Index of Schools AnalysisAbout the Site 2012 20112010 20092008 2007all years
The chart will appear within this DIV. This text will be replaced by the chart.
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:

99luftballoons 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large Private University, Top 10 Econ/Top 5 Math
Undergrad GPA: 3.82 (4.0 Econ, 3.9 Math)
Type of Grad:
Grad GPA:
GRE: 790Q, 640V, 6.0AWA
Math Courses: Calc Sequence, Linear Algebra, Number Theory, Real Analysis I, Real Analysis II, Algebra I, Combinatorics, Topology, Math Stats, Grad. Linear
Econ Courses: Intros, Micro Theory, Macro Theory, Econometrics, Senior Seminar, International Econ (1 yr), Organizational Analysis, Finance, Math Econ
Other Courses: Ind. study in Game Theory and Math Econ, Intro Operations Research
Letters of Recommendation: 2 really good ones, 1 fairly good one
Research Experience: Spent a summer RAing and trying to write a paper
Teaching Experience: Grading
Research Interests: Micro theory, decision theory, game theory, mech. design, experimental... list keeps growing actually
SOP: Wrote about what I liked, what I'd done, I got comments on being "very specific" in my SOP from schools that I've gotten in to
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Harvard, Caltech, Rochester, Cornell, PSU, Northwestern, UMinn
Waitlists: UPenn
Rejections: Princeton, Stanford GSB, Stanford Econ, Berkeley
Pending: NYU, BU
What would you have done differently? I would have applied to less safeties, but that's really an ex-post judgment. I think I had a good year, though Stanford GSB was my dream school, but oh well, life goes on.
Comments: I think italos is right, letter of recommendation is everything!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Harvard, Caltech, Rochester, Cornell, PSU, Northwestern, UMinn
  • Institution: CalTech Ph.D. Social Science Decision: Accepted Funding: 28k + tuition + fees Notification date: Feb. 5 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Go Beavers! (No seriously... come on...)
  • Institution: Northwestern University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 20K Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Hooray!
  • Institution: Harvard Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: Phone Comments: Jeez, my letter of recommendation writers must have REALLY liked me.
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/5, Funding: $26,000 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Really attractive offer, hopefully they pass it on to someone else
Rejects:
    Rejections: Princeton, Stanford GSB, Stanford Econ, Berkeley
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Guess I'm not going to Palo Alto
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UPenn

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:

Lurker_ 2009:
Type of Undergrad: McGill University (B.A. Math and Econ)
Undergrad GPA: 3.89/4.00 overall
Type of Grad: Cornell, 1st Year in the Econ PhD (2007-2008)
Grad GPA: 3.84/4.30
GRE: 800Q, 590V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Multivariable Calculus, Advanced Calculus, Analysis 1, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, ODE, Differential Geometry, Numerical Analysis, Theory of Interest (All A's), Analysis 2 (B+), Analysis 3 (B+), Analysis 4 (B), Complex Analysis (A-)
Econ Courses: Undergrad: Intermediate Micro, Statistics, Intermediate Macro, Econometrics, Advanced Theory (All A's). Grad: Micro I, Micro II, Metrics I, Mathematical Econ (All A+'s), Macro I (A), Metrics II (A), Macro II (C-).
Letters of Recommendation: Two junior and one well-known.
Research Experience: Part-time RA for one year at Cornell and Full-time RA this year at the NBER.
Research Interests: Theory, Behavioral Economics
SOP: Awkward.
Concerns: The lack of tractability of current behavioral models.
RESULTS:
Attending: Going back to Cornell.
Admitted, Declined: Northwestern
Waitlists: Princeton (Ultimately Rejected)
Accepts:
    Attending: Going back to Cornell. Admitted, Declined: Northwestern
Rejects:
    Rejected)
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Princeton (Ultimately

rvalchev 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small private school. First tier according to US News but dead last in that tier
Undergrad GPA: 4.0 - I have another 2 weeks till graduation but hopefully it'll stay this way
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 530V, 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Optimization, Real Analysis, Topology, Probability Theory, Computational Statistics, Differential Equations
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro and Macro, Econometrics and Forecasting, Game Theory, Money and Banking, Public Economics
Other Courses: Assortment of Business core classes.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Letters from Econ Profs and 1 from a math prof. I think letters will be good to great, math professor has taught me for 2 years and I've conducted research for an year together with one of my econ profs.
Research Experience: Honors Thesis, RA for two summers but I wasted those summers so nothing really came out of it.
Research Interests: Metrics, applied metrics ... i am open to anything
SOP: It was weak, unfocused and not customized for schools
RESULTS:
Attending: Duke ($$$)
Acceptances, declined: Wisconsin ($$$), Cornell ($$$), Ohio State( $$$), UNC -Chapel Hill ($$$), Michigan State ($$$), Pitt ($$$), Tinbergen Institute ($$$), LSE EME (Research), Oxford MPhil, Michigan (no $), Texas(no $), USC ($$$),
Waitlists: Duke funding waitlist, BU funding waitlist, Princeton Waitlist, Texas Waitlist, Michigan waitlist
Rejections: MIT, Princeton (rejected from waitlist), Berkeley, Yale, Harvard, UPenn, Chicago, UCSD, Penn State, Boston College, Cambridge
What would you have done differently? First, read jeeve's thread about suggestions for people from less known undergrads (it was impossible since it was not written until a couple of days ago, but that's what future people should do). Second, apply to NYU, Columbia and Northwestern (but most probably I would have only taken Northwestern over Duke. But still, my portfolio of schools was a little unbalanced). Third, write a much, much better SOPs that would be much better tailored to different schools. You'll be surprised how much SOPs matter (heard it directly from admissions directors at TOP10 and TOP20 schools).Fourth, don't get RA positions that are in the network of your schools and professors because you are already part of this network, so it doesn't add much to your profile. Go out and work for somebody different.
Accepts:
    Attending: Duke ($$$) Acceptances, declined: Wisconsin ($$$), Cornell ($$$), Ohio State( $$$), UNC -Chapel Hill ($$$), Michigan State ($$$), Pitt ($$$), Tinbergen Institute ($$$), LSE EME (Research), Oxford MPhil, Michigan (no $), Texas(no $), USC ($$$),
  • Institution: Purdue University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No word Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: U of Pittsburgh Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Email and mail Comments: It's been a really good day
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 2/21/09 Notified through: Email Comments: I still can't believe it ...
  • Institution: Duke Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver and on the waitlist for a stipend Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: Mail Weird, they rejected me via the online application earlier this week. Very quick turn around.
  • Institution: Michigan State Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Hey at least I am on 1-1 for the day.
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 21,400 fellowship + 4,400 in summers ...crazy Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Sweet deal
  • Institution: Tinbergen Economics MPhil Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/9 Funding: 975 Euros/month + Tuition Notified through: email
  • Institution: Boston U Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail Funding: -"alternative funding applicant" Comments: hey i got one Boston School, even if unfunded
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Princeton (rejected from
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Who would have known ... rejection stinks
  • Institution: PSU Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck to everybody else !
  • Institution: Duke Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I was kinda hoping I was out of the woods but oh well.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-Mail Comments:Another one bites the dust. 0-2 on TOP10 programs.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: MIT and Berkeley at least notify all at the same time.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 (Official letter) Notified through: E-mail Funding: -Nada Comments: what can you do
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Duke funding waitlist, BU funding waitlist, Princeton Waitlist, Texas Waitlist, Michigan waitlist
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: 25,750 on the off chance I get in Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: At least one TOP10 school thinks I am somewhat worth it
  • Institution: U of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/19 (Official letter) Notified through: Mail Funding: -Not mentioned Comments: Interesting
  • Institution: UT-Austin Economics Ph.D. Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Really rocking those waitlsts this year

mathy backpack 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large Public University, BA Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.75 Overall, 3.9 Econ, 4.0 Math
Type of Grad: MA Economics (1/2 of credits were math though)
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800Q, 690V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calc I, Calc II, Vector Calc, Linear Algebra, Logic, Probability/Statistics (multivar calc), Real Analysis, Linear Algebra(grad), Probability Theory(grad)...All A's Taking: Statistical Theory(grad)
Econ Courses (grad): Micro(MA), Macro(MA), Econometrics(MA), Labor(MA), Public Finance(MA), GameTheory(MA), Optimization I(PhD)...All A's Taking: Adv Macro(PhD), Optimization II(PhD)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermed. Micro & Macro, plus 12 other Junior/Senior semester courses for the major...All A's in these, but with a spicy little B and a C in intro Micro and Macro(101 and 102) as a Freshman
Other: English Minor, Drum & Bass show on student radio
Letters of Recommendation: Different combos of 5 Econ profs from master's program
Research Interests: Micro Theory, Game Theory, Behavioral, Micro-ish Development
SOP: Spent way too much time, 1 1/2 pages, standard I'm sure
Concerns: Picked a great year to apply!?!
Other: Despite the random attacks of anxiety, I am pretty excited. Trying to prepare myself to not take the rejections too personally. I have faith that I will end up exactly where I am supposed to be.
Applying to: The usual suspects...Princeton, Yale, Berkeley, Chicago, Northwestern, NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Penn, WUSTL, Duke, Carnegie Mellon.... hopefully enough!
Fingers: crossed
Good Luck to everyone.
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics PhD Decision: Admit Funding: TBA? Notification date: 2/18/2009 Notified through: Website Comments: Anyone know of their funding schedule?
  • Institution: Washington University, St. Louis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: email. By coincidence, I am actually in STL this week and I was studying in their library yesterday. The campus and facilities are top notch!
  • Institution: Duke University Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: details in the mail Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Long enough in limbo???
  • Institution: UW-Madison Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No first year funding Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: Cornell Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Sage Fellowship Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: Email Comments: jeepers, I'm happy!
  • Institution: University of Illinois - UC Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Snail Mail
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: website Funding: details in the mail.
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Snerkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: My grandpa will be happy...he's an old school nuclear engineer, and every time I mentioned Berkeley on my list he would say something about those damn hippies!
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Northwestern Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: email Comments: joining the club!
  • Institution: Brown Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlist Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Said they fund everyone and sort of implied they are expecting some people to turn them down, so I plan to to check them out while I am up visiting Cornell.

bean14 2009:
Institution: Duke
Program: Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: funding in mail
Notification date: 2/26/09
Notified through: email
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: funding in mail Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: , 25.8k/yr (Sage Fellowship) Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: This is a really good labor school, no?
Rejects:
Waitlists:


Rejections:

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)

wind up bird 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large Public University, Top 50 Econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.82
Type of Grad: Masters in Statistics at same school
Grad GPA: 3.75
GRE: 800Q, 700V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc Sequence, Linear Algebra, Intro to Abstract Math (Baby proofs), Cryptology (Baby Number Theory), Real Analysis I & II, Algebra I, Lots of probability and stats.
Econ Courses: Intro, Intermediate sequences, Econometrics, Public econ, Game Theory, Asymmetric Info, Economic Anthropology, Economic History (graduate), Empirical Methods (graduate), Math camp
Other Courses: Sociology of Sexuality
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Berkeley, 1 UCSD, 1 Stanford. All apparently pretty strong.
Research Experience: 2+ Years of RAing, summer research internship at Fed, crappy honors thesis and undergrad presentations
Teaching Experience: Tutoring for intermdiate micror, TA-ing for stats (only made it to my Cornell application)
Research Interests: Micro theory, decision theory, game theory, mech. design, experimental, economic history, social choice, public economics, etc etc. Short answer is "not macro"
SOP: It was kind of bad, I'm not going to lie. Mostly I tried to demonstrate how I have been gearing myself up for research. Then the last paragraph was tailored for each school; I dropped names at all of them.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Caltech($$$), Northwestern(WL$), UCSD(No$), BU($$$), University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign($$), UNC-Chapel Hill (?$), Boston College($$), UW-Seatte(WL$)
Waitlists: None! Awesome.
Rejections: Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Chicago, UCLA, Cornell
What would you have done differently? Besides working harder in school? Probably nothing. I have an acceptance with funding at my dream school and have some other ego-boosting admits as well.
Comments: Italos is right, letter of recommendation is everything
Might as well document some of my weird admissions cycle happenings as well:
- Boston College sends me an email saying I am not being offered admission because I will get into "superior" schools.
- UW-Seattle pulls the same thing
- Northwestern rejects me, then admits me a week and a half later. Looks like my one top 10 admit really did involve a clerical error.
Attending: Caltech!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Caltech($$$), Northwestern(WL$), UCSD(No$), BU($$$), University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign($$), UNC-Chapel Hill (?$), Boston College($$), UW-Seatte(WL$)
  • Institution: Caltech Social Sciences PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 28k fellowship first year, TA/RA next four years Notification date: Feb 5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Still stunned and ecstatic.
  • Institution: UNC Chapel Hill Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Will be decided in March, apparently. Notification date: 2/26/09 11:14 am Notified through: E-mail Comments: Surprised again. It'll take the edge off Athey not calling me too
  • Institution: University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + fellowship Notification date: 3/09/2009 Notified through: Post
  • Institution: UC San Diego Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted (Provisionally) Funding: Not mentioned Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Yay!
  • Institution: BU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: e-mail Funding:$18700+tution waiver+summer stipend($5000)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Chicago, UCLA, Cornell
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: website Comments: Not surprising, hehe
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Well at least they were snappy about it.
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: email
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Heh. Notification date: Today (5 minutes ago) Notified through: E-mail Comments: Man, UCLA really hates me. Second time I've been rejected. Luckily I MUCH prefer Caltech.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9/09 Notified through: Mail
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Postal Service Comments: Letter dated March 13
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/6/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Wasn't gonna go here anyway!
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None! Awesome.

FierceEconDR 2009:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Math & Econ from the Poor's people Harvard aka CUNY
Undergrad GPA: 3.92/4, Summa Cum Laude
Type of Grad: M.S. Economics courses
Grad GPA: ?
GRE: 790Q, 540V, 5 AWA
Math Courses: All required courses for math degree, Calc I-III + Real Analysis I (B), Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra 1 and 2, Probability Theory(B+), Statistics (Theory) (A+) All others A's
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro and Macro Theory, Labor, International Finance(Macro), Development theory- All A's Advanced econ stats (A+)
Grad courses: Took the Macro, Micro, Econometrics, and some other stuff at a masters in europe. Not in my applications.
Letters of Recommendation: 4 econ professors=1 Berkeley ('semi-known') + 1 Harvard + 1 Kansas/NBER +1 Queen's ('Known'), I am confident they were solid and very enthusiastic.
Research Experience: AEA Summer Training Program, some development research in Paris IX
Teaching Experience: Macro & Micro, Math Tutor
Research Interests: Labor, Development, Applied Micro-econometrics
SOP: I think it was ok, I did it alla S. Athey: Why I want it (duh research!) what research have I done, what papers did i like, some questions I would like to answer, why U X is good. Name dropped in all of them (2 names).
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Maryland ($),Texas ($)
Withdrawn: UC Davis
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Chicago, UPenn, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Cornell, Northwestern, UCSD, Brown, Penn State
ATTENDING: Maryland
What could I have done differently?
In terms of the application process: not apply to PSU and apply to Columbia for my NY Bias (not that I would've gotten into!). I have to second: stayed away from TM/Gradcafe during admissions season!
I am extremely happy with UMD so in the end it payed off.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Maryland ($),Texas ($) Withdrawn: UC Davis
  • Institution: UT- Austin Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Email Comments: Relieved!
  • Institution: Maryland - College Park Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $18+(5K first year)+tuition waiver+health insurance Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Some wiggle room for me!!!
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Yale, Chicago, UPenn, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Cornell, Northwestern, UCSD, Brown, Penn State
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email directing me to status on website. Comments: My first rejection.
  • Institution: PSU Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Commentsevastated...
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Good luck, everyone
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Don't really care at this point...
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail to check website
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100$ Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Email to Marjorie
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website Comment: It is becoming clearer where I am going to be.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: postal Comment: Guess I will not be naming my dog Elle Woods!
  • Institution: Chicago Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Postal dated Comments: Would not have gone even if I gotten in, whatever....
  • Institution: UCSD Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail Comments: No surprise at this point
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution nstitution: Cornell Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/14/2009 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: As if I care...JA
Waitlists:

baconos 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ/Math from good liberal arts college (~50)
Undergrad GPA: 3.71, 3.90 math, 3.80 econ
Type of Grad: -
Grad GPA: -
GRE: 800Q, 600V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-II (A-), Discrete(A), Probability and Statistics I-II (A,A), Lin Alg (A), Diff Eq (A), Abstract Algebra (A-), Real Analysis (A-), Real Functions and Measures(B), Complex Functions (A), Financial Mathematics (A), etc.
Econ Courses (PhD-level): -
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Macro (A), Micro (A-), Statistics, Econometrics(A), American Economic History (B+), Ind. Study on Criticisms of Economic Thought (A)
Other Courses: some philosophy, history and religion
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors, all full professors - 2 from Chicago, 1 PSU - solid but nothing too spectacular
Research Experience: Best econometrics paper of the semester, some research on financial mathematics published in undergrad math journal
Teaching Experience: TA for Calculus I-II, Principles of Micro, Macro for a couple semesters
Research Interests: Anything and everything, Applied Micro, Development, International trade, and some political economy
SOP: it's an SOP, not looked into too much
Concerns: Lack of research, undergrad reputation/connections
Other:
RESULTS:
Attending: UColorado!!!
Acceptances: UWisc (no$ first year), UWashington (no$), UColorado ($$)
Waitlists:
Rejections: UMich, Cornell, OSU, PSU
Pending: None
What would you have done differently? Not really sure. I definitely did not make a huge effort to get to know professors (skipped classes a lot, no participation or visiting office hours too much) but I did well in their classes and they liked me, so that could've been better. Recommendations matter! I also applied when I was in a different country away from my home institution so I don't really recommend that - it's hard to get things done. Maybe applied a year earlier? hah.
Accepts:
    Attending: UColorado!!! Acceptances: UWisc (no$ first year), UWashington (no$), UColorado ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: UMich, Cornell, OSU, PSU
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

Zmoney 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large U.S. Public University ranked 40-55 (best in state) typically known for Football not Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.93 overall 4.0 in Econ 3.69 in Math Graduating Summa
GRE: 800 Q 540 V 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc 1-3 1,2 tested out 3(B+), Differential Equations(B), Stat 1(A), Probability(A) Lin Alg (A) Math Stats 2 in Spring
Econ Courses: Intros, Intermediates, Public Econ, Sports Econ, Empirical Research, Independent Study (for research) Labor, Empirical Public Econ I (PhD field) All A's
Other Courses: Minors in Food and Resource Economics, and History
Letters of Recommendation: 3 LORS 2 excellent letters from pretty well known Econ faculty in their concentrations (one Phd Chicago the other Wisconsin) and 1 very good letter from a senior member of the Ag Econ Department (Purdue well known in Ag econ)
Research Experience: 2 written empirical papers one for the class in research and the other (to be my thesis) I want to get published. Database work and research at Fed
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Interests: Public Econ, Public Choice, Taxation Policy, Political Economy
SOP: Solid i think, had multiple profs say they wouldn't change a thing
Other: Internship at the Federal Reserve, Strong Undergraduate leadership positions
Concerns: My B in Diffy Q, Coming from a big public school, No Real Analysis.
RESULTS:
Attending: Virginia
Admitted, Declined: Michigan State, Boston College, Florida
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Northwestern, NYU, Penn, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland, Texas-Austin, Cornell, Duke
What would you have done differently?
Started taking math freshman year as opposed to junior year. Double majored in Stats
Accepts:
    Attending: Virginia Admitted, Declined: Michigan State, Boston College, Florida
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No word on funding should be last week of march though Notification date: 2/13/2009 Notified through: WEBSITE Comments: ITS MY FIRST ADMIT!!!!!!! Tears in my eyes
  • Institution: University of Florida Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No word but historically fund all candidates Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Mail Comments: 2 for 3 so far. Admitted student day March 27th
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Ph.D Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ 15.6K RAship Notification date: 02/28 Notified through: Email. with a formal letter in the mail
  • Institution: Michigan State Economics Ph.D Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition+health insurance+13.4Kmin TAship Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: email from dept.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Northwestern, NYU, Penn, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland, Texas-Austin, Cornell, Duke
  • Institution: Duke Econ PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: I funded their loss endowment Notification date: 2/17/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: sigh... Had connections there too...
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/01 Notified through: checked apply yourself Comments: sigh there goes my number one choice
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail to check website Comments: sigh.... another rejection
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Website Comments: soul crushing....
  • Institution: NYU Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail, personalized though eh figured as much
  • Institution: Texas Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Website Comments: glad I didnt pick them in my march madness bracket
  • Institution: Cornell Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/15/2009 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: UVA thats all sorry Cornell
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

boiboi1986 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: Overall 3.91; Math 4.0; Econ 3.92
Type of Grad: -
Grad GPA: -
GRE: 800Q, 690V, 6.0AWA
Math Courses(undergrad): Multi, Diff Eq, Probability, Statistics, Stochastic Processes, Real Analysis I (Taking while applying in the fall), Taking in the spring: Measure Theory + Abstract algebra
Math Courses(PhD): -
Econ Courses: Standard sequence, Public Finance, Experimental Econ, History Econ Thought, Honors Thesis
Other Courses: Liberal artsy stuff
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ (MIT, Yale, both young assistant profs), 1 Math (Stanford fairly senior profs). The math one didn't know me much (took 2 classes with him). The other two I'd done research for, so should've been fairly good.
Research Experience: 2 summers
Teaching Experience: 2 semesters at homework tutoring sessions.
Research Interests: broad
SOP: terrible, i picked a bad topic to write about.
Other:
RESULTS:
Attending: UMich (Ann arbor)
Accepted: UMich ($$ on apr 15th!), Wisconsin (TA$ on apr 15th too!), UC Davis (TA$+Fellow$, but with only a approx 1/2-tuition reduction) [not sure what one $ =?]
Wait List: Upenn, presumably rejected in the end.
Rejections: "Almost everywhere" (top 10 + a few other top 11-20's)
What would you have done differently? a lot. i messed up my applications cuz i did it very last minute, i pretty much did it all over 3 very intense nights before the collective deadline (dec 15). so my SOP was a disaster, apparently i picked the completely wrong topic to write about. and also my letter of recommendation writers didn't have too much time to write it.
In any case, while i was initially quite disappointed, im now very happy to be going to michigan!
Accepts:
    Attending: UMich (Ann arbor) Accepted: UMich ($$ on apr 15th!), Wisconsin (TA$ on apr 15th too!), UC Davis (TA$+Fellow$, but with only a approx 1/2-tuition reduction) [not sure what one $ =?]
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: funding decisions will apparently be made "before the end of march" Notification date: 2/4/09, 4:47pm ET Notified through: Email first, later on website too Comments: also invited me to an open house w/ up to $300 reimbursement.
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No idea! from the looks of it i doubt im getting much funding. all it says is "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. Congratulations!" Notification date: Just checked it this morning (3/17) Notified through: Website
Rejects:
    rejected in the end. Rejections: "Almost everywhere" (top 10 + a few other top 11-20's)
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09, 12:28pm ET Notified through: Email directing me to status on website Comments:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 1/26/09, 11:45am ET Notified through: Email Comments: was pretty shocked to be rejected just 11 days after the deadline
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Morning 2/25 Checked on website myself, no emails, nada.
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/25 4:58pm email
Waitlists:
    Wait List: Upenn, presumably
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4 15:13 ET Notified through: Email

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

EconJames 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: International students. Good university in my home country but not well known.
Undergrad GPA: Major in Econ, minor in Math, GPA 3.8
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q 570V 4.0A
Math Courses: Mathematical analysis, Advanced algebra, Numerical analysis, Analytical Geometry, ODE, Real analysis, Complex analysis, Functional analysis, Probability theroy, Mathematical statistic, Dynamic optimization, Stochastic process
Econ Courses: many, all basic courses including intermediate marco,micro,metrics.
Grad Econ Courses: Advanced macro, Game theory, Advanced finance
Letters of Recommendation: Not famous professors, but know me well
Research Experience: Two papers published in domestic journals
Teaching Experience: No
Research Interests: Macro
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UMN, JHU, OSU, UBC, IOWA, IUB, ASU
Waitlists: Princeton UPenn (rejected on April 15)
Rejections: UCLA, UCSD, Michigan, Cornell, WUSTL, Rochester, Duke, CMU
What would you have done differently? Perhaps attend a MA first. Or maybe should prepare a paper with a DSGE model.
Comments: The undergraduate school's reputation matters a lot. If you cannot change this, try to get strong letter of recommendation then.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UMN, JHU, OSU, UBC, IOWA, IUB, ASU
Rejects:
    rejected on April 15) Rejections: UCLA, UCSD, Michigan, Cornell, WUSTL, Rochester, Duke, CMU
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Princeton UPenn (

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

jito32 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Finance from Univ Florida
Undergrad GPA: 3.89/4
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 650V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc Sequence (A), Sets & Logic (A) Diff. Eq, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Statistics next semester
Econ Courses: Principles (As) Intermediate Micro (A) Urban next semester
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors, one great one good, 1 from finance lecturer
Research Experience: RA for a year
Teaching Experience: TA for a year
Research Interests: Macro, public, interational
SOP: Boiler plate
Concerns: Just decided to pursue the degree this summer, so lacking in math/econ classes.
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
Waitlists:
Rejections:
Pending: Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Rochester, Boston U, Texas, Virginia, WUSTL, Iowa, George Mason
What you would have done differently: Started applying sooner. I knew all semester what I was doing but somehow everything got pushed back with my late GRE date of November 1st. Wish I would have read this forum earlier.
Accepts:
    Acceptances:
  • Institution: George Mason Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: Mail Comments: 1st admit, kinda neat...just not sure I'm going to attend.
  • Institution: University of Texas Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 4/7/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments: No funding... probably going to stay at UF and take math classes.
Rejects:
    Rejections:
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Pretty much expected. Now I miss not having any notifications in my inbox...
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Was unsure about this one. Too bad
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Expected.
  • Institution: Stanford Econ Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: Email Comments: Oh-fer-four. Time for a plan B?
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Virginia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: Checked website Comments: -
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/27 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Yyyyep.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:
  • Institution: UT-Austin Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: E-mail Comments: It didn't say rejected!

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:

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....

sappy 2009:
Institution: Yale University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/20/09
Notified through: Website
Comments: first rejection...
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Website Comments: first rejection...
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/01 Notified through: checked through apply yourself Comments: D'oh
  • Institution: University of Chicago Decision: Rejected Cost: Pride(ish) Notification date: Today, Letter dated March 6 2009 Notified through: postal service
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 7/4/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Boston University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 7/4/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
Waitlists:

crime_dog 2009:
Institution: Yale University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/20/09
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: I love the smell of burnt ego in the morning.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: looks like yes - more formal details to come Notification date: 3/3/09 Notified through: email Comments: incredibly stoked
  • Institution: Univ. of Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/6 Funding: Yes ($) Notified through: email Comments: Very happy - great program
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I love the smell of burnt ego in the morning.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: phone call to Mercedes Thomas Comments: meh
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: email Comments: first American to be rejected - bad omen
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/2/09 Notified through: email Comments: expected
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/3/09 Notified through: email Comments: knew this as soon as i clicked 'submit' on the application
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted for admission Notification date: 3/6 Funding: Full funding if accepted Notified through: email Comments:


Waitlists:

Canuckonomist 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A (Hons.) Economics, Math Minor with Distinction, Queen's University
Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.75/4.0, Econ: 4.0/4.0, Math: 3.65/4.0
Type of Grad: M.A Economics, Queen's University
Grad GPA: 3.9/4.0
GRE: 790Q 530V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (A+/A+/B), Linear Algebra (B), Differential Equations (B), Probability (C), Abstract Algebra (B), Statistics (A+), Analysis I & II (B+/B), Stochastic Models in Operations Research (A+)
Econ Courses (MA/PhD-level): Micro (A-), Metrics (A), Money and the Macroeconomy (A), Mathematical Economics (A+), Finance Theory (A+) Continuous-Time Finance (A+), Risk Management (Audit), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro (A), Macro (A+), Metrics I & II (A/B+), Finance (A+), History (B+), Corporate Finance (A),
Letters of Recommendation: 1 ANU, 1 JHU, 1 Harvard, 1 BU
Research Experience: R.A for three semesters. Co-authoured paper published in REE, 2008. Working paper with same author
Teaching Experience: UG Finance (fall), Tutor for department in mathematics for economists, Micro and stats.
Research Interests: Financial Economics, Micro, Credit
SOP: Working on it all summer
RESULTS:
Attending: University of Toronto ($$$)
Acceptances: Queen's University ($$), BU (no $)
Rejections: Chicago, NWU, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Rochester, Michigan, Minnesota
Pending: Cornell (will withdraw)
What would you have done differently? The only things I could have done differently would have been to start liking math before second year, and to know economics was the thing for me before second year. So really, outside of changing the fabric of my very being earlier in life, all the decisions on the equilibrium path were correct. Very happy to be attending UToronto. Would I be a true Canuckonomist if I didn't do a Ph.D in Canada? I like to think not.
Accepts:
    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)

mjsmith1986 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ from small but respectable liberal arts college with well known Econ researchers; they don't do minors but I have taken enough math to qualify for a "minor" at other schools
Undergrad GPA: 3.67 cumulative, 3.83 econ
GRE: 800Q, 590V, 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I (A-), Calc II (A), Calc III (A), Linear Algebra (A), Proofs and Fundamentals (B), Stats (A), Real Analysis I (A), Topology (A), Real Analysis II (Spring '09), Dynamical Systems (Spring '09)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): The relevant ones: Intermediate Micro (B+), Intermediate Macro (A), Advanced Micro (A), Econometrics (A), Senior Thesis (A)
Other Courses: Some political studies/physics
Letters of Recommendation: Two from Econ Profs (UT-Austin and Yale), one from Math Prof (head of Math dept.)
Research Experience: RA for Econometrics professor; Awarded summer research grant (co-authored a paper with a professor, in publishing stages); senior thesis
Teaching Experience: TA for intro micro
Research Interests: Labor Economics (specifically Economics of Education), Behavioral Economics, basically Applied Micro and Econometrics stuff.
SOP: Just talked about my research experience and interests.
Other: Applied for an NSF grant to build on some conclusions from my undergraduate thesis.
Concerns: That my Verbal score might be a little low. I was easily testing in the high 600s but I basically rushed through it on the GRE to get to the Quant. I also declared a late major in Econ (in my junior year) and have spent the last year and a half rushing to make up the appropriate math/econ courses for grad school, so I don't know whether that sends a good or bad signal to the adcomms. Also, high volume of apps this year with rather homegenous profiles.
What I would have done different: Majored in math from the start. Curse my fickle interests!
Applying to: Princeton (Woodrow Wilson School), Cornell, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, George Mason, Carnegie Mellon, Boston U, Boston College, Virginia, Duke
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Boston College ($$), Johns Hopkins ($), UVA ($?)
Rejections: Princeton, Brown, Maryland, George Mason, Boston U, Duke, CMU
Pending: Cornell (Probably rejected)
ATTENDING: Boston College
What could I have done differently?
As I said before, I would have majored in math from the start rather than rushing in my last semesters to make up the appropriate coursework. Aside from that, not much; I am pleased to have the offer that I do and am looking forward to graduate school!

Accepts:
    Acceptances: Boston College ($$), Johns Hopkins ($), UVA ($?)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Princeton, Brown, Maryland, George Mason, Boston U, Duke, CMU
Waitlists:
    Pending: Cornell (Probably
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 6 accepted out of 23 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.87, average GREQ was 798.0.
No link to department posted statistics has been added, please let me know if these exist and I will add them.

Links:
Test Magic Econ Forums
econphd.econwiki.com
Last Updated: 14:57:51, Fri May 11, 2012