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teddypicker 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics from a somewhat-known non-US, non-EU university, (ranking 100+ in Times Higher Education)
Undergrad GPA: 3.89/4.0 (Class Rank:5)
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: none
GRE: Q800 V450 AWA4.5
Math Courses: Calculus I&II (A, which is the highest grade you can get), Mathematics for Economists (A), Introduction to Linear Algebra (A), Probability and Statistics I&II (A), Programming for Social Sciences (A)
Econ Courses: Macro-Micro Theory (A), , International Economics I&II (A), Econometrics I&II (A), Transition Economics (A), Theories of Growth and Development (A), Institutions and Development (A), History of Economic Thought (B+, A), Finance (A), Principles of Accounting (A-), Fiscal Economics (A), Monetary Economics (A-), World Economy in 20th Century (A), Analytical Writing for Economists (A), Game Theory I (A), Advanced Economic Theory (A), International Political Economy (A), Political Economy of Natural Resources (A), International Money (A-), Seminar in Macroeconomic Policy (A)
Other Courses: Selected Topics in Law (C+ basically why my GPA got lower), Social Transformation and Political History of my country (both A), History of Civilization (B-), Sociology and Social Psychology (both A)
Letters of Recommendation: All three are macro-economists. One got his PhD from Princeton (among top 6ited economists), one from Minnesota (considered to be the top economist of my country) and one from Maryland.
Research Experience: Currently conducting one with the professor who got his PhD from University of Minnesota. (A proposal on the Brazilian capital controls). I also wrote some papers for my previous professors; the most "credible" one is something I wrote for Sweder van Wijnbergen when I was an exchange student in the University of Amsterdam.
Teaching Experience: Worked as a TA for Introduction to Economics and Macroeconomic Theory classes over the summer.
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Growth and Development, Political Economy
SOP: Talked about my previous research, my extra-curricular activities and my interests. Took 3 pages. It might have been shorter.
Others: TOEFL ibt: 114 (26R, 30L, 28S, 30W)
Concerns: Math courses are not sufficient.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE (MSc Economics -Research-), BGSE (MSc Economics), Warwick (MSc Economics), CEMFI Madrid (MSc Economics and Finance), King's College London (MA International Political Economy), University of Bristol (MSc Economics, Management and Finance), University of Edinburgh (MSc Economics)
Waitlists: UCL (MSc Economics)
Rejections: Warwick (MA International Political Economy)
What Would You Have Done Differently?
I like the outcome of my results, as my only rejection is from a program I considered to be of low priority. Still, I would have
-taken more math courses during my undergraduate
-wouldn't be so scared of getting a rejection so maybe applied for some US Universities as well as Oxbridge
-would have pressured my professors for an RA position.
-would have studied more for the verbal section of GRE

don quijote 2011:
Institution: UC3M
Program: Master in Economic Analysis + Phd
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Yes
Notification date: Feb 16
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: The last of my list, but still good to have one!

cuass 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Economics in a liberal arts college country (best private university).
Undergrad GPA: 80%
Type of Grad: M.A. in Economics
Grad GPA: 82%
GRE: 780Q, 480V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses: Linear Algebra (70%) Calculus I (78%) Calculus II (80%) Calculus III (90%) Mathematical Economics (90%)
Econ Courses (masters-level): Advanced Micro, Advanced Macro, Advanced Econometrics (All 90%)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level):The usual courses
Other Courses: Hegel, Foucault, Java programming
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ profs, 1 econ ( thesis supervisor)
Research Experience: I worked for a think tank as R.A (2.5 years)
Teaching Experience: T.A: Advanced Microeconomics (2 years), Advanced Macroeconomics (1 semester), Monetary Theory and Policy (1 year) and History of Economics Analysis (1 semester
Research Interests: Health Economics and Applied Microeconomics
SOP: Rewriting from last year
Concerns: Not as much math as many, letter of recommendation are not from international well known economists. Low GRE quant.
Other: 5 publications in local journals. Master thesis accepted with the highest distinction (Top 5 of 2009 thesis). Third best score of the country on the ECAES test on economics (States undergraduate of Knowledge of Economics).
Applying to: PhD Economics: UBC, Upenn, Minessota, Wisconsin, BU, Columbia, UCLA, Maryland, Georgetown, U Texas - Austin, LSE, UPF, UCL, Penn State, Michigan.
PhD Health Policy: Harvard and Berkeley (Health Services & Policy Analysis)
PhD Public Policy: NYU, Michigan.

EnvEcon 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics and Business in a top economics university in Europe
Undergrad GPA: We have a different grading system, I would say "good" but not "excellent"
Type of Grad: Economics in the same university
Grad GPA: Again, comparison is difficult; I went way better than my undergrad (especially for math and stat classes) but still not at the top.
GRE: 770Q, 630V, 3.5AW
Math Courses: Basic math&stat + dynamic optimization and inferential statistics
Econ Courses: Basic undergrad courses + lot of grad courses, mainly applied econ (labour, development, energy, international econ, applied macro, behavioural economics) and solid econometric background
Other Courses: Some history and law classes, especially during undergrad
Research Experience: About one year RA in a well known European energy research center within an economics faculty.
Letters of Recommendation: All during my RA period: one from my supervisor, one from the head of the research group (very well known in the energy field), one from a Phd now in the US. As far as I know, all of them are very good and detailed.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Applied micro in general, environmental, development, behavioural
SOP: I put a lot of weight on my RA job and my graduate studies. I specified my research interests and career goals but I didn't mentioned any professor in particular with which I wanted to work.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Maryland Econ (waitlist for $), Maryland AgEcon ($), Purdue AgEcon ($), Wyoming Econ ($), Madrid Carlos III ($)
Waitlists:
Rejections: UCB AgEcon, UCSB, UBC, Tinbergen, Cornell AEM
Pending: Stockholm School of Economics
Attending: Maryland AgEcon
What would you have done differently?
1) I feel that I have been ruled out from some programs due to my GRE quant score, just a bit below 90%.
2) Applied to more places, perhaps some more Econ programs.
3) Did an undergraduate in economics. It would have been way more painful, but I would have been much more prepared for the graduate program (and got better grades).
4) For the econ programs only, doing some more theoretical macro/micro stuff could help, but who knows.
5) Prepare applications carefully from the beginning! Actually, for me it was a learning-by-doing process: for UCSB application (the first I sent), for instance, I didn't include syllabus of econ and math classes.
Other considerations
1) I feel that here people overestimate GRE and grades and underestimate the weight AdComs give to how much overall a candidate fit into the program. Maryland AgEcon was an excellent fit for me (given my interests and research experience) and that put me above other candidates with better grades/GRE.
2) LORs are incredibly useful, one of the few things of an application which can show what is your research potential. Being a RA opened many doors, too.
3) Networking with faculty researchers is fundamental, especially if you are lucky enough to be a RA; in the application process, many people see Professors only as LORs writers, but first of all they are experienced people from which you can learn how to properly do research even after your admission. Starting a Phd with a network of young and senior researchers is a tremendous advantage.