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Most Recently Selected profile:
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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.
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Acceptances:
dreck 2010:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BA in Economics (summa cum laude), BA in Math (summa cum laude), large state school, not well known for economics Undergrad GPA: 4.00/4.00 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 790Q, 630V, 5.5 AW Math Courses: Multivariate Calc, Linear Algebra, Diff. Eq., Abstract Linear Algebra, Numeric Analysis, Set Theory & Proofs, (Analysis and Topology not reflected in the application) Econ Courses: Intermediate Macro/Micro, Game Theory, Labor Economics, Discrimination Seminar, Colloquium on Poverty, Two Undergraduate Econometrics courses, PhD-level Econometrics, PhD-level Micro I made an A in each of these. My school does not use +/-. Other Courses: A lot of psychology, Letters of Recommendation: Three professors at my school. Did research and classes with one, taught with the other, just class with the third. None are famous, but two are reasonably well-known in their field. One is the department chair. Research Experience: Two Honors Theses, one term paper in econometrics. Wasn't able to secure a publication before application season. Teaching Experience: TA for two years, Intro to Micro and Intermediate Micro Research Interests: Applied Micro, Micro Theory, Development SOP: Pretty standard, just outlined my progress through an undergraduate degree and my research interests Other: RESULTS: Acceptances: Michigan (no $(?)), Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($$), Texas at Austin ($$ if I wanted it) Waitlists: Princeton ($$ if admitted) Rejections: Harvard, MIT, NYU, Columbia, Duke, Northwestern, Berkeley Pending: LSE (applied later) What would you have done differently? Started math classes sooner. Considered more seriously a Masters program abroad. I also wish that I had discovered these forums earlier! So much good advice... If I could go even further back, I would have attended a undergraduate institution with a stronger economics program. That said, I'm still happy. I'm leaning toward Michigan, but keeping my fingers crossed for Princeton.
Accepts: Acceptances: Michigan (no $(?)), Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($$), Texas at Austin ($$ if I wanted it)
Rejects: Rejections: Harvard, MIT, NYU, Columbia, Duke, Northwestern, Berkeley
Waitlists: Waitlists: Princeton ($$ if
eigenman 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BS Economics/Biochemistry from US R1 school, Top 10 economics Undergrad GPA: 3.59 Type of Grad: Non-degree math/stats coursework Grad GPA: 4.0 GRE: 800V/800Q/5.0W Math Courses: Undergrad-level: calc 1-2; multivariable calc; linear algebra; "applied" linear algebra; differential equations; series, sequences, and foundations (proofs intro). Grad level: stat theory I-II, applied linear regression, analysis II, time series analysis I, advanced linear algebra. Even mix of As and Bs. Econ Courses: Intermediate macro/micro, econometrics, Latin American economics, + honors in: macro policy, quantitative macro, international trade, game theory, urban economics, money and banking. As and Bs. Other Courses: lots of biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology, intro physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry. As and Bs throughout. Letters of Recommendation: Varied. Two from regional Fed economists, one from Analysis professor were generally used. For more behavioral places had letter from coauthor; for programs requiring a letter from an undergraduate instructor, tapped my quantitative macro graduate instructor. I'm sure they had nice things to say about me but perhaps they were not so influential. Research Experience: First author on an experimental animal behavior paper published in medium-tier journal. Unpublished undergraduate thesis in behavioral neuroscience. 1.5 years (as of now) RAing at a regional Fed, one publication (another pending) in our in-house journal. Two semeters in a biochemistry lab. Teaching Experience: Nil Research Interests: At the time I submitted my applications, behavioral economics and evolutionary game theory, but I'm leaning toward econometrics and computational economics lately SOP: Mostly addressed my background and suitability for graduate study Other: RESULTS: Acceptances: UT-Austin (wl-$), OSU(wl-$), UW-Seattle(wl-$), Duke (MA), NYU (MA) Waitlists: UMN, UW-Madison (bad waitlists in both cases) Rejections: UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, UPenn, U-Michigan, Caltech, PSU, LSE(MRes/PhD Track 1), CMU-Tepper Pending: LSE(MSc-Research) What would you have done differently? I probably should have bothered another Fed economist rather than asking my math prof, but I was worried about my mediocre math GPA. I also ought've interacted more with professors as an undergraduate, but nearly all of my economics courses were taught by graduates, and I made a decision to go to econ school fairly close to graduation. All of this considered I'm perfectly satisficed and looking forward to relaxing over the summer before putting my shoulder to the wheel in September.
Accepts: Acceptances: UT-Austin (wl-$), OSU(wl-$), UW-Seattle(wl-$), Duke (MA), NYU (MA)
- Institution: Ohio State University Economics PhD
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Nominated for fellowship
Notification date: 2/04
Notified through: web site; confirmed by USPS on 12/13
Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 12/13
Comments: Delighted!
profile
- Institution: University of Texas - Austin Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 3/16/10
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Have to think about this.
- Institution: UW-Seattle Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Unfunded
Notification date: 3/22
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments:
This calls for a celebratory evening of working until midnight
No really I'm very pleased
- Institution: NYU MA Economics
Decision: Admitted
Notification date: 3/29
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Funding: None
Comments: Applied as part of a JD/MA application.
Received notification an hour or so after asking for my application to be withdrawn.
Not sure whether the two events were connected.
- Institution: London School of Economics Economics MSc (Research)
Decision: Admitted
Notification date: 4/1
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Funding:
Nada
Comments: They really took their time.
Submitted my application in late November.
Rejects: Rejections: UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, UPenn, U-Michigan, Caltech, PSU, LSE(MRes/PhD Track 1), CMU-Tepper
- Institution: LSE MRes+PhD (Track 1)
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2 February
Notified through: Site
Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) n/a
Comments: No sweat... five years in London would have been hard.
Still waiting on my second choice.
- Institution: Northwestern University JD/PhD
Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: yes
Comments: Unsurprised
- Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 1:05pm ET 3/1
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: Domestic student.
First?
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: crunch
- Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 1:05pm ET 3/1
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: Domestic student.
First?
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: crunch
- Institution: Penn State University (PSU) Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/10/2010
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: This was a safety.
Back to the girl scout cookies.
- Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: surprise!
no not really
- Institution: Brown Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/16
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: My odds of ever living in Rhode Island have diminished further.
My wildest dreams are coming true.
- Institution: CalTech Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/19
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: assumed
- Institution: UCSD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/22
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments:
Was unaware California still attached to US mainland
- Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/25/10
Notified through: Mass (or at least wholly impersonal!) email
Comments:
no sweat, pretty happy with my situation
Waitlists: Waitlists: UMN, UW-Madison (bad waitlists in both cases)
- Institution: Minnesota
Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: yes
Comments: SNAP, my own alma mater. :doh: Not told I was high on the waitlist.
- Institution: Minnesota
Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: yes
Comments: SNAP, my own alma mater.
Not told I was high on the waitlist.
SlowLearner38 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, Medium Less-Selective Midwest State School (no PhD) Undergrad GPA: 3.52 Type of Grad: Masters-level ECON courses during undergrad. Grad GPA: 4.0 GRE: 790Q 350V 3.5 AWA Math Courses: Calc I-III (B,A,B), Linear Algebra (A), Differential Equations (A-), Discrete Math (B) Stat Courses: Intro Stats (A), Regression and Variance I-II (A,A-), Probability Theory (B+) Econ Courses: Intro/Inter Micro and Macro, Senior Research Seminar, Honors Thesis, Managerial Econ, Econ Forecasting, History of Econ Thought, Public Econ, Econ of Crime, Econ of Sports Grad Courses: Math Econ I-II (using Simon/Blume), Managerial Econ Letters of Recommendation: 4 ECON Professors -- None are very well known, but their letters were very strong. They coordinated it so that each focused on different aspects of my ability to do graduate studies in economics in their LORs {1 research ability, 1 teaching ability, 1 classroom ability, 1 summarizing letter from the department chair with a focus on personality}. Research Experience: Presented undergrad honors thesis at ASSA/AEA conference (won 2 awards at my school for it), Contracted research for a non-profit economic education organization, and 2nd undergrad thesis underway during the time of application. Research Interests: Applied Micro, IO, Behavioral, Experimental Statement of purpose: Told an elegant story about how I used to suck at college and now I don't. Tailored the last 1-2 paragraphs to each school. RESULTS: Ph.D. Accepts: Emory($$$), UT-Dallas($$), Arizona(Tuition Waiver), Oregon(?-Withdrew) Ph.D. Rejects: Iowa, Vanderbilt, Virginia Masters Accepts: UBC M.A.(Partial Tuition Scholarship), Tinbergen M.Phil.(no $) M.A. Withdrawls: Toronto, Queen's, Simon Fraser ATTENDING: Emory University What would you have done differently? Considering the constraints I was up against, coming from a low ranked state school with only a B.A. in Econ, I think I did very well for myself. Emory is a great fit for me!
Accepts: Accepts: Emory($$$), UT-Dallas($$), Arizona(Tuition Waiver), Oregon(?-Withdrew)
Ph.D. - Institution: Emory University Economics, PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: $17k + $4k Fellowship Nomination
Notification date: 02/23/2010
Notified through:
Email
Comments:
Awesome.
- Institution: U Oregon Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Decision Pending
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Nice.
- Institution: University of Texas - Dallas Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email
Funding: $10.5k TA + Tuition
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: Must give notice in 8 days! I will turn it down in favor of Emory at this point. If I was more confident in my interest in Experimental, I would give them much more thought.
- Institution: Tinbergen Institute Mphil Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No Funding 1st year.
Notification date: 03/05/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Comment: Should I move to the Netherlands?
- Institution: U Oregon Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Decision Pending
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Nice.
- Institution: University of Texas - Dallas Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email
Funding: $10.5k TA + Tuition
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: Must give notice in 8 days! I will turn it down in favor of Emory at this point. If I was more confident in my interest in Experimental, I would give them much more thought.
- Institution: Tinbergen Institute Mphil Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No Funding 1st year.
Notification date: 03/05/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Comment: Should I move to the Netherlands?
- Institution: University of Arizona Economics Ph.D.
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition waiver only in 1st year. Graduate assistantship available after passing core exams.
Notification date: 3/15/2010
Notified through: UNOFFICIAL E-mail from outside the department. Relax everyone.
- Institution: UBC MA Economics
Decision:
Admitted
Funding:
Partial Tuition Waiver
Notification date: 03/18/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
Great!
Rejects: Rejects: Iowa, Vanderbilt, Virginia
Masters - Institution: Vanderbilt Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: Feb 19th
Notified Through: Email
Posted on Gradcafe: No
Comments: Meh...
- Institution: University of Iowa Economics, PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/01/2010
Notified through:
Website (no email)
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
Who wants to live in Iowa anyways?
- Institution: University of Iowa Economics, PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/01/2010
Notified through:
Website (no email)
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
Who wants to live in Iowa anyways?
- Institution: U Virginia Ph.D. Economics
Decision:
Rejection
Notification date: 03/17/10
Notified through: Randomly checked website.
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Oh well, I'm happy with my results thus far.
Waitlists:
2pm 2010:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: B.B.A, Econ concentration from large state university with no PhD program Undergrad GPA: 4.0 Type of Grad: M.A. Econ, same school Grad GPA: 4.0 GRE: 790Q, 640V, 4.0AWA Math Courses: Cal I (AP test), II (Community College), III, Intro to Proofs, Matrices and Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Real Analysis I Econ Courses (master level): Macro, Micro, Metrics, International Finance, Health Econ, Time Series, Research Methods, Forecasting Econ Courses (undergrad): Intermediate Macro, Micro, Metrics, Money & Banking, Math for Economist (same class with graduate level) Other Courses: Mostly in business Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors , been told they are all strong Research Experience: Honors undergrad thesis & master thesis. Nothing spectacular Teaching Experience: Tutor in the Econ dept Research Interests: Applied micro Statement of purpose: Standard, did not customize Concern: (somewhat) inadequate math background. Realized I wanted to do a Ph.D. in econ too late & tried to cram as much required math courses as possible while finishing my M.A. RESULTS: Acceptances: UT Austin ($$) (attending), Houston ($$), Michigan State (no $), BU (no $), UVA (no info on $ yet) Waitlists: BC, UW-M long waitlist -> rejection Rejections: let me count the way…Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, UCLA, UCSD, UMN, Duke, PSU, Maryland, WUSTL Pending: Ohio State (the earliest deadline, still nothing yet. Oh the irony!) What would you have done differently? Hard to say, since I know beforehand there will be lots of noise in my results anyway. Probably take more math and get 800Q in GRE? Perhaps spend more time on my SOP, although I don’t feel comfortable discussing my research goals & ideas in details since I don’t even know which field I am interested in at the time of the application process. One thing I won’t regret is not transferring. I have made some fantastic friends and built tremendous relationship w/ the faculty at my current university. Overall, I’m extremely happy. 2 years ago when I decided to go for a Ph.D. in economics I didn’t think I could even make it to a mid-rank program, so UT is definitely a step up from my expectations.
Accepts: Acceptances: UT Austin ($$) (attending), Houston ($$), Michigan State (no $), BU (no $), UVA (no info on $ yet)
- Institution: UT Austin economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TAship, details TBA
Notification date: 03/9/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comment: Thrilled! First offer after going 0 for 7...
- Institution: Houston economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TAship + Fellowship
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: very flattered but will likely decline due to better offer...
- Institution: Michigan State Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: no first year $
Notification date: 3/22
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: unlikely to attend w/out funding
- Institution: Boston University Economics
Decision: Admit
Funding: nada
Notification date: 3/24/10
Notified through: Email
Comments: a strong ego-boost. But will probably decline since there is little chance I'm getting financial aid
- Institution: UVA Economics PhD
Decision: Admit
Funding: No information on the letter
Notification date: 03/24
Notified through: randomly checked website
Comments: Happy
Rejects: rejection
Rejections: let me count the way…Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, UCLA, UCSD, UMN, Duke, PSU, Maryland, WUSTL
- Institution: Penn State Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No.
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/17
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: one of my dream schools...
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: 3/19/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Comment: expected...
- Institution: Maryland Economics
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 03/19/10
Notified through: Randomly check Testudo website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: bleh...
- Institution: UCSD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: 3/23/2010
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: No
- Institution: WUSTL Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 04/06/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Took them long enough...
Waitlists: Waitlists: BC, UW-M long waitlist -> - Institution: Boston College Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 2-28-2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Same email as EconDev. It seems very uncertain though, who knows what will happen after 4/15?
- Institution: Boston College Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 2-28-2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Same email as EconDev. It seems very uncertain though, who knows what will happen after 4/15?
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:
dsdoodle 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ/B.A. Math from large state/30ish ranked Econ PhD program in US Undergrad GPA: 3.72/4 Type of Grad: NA Grad GPA: NA GRE: 760Q, 500V, 6.0AWA Math Courses: Calc I, II, III, Multivariate Calc I, II, Linear algebra, Differential equations, Math reasoning, Linear analysis, Real analysis (I, II), Linear optimization, discrete modeling (avg gpa 3.71, upper level classes 3.9) Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro I, II (B) (skipped undergrad version of micro theory and first micro class since Freshman year... which is somewhat of an excuse for the poor grade) Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Monetary (2 classes), Econometrics, Biological resources, International trade, International macro, Applied econometrics.. all As Letters of Recommendation: My honors thesis adviser (Harvard PhD), prof whom I am RAing for right now (Harvard PhD), prof whom I took two monetary classes from who thinks I'm one of his best student in the last few years (Rochester PhD), prof whom I took an applied econometric class and will be RAing for starting in January (Yale PhD) Research Experience: Summer internship at non-profit economic research organization, Honors thesis that won an award, RAing with a professor in macro - did work on two papers and coauthoring on a third, RA'd for two professors in labor, editing a macroeconomics textbook for a new edition Teaching Experience: Grader for econometrics and international trade classes Research Interests: Environmental, monetary, macro Statement of purpose: Discussed how I'm taking a year off to do research, made a slight mention of my lower GRE score but high math grades Concerns: Too much competition!! And maybe the fact that I didn't do well in my grad level micro classes. Other: Thy will be done. Applying to: Stanford, Berkeley, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, Minnesota, UCSD, UC-Irvine, Washington, WUSTL, Hong Kong University, Boston College, Virginia RESULTS: Acceptances: Hong Kong University, UC-Irvine, Texas-Austin, Minnesota (off the long waitlist) Rejections: Everywhere else (was withdrawn at UW because I work there and the DGS found out I got a better offer and thus withdrew me..oh well) Attending: University of Minnesota (TA-ship funding) What would you have done differently? Section in bold is my updated response after getting an offer from Minnesota on 4/20. Wow! I am so, so thankful and am so blessed to have a chance to go to my first choice school. I think what made a huge impact was getting the top professor at my school to send a quick note about me to the department and Minnesota. Why do I think this? Because the DGS actually responded and thanked him for recommending me! It's amazing... so if you are in a similar situation as I am where you are on a long waitlist, there are things you can do to get a shot at the incoming class. These things are (these are things that I did): 1) Have a few professors vouch for you. In my case, I had a lot more stuff going on with research after I've applied... and the professors I was working for could send in a note about what I'm doing now or have done for them. Let them know about the waitlist situation and see if they can email or call the department on your behalf. Anything for them to look at your profile again is good. 2) Visit the school. They probably won't pay for your visit, but going there is helpful to first see whether this is the place you want to go and to show that your interest is more than just talk. Obviously anyone can say a school is their first choice school but not everyone will back that up with the money and time it takes to make a visit. 3) Keep in close contact with the school. Don't overdo this... I wouldn't send one email everyday but keep the contact going. I sent two emails that were not responded to asking about the waitlist, but I sent one today (the 20th, so it was after the deadline) and I think it made the DGS look at my application one more time - because he mentioned that he looked at my application again and their situation this year and decided to make me an offer. 4) Pray! I don't presume everyone to believe in the Christian God as I do, so this may not apply to you. But from the beginning, I've prayed that God will send me where I can be best used. Honestly, the morning I got the email accepting me to the program, I thought to myself that everything so far has seemed like God is calling me to Minnesota... from my interests, things I was doing in my RAships, talks with current students, and so on... everything pointed to UMN. Like I said, I trusted that God will bring me where He wanted me to be... and whether that's Texas or Minnesota, I was completely at peace with it. In fact, my interest in Minnesota started out with the reason that there's a pastor, whom I respect very much, who had a church very close to the UMN campus. But I can't stress the importance of prayer and can't fully comprehend God's grace in all of this. I'm not positive about this, but I may have jumped over some people on the short waitlist (or maybe they all already got offers to come, who knows?). Regardless... I'm very happy to have a chance to get my PhD at Minnesota. Please PM me if you are in a similar situation and need some help. Now below is the stuff I wrote before I got into UMN... which I'm going to keep here since there are still some good (I hope) information in there. I am pretty pleased with the results. I think my GRE score and a low grad micro score probably kept me out of most places, as people in the forum said. I don't think a GRE score of 760 will mean you are automatically out, but because there are many others with the exact same grades and research experience (and even better) than you, you really don't want to have a disadvantage in anything. So I guess I may have tried to do better on the GRE (I did, but got the same score) and probably either not take grad micro or know that it was a bad idea to take grad micro when the last micro class you had was 3 years ago in freshman year. I also may have looked into applying to more target schools instead of reaches. My first choice was Minnesota, so I am grateful to have been waitlisted and I actually went to visit and had a few professors contact the department to vouch for me. Texas is a great place as well so I am blessed to have that as my "backup", when having it as a first choice would have been more than exciting. I would also want to repeat what my professor said about applying for econ phd programs - that it's a random process and the only way to increase your chances is to increase the number of trials. Apply to more schools! If you are thinking about applying to less schools to save like 500-1000 dollars, then think about this: $1000 is nothing compared to getting full funding from a school for 5 years. You really, really don't want to miss out on a school that might have given you full funding just because you wanted to save $100. I would recommend everyone to apply to at least 12 programs - 2 reaches, 8 targets, 2 safeties... but it's probably better to apply to 4 reaches, 8 targets, and 4 safeties. Don't be shocked if a safety school rejects you. It happens.. and in my case those schools were probably very borderline safety schools. And the most important advice: There's still time to network with professors. It goes a long way if you have good connections with the professors at your school. They are willing to help those they know and think is capable. So look for research opportunities and attend departmental events! In the end, God provided me with a great place to go and a great experience visiting schools... I'm very happy with the results.
Accepts: Acceptances: Hong Kong University, UC-Irvine, Texas-Austin, Minnesota (off the long - Institution: Hong Kong University Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Either 2.5k a year or 15k a year, depending on whether I get a fellowship I was nominated for
Notification date: 2/12
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Not planning on going
- Institution: UC-Irvine Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 16.5k TAship, +registration and educational fees and health insurance
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: Pretty relieved that the worst I can do is UC-Irvine with full funding. 13 more to go!
- Institution: UC-Irvine Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 16.5k TAship, +registration and educational fees and health insurance
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: Pretty relieved that the worst I can do is UC-Irvine with full funding. 13 more to go!
- Institution: Texas (Austin) Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: TAship... will know in a few days
Notification date: 3/10/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: Awesome!!
Rejects: Rejections: Everywhere else (was withdrawn at UW because I work there and the DGS found out I got a better offer and thus withdrew me..oh well)
- Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD
Decision: Reject
Funding:
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: Nope
Comments: Mass email it seems like, was definitely a reach!
- Institution: Northwestern Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: My last name starts with a W, so they are probably getting to the end of the list!
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/3
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Finally... last name starts with a W (might as well stand for Wait-a-long-time-for-any-news) :)
- Institution: Columbia University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comment: Well, knew for a few days since someone posted that all offers/waitlists have been sent out. Already had this one as an "out" but I was actually pretty impressed with their letter. Very nicely written!
- Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD
Decision: Reject
Funding:
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: Nope
Comments: Mass email it seems like, was definitely a reach!
- Institution: Northwestern Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: My last name starts with a W, so they are probably getting to the end of the list!
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/3
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Finally... last name starts with a W (might as well stand for Wait-a-long-time-for-any-news)
- Institution: Columbia University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comment: Well, knew for a few days since someone posted that all offers/waitlists have been sent out. Already had this one as an "out" but I was actually pretty impressed with their letter. Very nicely written!
- Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/9
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Waiting is over!
- Institution: Stanford Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Can't say I didn't expect it!
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: Got email back from Marge
Posted on GC: No
Comments:
Oh well.
Waitlists: waitlist)
- Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: If I got waitlisted at Minnesota, that significantly increased my hopes at other schools in that same tier or a bit below.
donovanmcnair 2010:
Type of Undergrad: Economics, South American University. Master degree in a top masters program in South America Undergrad GPA: GPA down here is weird. Lets say that I averaged B+ in undergrad and A- as graduate, but dont use it for comparison. GRE/TOEFL: 800Q/570V/3.5AWA. TOEFL: 106 Math Courses: Typical undergrad courses + Measure theory (A-) + Dynamic Programming (A-) + Graduate Probability + Graduate Statistics + Topology (A-) Econ Courses: Typical Undergrad courses + 4 graduate macro theory courses (one of them with feynmann kac, Ito & all that jazz), 5 graduate Micro theory courses Letters of Recommendation: One of a visiting professor from the US, Two from Masters degree professors who have a PhD from top10 schools in the US, one additional from a professor in my undergrad university who knows me very well and, when available a fifth letter from a star professor in statistics, who teach in SA in the northern summer Research Experience: 3 years as an RA in behavioral and experimental economics. Teaching Experience: Lots of TA. 6 years (from almost the very beginning) in micro courses in a public university, 3 years in a wide variety of courses in a private university and 1 year in the masters degree. (anyway, I was told it doesnt count more than at the time of offering you a TAship) Research Interests: Game Theory, Networks Statement of Purpose: What can I say. An SOP. Hope it was good. Applying to: Caltech, UW, WUSTL, UCSD, Cornell, BU, UT-Austin, PSU, ASU
Accepts: - Institution: ASU Econ
Decision: Accepted
Notificationn date: Feb 16
Notified through: Website
Funding: No word yet
Posted on Gradcafe: yes
Comments: It seems they are releasing the acceptances one by one. Never loose hopes, guys
- Institution: Arizona State University Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No Info!
Notification date: 04/03/2010
Notified through: Checked the website.
Comments: Sort of a relief, first admit. But no info on funding is making me nervous.
Out: Duke, Michigan
It happened the same to me a couple of weeks ago. Don't worry, you should receive an email in the next days with the 'official acceptance offer' and there you'll find out if there's funding for you or not.
- Institution: Texas Austin Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Assistanship but didn't mention a number
Notification date: 3/9
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: a) The title of the email was 'congratulations' so I didn't had to wait to open the email and reading half a paragraph to get to the good part. I loved it; b) "We would greatly appreciate your letting us know whether you are still interested in our program. If you aren’t, we can reallocate these funds to another applicant who considers us his/her top choice." I will probably decline it so, cross your fingers!!!!
- Institution: Boston U. Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No
Notification date: 3/23/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: Funding - No Funding, I think it wouldn't have changed my decision
Rejects: - Institution: Cornell Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 02/10/2010
Notified through: email
Posted on Gradcafe: Yes
Comment: The troops are starting to wave in the field of battle...
- Institution: PSU Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/9/2010
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: Not sad. I was going to go to WUSTL anyway. Funn stuff: It happened right after I shouted 'Booooooring!' at home.
- Institution: CalTech Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/19
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: Yesl
Comments: I didn't have to be strong in the ways of the Force to realize this on feb 15...
- Institution: UCSD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/23/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: I think it wouldn't change my decision
Waitlists:
yougotaparabola 2010:
PROFILE: type of undergrad: B.A. Econ top 10 public university, no grad econ undergrad GPA: 3.69/4, econ 3.95, math 3.74 type of grad: NA grad GPA: NA GRE: 800Q, 650V, 5.0AWA math courses: Calc 3 (A-), ODE (A), Linear Algebra (A-), Probability Theory (B+), Real Analysis I (A), Game Theory (A-)(through the math department) econ courses (undergrad-level): intermediate micro, advanced micro (economics of incentives), intermediate macro, advanced macro (international finance), econometrics, time series econometrics, mathematical economics (all A) econ courses (grad-level): sadly, none. other courses: Irrelevant. letters of recommendation: 3 econ professors research experience: Minimal. teaching experience: None research interests: The role of micro incentives in development. statement of purpose: Pretty standard, nothing substantial. other: on the bright side you really only need one admit. concerns: Potentially weak recommendations, no idea how I stack up against the competition, no idea how my undergrad will be perceived, applying to: Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, WUSTL, Rochester, UCLA, UVA, Duke, Wisconsin, BU, BC, etc.... Accepts: - Institution: BC Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 16k
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: Yep
Comments: Relieved
- Institution: Rochester Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship?
Notification date: 3/1
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: A solid admit for me, I'm excited.
- Institution: BC Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 16k
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: Yep
Comments: Relieved
- Institution: Rochester Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship?
Notification date: 3/1
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: A solid admit for me, I'm excited.
- Institution: Texas (Austin) Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Waitlisted for TAship
Notification date: 3/10/2010
Notified through: Unofficial Email
Posted on GC: Nope
Comments: Pretty jazzed, curious what the likelihood of getting a TAship is.
- Institution: UVA Economics PhD
Decision: Admit
Funding: No information on the letter
Notification date: 03/24
Notified through: randomly checked website
Comments: Nice to have another option
Rejects: - Institution: Duke Econ
Decision: rejected
Funding: no
Notification date: 02/16/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
- Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
- Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 2/24
Notified through: website
Posted on grad cafe: No
- Institution: Duke Economics PhD
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 2/16
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
- Institution: Yale Economics PhD
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: forget
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
- Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
Comment: They really made me wait this one out.
- Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
- Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD
Decision: Reject
Funding:
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: Nope
Comments: Mass email.
- Institution: Columbia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/4/10
Notified through: Email to Check Website
Posted on GF: Yes
Comment: Expected
- Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
Comment: They really made me wait this one out.
- Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
- Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD
Decision: Reject
Funding:
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: Nope
Comments: Mass email.
- Institution: Columbia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/4/10
Notified through: Email to Check Website
Posted on GF: Yes
Comment: Expected
- Institution: Princeton Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 03/09/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
- Institution: Wisconsin Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/9
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
- Institution: Stanford Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: Email.
Posted on GC: no
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: Email to Check Website
Posted on GC: no
Comments: a little sad
- Institution: Brown Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/16
Notified through: Email (check website)
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notified through: Email
Notification date: 3/16/10
Comments: Response to email for an update.
- Institution: Wharton Applied Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/19/2010
Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website
Comments: Was doubtful after the interview.
- Institution: UCSD Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/22
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
Lachis 2010:
Institution: Yale
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 2/18
Notified through: E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Not surprised. At least I gave it a shot!
Institution: Duke
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Fellowship: 18k + health insurance
Notification date: 2/22
Notified through: E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Yay!!! My first admission! Very excited!
Accepts: - Institution: Duke Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Fellowship: 18k + health insurance
Notification date: 2/22
Notified through:
E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Yay!!! My first admission! Very excited! :D
- Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April)
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email to check website.
Posted on GF: No.
Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010
Comment: My acceptance is subject to completing my Masters program in Applied Mathematics this July. Happy :)
- Institution: Duke Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Fellowship: 18k + health insurance
Notification date: 2/22
Notified through:
E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Yay!!! My first admission! Very excited!
- Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April)
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email to check website.
Posted on GF: No.
Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010
Comment: My acceptance is subject to completing my Masters program in Applied Mathematics this July. Happy
- Institution: University of Warwick MSc in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None (This offer of a place does not constitute an offer of a scholarship or funding. For details on the options available for funding your studies please visit our Graduate School portal at University of Warwick :: Academic Office :: Services :: Graduate School Portal)
Notification date: 3/11/10
Notified through: Email
Comment: Offer conditional on completing my current Masters program. UVa placed the same condition... seems they like my Masters program
- Institution: Texas at Austin Phd Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TAship - 14k + Tuition scholarship + health insurance
Notification date: 3/16
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
- Institution: LSE MSc in Economics and Philosophy
Decision: Accepted
Funding: none
Notification date: 3/24/10
Notified through: Randomly checked website... received email a few minutes later
Comments: Really, really love this program!!!, but think maybe it is better to start right away with the PhD in Economics ...
Rejects: - Institution: Yale Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 2/18
Notified through:
E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Not surprised. At least I gave it a shot!
- Institution: Northwestern University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I was just waiting the formal rejection from this one...
- Institution: Cornell University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I did had hope with this one! :(
- Institution: Cornell University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I did had hope with this one!
- Institution: U Maryland Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/21/10
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: "Surprise, surprise"
- Institution: Syracuse University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 4/19
Notified through:
Email
Comments: Thought it was a safety ...
Waitlists:
Caroline_x 2010:
Institution: University of Michigan Program: Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Tuition Waiver + Health Coverage. 17.5K for the first year. 16K stipend guaranteed after first year, conditional on good standing. Notification date: 02/28 (the attached letter was dated March 1st) Notified through: Email with pdf attachment Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: So Excited! Good luck to all TMers!
Accepts: - Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Tuition Waiver + Health Coverage. 17.5K for the first year. 16K stipend guaranteed after first year, conditional on good standing.
Notification date: 02/28
(the attached letter was dated March 1st)
Notified through: Email with pdf attachment
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: So Excited! Good luck to all TMers!
- Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Admit
Funding: Waitlisted for first year funding
Notification date: 1st March
Notified through: Email (Mass email)
Posted on GF: No
Comments: It says this is a "Deferred Funding"-"Deferred Funding means that you will receive funding from Columbia in years 2-4, but not in year one.".
Does anyone no how hard is it to get off the waitlist for first year funding?
- Institution: Maryland Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: "Some probability"
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Looks like they are sending out emails one by one.
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Tuition Waiver + Health Coverage. 17.5K for the first year. 16K stipend guaranteed after first year, conditional on good standing.
Notification date: 02/28
(the attached letter was dated March 1st)
Notified through: Email with pdf attachment
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: So Excited! Good luck to all TMers!
- Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Admit
Funding: Waitlisted for first year funding
Notification date: 1st March
Notified through: Email (Mass email)
Posted on GF: No
Comments: It says this is a "Deferred Funding"-"Deferred Funding means that you will receive funding from Columbia in years 2-4, but not in year one.".
Does anyone no how hard is it to get off the waitlist for first year funding?
- Institution: Maryland Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: "Some probability"
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Looks like they are sending out emails one by one.
- Institution: Texas-Austin Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: May be available on or after April 15th
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: no
Comments: Quote:"We know that you have other offers to consider, and we would greatly appreciate it if you would let us know whether you are still interested in our program. "
Gee...How did they know that I had other offers to consider?????? Why didn't they offer me any financial aid then?What kind of strategy is this?
- Institution: UBC MA Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Partial Tuition Waiver+10k TAship
Notification date: 03/18/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: They are so generous in such a poor year!
Rejects: - Institution: Stanford Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: no
Comments: I knew it was coming.
Waitlists: - Institution: Penn Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Notification date: March 3rd 2010
Notified through: Email from Kelly
Comments: So this means all their admits are done and they are starting to send out WL?
Quote:"Your application is strong, but the pool of about 870 applicants from over 60 countries for admissions to our program in the fall of 2010 is very strong."
- Institution: Penn Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Notification date: March 3rd 2010
Notified through: Email from Kelly
Comments: So this means all their admits are done and they are starting to send out WL?
Quote:"Your application is strong, but the pool of about 870 applicants from over 60 countries for admissions to our program in the fall of 2010 is very strong."
Econ_PhD_hopeful 2010:
Institution: Maryland Program: PhD Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email Funding: "There is also some probability that we may be able to offer financial aid." Comments: "there is some probability that we may be able to extend an offer of admission some time between now and April 15." Ouch, I was really hoping I would be admitted here
Accepts: - Institution: UT-Austin Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None at this time because they think I will receive strong fellowship offers from higher-ranked programs, but would put together an attractive package if I am interested
Notification date: 03-11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: no
- Institution: UC San Diego Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: to be announced this week
Notification date: 3/16/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Comments: hoping to get sufficient $ today
- Institution: University of Arizona Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: maybe next week
Notification date: 3/17/2010
Notified through: E-mail
- Institution: UNC-CH Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: ~$19,000 for 5 years
Notification date: 03/19 - responded after prompting, 03/14 - asked if I am still interested in the program
Notified through: E-mail
- Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 2 years fellowship of $17K, TA years 3-5 $17k + tuition
& fee waiver for 5 yrs
Notification date: 3/23/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Wow, 2 years of fellowship! That's a really sweet deal, better than other offers I got
Rejects: - Institution: Columbia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/4
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Funding: zilch
- Institution: Columbia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/4
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Funding: zilch
- Institution: NYU Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: 03/09 - replied to my email asking about status; 3/18/2010 - official rejection
Notified through: E-mail
Waitlists: - Institution: Maryland Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Notification date: 03/04
Notified through: Email
Funding: "There is also some probability that we may be able to offer financial aid."
Comments: "there is some probability that we may be able to extend an offer of admission some time between now and April 15." Ouch, I was really hoping I would be admitted here :(:(
- Institution: Maryland Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Notification date: 03/04
Notified through: Email
Funding: "There is also some probability that we may be able to offer financial aid."
Comments: "there is some probability that we may be able to extend an offer of admission some time between now and April 15." Ouch, I was really hoping I would be admitted here
monks 2010:
Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Program: PhD Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: TA, guaranteed for 5 yrs Notification date: 03/01/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: Yay! Institution: Michigan Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist for 1st year, guaranteed after that Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Online site + emaill Comment: With first year funding I wouldn't blink - but now I have to think about it ... Institution: Minnesota Program: PhD Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: ? Notification date: 02/27/2010 Notified through: email . Comment: Program: Yale / Columbia / Northwestern Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 02/26/2010, 03/04/2010, 03/01/2010 Notified through: email to check site Comment: Gutted.
Accepts: - Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: TA, guaranteed for 5 yrs
Notification date: 03/01/2010
Notified through: Email
Comment:
Yay!
- Institution: Michigan Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlist for 1st year, guaranteed after that
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Online site + emaill
Comment: With first year funding I wouldn't blink - but now I have to think about it ... :(
- Institution: Michigan Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlist for 1st year, guaranteed after that
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Online site + emaill
Comment: With first year funding I wouldn't blink - but now I have to think about it ...
- Institution: UT Austin Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TAship +
benefits (no idea how much yet)
Notification date: 10-MAr-10
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I'm so excited! Living closer to home would be so-o-oh nice
- Institution: Cornell Economics
Decision: Admit
Funding: Zilch
Notification date: 03/18/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Its nice to be wanted I guess
... especially by the Ivy League
Rejects: - Institution: Minnesota Economics
Decision: Waitlist
Funding: ?
Notification date: 02/27/2010
Notified through: email .
Comment: Yale / Columbia / Northwestern
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/26/2010, 03/04/2010, 03/01/2010
Notified through: email to check site
Comment: Gutted.
- Institution: Minnesota Economics
Decision: Waitlist
Funding: ?
Notification date: 02/27/2010
Notified through: email .
Comment: Yale / Columbia / Northwestern
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/26/2010, 03/04/2010, 03/01/2010
Notified through: email to check site
Comment: Gutted.
Waitlists: - Institution: Minnesota Economics
Decision: Waitlist
Funding: ?
Notification date: 02/27/2010
Notified through: email .
Comment: Yale / Columbia / Northwestern
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/26/2010, 03/04/2010, 03/01/2010
Notified through: email to check site
Comment: Gutted.
- Institution: Minnesota Economics
Decision: Waitlist
Funding: ?
Notification date: 02/27/2010
Notified through: email .
Comment: Yale / Columbia / Northwestern
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/26/2010, 03/04/2010, 03/01/2010
Notified through: email to check site
Comment: Gutted.
collusion1 2010:
Institution: UT Austin Program: PhD economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship, details TBA Notification date: 03/9/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No, I will when it comes back up Comment: Institution: UCSB Program: PhD economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/24/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes, and I posted this on TM before the outage Comment:
Accepts: - Institution: UT Austin economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TAship, details TBA
Notification date: 03/9/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No, I will when it comes back up
Comment:
- Institution: UCSB economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TBA
Notification date: 2/24/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: Yes, and I posted this on TM before the outage
Comment:
Rejects: - Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 17 March
Notified through: Email
Comments: Oh well
Waitlists:
nassau_senior 2010:
Institution: UT-Austin Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None, because they think I'll have better offers (true), but they'll make me an offer if I want one. Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail from Vivian Posted on GC: No
Accepts: - Institution: UT-Austin Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None, because they think I'll have better offers (true), but they'll make me an offer if I want one.
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: E-mail from Vivian
Posted on GC: No
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-Mail
Funding: no first year $.
Notification date: 3/16/10
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Happy, but will almost certainly go elsewhere.
Rejects:
Waitlists:
wouldliketoknowit 2010:
Institution: UT-Austin Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None, because they think I'll have better offers, but they'll make me an offer if I want one. Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No in: penn state, ohio state, rochester, wash. st.louis
Accepts: - Institution: UT-Austin Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None, because they think I'll have better offers, but they'll make me an offer if I want one.
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
in: penn state, ohio state, rochester, wash. st.louis
Rejects: - Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No.
in: ohio state, penn state, texas austin, wash.st.louis, rochester
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: I sent them an email asking
Posted on GC: No.
Comments: when are UCLA and SanDiego going to answer???
in: ohio state, penn state, texas austin, wash.st.louis, rochester
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 17 March
Notified through: email
Comments: so sad
Waitlists:
| |
Rejections:
econslave 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Economics from top 15 liberal arts college Undergrad GPA: 3.7ish Type of Grad: None Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 800Q / 630V / 5.0AWA Math Courses: Calculus I/II, Intro to Statistics, Probability Theory, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Discrete Math, Ordinary Differential Equations, Real Analysis (Note: Some grades were good, but most were not.) Econ Courses (Undergraduate): A lot of basic field courses, but also econometrics and advanced theoretical econometrics Econ Courses (Graduate): N/A Letters of Recommendation: (1) RA-ed for 2.5 years; (2) RA-ed for, co-authored decent article with, advised for thesis, and took two courses with; (3) Took an advanced economics course with as an undergraduate and did very well in the class (Note: None of the letter-writers are well-known, but all went to top 10 PhD programs.) Research Experience: 2.5 years RA for one professor, 1 year RA for another professor, undergraduate thesis (ranked best), summer RA at prestigious policy think-tanks, 1 year full-time RA position with top 10 school professor Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: Behavioral/experimental, decision theory, micro theory, applied micro Concerns: Lacking in math (not many classes and less-than-stellar grades). Didn’t graduate with any honors or anything. RESULTS: Acceptances: UCSD (TA $), Michigan (no $), Boston University (no $) Waitlist: Minnesota Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Penn, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Wisconsin, Caltech, Brown, Cornell, Duke, CMU, Maryland, Texas, PSU, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth What would you have done differently? Besides getting better grades as an undergraduate, not much. I applied to all of the top 20 and several others, and got into a few great schools. Perhaps I would’ve taken a different RA position, but it seems to have worked out anyway.
Accepts: Acceptances: UCSD (TA $), Michigan (no $), Boston University (no $)
- Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Don't know
Notification date: 3/1
Notified through: Checked website
Posted on GF: No
Comments I'm so thrilled about this. My first admit!!!
- Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Don't know
Notification date: 3/1
Notified through: Checked website
Posted on GF: No
Comments I'm so thrilled about this. My first admit!!!
- Institution: UCSD Economics
Decision: Accepted!!
Funding: To arrive via e-mail next week
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Flyout March 31-April 1 ... Financial info to arrive next week. It was a personalized message. So happy!
- Institution: Boston University Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No
Notification date: 3/26
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Nice, but I'll probably turn down the offer soon.
Rejects: Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Penn, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Wisconsin, Caltech, Brown, Cornell, Duke, CMU, Maryland, Texas, PSU, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth- Institution: Duke Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 2/16
Notified Through: E-mail
Posted on Grad Cafe: No
Comment: First "official" rejection. Trying to keep the faith.
- Institution: Yale Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: None
Notified Through: Checked online status
Posted on Grad Cafe: No
Comment: No good news yet...
- Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Analysis and Policy
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/19
Notified Through: E-mail to check website
Posted on Grad Cafe: No
Comment: Not surprised, still worried
- Institution: Duke Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/16
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: 1
- Institution: Yale Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/18
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: 2
- Institution: Stanford GSB Ph.D. Economic Analysis & Policy
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/19
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: 3
- Institution: Chicago Booth Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: 4
- Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Checked website
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: 5
- Institution: UC Berkeley Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Not surprised, but very disappointed. Oh well.
- Institution: Columbia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/4
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Funding: Laughing to hide the tears...
Comments: This is old news by now.
- Institution: University of Chicago Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: See decision.
Notification date: 03/05/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comment: Looks like Illinois does not like me.
- Institution: UC Berkeley Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Not surprised, but very disappointed. Oh well.
- Institution: Columbia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/4
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Funding: Laughing to hide the tears...
Comments: This is old news by now.
- Institution: University of Chicago Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: See decision.
Notification date: 03/05/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comment: Looks like Illinois does not like me.
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: ...
Notification date: 3/9
Notified through: E-mail (unofficial personalized rejection)
Posted on GF: No
Comment: This one really really sucks.
- Institution: Princeton Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/9
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Don't care anymore
- Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/9
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Not surprised at this point.
- Institution: Penn State University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: ...
Notification date: 3/10
Notified through: E-mail (from Lynn Sebulsky)
Posted on GC: No
Comment: More rejections --> disutility
- Institution: Stanford Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: ...
Notification date: 3/10
Notified through: Snail mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Hm.
- Institution: Harvard Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: ...
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: Postal mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Big shocker...
- Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/12
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Expected by now.
- Institution: Brown Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/16
Notified through: E-mail to check website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Everything is alright.
- Institution: MIT Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/16
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: I'm so surprised...
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/17
Notified through: E-mail (with PDF attachment)
Posted on GC: No
Comments: It's ok.
- Institution: Cornell Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: ...
Notification date: 03/19/10
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Oh well.
- Institution: Caltech Social Science
Decision: Reject
Funding: ...
Notification date: 03/19/10
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Not surprised by now.
- Institution: U Maryland Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/20/10
Notified through: E-mail to Check Website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Not new news.[/QUOTE]
- Institution: UT-Austin Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/26
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Oh well.
- Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/25
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Oh well.
Waitlists: Waitlist: Minnesota
- Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Waitlist (not the "priority" one)
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/25
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: Lots of rejections, and even more implicit ones. Hopefully one will work out.
- Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Waitlist (not the "priority" one)
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/25
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: Lots of rejections, and even more implicit ones. Hopefully one will work out.
decision09 2010:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 10 overall, top 15 econ Undergrad GPA: 3.75/4.00 Graduated High Honors Economics GRE: 760Q, 580V, 5.0 AW (last year 740Q) Math Courses: Analysis I (B)(blew first 2 exams but aced final to save myself), Modern Algebra (B+), Probability Theory (A-), Ord Diff Eq (A), Combinatorics(Winter 2010), CalcI,II,II,LA(A) Math Courses (Grad): Intro Topology (Winter 2010) Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A-), Random Field Courses (A), Research Seminars (B+(due to ULWriting) and A), Game Theory (A), Time series Analysis (A-) Econ Courses (Grad): Micro I (B+), Micro II (B), Econometrics I (B), Math for Economists (B) Letters of Recommendation: Well-known senior professor from research seminar The other from a younger associate prof, said he wrote me an A+ letter (took game theory with him + unofficial adviser) Research Experience: Financial econometrics research for senior thesis(publication: in process); experimental micro theory research. Labor research paper that will likely become my third year paper for my PhD, it caught the interest of a Senior person at my undergrad institution. Teaching Experience: None. Research Interests: Everything but Theoretical Econometrics. Statement of Purpose: Much better the second time around but still about 1800 words, I had a few things to write about my career outside of econ and how it will influence my research. Other: Concerns: Poor performance in critical math classes, test jitters! RESULTS: Acceptances: Wisconsin Madison, Cornell Rejections: Umich, Penn, Yale, Texas, Penn State, BU, Maryland, Mich State, Princeton, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, CalTech, Stanford, Northwestern, Duke
Accepts: Acceptances: Wisconsin Madison, Cornell
Rejects: Rejections: Umich, Penn, Yale, Texas, Penn State, BU, Maryland, Mich State, Princeton, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, CalTech, Stanford, Northwestern, Duke
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 ($).
48chec 2010:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics Latin American University Undergrad GPA: 3.5 Type of Grad: M.A. Economics Latin American University Grad GPA: 3.5 GRE: 800Q 570V 3.0 AWA Math Courses: Multivariate Calculus, Mathematical Statistics Econ Courses: Game Theory, Grad Micro, Grad Micro, Grad Econometrics Other Courses: Lots of History Courses Letters of Recommendation: 1 Berkeley who teaches at my Uni, 1 Michigan who teaches at my Uni, 1 MIT who teaches at an Ivy League Uni. Research Experience: R.A. since I was a third year undergrad. Last two years I was a full time instructor working on three papers. Teaching Experience: I have been a full time instructor for the last two years. I have been teaching Probability and Econometrics. Research Interests: Labor, information, applied econometrics. SOP: Made emphasis on my love for academia and my teaching and research experience. Other: Highest national grade on an economics exam. RESULTS: Acceptances: UCLA($), British Columbia Waitlists: UPenn, Brown Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, NorthWestern, Columbia, LSE, Michigan, Texas Austin. Pending: None What would you have done differently? I would have taken more math courses. I would also have taken more care of my GPA. I wish I had realized that I wanted to be an academic earlier in my undergraduate studies.
Accepts: Acceptances: UCLA($), British Columbia
Rejects: Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, NorthWestern, Columbia, LSE, Michigan, Texas Austin.
Waitlists:
helpzwouldbenice 2010:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college Undergrad GPA: 3.79/4.00 Type of Grad:- Grad GPA:- GRE: 800Q 710V 5.0AWA Math Courses: Multivariable Calc (A); Linear Algebra (P); DiffEq (A-); Intro Proofs (A-); Econ Courses: Intro Econ (B+), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econ Stats (A), Econometrics (A), Trade (A-), Public Econ (A-) Other Courses: Took a year of physics, lots of random courses. Lots of A's in courses an econ student typically wouldn't take, like Religion and Chinese. Letters of Recommendation: 1 Math Dept. Prof, 1 Econ Dept. Prof, 1 External Prof who I RA'd for Research Experience: Fair amount in health services research. Have a paper up for submission, and another one that my supervisor and I are working on. Teaching Experience:None Research Interests: Health, Labor SOP: Very tailored to my interests. Definitely proved to be hit or miss with regard to schools. Other: Rejected from NSF RESULTS: Acceptances: University of Virginia ($$), Rice University ($$), UNC ($$), Michigan ($$) Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Texas, WUSTL, Duke, Caltech, Berkeley, Northwestern, Wharton Applied Econ, Maryland Never heard from: Wharton Healthcare (interviewed, then never heard back) Atttending: Michigan What would you have done differently? Taken more math classes and pushed harder for A's instead of A-'s. My school doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to elite grad schools but the teachers are really supportive. I did pretty well here and there's no telling what would have happened if I had gone to a different school.
Accepts: Acceptances: University of Virginia ($$), Rice University ($$), UNC ($$), Michigan ($$)
Rejects: Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Texas, WUSTL, Duke, Caltech, Berkeley, Northwestern, Wharton Applied Econ, Maryland
Waitlists:
Mpianatra 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 20 econ program
Undergrad GPA: 3.56/4
Type of Grad: MS in same major/university
Grad GPA: none at time of application
GRE: 780/580/5.5
Math Courses: Calc I/II (A-), Real Analysis (in progress during app), Calc III (A+), Linear Algebra (A), Ord. Diff. Eq. (A) [last three courses taken as non-degree student at state school w/o econ phd]
Econ Courses: Intro Micro/Macro (A), Inter Micro (B+), Inter Macro (A), Labor Economics (B), Income Distribution (A), Developing Country Labor Markets (A-), Applied Econometrics (A-), Econ Dev't (A-), Public Finance (A-), Economic Data (B), Grad Micro Theory I (in progress), Grad Econ of Education (in progress)
Other Courses: Intro Stats (A-)
Letters of Recommendation: Thesis Adviser- known for a long time (pretty strong), Second Thesis Adviser-mostly knew from a course (positive but probably pretty generic), RA prof (also probably pretty generic)
Research Experience: Master's thesis but hadn't done much for it at time of application
Teaching Experience: Just short of teaching credential
Research Interests: Development, Political Economy, Labor
SOP: Nothing special. Run of the mill about why I like econ, why I was qualified, and why I liked the school.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: American ($?), BU (no $), CUNY (Fellowship), Fordham ($?), Colorado ($$$), UI-Chicago ($?), Washington (no $), Wisconsin ($$)
Waitlists: BC
Rejections: Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, USC, Texas,
Attending: Wisconsin
What would you have done differently?
What I wouldn't have done differently was apply to so many schools. I had a lot of reach schools on my list and all it takes is one of them to accept you. Some rejections from very lowly-ranked schools with some acceptances from relatively high-ranked so it can be hard to predict. Obviously getting better grades would always help but I'm very satisfied with the overall results.
Accepts: Acceptances: American ($?), BU (no $), CUNY (Fellowship), Fordham ($?), Colorado ($$$), UI-Chicago ($?), Washington (no $), Wisconsin ($$)
- Institution: UIllinois-Chicago
Decision: Accepted
Funding: will hear in March
Notification date: 2/10
Notified through: Postal Service
Posted on GF: yes
Comments: At least I got one in the bag
- Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years
Notification date: 2/27
Notified through: Email + More info by mail
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Anyone else accepted know if they reimburse for flyout?
- Institution: CUNY Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: "Short list" for an 18k fellowship
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Likely will withdraw due to better offer.
- Institution: Fordham University Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email
Comment: I hadn't researched the program well. Just picked it b/c it's in NYC.
- Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years
Notification date: 2/27
Notified through: Email + More info by mail
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Anyone else accepted know if they reimburse for flyout?
- Institution: CUNY Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: "Short list" for an 18k fellowship
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Likely will withdraw due to better offer.
- Institution: Fordham University Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email
Comment: I hadn't researched the program well. Just picked it b/c it's in NYC.
- Institution: UC-Boulder Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: ~15k TA, 5k Fellowship
Notification date: 03/09/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comment:
- Institution: BU Phd Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 3/29
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Funding: $0
Comments: Out at GWU and in at BU? This is a weird process.
- Institution: U of Washington Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 3/30
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: no
Funding: no
Comments:
Rejects: Rejections: Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, USC, Texas,
- Institution: Duke
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 2/17
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GF: no
Comments:
- Institution: Minnesota
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: no
Comments:
- Institution: Northwestern University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Oh well...
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
- Institution: Columbia University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comment: No surprise there.
- Institution: Minnesota
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: no
Comments:
- Institution: Northwestern University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Oh well...
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments:
- Institution: Notre Dame Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: E-mail to check Website
Posted on GC: no
Comments:
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: Email to Check Website
Posted on GC: no
Comments:
- Institution: Emory University Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GC: no
Comments: got an early interview so this surprised me a bit
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 03/12/2010
Notified through: email response from Marjorie Lesser
Comments: zero surprise but still a bummer
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: Mar 15
Notified through: Postal Service
Funding: N/A
Posted on GF: no
Comments:
- Institution: Maryland Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/20/10
Notified through: E-mail to Check Website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: C'est la vie.
- Institution: George Washington Phd Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/27
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GF: No
Funding: n/a
Comments: Seriously? Definitely didn't expect this.
- Institution: University of Texas Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 04/05/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment:
Waitlists: Waitlists: BC
- Institution: Boston College Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 12:30am ET 3/1
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Not sure if I'll put my name on the list or not...
- Institution: Boston College Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 12:30am ET 3/1
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Not sure if I'll put my name on the list or not...
walt526 2010:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: B.A. Political Science from UC Davis (started at a well-regarded LAC in the Midwest) Undergrad GPA: 3.50/4.00 (combined) Type of Grad: MA in Economics from lower-tier public university Grad GPA: 3.92 GRE: 800Q, 600V, 6.0AWA Math Courses: Calculus I-III (high school with AP, plus C from Fall 1998), Linear Algebra (A), Intro to Statistics (A), Math for Economists (A), Intro to Formal Math (A-), Numerical Analysis (A), Axiomatic Set Theory (B+), Real Analysis (in process), Mathematical Statistics MA-Level (in process), Operations Research (Spring 2010), Applied Linear Algebra (Spring 2010) Econ Courses (MA-level): Advanced Micro Theory (A-), Advanced Macro Theory (A), US Economic History (A), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A), Applied Econometric Analysis (in process), Econometric Theory (in process) Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Economics (B+ from spring 2000), Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (D), Public Microeconomic Theory (A+), Economics of Development (A-), US Economic History (A-), World Economic History (A), Economics of Education (A), Econometrics (A), History of Economic Thought (Spring 2010) Political Science Courses: - High School: AP American Government, AP Comparative Government - LAC: International Relations (A-), American Political Thought (B+), Central European Politics (A), Russian Politics (A-), Soviet and Russian Foreign Policy (A) - UC Davis: Systematic Political Science (A-), The Legislative Process (A-), The Politics of Interdependence (A-), National Security Policy (A), Intro to Judicial Politics (A), Judicial Politics: First Amendment (A), Judicial Politics: Equality (A-), Seminar in American Political Behavior (A+) Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 WUSTL, 1 UC Davis ARE, 1 Stanford) Research Experience: - Research assistant to LAC political science professor (developing new course in environmental international politics) - Research assistant to UC Davis political science professor (judicial politics--read a sample Supreme Court decisions and classified the argument type of each paragraph) - Masters Thesis: Does State Support for Public Four-Year Universities Decrease as Minority Enrollment Increases? Teaching Experience: TA to Intermediate Micro Research Interests: My research interests lie along the intersection of political science and economics. I am interested in Public Choice (Law and Economics and Institutional Factors), Industrial Organization, and Miscellaneous Applied Microecomics Statement of Purpose: Should be strong Concerns: The D in Intermediate Macro came in a semester wherein I received incompletes in my other courses (personal issues) in winter quarter of 2004). I completed the two lower-division courses that I needed to fulfill the BA in Political Science at community college (statistics and history of western civilization). No topology, possibly weak advanced math grades. Other: Have a career certificate in Accounting from a community college, worked for 2 years as an accounting administrator and 3 years as a purchasing agent for an electrical contractor. Applying to: UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Stanford, Michigan, UPenn Wharton (Applied Econ), WUSTL, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Texas, UIUC, Maryland, Virginia, UC Davis, George Mason, Vanderbilt, Rochester, Michigan State, Georgetown, UC Irvine, UMass-Amherst, Arizona, Colorado, Syracuse, Kentucky (might whittle down the list some)
Accepts: - Institution: Michigan State University Economics/Economics of Education
Decision: Accepted ($$$)
Notification date: 2/21/10
Notified through: Personal email from co-directors of the Economics of Education program (have not heard officially from Economics Department yet)
Posted on GF: No.
Comments: I am beyond delighted.
MSU is a perfect fit for my interests and the funding (mostly coming from a US Department of Education grant) is unrivaled by pretty much any place other than Yale.
Hoping to attend a flyout sometime in March.
- Institution: UC Irvine Economics-Public Choice
Decision: Acceptance ($$)
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I'll probably decline in favor of the Michigan State offer.
But UC Irvine is a great place for public choice (and Southern CA is a nicer place to spend 4-5 years than Central MI).
- Institution: Michigan State University Economics/Economics of Education
Decision: Accepted ($$$)
Notification date: 2/21/10
Notified through: Personal email from co-directors of the Economics of Education program (have not heard officially from Economics Department yet)
Posted on GF: No.
Comments: I am beyond delighted.
MSU is a perfect fit for my interests and the funding (mostly coming from a US Department of Education grant) is unrivaled by pretty much any place other than Yale.
Hoping to attend a flyout sometime in March.
- Institution: UC Irvine Economics-Public Choice
Decision: Acceptance ($$)
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I'll probably decline in favor of the Michigan State offer.
But UC Irvine is a great place for public choice (and Southern CA is a nicer place to spend 4-5 years than Central MI).
- Institution: University of Colorado-Boulder Economics
Decision: Accepted ($$)
Notification date: 3/10/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
Comments: One of my safeties, I will most likely decline in favor of MSU.
- Institution: U Arizona Economics
Decision: Admit
Funding: No first year funding
Notification date: 03/19/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: I don't see an unfunded offer from U Arizona as worth considering.
And I'd probably prefer MSU or UCI to U Arizona even if it the latter were funded.
Rejects: - Institution: Duke Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 2/16
Notified Through: Email
Posted on Grad Cafe: No
Comment: First official response, so I'm a little disappointed--not exactly surprising, as I figured that I was a long-shot.
My wife really didn't want to live in North Carolina, so she'll be relieved.
- Institution: Duke Economics
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 2/16/10
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised.
I knew if was a reach.
- Institution: Northwestern Economics
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 2/25/10
Notified through: Website (did not receive an email to check)
Posted on GF: No.
Comments: Not surprised, but disappointed.
- Institution: Rochester Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/1
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I am aware that this may sound like sour grapes, but I only applied there because the application was free.
My interest in the school was pretty minimal (I prefer MSU to Rochester).
- Institution: U Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
Comment: This one stings a little, but not entirely unexpected.
- Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD
Decision: Reject
Funding:
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Of all the rejects so far, this was the toughest--even though it was anticipated.
- Institution: UC Davis Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: If it weren't for geography, then I probably wouldn't have even applied to UC Davis.
But I'm still a little surprised and annoyed, considering it was my alma mater.
- Institution: Duke Economics
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 2/16/10
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised.
I knew if was a reach.
- Institution: Northwestern Economics
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 2/25/10
Notified through: Website (did not receive an email to check)
Posted on GF: No.
Comments: Not surprised, but disappointed.
- Institution: Rochester Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 3/1
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: I am aware that this may sound like sour grapes, but I only applied there because the application was free.
My interest in the school was pretty minimal (I prefer MSU to Rochester).
- Institution: U Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
Comment: This one stings a little, but not entirely unexpected.
- Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD
Decision: Reject
Funding:
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Of all the rejects so far, this was the toughest--even though it was anticipated.
- Institution: UC Davis Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 03/03/2010
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: If it weren't for geography, then I probably wouldn't have even applied to UC Davis.
But I'm still a little surprised and annoyed, considering it was my alma mater.
- Institution: Stanford Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/10/10
Notified through: Postal Mail
Posted on GC: No
Comment: As expected.
- Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/12/2010
Notified through: email
Comments: As expected.
Only surprised that it took them this long.
- Institution: George Mason Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/15/10
Notified through: Postal letter.
Comments: A little surprised that I didn't get at least a non-funded offer, but oh well.
This was a school that I was on the fence about applying to.
I prefer all three of my other offers to GMU anyway.
- Institution: U Illinois-Urbana Phd Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/17/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised.
MSU is looking more and more likely.
- Institution: Caltech Social Science
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 03/19/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Assumed rejection about a month ago.
- Institution: Wharton (U Pennsylvania) Applied Economics
Decision: Reject
Notification date: 03/19/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Not surprised, pretty much knew that this was a non-starter.
Only applied because it looked interesting and thought that a business school might look at my application a little differently than traditional Economics departments.
- Institution: U Maryland Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/20/10
Notified through: E-mail to Check Website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Assumed as much over a week ago.
- Institution: U Virginia Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/22/10
Notified through: Randomly checked the website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Not really surprised given that I hadn't heard anything for so long.
- Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/25/10
Notified through: Email
Comments: Only surprised that it took them this long...
- Institution: U Texas-Austin Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/25/10
Notified through: Email
Comments:
- Institution: Vanderbilt Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 03/29/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: This was one of the schools that I was considering withdrawing my application from.
Like Rochester, I might not have applied had there been an application fee (also their L&E made them a better fit).
But alas, unfortunately they didn't receive my UCD transcripts, so I had to resend them rush back in early February for ~$50 (a few days before I had heard from MSU), so it's almost like I did have to pay a fee... but I digress.
- Institution: Washington U - St Louis Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 04/05/2010
Notified through: Mass Email
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Glad to finally know definitively that my choices are between MSU and UCI, but still a little disappointed.
When I went back to earn my MA two years ago, I did so in the hopes of winding up at WUSTL.
But I think how my interests have evolved over the past two years as well as a better sense of what type of environment I need to be successful, MSU is probably a better fit even if WUSTL's placements are better.
Waitlists:
yq1987 2010:
Institution: University of Michigan Program: PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: It is a reach for me, so not very sad
Accepts:
Rejects: - Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/3
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: It is a reach for me, so not very sad
- Institution: University of Michigan Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/3
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: It is a reach for me, so not very sad
- Institution: UT-Austin Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/29
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Funding: NA
Comments: It took them so long time to reject me....Oh,well, I will not go there
Waitlists:
wouldliketoknowit 2010:
Institution: UT-Austin Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None, because they think I'll have better offers, but they'll make me an offer if I want one. Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No in: penn state, ohio state, rochester, wash. st.louis
Accepts: - Institution: UT-Austin Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None, because they think I'll have better offers, but they'll make me an offer if I want one.
Notification date: 3/11/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
in: penn state, ohio state, rochester, wash. st.louis
Rejects: - Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No.
in: ohio state, penn state, texas austin, wash.st.louis, rochester
- Institution: NYU Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/12/2010
Notified through: I sent them an email asking
Posted on GC: No.
Comments: when are UCLA and SanDiego going to answer???
in: ohio state, penn state, texas austin, wash.st.louis, rochester
- Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 17 March
Notified through: email
Comments: so sad
Waitlists:
Mutal 2010:
Institution: UCLA Program: PhD Economics Decision: waitlisted Funding: Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: A long shot for me. I'm even honored to be waitlisted there. Hoping for the best. Accepted: UC-Davis (TA $), USC ($$) (declined), TAMU (no words on $) Waitlisted: UCLA Rejected: UCSB, MSU, UMich, NYU, JHU, CMU, U Iowa Yet to be notified: UT-Austin, Georgetown, UW-Seattle, UBC
Accepts:
Rejects: - Institution: UT-Austin Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 3/29
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Funding: NA
Comments: expected.
Waitlists: - Institution: UCLA Economics
Decision: waitlisted
Funding:
Notification date: 3/17
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: A long shot for me. I'm even honored to be waitlisted there. Hoping for the best.
Accepted: UC-Davis (TA $), USC ($$) (declined), TAMU (no words on $)
Waitlisted: UCLA
Rejected: UCSB, MSU, UMich, NYU, JHU, CMU, U Iowa
Yet to be notified: UT-Austin, Georgetown, UW-Seattle, UBC
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Waitlists:
whoisdg 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Math and Economics, Tufts U Undergrad GPA: 3.8 Math, 4.0 Econ (Summa/PBK) GRE: 800Q 780V 5.0 AWA Math Courses (UG): Standard lower level curriculum, all A/A+; Real Analysis (A); Abstract Alg (B+); Complex Variables (A-); Probability (B – explained in SOP); Math Stats (A) Econ Courses (UG): Principles of Economics (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Quant. Intermediate Macro (A), Advanced Econometrics (A), Financial Economics (A), International Trade (A), Quant. International Finance (A), State and Local Public Finance (A) Letters of Recommendation: Michigan PhD, Stanford PhD, Duke Math PhD (two were advisors, both of whom know me very well; none are especially well known) Research Experience: Theoretical-Empirical term paper in international trade; RA at policy research organization. **No THESIS. No academic RA.** Research Interests: Diverse. Mostly applied micro. Statement of purpose: Don’t have any standard for comparison...but I actually think it mattered, contrary to popular opinion. More on that below. Other: Worked in management consulting for six months after college; a couple of national scholarships in college (e.g. NMSP); solid programming background. RESULTS: Acceptances: Berkeley ($$), Michigan ($$), Penn (Waitlisted “very high” for $$), UCSD ($$), Wisconsin (withdrew before funding offer made), UT (withdrew before funding offer made) Waitlists: MIT, awaiting rejection Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Chicago, Yale, NWU NSF: Honorable mention (Intellectual Merit: 2 Excellent, 1 Good; Broader Impacts: 2 Excellent, 1 Very Good. Argh!) What would you have done differently? Lots to say here. First of all, a THESIS. The one reviewer that submarined my NSF proposal clearly wanted to see more independent research experience. I’m pretty sure that was the deal breaker. Even though undergraduate theses (or “first papers”, more generally) are usually pretty bad, they are (1) an important signal of interest in and ability to do independent research, and (2) a significant learning experience. It might have been useful to take grad-level core courses, but I don’t think they’re necessary – the math courses convey the necessary skill set. Similarly, it might have been useful to RA as an undergrad, but again, from what I understand those roles are usually menial unless you have good programming/data skills. I've also spent two years in the working world. For me, this experience was incredibly valuable. It's not for everyone, but I think it has a lot to offer - exposure to lots of interesting situations and questions, confirmation of your interest in research career, personal growth, big dollar. Important note: I think the adcoms took the SOP more seriously than I had anticipated. Several possible explanations for this observation. The increase in applications probably leaves marginally admissible candidates indistinguishable from one another, and the statement might therefore be used as a second- or third-order criterion. Or maybe they really do sort applicants according to fit. Or maybe I’m just imagining things! In any case – I called out my interests in applied fields more than theory, and in some more specific topics that interest me (e.g. tournaments, peer effects, evaluation), and the decisions I got seemed to sort themselves accordingly. If I could change anything, I'd probably shift a little weight from applied to theoretical micro. Overall, I’m thrilled with Berkeley. Ex-post,it’s my third-most desired program, behind the Cambridge contingent. My only disappointment is NSF – I really thought I could snag it. In any case, I now have a well-developed idea to embark upon this summer, so the process is valuable in and of itself. Good luck to all future applicants. I hope this information is helpful!
Accepts: Acceptances: Berkeley ($$), Michigan ($$), Penn (
Rejects: rejection
Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Chicago, Yale, NWU
NSF:
Waitlists: Waitlisted “very high” for $$), UCSD ($$), Wisconsin (withdrew before funding offer made), UT (withdrew before funding offer made)
Waitlists: MIT, awaiting
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Admit summary statistics:
| As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic: | There were 15 accepted out of 26 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.75, average GREQ was 787.5.
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From the Department webpage in 2010 (please send me a link if this is wrong!) |
On average for the last five years, the PhD economics program received approximately 500 applications per year. We granted admission to approximately 100 applicants per year. Of those we admitted, just under forty percent we admitted with aid. Most financial aid is in the form of graduate assistantships, which require that the recipient carry out duties helping the faculty in their teaching or research. The entering classes have averaged 28 per year... As for GRE scores, the average scores of the student admitted in Fall 2008 were 570 verbal and 785 quantitative. (Source) |
Links: Test Magic Econ Forums
econphd.econwiki.com |
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