Teaching Experience: Tutored, graded and lab assisted for two years for physics in college
Research Interests: All over the place. Labor, policy, experimental, applied micro, development, etc.
SOP: Intro, I did physics I can do math!, I wrote a thesis in economic and liked doing research, Im working as an RA and like doing research, I took extra math and can write proofs, I was part of an econ paper reading group and like reading papers, interests (changed a bit depending on what the school had, and more policy oriented for ag econ schools). Also a few sentences about things I did that I removed or added depending on the school. The 500 word schools were hard, the 1000 word schools were easy. I also had a Personal History Statement about being a female doing math for the schools that wanted it.
Other: Applied for the NSF. I tried not to say anything to risky, and not say much about interest in policy to non policy/ ag econ schools. I like Aikido.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Boston University (waitlist for $), Michigan State(no $), University of Essex (ISER), Ohio State (Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics) ($-Fellowship), Indiana University ($-TA), Iowa State University ($-TA)
Waitlists: University of Minnesota
Rejections: MIT, Harvard (Econ and Political Economy and Government), Yale, Berkeley (Agricultural & Resource Economics), Northwestern, NYU, U Penn (Econ and Wharton), University of Wisconsin Madison (Econ and Agricultural and Applied Economics ), Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Caltech, University of British Columbia , Ohio State, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Econ and Public Policy and Economics), University of Maryland (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Boston College, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota (Applied Economics), University of California Davis (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Duke, University of Essex, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon (Econ, Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Public Policy and Economics)
Pending: Toronto MA, Queens MA
What would you have done differently?
Gotten better grades in undergrad. When I really started understanding what the things I need to do for a PhD I think I did the best I could, took real analysis, applied for the NSF (if only to write a SoP for them), read papers etc. I probably could have gotten more research experience at my job (co-author), and I defiantly could have gotten better grades and taken more math as an undergrad. But over all Im happy.
Attending:
Boston University
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Boston University (
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard (Econ and Political Economy and Government), Yale, Berkeley (Agricultural & Resource Economics), Northwestern, NYU, U Penn (Econ and Wharton), University of Wisconsin Madison (Econ and Agricultural and Applied Economics ), Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Caltech, University of British Columbia , Ohio State, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Econ and Public Policy and Economics), University of Maryland (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Boston College, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota (Applied Economics), University of California Davis (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Duke, University of Essex, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon (Econ, Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Public Policy and Economics)
Waitlists:
    waitlist for $), Michigan State(no $), University of Essex (ISER), Ohio State (Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics) ($-Fellowship), Indiana University ($-TA), Iowa State University ($-TA) Waitlists: University of Minnesota

DreamFactory 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BBA (minor Econ), International applicant, not top but one of the best schools in my country.
Undergrad GPA: 3.83/4.00 after rescale, summa cum laude (within 2% of the graduates, but the transcripts doesn't offer the rank anymore)
Type of Grad: Same school, MA econ - major:Economic theory (expected aug. 2009)
Grad GPA: 4.0/4.0 after rescale
GRE: 800Q, 670V, 4.0AWA
Math/Stat Courses:
Calculus I (B+),II (A), Intro to Probability (A+), Differential Equations I (B+), Linear Algebra I (Aced all exams, A+), II (A+), Analysis I (A+), II(A+), Topology I (A+), Stochastic Processes (A+), grad Real Analysis I (A)
Econ Courses: undergraduate - Principles I (A+),II (A), Biz Econ (A), Monetary (A), Financial (B+), Micro (A+), Macro (A), Metrics (B+)/ graduate - Micro I (A+) II (A), Macro I (A), II (A+), Metrics I (A+), Financial Economics (A), Micro Seminar (A+), Public Sector Economics II (A+)
Other Courses: Bunch in biz. especially in finance (mostly A's or A+'s in finance)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ (both micro), 2 biz (both finance), 1 math (analysis 1,2, topology 1), all very strong but not so famous
Research Experience: RA for 2 semesters (participated in a project), 1 working paper, conference participation etc.
Teaching Experience: grad Micro I (MWG) - 2 semesters
Research Interests: Behavioral Finance/Economics/Experimental, Market Microstructure, various topics in Micro Theory......actually almost everything in Finance and Economics since most of them are interesting (I'll choose them after I get to know more)
SOP: no idea how it look like to the adcoms.
Other: External fellowship.(5 years of tuition+health+18k)
RESULTS:
Acceptances/Attending: U of Chicago (Econ, very late admission!)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: 4 econ (actually I was rejected from Chicago econ in March) - Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia
17 finance - Booth, Kellogg, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Sloan, Stern, Haas, Fuqua, Tepper, Simon, Anderson, UIUC, OSU, UMinn-TC, Eli Broad, Wisc-Madison, Johnson
Pending: LSE MSc Finance and Economics (Applied after all those dings)
What would you have done differently?
I would've concentrated more on my SOPs. Should've had different major in my undergrad (changing major is not allowed in my alma mater, and Biz major had toooooooo many required courses back then). Also, I should have gone for exchange student in the U.S. when young...get some LORs from famous faculties there...BUT I DON'T CARE ex-post, I got into one of my favorite school!
Accepts:
    Acceptances/Attending: U of Chicago (Econ, very late admission!)
Rejects:
    Rejections: 4 econ (actually I was rejected from Chicago econ in March) - Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia 17 finance - Booth, Kellogg, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Sloan, Stern, Haas, Fuqua, Tepper, Simon, Anderson, UIUC, OSU, UMinn-TC, Eli Broad, Wisc-Madison, Johnson
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

Mobius Strip 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Mathematics and Economics from a top 10-15 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.87/4.0
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 570V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Alg, Modern Alg, Adv Modern Alg, Real Analysis, Game Theory (in Math Dept), Topology, Chaos Theory. Received department honors in Math.
Econ Courses: Basically all of them, 4.0 GPA, Thesis (A), Department Honors, Brownell Prize for Distinction in the Study of Political Economy
Other Courses: NA
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from Federal Reserve, 1 Math from Undergrad
Research Experience: RA for 3 years at FRB in DC. Co-authored published paper on racial discrimination in credit markets.
Teaching Experience: NA
Research Interests: Labor (Education), Real Estate, Financial Markets
SOP: Talked about my volunteer activities in tough, urban schools and how it shaped my interests in research in education. Transition to work at the Fed regarding discrimination in the credit markets. Final, throw-away paragraph naming some profs at schools who I'd be interested in working with.
Other: Crushed by NSF
RESULTS:
Acceptances: U Michigan (off waitlist, after 0-14 start)
Waitlists: NA
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Northwestern, Wharton, U Penn, NYU, Columbia, Duke
Pending: NA
Outside Fellowship: Received a $20k fellowship from undergrad college to supplement lack of funding from UM
What would you have done differently?
After receiving NSF results and reading Jeeves's posts, spelling out the broader impacts to make it easier to checklist. I scored fairly well on intellectual merit, but only average on the broader impacts.
Other than that, it's hard to say. I had nearly a 3.9 GPA with a Math and Econ double major, 3 years at the Federal Reserve, a published paper, and a presented working paper. I did spend 3 years in the private sector at a major bank, which probably hurt my admissions results, but gave me a broader personal, real-world experience that I do not regret taking.
Attending: U Michigan - Ann Arbor
Accepts:
    Acceptances: U Michigan (off
  • Institution: University of Michigan Programme: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 31/03/2009 Funding: None Comments: Now 1 for 15!
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Northwestern, Wharton, U Penn, NYU, Columbia, Duke
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Did Yale and Duke have to be my first two responses?
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Getting frustrated ...
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: ApplyYourself Website, No email
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Checked website Comments: Probably was my last shot: 800Q, 3.9 GPA, Math/Econ double major, and 3 years at the FRB -- but no graduate school in the Fall. $#@!
Waitlists:
    waitlist, after 0-14 start) Waitlists: NA
  • Institution: Michigan Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlist Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: snail mail Comments: Tease! Just when I got past anger and denial and into acceptance ...

ecuaecon 2009:
Type of Undergrad: international student with a a degree from a local university
Type of Grad: MS econ from a mid-size private american university
Undergrad GPA: 3.6/4
Graduate GPA: econ 3.6, econ + math 3.4
GRE: 770Q, 470V, 4.0 AW
Math Courses: Calculus I, II, III. Statistisc I, II. Linear Algebra. Math for econ (undergrad and grad). Advanced Calculus (Analysis). Not so great grades
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro (A-) and econometrics (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ profs (graduated at UT, Brown, Cornell), I think these will be good recommendations.
Research Experience: RA for a professor, RA local central bank, master's thesis
Teaching Experience: instructor (econometrics)
Research Interests: Institituions, Econ history, behavioral econ
Concerns: I don't have a 800-gre, not so great grades for math courses
Applying to: Caltech, Michigan, Maryland, WUSTL, Barcelona School of Econ, Warwick, Oxford, European University Institute, Queen's, British Columbia, Toronto.
Accepts:
  • Institution: BGSE-UPF MSc Economic Decision: Accepted Funding: no Notification date: 2/3/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Warwick Economics MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: no word (most likely nothing) Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: e-mail (official letter will come through regular mail) Comments: In: BGSE-UPF (MSc), Warwick (MSc)
Rejects:
  • Institution: Caltech Social Sciences Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/28/09 Notified through: email Comments: Saw it coming, but still hurts In: BGSE-UPF, Warwick, both MS
  • Institution: Maryland Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: checked website Comments: In: BGSE-UPF, Warwick, both MSc Out: Caltech, Maryland
  • Institution: WUSTL Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: e-mail Comments: starting to worry if I'm going anywhere next fall In: BGSE-UPF, Warwic, both MSc Out: Catlech, Maryland
  • Institution: European University Institute Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: e-mail. Comments: sad. In: BGSE-UPF, Warwick, both MSc Out: WUSTL, Maryland, Michigan (not official yet)
  • Institution: Oxford Economics, MPhil Decision: rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/23 Notified through: e-mail Comments: In: BGSE-UPF, Warwick, both MSc Out: Caltech, Maryland, WUSTL, EUI, Oxford
  • Institution: Michigan Economics, PhD Decision: rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/23 Notified through: e-mail (I e-mailed the grad secretary because I couldn't log-in the university webpage) Comments: Admission Gods: I would like a funded offer In: BGSE-UPF, Warwick, both MSc Out: Caltech, Maryland, WUSTL, EUI, Oxford
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Programme: Economics MA Decision: Rejected (e-mail) Notification Date: 04/01/2009 Funding: None Comments: am I going anywhere? In: BGSE-UPF, Warwick, both MSc Out: Caltech, Maryland, WUSTL, Michigan, EUI, Oxford
Waitlists:

tobleronic 2009:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Economics and Math, One of the "New Ivy Leagues"
Undergrad GPA: 3.87, 3.92 Math/Econ
GRE: Q 800; V 490; AW 4.5
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis I, Theory of Numbers, Transformations and Geometries, Combinatorics, Statistics
Econ Courses: Intro, Intermediate Macro/Micro, Labor, Financial Econ, Advanced Micro Theory, Metrics, Honors Thesis, Math for Econ (MA and PhD), Micro (MA), Micro I and II (PhD)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 Econ Professors (a part time) and 1 math professor
Research Experience: None
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Labor , Micro
Applying to: Columbia, Yale, Harvard, MIT, Penn, Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, NYU, NW, Duke
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: details will be sent by mail Notification date: 2/26/09, 11:30 EST Notified through: email Comments: I can breathe now! :-)
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: at this point, FML! big time
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: check the website
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email with an attached letter
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: waitlisted Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: e-mail

DesperateEconomist 2009:
It's time to do this:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Bachelor in Business Administration, prestigious institution in Latin America.
Undergrad GPA: 7.6/10
Type of Grad: Master in Economics, same institution than undergrad.
Grad GPA: 8/10
GRE: 800Q, 490V, 4.0AWA
TOEFL: 104 (30R, 30L, 20S, 24W)
Math Courses: Mathematics I, II, Linear Algebra, Metric Spaces, Statistics I, II, III, Mathematical Economics (grad).
Econ Courses (Masters): Macro I, II, Micro I, II, Metrics, Time Series and others not so relevant.
Econ Courses (undergrad): Macro, Micro, no Metrics.
Other Courses: Several other courses, but with small or no relevance for admission purposes.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 Chicago PhD, 1 UCLA PhD, 1 Cornell PhD), and I believe that all of them are solid.
Research Experience: RA for two econ professors and currently working on my master's thesis. I also presented a paper in an economics meeting in my country.
Teaching Experience: TA for two graduate courses (Macro and Time Series) and 1 undergrad course (Statistics).
Research Interests: Macro and IO.
SOP: The usual stuff: I put a brief description of my profile and talked about my preferences and why I think I would succeed in their program.
Concerns: Low score on the speaking section of the TOEFL. Maybe my math background is not as strong as desired by some schools. At least a few low grades that could hurt me.
Applying to: Berkeley, Boston College, BU, Cornell, Columbia, Maryland, MSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, NYU, UT Austin, UCLA, UPenn, Washington St. Louis, Yale.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Boston College Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Full tuition + 15.6K RAship Notification date: 03/01 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Michigan State Economics Ph.D Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition+health insurance+13.4Kmin TAship Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail with an acceptance letter attached Comments: Very happy, it's good to have options!
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Full tuition plus 9K fellowship Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: Feb 5th Notified through: E-mail Comments: Expected because they were rejecting a lot of internationals, but it was disappointing nonetheless.
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 20th Notified through: Email and website. Comments: T-13 and counting...
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: 0-3 so far...
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Website Comments: At least I don't have to wait anymore...
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email with an attached letter
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail/attachment Comments: Completely expected by now....
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: No surprise here...
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected again Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I had already received an email with an attached letter, now I get an email asking me to check the website!
  • Institution: Maryland Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: Website Comments: By now, it was completely expected...
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/27 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Finally!
Waitlists:

SF_Haole 2009:
I've been pretty nervous about my chances, and rightly so thus far: 1 admit, 1 waitlist, 3 official rejections and 4 schools that haven't rejected me but appear to have admitted everyone already.
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Stanford
GPA: 3.7
Major: Physics (BS), International Relations (BA)
Type of Grad: Stanford
GPA: 3.9
Major: International Policy Studies (MA)
GRE: 800Q, 690V, 6.0 writing
Math Courses: Multivariate Calculus: Differential (A) & Integral (A), Linear Algebra: Basic (A) & Advanced (A), Honors Diff Eqns w/proofs (B). Also a ****-ton of physics classes.
Econ Courses (undergrad): Basic micro/macro (A) intermediate micro (B+,A-) intermediate macro(B+), economic history (A), env. econ(A), public policy analysis(A+), stats for econ(A-), metrics(B+).
Econ Courses (grad): None, but I took grad-level courses in international macro (A-), and development (A) through my masters program and the political science dept's Ph.D-level game theory class (A).
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from fairly famous econ professors. I do research for one of them and took a class from the other (and worked for his colleague). 1 from a very famous political scientist (has his own wikipedia article) who taught my game theory class. Kinda nervous about the polisci rec but my options were limited.
Research Experience: lots of physics research; worked as an RA for the RBI (Indian Central Bank) for 1 summer; currently work in applied econ & policy analysis for one of my recommenders (past 2 years).
Teaching Experience: 1 year as a TA for intro to economics.
Research Interests: econometrics, development
SOP: Decent, I might have explained my research more but I built off my NSF essay, which had a separate previous research essay.
Applying to: 21 schools, including the top 10 overall, top 10 econometrics, and top 10 in development. Also UW-Seattle
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of Washington, Seattle Economics Ph.D Decision: Accepted (Unofficial) Funding: No word, but according to the email "I would be very happy if we could induce you to join us in Seattle." Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: Email from Fahad Khalil, Graduate Program Director. 1.5/5 so far.
  • Institution: University of Maryland - College Park Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/5 Funding: Fellowship $18,000 + Tuition Remission + Health Insurance 1st year, TA years 2-4. Notified through: email Comments: Leverage, maybe?
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin - Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/5 Funding: First-year TAship, continued support for 3 more years with progress. Notified through: email, unofficial Comments: Awesome. I cried a little. Got this today, so Madison can't be totally finished with admits.I am gonna rock the out of this place.
  • Institution: Michigan Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Rackham Merit Fellowship: $2100/month + tuition waiver + health insurance + $4000 summer stipend. Years 2&3 TA, Years 4&5 fellowship. Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Email Comments: This is it. I finally have at least one offer that I will definitely be happy taking. Also, this is leverage to use against Wisconsin. Now I'm definitely going to be an economist. Wow. EDIT: Removed extraneous text.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No word. According to my friend who went to UCSD, this likely means no guaranteed funding. However, the funding decision normally comes from the department and this email was from the Graduate School. Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Email Comments: Holy ing this is awesome.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke University Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/18 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: Surprisingly, I was offered a $35l/year fellowship to use at a different institution. No, not really. Notification date: 02/20 Notified through: Email.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/25 Notified through: Website - checked my status and it was updated. I did not get an email.
  • Institution: Tons of Great Schools (Princeton, UCLA, Columbia, MIT, Berkeley, etc.) Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5, 3/4 or thereabouts Funding: Haha yeah right. Notified through: email Comments: I'm not helping anybody by posting these but I wanted to be transparent - I've done a lot of failing. Comments: Currently 3.5 for 11, 4 to go, plus 6 places that have admitted everyone they want and will reject me when they get around to it. Edit: Formatting up, Wisconsin & Maryland ran together.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: UCLA Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: UCLA Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Postal Service Comments: I get it. You don't want me. Quit sending me . I already got into your superior sister school down in La Jolla, where the weather is warmer, the girls are hotter and the metrics is way better. Eat me.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Economics Ph.D Decision: Waitlisted - on the "weak" waitlist. Notification date: 02/24 Notified through: Email.

italos 2009:
In this thread please post only your results.For further comments please refer to other threads in the forum
Institution:
Program:
Decision:
Funding:
Notification date:
Notified through:
Comments:
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruze In International Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through:Email Comments: European Union citizen, Security school where I also have a personal connection
  • Institution: UW-Madison Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: unable to offer financial support for the first year of study.They can provide support in the three years of study following the first year,conditional to satisfactory progress Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Email Comments: I need funding also for the first year!!!!
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 0 Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: E-mail Comments:WTF I need funding!!!!!
  • Institution: University Of Maryland, College Park Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 0 Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: I emailed Vickie Comments:WTF once again! I need funding!!!!
  • Institution: European University Institute(EUI) Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted for Interview Funding: full if admitted Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: I called Comments:Going to Florence!
  • Institution: JHU Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding None Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: I emailed Comments: WTF once again no funding.I think I deserve the Antichorn award for the most unfunded applicant!!!
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100+DHL expenditures Notification date: Today(10 minutes ago) Notified through: Email Comments: A kinda of expected. It seems to be a mass email
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 +DHL cost Notification date: Today (10 minutes ago) Notified through: E-mail Comments: that was something I was expecting since December as they were already in posses of last years LORs..
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5, Funding -51 Euro paid to DHL Notified through: I emailed Jody Comments: At least I saved my money on the application fee as I preferred to sent later a check.I was told that they were going to read my file anyway and if admitted I could pay it later
  • Institution:Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Cost: Application fee+GRE and TOEFL score reports +DHL Notified through: email Comments :I I was expecting that.....
  • Institution: University of Chicago Decision: Rejected Cost: application fee+TOEFL+GRE reports+ DHL Notification date: Today, Letter dated March 6 2009 Notified through: postal service
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Cost: usual application fee +TOEFL and GRE reports +DHL Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: I emailed Marjorie Lesser(very nice lady) Comments:I was hoping something more from NYU as I had a stellar letter of recommendation from an NYU alumni who happens to be also my coauthor.But just let me say that I know what is the real reason not only for NYU but for all the other outcomes
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: postal service Comment : Not much to say
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Website Comments: I had an alumni as a letter of recommendation writer who has strongly supported me but I think it has more to do with another issue on my profile which is also confirmed by the other results
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Programme: Economics PhD Decision: Rejected (e-mail) Notification Date: 04/01/2009 Comments: I was on the waiting list and just got the email form Kara that I am out.I am disappointed but my options now seem to be clear!Let's say that the only thing that makes me laugh is that I will not have to spend the next 5 years under -40 °C!
Waitlists:

leguan 2009:
Institution: UPF
Program: MSc
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Full Tuition Waiver & TA
Notification date: February 5
Notified through: E-Mail
Comments: Tons of luck, mostly with my recommenders.
And thanks to Italos for this thread.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UPF MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Tuition Waiver & TA Notification date: February 5 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: Tons of luck, mostly with my recommenders. And thanks to Italos for this thread.
  • Institution: Tilburg MPhil 1st Year Decision: Admitted Funding: in early March, Huygens and CentER nominated Notification date: 1/12/09 Notified through: Email Comments: Was my first admit and made me happy and confident towards my other applications. Will probably not attend (does match well, but not too well with my interests).
  • Institution: Tilburg U MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Tuition Waiver + Scholarship Notification date: 01/26 (Admission) + 03/06 (Funding) Notified through: E-Mail
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Scholarship and Tuition Waiver Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: E-Mail
Rejects:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: last week Notified through: E-Mail
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: hum... Notification date: a few days ago Notified through: E-Mail
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: nothing? Notification date: a few days ago Notified through: E-Mail
Waitlists:

jnaecker 2009:
Institution: Caltech
Program: Social Science Ph.D.
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 28k plus tuition and fees
Notification date: Feb 5, 4 pm PST
Notified through: Email
Comments:
Institution: UCLA
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition and fees totaling 10,000 in year 1, plus eligible for department supplementary fellowship. Tuition, fees, and living expenses in years 2-4.
Notification date: 2/10/09, 1 pm PST
Notified through: email
Notes: 2 for 2!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Funding: 28k plus tuition and fees Notification date: Feb 5, 4 pm PST Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition and fees totaling 10,000 in year 1, plus eligible for department supplementary fellowship. Tuition, fees, and living expenses in years 2-4. Notification date: 2/10/09, 1 pm PST Notified through: email Notes: 2 for 2!
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 20.5 K fellowship Notification date: 2/25/09, 1:22 pm Pacific Time Notified through: Email with attached pdf. Comments: Back to a winning average!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 3/3, 3:43 pm Pacific Notified through: E-mail Comments: short mass email without any details. official letter of admission and other information will be sent via US mail tomorrow
  • Institution: Penn Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: High on waitlist for fellowship Notification date: 3/5, 2:00 pm Pacific Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/6, 4 pm pacific time Funding: info coming in letter Notified through: email Comments : hells yeah
  • Institution: UC San Diego Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted Funding: Not mentioned Notification date: 3/12, 9:20 am Pacific time Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09, 9:30 am Pacific Notified through: Email directing me to status on website Comments: My first rejection.
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Organizational Behavior Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/23/09 Notified through: Email directing me to status onwebsite Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3, 12:19 pm Pacific Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5, 11:45 am Pacific time. Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5, 5:00 pm PST Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: Phooey.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: Postal service.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Postal Service Comments: Letter dated March 13.
Waitlists:

mike_banana 2009:
Institution: Duke U
Program: Economics Ph.D
Decision: Rejected
Funding: no
Notification date: 02/17/2009
Notified through: Email
Comments: check the status on "applyyourself" website. There is a notification letter.
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke U Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: no Notification date: 02/17/2009 Notified through: Email Comments: check the status on "applyyourself" website. There is a notification letter.
  • Institution: Wisconsin, Princeton,Columbia, SUNY-Buffalo Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4-3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: SUNY-Buffalo, you really think you can upset me or what? what you do, i mean ,send rejection letter with Princeton at the same day, is so funny to me. you know, look at yourself ( Is this good? TMers?)
  • Institution: UC-Davis Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: check the Embark website of UC-Davis
Waitlists:

canadaaplly 2009:
Institution: Duke
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: Feb 18
Notified through: Email
Comments: Who do they think they are?
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Very High on the waitlist. Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email with an attached letter Comments: I'm flying right now.... To the guys who are sure that they wouldn't attend Upenn (The MIT, Harvard people): Please decline your fellowship offers from Upenn.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Email Comments: Who do they think they are?
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email directing me to status on website. Comments: It wasn't a good match anyway...
  • Institution: Cornell Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Was eagerly waiting to receive it.
  • Institution: Northwestern Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: website Comments: I contacted them last week, and they told me that I was on a waitlist, but now I saw the rejection. Anyway, there is not much difference between rejection and waitlist.
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: I e-mailed and asked Comments:If you haven't heard I would recommend e-mailing Marjorie, she replied in short time and said to take one of my other offers (which I didn't say I had any)
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail to check the website Comments: I guess I am the first one to be rejected...
Waitlists:
  • Institution: U Chicago Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: If admitted, funding. Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: Letter dated 3/06 Comments: Same text as for other wailisted people. It's literally my dream school. I really hope to get in....

filroz 2009:
Institution: Berkeley
Program: Economics, PhD
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/02
Notified through: E-Mail
Comments: no
Accepts:
  • Institution: BU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: e-mail Funding:waitlisted
Rejects:
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: no
  • Institution: NWU Economics PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: ask by email
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Notification date:March 6 Notified through:E-Mail
  • Institution:Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: check the website
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail
Waitlists:

confusedgrad 2009:
Institution: Duke University
Program: Economics, PhD
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 03/02
Notified through: E-mail
Funding: Will be informed by the department
Comments: Will decline soon.
_ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _
In: Minnesota (fellowship), UCLA (no 1st year funding), Boston College (TA), Duke($?), CEMFI (10K)
Out: Yale
Pending: Many many....
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke University Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Funding: Will be informed by the department Comments: Will decline soon. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota (fellowship), UCLA (no 1st year funding), Boston College (TA), Duke($?), CEMFI (10K) Out: Yale Pending: Many many....
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18K fellowship Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Duke, Maryland, Boston College, CEMFI Out: Yale, Northwestern Pending: A lot more
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute Economics, MPhil Decision: Accepted Funding: Full scholarship Notification date: 3/9/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Even though amsterdam is an appealing city, I have to decline the offer...
  • Institution: Goethe University, Frankfurt Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition+stipend Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Email Comments: I do not even know why I ever applied...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Website Comments: i knew it from the very beginning... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Boston College, Duke, CEMFI Out: Yale, Northwestern Pending: many more...
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comment: Totally expected... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Duke, Maryland, Boston College, CEMFI Out: Yale, Northwestern, Princeton Pending: A lot more
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Notification date:March 6 Notified through:E-Mail Comments: My dream school and my dream city has gone. It hurt for the first time... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ In: Minnesota, UCLA, Duke, Maryland, BC, CEMFI Out: Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Northwestern Pending: A lot more...
  • Institution: UPENN Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I am really not sad. The only thing to upset me is the fact that I could not receive even a single acceptance from the top of my list.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: March 11 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Now this one was really suprising for me...
  • Institution: London Business School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: March 11 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Two surprising rejections at one night... God, I was at least expecting an interview....
  • Institution: University College London Economics, MPhil/Phd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Postal service Comment : seems like i am not type of london...
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Website Comments: i never wanted this school indeed...
  • Institution: UCSD Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: E-mail Comments: already expected...
  • Institution: London School of Economics Economics, Mres/Phd (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/30 (?) Notified through: Website... Comments: No e-mail. Just checked the website. This is how far you can go with a pretty weak research proposal. No London for me...
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/15/2009 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: Finally good to know...
Waitlists:

Econ_TCC 2009:
Institution: Northwestern
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: E-mail from Mercedes
Comments: Really hope to get funding!
Institution: U Penn
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: High on waitlist
Notification date: 3/4
Notified through: E-mail
Comments: -
Institution: WUSTL
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 18,000, possibly 30,000
Notification date: 3/5
Notified through: E-mail
Comments: -
Institution: NYU
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: ?
Notification date: 3/5
Notified through: E-mail
Comments:-
Institution: Columbia, UCLA, Princeton, Yale, Berkeley
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: yeah, right!
Notification date:
Notified through: E-mail
Comments:
Accepts:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: E-mail from Mercedes Comments: Really hope to get funding!
  • Institution: U Penn Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: High on waitlist Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: E-mail Comments: -
  • Institution: WUSTL Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18,000, possibly 30,000 Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: -
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 0 Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Snail mail Comments:- Completely unexpected. Thought they were done with admissions!
Rejects:
  • Institution: Columbia, UCLA, Princeton, Yale, Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: yeah, right! Notification date: Notified through: E-mail Comments:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: ? Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments:-


Waitlists:

canecon 2009:
U-grad: UBC, Econ (Hons)
Grad: Queen's, Econ
Ugrad GPA: 3.5 (3.98 upper-econ, 3.98 math (excluding failed calc 1))
Grad GPA: 4.0? (Not sure how it works here)
GRE: 800q 480v 5.0 AWA (despite the awful verbal I am native English speaker / English background)
Courses:
Grad:
PhD Micro I (A), Econometrics MA (A), Public MA (A)
Ugrad:
Econ:
Hon micro/macro I (A+'s) Game Theory (Hon) A, Hon Macro II A+, + intro metrics I/II (A+) + lots electives (mostly A+)
Honours Thesis, Advanced Macro, Econometrics - A+'s
Math:
Calc 1 (F first time then A), Calc 2, linear, multivariable, ODE's, probability(calc based), intro proof A+'s, real analysis A
Research:
Thesis, which is being developed into a paper with Advisor (not in a publishable state yet though)
Was RA for one summer.
letter of recommendation:
2 Assistant Profs, Should be good since one is advisor/co-author, the other I took multiple classes with and was RA for.
1 Professor for PhD Micro class - 1/2 the letters will be mediocre, other half should be decent (final grades were available).
SOP: Decent?
Interests:
Political Economy, Development (Micro)
Applying To:
MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Pennsylvania, Berkeley, UCLA, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Northwestern, LSE, Oxford
My Concerns:
My first 2 years of undergrad are poor, failed calc 1.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Unknown Notification date: 2/27/09 Notified through: Checked apply yourself @ midnight Comments: Incredibly happy and relieved!!
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: ~30K 1st / 25K 2nd Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: e-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: There goes the dream.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: NWU or NYU it is!
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail to check website Comments: Didn't give me the pleasure of rejecting them, oh well.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: Post Comments: My second Stanford rejection!!
  • Institution: U Chicago Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: Post
  • Institution: LSE Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: Checked Website Comments: Ha, very interesting considering this was supposed to be a 'safety' of sorts.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlist Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail

bootstrap 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Economics First Class Honors, BA in International Relations with Distinction
Undergrad GPA: 3.95 (econ) 3.74 (IR)
Type of Grad: MA in International Economics
Grad GPA: 5.6/6
GRE: 790Q/ 640V/ 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Linear Algebra, Stats, Prob, Calculus, 3 semesters of "Math Econ"
Econ Courses (Masters-level): Micro theory, macro theory, econometric theory, applied econometrics, trade theory, development
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro, macro, metrics, environmental econ, trade, other options....
Other Courses: International Relations BA (poli sci, law...)
Letters of Recommendation: two well know in their fields, one famous
Research Experience: RA for a couple different proffs, consultant at WTO
Teaching Experience: nada
Research Interests: Environmental Economics
SOP: pretty standard
Concerns: Lack of advanced math courses
Other:
Applying to: UC Davis ARE, Maryland ARE, Maryland PhD Econ, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, Michigan Ford School, Minnesota Applied Econ, UCSB Bren School, UBC, UCSD
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: e-mail
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: waitlisted Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: e-mail Comments: I'm not very optimistic about my chances...

tmb2118 2009:
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Mellon Fellowship (Tuition + $25K)
Notification date: 2/17/09
Notified through: Website followed by Post
Comments: It's sure nice to get the first offer!!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Mellon Fellowship (Tuition + $25K) Notification date: 2/17/09 Notified through: Website followed by Post Comments: It's sure nice to get the first offer!!
Rejects:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Ph.D Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: An email from a professor who sits on the committee (I am currently at Columbia). BTW, I was the initial waitlist on GC.
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 6 accepted out of 46 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.81, average GREQ was 790.0.
From the Department webpage in 2010 (please send me a link if this is wrong!)
Most successful applicants to our program have analytic GRE scores above the 90th percentile. Students are advised they should have completed undergraduate linear algebra, probability and statistics, advanced calculus and real analysis to be prepared for classes in the Economics PhD program. Superb reference letters or excellent performance as an undergraduate are considered in the admission process as well...The program receives approximately 700 applications each year. Each year, the department admits about 20 to 25 applicants.
(Source)

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Last Updated: 14:57:51, Fri May 11, 2012