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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:

good_tea 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA, Joint Econ/Math at Top 30 Econ department (I am an international student, though)
Undergrad GPA: 3.83/4.00
GRE: 760Q/670V/4.5A
Math Courses: Calculus (B, B, A), Linear Algebra (B+), Differential Equations (A), Analysis (A,A), Operations Research (A), MA Statistics in economics department (A).
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (B), Econometrics (A), Economics of Information (B+), MA Micro (A), MA Macro (A), and many electives (As).
Letters of Recommendation: One famous economics prof., wrote term paper (not sure about strength of the letter but not bad), one somewhat famous economics prof., senior thesis advisor (should have been quite solid), one analysis professor (should have been very good).
Research Experience: Senior thesis.
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Development, trade.
SOP: Nothing special.
Other: Had been working for an international organisation for a few months during the time of application.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Cornell AEM MS (no $), UVA (wl-$), UMD AREC ($$), Michigan (no $), BU (wl-$).
Rejections: Yale, Harvard KSG, UCB ARE, Princeton, PSU, UMD, Brown, NYU, UCSD.
What would you have done differently?
I am very happy with my outcome but realise that with a bit of bad luck, it could have been a lot worse. I am answering this question not so much in retrospect but in terms of how my a priori thinking/information could have been better (e.g. in retrospect it wouldn't make sense to apply to Princeton but a priori it was reasonable to do so just in case my recommendation letters were extremely strong).
1. I would not have applied to Maryland Economics b/c it really didn't match my interests very well. I would not have applied to Cornell AEM b/c it turns out it is very difficult to get admitted directly into the PhD program and I didn't want to do a MA/MS. I might have applied to Cornell's economics instead, though. I would have applied to at least one more place outside the top-20, maybe University of Washington.
2. A higher GRE score would have been good but I tried and didn't manage (canceled my score after taking it the second time), so it is not something I regret. I am not so good at that kind of test.
3. In terms of the longer run, I should have considered how I could do better in math classes earlier on. I am naturally quite good at math but had been doing only ok since late high school and never really thought about how I could improve. I learned (while studying for my Linear Algebra final exam, which took my grade for that class from a B- to a B+), that it is very useful to study by writing/typing out explanations to make sure one understands everything properly. Studying in this way, I did very well in all my subsequent math classes.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Cornell AEM MS (no $), UVA (wl-$), UMD AREC ($$), Michigan (no $), BU (wl-$).
  • Institution: Cornell AEM Decision: Accepted for MS. Funding: None. Notification date: 23rd of February. Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes. Comments: Email said that getting into the PhD program after successfully completing MS should be of no difficulty. Not sure what to be make of this.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nothing yet. Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email to check website. Posted on GF: Yes. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: This is very good news.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nothing yet. Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Checked the website but did not receive an email. On the website, it says I will be contacted soon. Posted on GF: Going to very soon. So Yes, basically. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: This is really excellent!
  • Institution: University of Maryland AREC Decision: Accepted Funding: Graduate Assistantship, tuition remission Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Will do. Comments: Excellent...
  • Institution: BU economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Basically waitlisted for funding. Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No, maybe I will, in which case I will put my TM name. Comments: Good to know, though I am unlikely to choose it at this point.
  • Institution: Cornell AEM Decision: Accepted for MS. Funding: None. Notification date: 23rd of February. Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes. Comments: Email said that getting into the PhD program after successfully completing MS should be of no difficulty. Not sure what to be make of this.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nothing yet. Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email to check website. Posted on GF: Yes. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: This is very good news.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nothing yet. Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Checked the website but did not receive an email. On the website, it says I will be contacted soon. Posted on GF: Going to very soon. So Yes, basically. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: This is really excellent!
  • Institution: University of Maryland AREC Decision: Accepted Funding: Graduate Assistantship, tuition remission Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Will do. Comments: Excellent...
  • Institution: BU economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Basically waitlisted for funding. Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No, maybe I will, in which case I will put my TM name. Comments: Good to know, though I am unlikely to choose it at this point.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Yale, Harvard KSG, UCB ARE, Princeton, PSU, UMD, Brown, NYU, UCSD.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected. Notification date: 18th of February, I think. Notified through: Email. Posted on GF: No Comments: Wasn't expecting to get in anyway.
  • Institution: Harvard KSG Public Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/03/10 Notified through: Email. Posted on GF: Will do. Comments: Not particularly bothered.
  • Institution: Harvard KSG Public Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/03/10 Notified through: Email. Posted on GF: Will do. Comments: Not particularly bothered.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Ag & Resource Econ (ARE) Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail to check website. Date: 03/09 Comment: I feel I had a fair shot here. If it is true that NYU and Brown are also out (and Princeton is almost certainly out anyway), then none of the offers I could still get are better than the ones I already have.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: No surprise...
  • Institution: PSU Econ Phd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: Email. Comments: I would not have attended even if I got admitted with funding at this point. It was meant to be safety though, so that seems to have been a miscalculation!
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Marjorie Lesser got back to my email, that was nice of her since it was from several days back. Posted on GC: No Comments: Not surprised at this point. Only UCSD to go...
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: e-mail Comments: I wouldn't have gone anyway, but I am really glad I got into Michigan and in retrospect, seem to have been lucky since I was rejected by other similar programs!
Waitlists:

takethemoneyandrun 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Mid-ranked liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.7/4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 770Q/700V/5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A/B/A-), Linear Algebra (A-), Probability Theory (B+), Mathematical Statistics (B+), ODEs (A-), PDEs (A), Advanced Calculus (A), Real Analysis (A), Topology (IP), Complex Analysis (IP)
Econ Courses : Intermediate Micro (B+), Intermediate Macro (A-), Intro to Econometrics (B), Labor Economics (A), Senior honors thesis (A)
Other courses: Nothing of value
Letters of Recommendation: Three econ professors (PhDs from top 30 programs) who advised me on research papers that turned out pretty well and one statistics professor with whom I did summer research. They are all very nice, helpful people and I get along well with them.
Research Experience: Two econ term papers and a senior honors thesis that I am proud of; one co-authored statistics publication based on summer research.
Teaching Experience: TA for 2 sections of introductory statistics and 2 sections of introductory economics.
Research Interests: Economics of labor, health, aging, and education.
Statement of purpose: I made it clear that I want to become an academic economist, discussing my math preparation and research interests.
Concerns: Low GRE Q and limited undergrad econ background with very shaky grades.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Virginia(wl-$), Texas(wl-$), Washington-Seattle($$), Indiana($$), UC-Davis($$), UC-Irvine($$), Rice($$), Colorado($0), Maryland AREC($$), Cornell AEM($0), Oregon($$)
Rejections: Brown, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, WUSTL
What would you have done differently? I would have applied to more schools in the 15-30 range. I didn't expect to be accepted to at least half of the programs that admitted me and was biased towards lower-ranked schools. I have heard this over and over, but it's worth repeating: The MC of sending out an additional application is extremely low; apply to any and every school that you think matches your research interests!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Virginia(wl-$), Texas(wl-$), Washington-Seattle($$), Indiana($$), UC-Davis($$), UC-Irvine($$), Rice($$), Colorado($0), Maryland AREC($$), Cornell AEM($0), Oregon($$)
  • Institution:UC Davis Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: full tuition waiver + TAship Notification date: 8th Feb 2010 Notified through:email Posted on Gradcafe: Yes Date of Gradcafe post: 8th Feb 2010 Comments: I'm very grateful to have an offer from a school that I thought was out of my league.
  • Institution: Cornell Applied Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None available :( Notification date: 18 February 2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: I'm honored, but I can't attend without funding.
  • Institution: University of Maryland AREC Decision: Accepted Funding: "Graduate Assistanship" with tuition remission + health insurance + 21k Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Colorado-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $0 Notification date: 3/10/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I'm very surprised that I wasn't offered funding. It was probably due to my low GRE score.
  • Institution: UT-Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None "at this time" Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: Email Comments: I'm very happy, but shocked; I thought they were all done with offers.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Brown, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, WUSTL
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Fully expected
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Also expected, but this one really stings.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Fully expected
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Also expected, but this one really stings.
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 4/6 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: My last one
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Rice University Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments:

Saksalainen 2010:
Institution: Uppsala
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: Mar 9
Notified through: postal
Funding: ^^
Comments: "highly qualified applicants... budgetary reasons... sorry"
Accepts:
  • Institution: U Colorado - Boulder Economics Decision: accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes. Comment: no money, no honey. sad.
  • Institution: U Washington - Seattle Economics Decision: accepted Funding: waitlisted Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes. Comment: maybe money, maybe honey.
  • Institution: GW Decision: Admit Funding: ?? Notification date: 3/26/10 Notified through: checked website Comments: funding to follow Rejected from: UCLA, UCSD, NYU, WUSTL, BC, UNC, DUKE, BROWN, JHU
  • Institution: University Maryland AREC Decision: Accepted Notification date: 4/6/10 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comment: funding offer after being admitted two weeks ago. 21K graduate assistantship.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Uppsala Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: Mar 9 Notified through: postal Funding: ^^ Comments: "highly qualified applicants... budgetary reasons... sorry"
Waitlists:


Rejections:


Waitlists:

ilikefreefood 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ major from a top 5-10 Midwestern liberal arts college.
Undergrad GPA: 3.73/4, magna cum laude, distinction in major for senior thesis research.
Type of Grad: first semester of PhD microeconomics at Maryland
Grad GPA: 3.00/4.00 (B+)
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 Fall 2008), Probability (A, taken as a non-degree student at a local school Summer 2009)
Econ Courses: Principles Micro/Macro (A-,A), Intermediate Micro (A) Intermediate Macro (B), Econometrics (B+), PhD Micro Theory I (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: 2 Econ. professors (liberal arts college profs but with Chicago/Stanford PhDs), including my thesis adviser who has previously stated that my thesis was one of the best he's ever advised. 1 Partner at my Econ. consulting firm with whom I've worked extensively on econometric analyses (PhD Cornell).
Where possible, a third Econ. professor (PhD Chicago).
Research Experience: ~3.5 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.
Statement of Purpose: Well-written but fairly standard; mentioned specifically my interest in development and applied micro fields.
Other: This is my second time applying, and I am reapplying to several schools with the additional Probability and PhD micro courses and a new letter of recommendation. I am deferred at Minnesota ARE from last year.
Applying to: Maryland, Maryland AREC, Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Washington, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Michigan State, Northwestern, WUSTL, Georgetown, Texas, Boston University, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, UC Davis ARE, Illinois, Penn State, Virginia
RESULTS:
Attending: Boston University
Acceptances: Boston University (no $), U. of Washington ($), Michigan State ($ waitlist), Illinois ($), UC Davis ARE ($), Maryland AREC ($).
Rejections: Maryland Econ., Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Texas, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Penn State, Virginia
No Response: Georgetown
What would you have done differently?
I would have taken more care to keep my grades in key courses consistently high in college to avoid a few potential red flags. I would have started my math education earlier and taken more classes as an undergrad. I would have worked only 2 years as an economic consultant and timed the business cycle to avoid applying in 2009 and 2010. I would have applied last year to a few schools that just missed my 2009 list (BU, Washington, and Illinois were all nearly on it), and potentially avoided the annoyance of waiting another year. I would have done more research to discount the advice of my advisors who said I would definitely get into schools on my 2009 list. All those things said, i feel that BU is really a fabulous program for my interests, and I am very, very excited to be headed there.
Accepts:
    Attending: Boston University Acceptances: Boston University (no $), U. of Washington ($), Michigan State ($
  • Institution: UC Davis ARE Decision: Accepted Funding: "We are going to offer you funding" Notification date: January 28th Notified through: Phone (Voicemail) Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Comments: This feels good.
  • Institution:UC Davis (ARE) Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16K RA/TA Notification date: 1/28 Notified through: Phone Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: A solid first offer to start the season.
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for TAship Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comment: The plot thickens.
  • Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: First year fellowship 8.5k, TA years 2-5 17k + tuition & fee waiver Notification date: 3/23/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Booyah.
  • Institution: Maryland (AREC) Agricultural & Applied Economics (AREC) Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for assistantship Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Official letter said no possibility of funding, but it was followed by an email saying "Under normal budgetary conditions, we would have made an offer of financial assistance in the form of a graduate assistantship ... our ability to support incoming graduate students is severely limited at this time. I wanted you to know that your name has been place on a waiting list for just such an assistantship."
  • Institution: Boston University (BU) Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Funding: No funding. Comments: Given my interests, this is a tempting option. Lots of thinking to do.
  • Institution: University of Washington, Seattle Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "we are in a position to make you a funded offer" Notification date: 4/15 Notified through: Email (at 1:15am Pacific!) Comments: UW never really officially told me I was in before this because I told them I wouldn't come without funding. However, I have given this eventuality a lot of thought in the past few days, and I will decline their funded offer for an unfunded offer at BU. In spite of the funding-related antics, I really liked UW, I love Seattle, and this was a tough decision to make.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland Econ., Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Texas, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Penn State, Virginia No Response: Georgetown
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
  • Institution: Yale Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/18/2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Comments: expected
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Bummer. As with many other posters, I'm going to try not to read into this one too much.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More or less expected.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Very disappointing. Last year they held my application until April, and since then I have added a letter of recommendation from a Cornell Ph.D.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Never really expected to get in, but boy I wish it hadn't taken so long to determine that I hadn't.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Not surprised to get re-rejected, but this was a program at which my advisor thought I had a good shot, so it's still a bummer.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More or less expected.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Very disappointing. Last year they held my application until April, and since then I have added a letter of recommendation from a Cornell Ph.D.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Never really expected to get in, but boy I wish it hadn't taken so long to determine that I hadn't.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Not surprised to get re-rejected, but this was a program at which my advisor thought I had a good shot, so it's still a bummer.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/05 Notified through: Email Comment: Got the email during a presentation at a flyout. So expected I didn't even flinch.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Ag & Resource Econ (ARE) Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notified through: E-mail Date: 03/08 Comment: This one is a major disappointment. I really wanted to go here, and my advisor thought I had an excellent shot.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Bummer. I'm pretty sure my family would've loved to see me as a Nittany Lion.
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not really.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website) Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Interesting program, but I didn't think I was going to get in anyway.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Obviously this one was assumed at this point, but it's especially disappointing because I took a graduate course in this department to beef up my application recently. C'est la vie.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: -
  • Institution: University of Texas, Austin Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Bummer. I'm hanging out with friends from Austin today and had to break the news to them that I won't be joining them anytime soon.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/31 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: Yes Funding: - Comments: Charlottesville would have been nice.
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 4/6 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment: The field narrows.
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 4/16/10 Notified through: Letter Comment: Maybe Georgetown's objective in waiting till after April 15th is to ensure that no one cares if they're rejected?
Waitlists:
    waitlist), Illinois ($), UC Davis ARE ($), Maryland AREC ($).
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 3 accepted out of 4 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.77, average GREQ was 765.0.
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: 14:57:55, Fri May 11, 2012