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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!

xbar 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Economics: Management Science (Top 10 US Institution by IDEAS)
Undergrad GPA: Econ: 3.5/4, Highest Distinction; Cumulative: 3.14
GRE: 800Q, 550V, 4.5W
Math Courses (undergrad): Calc II (B-), Calc III (C+), Linear Alg (B-), Mathematical Reasoning (B)
Econ Courses (grad): Econometrics I (B), Micro I (B-)
Econ Courses (undergrad): Everything besides macro (A's and B's)
Other Courses: Bob Marley and History of Jamaican Culture, MMW 5
Letters of Recommendation: MIT, Stanford GSB, UCSD
Research Experience: Senior Thesis (A)
Teaching Experience: TA for one year (Intro. Micro/Macro)
Research Interests: Econometrics, Game Theory
SOP: Concise.
RESULTS:
Attending: Rochester
Acceptances: Rochester ($$)
Rejections: Penn State, JHU, Cal, Brown, BU
What would you have done differently?
Stress out less. Maybe taken one or two more grad courses. Topology, just because it is interesting in itself.

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!

bellman 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: top uni in my country in south asia, unknown outside. BSc Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.87 Overall, 3.97 Econ, 3.82 Math
Type of Grad: MA Economics (on-going, top prog in Canada)
Grad GPA: Average 85%
GRE: 790Q, 730V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I (A-), Calc II (A), Vector Calc (A-), Linear Algebra (A), Probability (A), Statistics (A), Adv Stats (A) , Real Analysis (B+), Functional Analysis (B+), Set Theory (A-), ODEs (A), Number Theory (A-), OR-I (A)
Econ Courses (grad institute): Micro(MA) (B+) (this is gonna hurt me alotttt), Macro(MA) (A+), Econometrics(MA) (A+), Math for Econ(MA) (A),
Econ Courses (undergrad institute): Micro-I, II, grad (A+, A, A), Macro I, II, grad (A+,A, A), Econometrics I,II,grad (A+,A, A+), Adv Game Theory (A), Adv Math Econ (A) and various other courses of undergrad level.
Letters of Recommendation: diff combo of profs 2 from masters and 2 from undergrad prog.
Research Interests: Applied Econometrics, Labor, IO
SOP: Was told to not exceed one page by my referee. standard I'm sure
Teaching Experience: TA for econometrics for an entire year at my undergrad institute. currently TAing at my grad school but wasnt able to include this in my app file.
Concerns: My B+s in real and functional plus esp my B+ in grad Micro are gonna hurt me big time. its strange how one bad day can jeopardize things so badly.
Applying to: Yale, Michigan, Austin, Cornell, Wisconsin, Duke, Virginia, WUSTL, Rochester, Vanderbilt, Queens, UWO, Maryland, Minnesota
Rejections: Cornell, Duke, Yale

phd09 2009:
Institution: OSU
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Have no idea
Notification date: 2/18/09
Notified through: Website(status changed today)
Comments:

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.

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.

TomRod 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Mathematics and B.A. Economics[listed as 'additional major'] with decent math program and well-known undergraduate economics program [without doctoral program]
Undergrad GPA: 3.36 or so overall
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q/640V/5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I,II,III, Linear Algebra, Matrix Analysis, Univariate Real Analysis, Multivariate Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Financial Mathematics, Graduate Topology, "Proofs Class", (waived Diff E.Q. because of related research experience)
Econ Courses: Intro Macro & Micro, Intermediate Macro & Micro & Econometrics, Economic Statistics, Intermediate I/O, Graduate Macro & Micro & Statistics, Graduate Game Theory (Repeated Games & Reputations)
Letters of Recommendation: LORS requested only from professors who actually cared to see where I end up and wanted to see me personally succeed. Spent a long time getting to know professors personally and professionally. Mostly math and a few economics professors. Felt snubbed by a majority of my economics professors due to a low overall GPA (it took my awhile to find my interests and a bad grade never scared me from taking a class I was only marginally prepared for)
Research Interests: Varied. Ideally computational economics and econometrics or macroeconomics
SOP: "Best written [SOP] I've ever seen..." I'm a sucker for flattery, but it seemed a little over the top. Talked strongly of recent experience, how it shaped my current goals, and where I'd like to see these goals end up, and why grad school is essential for me to achieve those goals in their current incarnation.
Teaching Experience: Linear Algebra TA, Matlab teacher, econometrics tutor, microeconomics tutor, Math Lab TA
Research Experience: Research involving Computational Economics and Financial Systems
Work Experience: Researcher for 1.5 years, Measurement and Verification engineer for 2 years
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT Austin
Rejections: Rochester, Michigan, UT Austin (Management), NCSU (Statistics)
Pending: None
What would you have done differently? Probably nothing but try to get higher grades in my intermediate classes. Man I hate filling out these kinds of things [showboating is not something I enjoy, nor pointing out flaws] but I hope it helps some undergrad in a situation and with goals similar to mine achieve what they hope for!

eggman 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top Public University (William & Mary)
Undergrad GPA: 3.87 Overall, 4.0 Econ, 3.9 Math
GRE: 760 Q, 550 V, 4.5 A
Math Courses: MultiVar. Calc (A), Linear Algebra (A), Intro Proofs Class (A), Real Analysis (B+), Ordinary Differential Equation (A), Probability (A), Mathematical Statistics (in progress)
Econ Courses: Econ of Information (A), World Trade Theory (A), Econometrics (A), Time-Series Econometrics (A), Cross Section Econometrics (A) (advanced econometric courses are part of my schools MPP program, but are cross-listed in Econ)
Letters of Recommendation:
-Assistant Professor I was a TA for
-Professor that is my Honors Thesis Advisor
-Professor I worked for on a theoretical paper, well known in his subfield.
Research Experience:
-RA for one summer doing grunt work data collection
-Empirical Honors Thesis on a topic in pubic economics (decentralization)
-Worked on a Theoretical Paper in social choice theory, attempted to prove a theorem the professor could not solve. Even though I couldnt finish the paper for him, I was able to make enough progress that he could see that I had some talent, greatly improving my letter of recommendation.
Teaching Experience:
TA for an Econ 101 class, graded assignments and held review sessions.
Research Interests: Public, Labor, Applied Micro
SOP: I think it was fine, matched up my interests with some professors, nothing noteworthy to say about it
RESULTS:
Will be Attending: UVA
Acceptances: UVA($$), Indiana ($$)
Waitlists: UNC
Rejections: Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Rochester, Penn State, Maryland, JHU, Duke, Michigan, Minnesota, UCLA
What would you have done differently?
I wish I would have started math earlier and had been a Econ/Math double major instead of just a math minor. I believe I had enough Math to make me competitive, but a little bit more could have been nice. I also wish I had done better on the GRE, but I studied a lot and only got a 760Q, so I dont think taking it again would have improved my score, thus I dont regret not retaking the GRE.
Comments: Im surprised I got so many rejections, but ultimately I am very happy with the final outcome. I really like UVAs Program and they gave me good funding.

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.

roundabout 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: East Asian university(BS in electrical engineering),
another East Asian University(BA - second bachelor's degree - in economics)
Undergrad GPA: 3.4/4.0(1st institution), 3.96/4.0(2nd institution)
Type of Grad: Same university where I got Economics BA degree. MA, Economics.
Grad GPA: 4.0/4.0 (progressing 2nd semester)
GRE: 800Q, 640V, 4.0AWA
Math Courses:
When I was an engineer wannabe: Cal I,II,III(diff. eqn),IV(sort of complex analysis), Dicrete mathematics
Since I became an economist wannabe: Numerical analysis, Probability and statistics, Linear algebra I,II, Analysis I,II(Baby Rudin), Topology I, Real Analysis(measure theory), Real Analysis I(Grad. Level, Big Rudin), Probability theory I(measure theoretic, Grad. level, progressing)
I took way more math classes as an economist wannabe. (It seems a bit weird, isn't it? )
Econ Courses: Bunch of them. Some highlights are: Grad. Micro and Macro, Micro theory related seminar class, Grad. Monetary theory, Grad. Econometrics (approx. 20 classes)
Letters of Recommendation: 4 econ and 1 math professors. I'm not really sure how my letter of recommendation would seem like
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Experience: half year of RA during undergrad(worked on improving lecture material), half year of RA during grad(project related with auction)
Research Interests: Economic theory, Applied microeconomics (For right now, mechanism design and market design stuff.)
SOP: It would be OK. I don't really concern about this one though. Mainly about motivation, interests, highlighted classes and experience which would be helpful for Ph.D. study.
Concerns: letter of recommendation - I don't think it would be ugly. However, I have no evidence to believe that the recommenders would write a exceptionally good one.
TOEFL - score on speaking section is terrible due to the lack of practicing(I hate to do this).
Applying to: 10 among top 20, 7 among 20~50 U.S. Econ Ph.D program
Comments: TM has been a great resource for preparing Ph.D study since I've changed my career. I recently joined TM to contribute one sample, which would be my result, so I can pay back what I've earned from here. Let's see what will happen after 4 monthes.
(For those who might recognize me, I want to be remained as an anonymous TMer. Please do not talk to other friends that I posted my profile here. )

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.

boldwolf 2009:
Institution: CMU
Program: Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -90(including gre report)
Notification date: 2/26/09
Notified through: Checked ApplyYourself Website @ 9.15am
Not looking good at all...

Jaktu 2009:
Institution: Caltech
Program: Social Science, Ph.D
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/27
Notified through: Email
Institution: Penn State
Program: Economics, Ph.D
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/25
Notified through: Email
Institution: Minnesota
Program: Economics, Ph.D
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/25
Notified through: Email
I miss the days when I was applying to engineering schools. I felt like a king with all the funded offers and flyouts.

buckykatt 2009:
Institution: Caltech
Program: PhD Social Sciences
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/27/09
Notified through: Email
Comments: Not really a surprise. I wish I had done a better job on my application so I'd know it wouldn't have made a difference, though.