Index of Schools AnalysisAbout the Site 2012 20112010 20092008 2007all years
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Most Recently Selected profile:

The data below comes from testmagic forums and shows accepted, waitlisted, and rejected applicants for 2010 for economics graduate school. Clicking on points in the graph above will make the most recent profile appear in the space below the graph.


Acceptances:

papachara 2011:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Economics from unknown Latin-american university
Undergrad GPA: N/A (First place of graduating class)
Type of Grad: M.S. Economics from well-known Latin-american University
Grad GPA: Average: 9.66/10.00 (first of classs)
GRE: 800Q / 570V / 4.0AWA (1st try) 800Q / 600V / 4.0 AWA (2dn try)
Math Courses: Real Analysis I and II (A+), Measure Theory (A+), Topology (A), Convexity and Optimization (A), Dynamic Sistems (A-), Probability (A), Intro to Stochastic Processes.
Econ Courses (grad-level): Microeconomic Theory (A+), Game Theory (A), Macro I and II (A+), Mechanism Design (A), Political Economy, General Equilibrium, Macroeconometrics, Microeconometrics (A-)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I and II, Macro I and II, IO, International Economics I and II, Growth, Development, Econometrics I and II, Topics in Micro Theory, Topics in Mathematical economics, Monetary, Econometrics I and II, Public Economics. Basically A's and A+'s
Other Courses: Agent-Based modelling
Letters of Recommendation: 1 prof from NYU, 1 from UCLA and 1 from Urbana-champaign (knows me very well and should be an excellent letter)
Research Experience: RA in political economy research for 3 years, thesis in political economy
Teaching Experience: TA in econometrics, microeconomics and computational economics
Research Interests: Micro theory, computational economics and development
SOP: Very short, only 400 words long. No names mentioned and very general ideas.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Princeton ($$$), Yale($$$), Northwestern MECS ($$$), Columbia($$), UPenn($$), BU($$)
Waitlists: None.
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Stanford GSB, Berkeley, .
Pending: NYU (I think this a reject).
What would you have done differently? Not much. Getting into top programs depends on the people writting your LORs, that is why I got into Princeton. Not much to be done about this. If I had really wanted to go to MIT or Harvard I would have had to chose another MA. Conclusion: Good grades and LORs are fundamental.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Princeton ($$$), Yale($$$), Northwestern MECS ($$$), Columbia($$), UPenn($$), BU($$)
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: A letter containing the details of our offer has been sent via mail. Notification date: Feb 15 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: 11 more to go!
  • Institution: Northwestern Kellogg (MES) Decision: Accepted Funding: 32k Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 23k + 3k summer stipend + health insurance Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 23k + 3k health insurance Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: Email Comment:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Stanford GSB, Berkeley, .
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Policy and Analysis Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: February 18 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: This was a hard one. 10 more to go!
  • Institution Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None.

kipfilet 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics, top school in small European country
Undergrad GPA: 18/20, converted to 4.0/4.0, top of my class
Type of Grad: MPhil in Economics in progress (2 year Masters including 1st year PhD coursework)
Grad GPA: 19/20, converted to 4.0/4.0
GRE: Q800, V710, AWA 5.0
Math Courses: Calc I (already includes some intro real analysis and lots of proofs), Calc II (multivariate calc, topology, lots of optimisation), Linear Algebra, Math I (difference eqns, dynamic programming, discrete-time optimization), Math II (differential eqns, optimal control), Advanced Math (advanced topology and real analysis, measure theory, correspondence theory). All A's
Econ Courses (grad-level): Full Macro and Micro sequences, lots of random trimester courses (game theory I and II, time series, microeconometrics, energy economics, etc), all A's.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Lots of them. In my country, programs are not flexible at all. We spend 3 years being bombed with economics courses just about everything.
Other Courses: some Law, Finance and History courses. Two seminars on European Union institutions.
Letters of Recommendation: My thesis advisor and three assistant professors who know me well I guess (was a student and worked/working in projects with all of them).
Research Experience: Summer internship at a Ministry, applied macro research; lots of minor projects; macroeconometric paper with two colleagues; co-authoring an empirical paper; my MPhil thesis (in progress) is supposed to be one of the three papers one usually writes for a PhD.
Teaching Experience: twice TA (lecturer) for Multivariate Calc, twice TA (lecturer) for intermediate macro (all undergrad)
Research Interests: Macro: monetary economics, DSGE's, asset pricing. Also interested in behavioural.
SOP: Pretty standard, not customised at all. I actually sent the same SOP to ALL schools, only changing their name.
Concerns: Coming from a school that is virtually unknown in the US (and better known as a business school in Europe), no letter of recommendation from a senior professor.
Other: TOEFL 119, Erasmus in a well-known university in the Netherlands.
RESULTS
Acceptances: Minnesota ($$$), UPenn ($$$), LSE (), Oxford (MPhil, no ), Columbia ($$$), Chicago (no $), Northwestern (no$ 1st year), NYU($$$)
Waitlists: UCLA (rej), MIT (rej), Northwestern (acc), NYU (acc)
Rejections: Yale, Harvard, Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA, MIT.
Attending: NYU
What would you have done differently?
Not much, I think. I regret not having asked a letter of recommendation from a well-known professor at my university whom I later discovered to be rather willing to write it (I had never worked for him). Not asking any senior prof for a letter of recommendation was a huge risk I took, and I only discovered the value of seniority much later (i.e. after having discovered TM). My 2nd year MPhil grades (1st year PhD courses) have been rather good so far, and my thesis is going really well (my apologies for not being very humble in this aspect), so I guess I could have a stronger profile if I decided to apply next year. Anyway, I'm not going to cry over it, as I'm already ecstatic with my outcome! This was an extremely long and stressful process, and I'm really glad that it has come to a happy ending. See you all in the job market!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Minnesota ($$$), UPenn ($$$), LSE (), Oxford (MPhil, no ), Columbia ($$$), Chicago (no $), Northwestern (no$ 1st year), NYU($$$)
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes (20k) Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email with formal acceptance (pdf) Posted on GF: not yet Comments: One of my top choices!
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 23k Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comment: really happy! Decision between this and Minnesota is going to be a tough one for a macro guy like me...
  • Institution: London School of Economics MRes/PhD Track 1 Decision: Accepted Funding: No. "Unfortunately competition for funding is very strong and we are not able to offer you any financial support at this stage. However you are waitlisted for funding and we will inform you immediately if and when this becomes available. In the meantime we would be grateful if you could update us on the outcome of any funding applications you have made." Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes Comment: Fantastic! Lack of funding is a problem, though...my girlfriend will certainly pressure me to strongly consider this one due to proximity.
  • Institution: Oxford MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 2/28 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: yes Funding: Not clear regarding that, but I guess that means a no. Comments: I'll have to read through the letter to better understand whether there is funding or not. From what I've gathered, I guess that depends on the college I end up in.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Proposed for admission Funding: Full, details later Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes [B]Comments: Unofficial e-mail from grad coordinator! so happy! dream school!
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver only, offer conditional on earning my country's NSF Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail GC: yes Comment: Poisoned joy, I am speechless, but have no idea what to do. My country's NSF only publishes results in September...
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted if interested in attending Funding: No 1st year, full afterwards Notification date: 04/14/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Great for fluctuations (Christiano & Eichenbaum), but not really the strongest in my fields of interest.
  • Institution: NYU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Notification date: 04/14/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Accepted right away
Rejects:
    rej), MIT (rej), Northwestern (acc), NYU (acc) Rejections: Yale, Harvard, Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA, MIT.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments: Already expected!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Meh x 2.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: The e-mail mentioned that there were 750 applications, out of which 75 applicants were admitted.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - NA Notification date: 03/11 Notified through: email Comments: Expected, now only waitlists remain to close the admissions season!
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Who are these people who keep sending me air mail letters? Harvard? Is this some sort of ice cream company?
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected out of the Waitlist Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Did not interest me much anyway.
  • Institution: MIT Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected from waitlist Funding: NA Notification date: 04/07 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Makes the deciding easier. Never had any real chances though. Was really surprised about not being rejected right from start.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCLA (
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Meh.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/5/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Better than a rejection, would very much like to attend.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Probably none Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: As the old adage goes, better than a flatout rejection. This is probably the most ungrateful waitlist to be in, ever.

FromTheHip 2011:
Well, time to throw out my profile, which I suspect will make my results a source of hope for many with mediocre undergraduate GPAs.
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS in a science field at a highly-ranked U.S. university
Undergrad GPA: 3.34/4
Type of Grad: Part time classes at a top-5 econ program
Grad GPA: 4.0/4
GRE: 800Q, 700V, 4.5AW
Math Courses: Linear Algebra (A), Multivariable Calculus (A), Vector Analysis (B), Differential Equations (A-), Real Analysis (B+)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Two semesters of core micro (A/A), both grades near the top of the class
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro (A-), Intro Macro (A-), Intermediate micro (A-), Intermediate Macro (A-), Two term theoretical econometrics course (B/B+)
Other Courses: A lot of very quantitative science courses.
Letters of Recommendation: All three were economists with tenure at a top-5 econ program and PhDs from top programs. One was a professor from my core micro who talked about my coursework, while another was my long-time boss (see below). The third worked as my advisor on an independent project.
Research Experience: Two years as an RA and an independent research project (still ongoing).
Research Interests: Resource/environmental, development, game theory, IO. Statement focused on resource, game theory, and development.
SOP: Fairly long. I’ve spent some time outside of undergrad and was not an econ major, so I spent a bit of time explaining how I’d come to be interested in economics and putting my non-economics accomplishments into context.
Other experience: Several years work experience before starting my economics career
Concerns: Non-economics background, low undergraduate grades
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Cornell (no $), Georgetown ($), Iowa State ($),LSE ($), Penn State ($), Rochester ($), UC-Davis ($), UC-San Diego ($), UC-Santa Barbara (no $), University of British Columbia ($), University of Colorado ($), UPenn (initially wl for $, then $), University of Wisconsin ($), Yale ($).
Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Brown, Caltech, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Duke, Harvard, Minnesota, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
Waitlists: BU (withdrew), Columbia (withdrew), MIT (eventually rejected)
Withdrawn: University of Wyoming
Attending: Yale
What would you have done differently? Gotten better undergraduate grades and started as an economist sooner.
Other Comments: Given where I was coming in, I’m pretty ecstatic about my results. There was a lot of variance in my admits, and I’m grateful to all the programs which were willing to take a chance on me.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Cornell (no $), Georgetown ($), Iowa State ($),LSE ($), Penn State ($), Rochester ($), UC-Davis ($), UC-San Diego ($), UC-Santa Barbara (no $), University of British Columbia ($), University of Colorado ($), UPenn (initially wl for $, then $), University of Wisconsin ($), Yale ($).
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Will be decided in March Notification date: Feb 11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Extremely happy about my first acceptance.
  • Institution: UC Santa Barbara Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No mention of funding Notification date: Feb 14 Notified through: website (I checked after seeing an acceptance up at GC) Posted on GC: no Comments: I suspect decisions are generally available, even though an e-mail notification hasn't been sent yet.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: To be announced (but they fund everyone, so it seems a safe bet) Notification date: Feb 15 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Um, yeah, I'm pretty happy
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Very high on the waitlist for 1st year fellowship Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: LSE Economics MRes/PhD (track 1) Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: yes; 3 years TA, 2 years Fellowship Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA-ship Notification date: 03/01/2001 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Sorry, slow to post this one. Excited though - looks like another option which will solves my two-body problem!
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted? Funding: No idea? Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Got an e-mail with an invitation to visiting day and a second congratulations on admission. I never got any sort of notification the first time around, so I'm just guessing.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Will get a letter next week Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of Colorado - Boulder Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA+Fellowship Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Brown, Caltech, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Duke, Harvard, Minnesota, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
  • Institution: University of Minnesota PHD economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Duke PHD economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Chicago - Booth School of Business Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Guess I picked the wrong week to quit smoking... (Airplane reference for the humorless)
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 (letter dated 3/5) Notified through: post Posted on GC : no Comments: Guess I picked the wrong week to quit drinkin'... (Airplane reference part 2 for the humorless)
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BU (withdrew), Columbia (withdrew), MIT (eventually
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Please pardon the interruption -- when NYU/Stanford rejects come out, we will return to your regularly scheduled Airplane-based programming.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: BU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no

bassmantin 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Accounting/Finance at a Big 10 school
Undergrad GPA: 3.97
Type of Grad: M.B.A. Accounting/Finance
Grad GPA: 3.91
GRE: 800Q, 700V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Calculus I, II, II, Linear Algebra, Intro to Advanced Math (all A) After submission of application: Differential Equations, Real Analysis (all A expected)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Econometrics, lots of grad level business school classes that overlap somewhat: managerial econ, real options, valuation, corporate finance, international monetary systems and hedging (all A) after submission: History of Economic Thought, Monetary Theory (all A expected)
Other Courses: Lots of business
Letters of Recommendation: Accounting professor, math instructor, former employer
Research Experience: N/A
Teaching Experience: two semesters intro to managerial accounting
Research Interests: macro/monetary
SOP: addressed my somewhat unique situation
Concerns: no econ prof letter of recommendation, not too much math before submitting app
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Vanderbilt, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa State, George Mason, Missouri
Waitlists: WUSTL (eventually accepted), Minnesota (withdrew)
Rejections: Chicago, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Attending: WUSTL
What would you have done differently? Take more math. Get letter of recommendation from economists. Get a mentor to guide me through the process.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Vanderbilt, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa State, George Mason, Missouri
  • Institution: Missouri-Columbia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nominated for fellowship Notification date: Feb 8 (sorry for the delay) Notified through: Email (probably notified early because of the fellowship nomination) Posted on GC: no Comments: First response. Exciting!
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: First-Year Fellowship Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Email from DGS Posted on GF: no Comments: Extremely excited! Good program and I love Nashville!
  • Institution: Purdue Economics (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: Email from Assistant Director of Administration Posted on GC: No Comments: Very cool!
  • Institution: Michigan State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 3/9/11 Funding: TAship Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Awesome
  • Institution: Indiana Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 3/10/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Very excited!
  • Institution: Iowa State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA-ship Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: excellent, good fit
  • Institution: George Mason Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No word Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GF: no Comments: Very cool school. I might have to start a blog.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Chicago, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: WUSTL (eventually
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Would love to go.
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics PhD Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GradCafe: no Comments: "We again had a record number of applicants, many of whom were highly qualified. Yet we are restricted to only a very small class of first-year students. We realize that this uncertainty is unpleasant, but we want to assure you that there is still a reasonable chance that you will be accepted into our program."

HealthEconGirl 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ from top-30 U.S. university
Undergrad GPA: 3.76 / 4.0, magna cum laude
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q800, V720, AW5.5
Math Courses: Calc I&II (AP), Multivariable Calc (A), Diff Equ (A), Intro to Proofs (A), Upper-level Probability Theory (A), Lin Alg (A), Intro to Analysis (A-)
Econ Courses (grad-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Regular econ major courses (mostly A's, one B+ and one B), IO (B+), African Development (A-), Econ Reforms and Corruption (A-), Pol Econ of Growth, Redistribution and Poverty (A-), Intermediate Econometrics (A), Senior thesis seminar (A)
Letters of Recommendation: Senior thesis advisor (Columbia Ph.D.), one Assoc Prof (Foreign Ph.D.), one Epidemiologist (Berkeley Ph.D.), one former supervisor
Research Experience: Senior thesis, RA for epidemiologist since August 2010, Paid Internship where I basically do standard RA work (data cleaning, analysis) since June 2010
Teaching Experience: none really, but LORs talked about my potential for teaching
Research Interests: economics of global health, specifically HIV and sexual behavior in developing countries
SOP: Highlighted my senior thesis, significant time working in a developing country, and well defined research interests; customized to each school
Concerns: While I have extensive work experience that is relevant, it's not the standard econ RA work; no graduate econ classes despite being in a research univ.
RESULTS:
Attending: UCSD
Acceptances: UCSD ($), UBC ($$$)
Waitlists: U Mich (Withdrawn), UCLA (Withdrawn)
Withdrawn: BU, U Toronto
Rejections: UC Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Harvard, MIT, Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke, UPenn, UMD College Park, NSF (Honorable Mention)
Comments:
Overall, I am very pleased with this result. Even though I had a lot of rejections (and that was hard), you only need one good admit, and I am extremely excited about UCSD. I applied to all of the top ten on the advice of my undergrad advisor, but I knew that cracking the top ten was a long shot.
The best thing I did was apply for the NSF GRFP. The application process, and particularly the process of developing a research proposal, really helped me crystallize my objectives and research interests, and I believe the experience made my SOPs that much stronger.
Taking my choice of undergrad institution, GPA, GRE, and work experience as given, there isn't much I would have done differently. However, writing the SOPs took me much, much longer than I expected. If I could do it again, I would start drafting SOPs over the summer.
A note about my LORs: a lot of people say that LORs from non-economists are useless. But I decided to go with an letter of recommendation from an epidemiologist who is extremely well know both within and outside her field, knows me really well, has a good sense for my research ability, and wrote me a glowing recommendation. I believe that if they are relevant to your research interests, LORs from disciplines that are close to econ, such as math, poli sci, or epidemiology, can be acceptable, and may even be preferable to letters from econ profs who barely know you.
I'm so glad the waiting is over!
Accepts:
    Attending: UCSD Acceptances: UCSD ($), UBC ($$$)
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not yet specified Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Didn't get an official admission letter, but an invitation to their open house that says "Congratulations on being nominated for admission to the Economics Doctoral Program at the University of California San Diego for Fall 2011. You should receive a formal admission email from the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) soon and we want to welcome you!" I am so, so happy.
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 25k Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GradCafe: no Comments: Deadline to respond is Mar 29!
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Harvard, MIT, Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke, UPenn, UMD College Park, NSF (
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: website (saw above and checked) Comments: really disappointing, I thought I had a good chance of getting in
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: My first choice. This sucks.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally!
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5/2011 Notified through: Mailed letter Posted on GC: no Comments: Expected but still disappointing, as this was my last shot at staying in the SF Bay Area.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Expected.
  • Institution: UMD College Park Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Testudo website Posted on GC: No Comments: Still no admits.
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: I appreciate their promptness. Take note, NYU.
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14/11 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: no Comments: The letter finally came.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally.
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments: Waiting on two more.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: U Mich (Withdrawn), UCLA (Withdrawn) Withdrawn: BU, U Toronto
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Even though it's only a waitlist, feeling better about my chances.
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Yes, if accepted Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:That letter is seriously confusing. Like others, it says I would have been admitted without funding last year. I wonder what happens if I am able to find an external source of funding (will call tomorrow).
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Honorable Mention Funding: No Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Obviously funding would have been great, but I knew it was a long shot, so I'm happy with this result.

LUDuckling 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 30 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 4.0 Economics/Maths/International Relations
GRE: Q 800 V 730 AW 4.0
Math Courses: Calculus, Linear Algebra, ODE, Probability, Math Stat, Real Analysis
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro, Macro, Econometrics, IO, Economic Thought, Development, Money Banking
Letters of Recommendation:professor of grad micro class; econ prof; math thesis advisor - all mentioned my originality & ability to abstract from real world happenings. One talked about I am "one of the most impressive students during his 40+ years of teaching at Harvard & xx university."
Research Experience: RIPS student industrial math research@IPAM; RA; math thesis in game theory
Teaching Experience: TA math & econ for 2 years
Research Interests: micro, behavioral, not really set
Other Experience: Co-founded a company and initiated an int'l summer school; various volunteering experiences, mainly has to do with (re)building houses for poor people(write about in diversity statement)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale, Columbia, NYU, UCB, Chicago, etc.
Waitlists: MIT, UCLA, CMU
Rejections: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Brown, Caltech, etc.
What would you have done differently?
Applying straight from a non-top liberal arts college and with no significant grad course work/ research job, I am very content with my result. I think I really put everything I could reach together. I have no regrets.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Yale, Columbia, NYU, UCB, Chicago, etc.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Brown, Caltech, etc.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: MIT, UCLA, CMU

eds 2011:
PROFILE
Type of Undergrad: South Italian University. Graduate in 2004.Major in Economics
Undergrad GPA: 110/110 cum laude (say equivalent to 4 )
Type of Grad: MSc in economics form a top 5 UK department in 2007,
Grad GPA: Master 90+%,
GRE: 800Q, 590V, 3.0AWA. I will be retaking it next month. Do not consider this result when evaluating my profile.
Math Courses: (UG)General Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis Multivariable Analysis(should be calculus) , Statistics I and I. ‐ All equivalent to A's or A+.
Math Courses: (Master): introductory to math and stats 90%+
Econ Courses (masters-level): Micro, Macro, monetary economics ,international monetary economics, Econometrics ,Trade theory All 90%+
Econ Courses (PhD level) About 13 course in macro fields with famous profs at PhD level. All passed with As
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro and Macro Theory, Labor, International economics, monetary economics, Industrial econ. Development economics, economic history, History of economic thought theory, econometrics, Public economics, Regional Economics, Applied economics, Economic Policy‐ All equivalent to A's or A+
Other Courses: Summer school at UPF
Letters of Recommendation: ) 1 stellar letters from a NYU PhD undergraduate thesis supervisor well connected 2) Form a guy with PhD Michigan well known in his field. I got A in his graduate course. I am now looking for the third letter.
Research Experience: A working paper in progress with one of my a letter of recommendation writers and we are talking to start working on a paper with my second letter of recommendation writer. Not sure If I will have something concrete by December 2010 . I won special merit from the evaluation committee for the quality of my u/g thesis work, presentation skills and academic performance. I also won the prize for the best u/g thesis for that year. My MSc thesis was marked (90%+) as the best among MSc students in my year. Visitor Researcher at a well know institute .Visitor Scholar at a top 20 US department (research only) for fall 2009. I have served as a visitor scholar at the research division of the ECB
Teaching Experience: TA for intro to micro (In the USA) and for Monetary economics
Research Interests: Monetary economics , International macro, .
SOP: Should be strong.
Concerns: AGE!!!! I am, currently 33. I will been turned 34 and a half by fall 2011 .. I need to get new letters of recommendation from people I currently work with . I cannot ask for a letter from my MSc because of other personal reasons nor from the US department.
Other: Applying for the usual fellowships.
Applying to: In many programs. In the US and Europe. Suggestions are welcome !
Accepts:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: To be announced Notification date: Feb 15 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: How good are they on monetary policy and Central Banking????
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: fellowship Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: yes Comments: This is a school I was targeting to get in considering my research interests but for some other reasons I cannot attain. I will decline their offer
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comment:Well it is a good gift a day before my birthday(2/25) but I am waiting for a real good one on my birthday day
  • Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz International Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: via email Posted on GC: yes Comment: None
  • Institution: Stockholm School Of Economics Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/01/2011 Notified through: via email one hourago Posted on GC: Yes Comments: none
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC:yes Comments:none
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: accepted Funding:yes Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: letter date 03/01/2011
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlJl1LfDP4
  • Institution : Chicago Program : Economics PhD Decision : Accepted Notification date : 3/8/2011 Notified through : E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments : none
  • Institution :Oxford Program : Economics Mphil Decision : Accepted Notification date : 3/8/2011 Notified through : E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments :They first rejected me from the DPil and now they are offering me a place to the MPhil program. I already got two masters ..... WTF!!!!
  • Institutioninstitution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: website Posted on GC: No Comments: Took a lot of time for them.....
  • Institution: Tilburg Research Masters Decision: Accepted Funding: Partial tuition waiver (pay1,713), waitlisted for CentER scholarship Notification date: March 14 Notified through: email Posted on GC: soon Comments:They ask me to inform them before 28 March 2011 whether I intend to accept their admission offer.
  • Institution: HEC-Lausanne Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Same interview invitation with ecpfdq above. Notification date: 04/21/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: none
Rejects:
  • Institutioninstitution: Oxford DPhil in economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: YES Comments: Who cares about oxford.They offered me the opportunity to pass my application for the Mhil program while I already hold two masters degrees.Lol!!!
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics Decision: waiting list Notification date: 2/28 Notified through: I called Posted on GF: yes Comments:I do not hope much. People usually do not turn down Harvard and MIT offers
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: wait list Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC : yes Comments: Second wait list for Cambridge schools.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: waitlist Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Phone Posted on GC: yes Comments: I had enough waiting so I called them!
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Waiting List Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments:none

caledonian2011 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BS from a large Asian Uni (ranked in top 60 in econphd.net), majored in Economics and Applied Mathematics
Undergrad GPA: 3.82 (top undergraduate)
Type of Grad: MS in Economics from a top European uni
Grad GPA: Highest honors, ranked top 5 graduates of about 80 people in cohort
GRE: 800Q, 600V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Linear algebra I (B), Linear algebra II (A-), Calc (B+), Multivariate Calc (B+), Diff Eq (B-), Mathematical Stats (A+), Probability (A+), Numerical Computation (B-), Real Analysis I (A), Real Analysis II (A-), Complex Analysis (A-)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I, II, II (All A+) .. (intermediate micro is micro II), Macro I, II, III (All A), Econometrics I, II, III (all A+), International econ (A+), Game Theory (A+), IO (A+), Monetary Econ (A-), Financial Econ (B+), Math econ (A+), Health econ (B+)
Econ Courses (grad-level): PhD micro (A-), Phd macro (A), PhD Econometrics (A), Game Theory (A+), price theory (B+), master IO (A), PhD IO (B+), Empirical IO (A-), dynamic optimization (A+), Mircoeconometrics (A+)
Other Courses: None relevant
Letters of Recommendation: 1 master thesis supervisor, 1 undergrad thesis supervisor, 1 from master program... None of them is famous, but all letters should be good or very good
Research Experience: Undergrad Honors thesis (grade A-) and Master thesis (grade A, and currently polishing under my sup to send for publication), and some term papers
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Theoretical and empirical IO, applied microeconometrics
SOP: explained reasons for doing PhD, career goal, and talk (at a rather shallow level) about research interest... did not mention any names of professors
Concerns: Some poor math grades (but math dept in undergrad uni is very stringent in grades), no 800Q (but not retaking), letter of recommendation from not famous people, lack of RA experience
Applying to: (I only have "sufficient money" to apply to around 10 schools). Looking to apply to 4 top 10s (probably MIT, Stanford, Yale, NU) , 4 top 20s (probably Columbia, NYU, UPenn, UCSD)... and 2 "safeties": UIUC and Penn State
Others:I posted my profile on a seperate thread to ask for comments but I didn't get many. If anybody has any advice or comment, please PM me. I will appreciate it very much!
Accepts:
  • Institution: UIUC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship and TAship Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution:Penn State economics Decision: Accepted Funding:yes Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: Boston University economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: UC San Diego economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ? Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: Northwestern economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for 1st year funding Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: -
  • Institution: Chicago economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: -
  • Institution: Columbia economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Most likely will attend
Rejects:
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notified through: Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: -
Waitlists:
  • Institution: MIT economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: ? Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Not hopeful at all

skysky 2011:
Type of Undergrad: A hopefully well-known school in Asia. One-semester visiting student experience in a top econ dept in U.S.
Undergrad GPA: 90+/100
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800 Q / 720 V / 4.5 W
Math Courses: Mathematical Analysis, Linear Algebra, Probability theory, Mathematical Statistics, Real Analysis, Stochastic Process, Mathematical Modelling, all with decent scores. Abstract Algebra, Differential Equations, finished after application. Complex Analysis, in progress.
Econ Courses (grad-level): PhD-level Micro.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Regular courses like intermediate micro/macro, econometrics, game theory etc.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 from Berkeley professors. 2 from my home institution.
Research Experience: One semester RA in the US school.
Teaching Experience: none.
Research Interests: No idea, really.
SOP: Just so-so. Not in a good mood when writing this stuff, so did not put much effort in it. Emphasized my interest in math, though. Wierd, but that was all in my mind then.
Applying to: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Upenn, Columbia, NYU, UCSD
Accepts:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Fellowship Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: (what does this mean... I suppose no, though...) Comment: I had no idea how generous the offer was at first for Yale was the very first piece of news. I found this econ phd forum when googling info about Yale.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Not clear Notification date: 02/23/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No...? Comment: The funding seems insufficient, even in the best possible state...
  • Institution: Upenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $$ Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No... Comment: It is kind of interesting to compare different school's admission letters...
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Details will be sent next Monday by email. Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Phone call Posted on GF: No Comments: Really unexpected!It is weekend after all... And what time is it now in East U.S, midnight?
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: not mentioned Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: no Comments: Berkeley's rejection was nicely written, but the admission email looks pretty much like a rejection notification...
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $33,000 Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Proposed for admission Funding: $$ Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
  • Institution : Chicago Program : Economics PhD Decision : Rejection Funding : N/A Notification date : 3/7/2011 Notified through : E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments : Actually quite happy to receive my first rejection, which is simple to deal with... It is so difficult to turn down a generous offer...
Waitlists:

Irrational 2011:
Institution: Barcelona GSE
Program: MSc in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Partial tuition waiver (9,000 €)
Notification date: 01/24/2011
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GC: no
Comments: Decision until 23/02/2011, which is very early. Still, it's my first admit, so I am kind of happy :-)
Accepts:
  • Institution: Barcelona GSE MSc in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Partial tuition waiver (9,000 €) Notification date: 01/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Decision until 23/02/2011, which is very early. Still, it's my first admit, so I am kind of happy :-)
  • Institution: University of Warwick MSc in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 01/27/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Another safety accept, which is nice. However I would probably prefer UPF as Warwick does not have any experience with placements into US PhD programs.
  • Institution: University of Oxford Master of Philosophy in Economics (MPhil) Decision: Accepted Funding: Not yet specified Notification date: 03/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Does Oxford offer an exchange semester/year? Edit: Called them, they don't.
  • Institution: Duke University AM Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No information yet Notification date: 03/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Sweet. But it felt strange, when they sent me my password in plain text.
  • Institution: University of British Columbia MA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA (10,914$) and possibly reduced tuition fees Notification date: 03/17/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: -
  • Institution: Boston University Master of Arts in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nope Notification date: 03/23/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: University of Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research Decision: Accepted Funding: no Notification date: 03/31/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: It is conditional on finishing my Bachelors with minimum 1.5/5.0. This was the same for Oxford, might be interesting for future applications from my country who consider applying to Oxbridge.
  • Institution: London School of Economics and Political Science MSc Economics and Philosophy Decision: Accepted Funding: no, will not apply for funding. Notification date: 04/19/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: It is conditional on finishing my Bachelors with minimum 2.2/5.0. This was my second preference after the EME. They asked me via e-mail to shortly state the reasons for my interest into the program, since my SOP did not mention any philosophy.
  • Institution: University College London MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: no Notification date: 04/26/2011 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC: no Comments: It is conditional on finishing my Bachelors with minimum 1.5/5.0.
Rejects:
  • Institution: London School of Economics Master of Econometrics and Mathematical Economics (2-year) Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 03/07/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Queen's University Master of Arts Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 04/13/2011 Notified through: e-mail after I inquired about my application status Posted on GC: no Comments: I guess they have only very few places for international students. Maybe, I should've said in the application, that I do not require funding.
  • Institution: University of Toronto MA Economics (Doctoral stream) Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 05/05/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
Waitlists:

onetime 2011:
Institution: UPenn
Program: Phd in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/24/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: No
Institution: Yale
Program: Phd in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/16/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: No
Accepts:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Proposed for admission Funding: Full, details later Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Unofficial e-mail from grad coordinator. W.T.F.?
Rejects:
  • Institution: UPenn Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Yale Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Checked website after seeing results here Posted on GC: No Comments: Surname is early in the alphabet, fyi.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Brown U Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Email to check Embark website. Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Duke Phd in Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No

coffeefanatic 2011:
Throwing my results so far into the mix...
Institution: Wharton
Program: PhD in Applied Economics
Decision: Interview
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/15/2011
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: Who knows how many they interviewed...
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/16/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: Unsurprising.
Institution: Stanford GSB
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/18/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: Super long-shot/terrible match for my research interests, anyway.
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: university-wide fellowship
Notification date: 02/21/2011
Notified through: Email from department
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: Nice.
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: graduate school fellowship
Notification date: 02/22/2011
Notified through: Email to check website, follow-up email from department
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: Very nice.
Institution: Penn
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/24/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: Yes
Comment: Ouch.
Accepts:
    Accepted Funding: university-wide fellowship Notification date: 02/21/2011 Notified through: Email from department Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Nice. Institution: Duke Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: graduate school fellowship Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: Email to check website, follow-up email from department Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Very nice. Institution: Penn Program: PhD in Economics Decision:
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: university-wide fellowship Notification date: 02/21/2011 Notified through: Email from department Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Nice.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: graduate school fellowship Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: Email to check website, follow-up email from department Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Very nice.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Pleasant surprise
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None first year Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: First year tuition waiver + nominated for fellowship (waiting to hear back) Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: WHATTTT. Still recovering from the shock, can't believe it!!
  • Institution: UChicago Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Level 2 Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Nice!
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for first year funding Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No info yet Notification date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Rejects:
    Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Unsurprising. Institution: Stanford GSB Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Super long-shot/terrible match for my research interests, anyway. Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Program: PhD in Economics Decision:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Unsurprising.
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Super long-shot/terrible match for my research interests, anyway.
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Ouch.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: No clue how likely an admission would be.
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Yes if admitted Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No

svarog 2011:
Institution: Columbia
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Full
Notification date: 3/8/2011
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC : no
Comments: Thank you Lord!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Thank you Lord!
Rejects:
Waitlists:

oikomaniac 2011:
I am a new member. My results below (all funded offers):
Institution: Stanford GSB
Program: PhD in Finance
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Northwestern
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Harvard
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Maryland
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: MIT
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Stanford
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Chicago
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Columbia
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Accepts:
    Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Yale Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Duke Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Northwestern Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Harvard Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Maryland Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: MIT Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Stanford Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Chicago Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Columbia Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Finance Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
Rejects:
  • Institution: MIT Sloan Finance Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Financial Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Columbia Business Finance & Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: London Business School Finance Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Wharton Finance Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
Waitlists:

Marketforlemmas 2011:
Finally want to stop lurking and make some posts:
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Wait Listed
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Really hoping this one works out
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: no
Comments: Excited
Institution: UCSD
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Would love to live there, but don't know about funding.
Institution: Maryland
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Ok!
Institution: MIT
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Wait Listed
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: no
Comments: Hope to win the NSF.... I hear that will help me out?
Institution: Stanford
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Sooooooooooo happy.
Institution: Northwestern
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Bad day.
Institution: Berkeley
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Ok, not for me.
Institution: Princeton
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Oh well.
Institution: Columbia
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Comments: Yay!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Excited
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Would love to live there, but don't know about funding.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Ok!
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Sooooooooooo happy.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Yay!
Rejects:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Bad day.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Ok, not for me.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Oh well.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Wait Listed Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Really hoping this one works out
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Wait Listed Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Hope to win the NSF.... I hear that will help me out?

ifUT 2011:
Institution: University of British Columbia
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 4 years funding guaranteed, including first year
Notification date: 3/15/11
Notified through: e-mail
Posted on GradCafe: not yet
Comments: Cannot be happier!!!
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 4 years funding guaranteed, including first year Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GradCafe: not yet Comments: Cannot be happier!!!
Rejects:
Waitlists:


Rejections:

econpeace 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Double Math / Econ major - Top 15 for Econ.
Undergrad GPA: 3.75 Cumulative, 3.8 in Econ, 3.72 in Math.
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800q / 710v / 5 awa
Math Courses: LOWER DIV: Calc (A/A-). UPPER DIV: Analysis (A- avg), Algebra (A-), Ord Diff Eq (A-), Complex (B-), Probability, Stat Theory (A-)
Econ Courses: Micro/Macro (As), Honors Metrics (B+), Honors Game Theory (A), assorted econ electives (A/A-), Grad Micro (IP),
Letters of Recommendation: One from RA job, famous, should be strong, two from classes, hopefully of some value.
Research Experience: Senior Thesis and RA job (1 year during junior year and still at it currently).
Teaching Experience: None at College level
Research Interests: Labor
Concerns: Less than stellar math grades.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Maryland, BU, UCLA, Cornell
Waitlists: NU, Booth
Rejections: Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Michigan, Berkeley, NYU
Pending: -
What would you have done differently?
Worked harder in math class!!!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Maryland, BU, UCLA, Cornell
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Need funding! But grateful for the admit.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/03/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I'm glad I have at least one funded offer!
  • Institution: Boston U Phd Decision: Accepted Funding: Full funding Notification date: Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: ok
Rejects:
    Rejections: Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Michigan, Berkeley, NYU
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected.
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:...
  • Institution: Michigan Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 3/03/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Pah.
  • Institution: Princeton Phd Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: ...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: NU, Booth
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: not bad!
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: two waitlists

JRav 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Math, Economics; MA Math (haven't graduated yet) Top 15 US, Top 25 Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.91/4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: 4.0/4.0
GRE: 800 Q, 620 V, 6 AW
Math Courses: Honors Multivariable Calculus (A+), Honors Linear Algebra (A-), Differential Equations (A), Complex Analysis (A), Honors Analysis I (A), Honors Analysis II (A-), Number Theory (A+), Topology (A), Abstract Algebra I (A+), Abstract Algebra II (A-), Differential Geometry (A-), Graduate Real Variables (A), Graduate Microlocal Analysis (A), Graduate Abstract Algebra (A), Graduate Partial Differential Equations (A), Graduate Algebraic Topology (A+), Graduate Complex Variables (in progress), Probability & Statistics (A+)
Econ Courses: Elements of Macro (A), Elements of Micro (A), Monetary Analysis (A+), Macro Theory (A), Financial Markets and Institutions (A), Econometrics (A+), Graduate Macro I (A), Graduate Micro Theory I (A+), Graduate Macro Theory II (in progress), Graduate Micro Theory II (in progress), Corporate Finance (in progress), Economic Forecasting (in progress), Senior Thesis (in progress)
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Thesis adviser whom I had for two classes (Ph.D. from MIT, among top 1% most cited economists), Professor I had for graduate macro (Ph.D. from Northwestern, among top 7% most cited), Fairly well-known math professor I had for three grad math courses (Ph.D. from Princeton)
Research Experience: Senior Thesis (in progress)
Teaching Experience: Teaching Assistant for Calculus I and II
Research Interests: Macro, Monetary Economics, Finance (?)
SOP: Talked about my senior thesis, my coursework, and department macro seminars I attended. Threw in a paragraph for each school. Solid.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Princeton ($$$), Stanford ($$$)
Waitlists: MIT, Chicago (in with funding any other year they say), Michigan (same as Chicago)
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Berkeley, Brown
Pending:
What would you have done differently? I didn't take an economics course until I was a sophomore so I guess I would have started sooner, which would have allowed me to take more grad econ courses. I might have also pushed harder for a research opportunity. But I'm not complaining about Princeton vs. Stanford...
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Princeton ($$$), Stanford ($$$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Berkeley, Brown
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: MIT, Chicago (in with funding any other year they say), Michigan (same as Chicago)

rthunder27 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BS in Electrical Engineering from Penn State, Math Minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.92 (1 B, assorted A-'s)
Type of Grad: MS in EE from Johns Hopkins, MA in Applied Econ from JHU in progress
Grad GPA: EE: 3.91, Econ: 3.95
GRE: 800Q, 630V, 4.5AW (08/10) / 770Q 650V 5.5AW (08/06)
Math Courses(undergrad): Calc, Multivariate Calc(A), Diff Eq(A), Matrices(A), Linear Programming(A), Game Theory(A), Stats(A), Numerical Computation(A-), Discrete Math-proof based(A)
Math/other Courses(grad)- My emphasis in EE was signal processing, which is pretty much all advanced calculus. Neural Networks (A), Intelligent Algorithms (A), Probability (B), Math of Finance (A), Control Systems (A), Digital Signal Processing(A), Advanced Signal Processing(A), Multidimensional Signal Processing (A), Wavelet Signal Processing (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro (A), Macro (A-), Statistics(A) Econometrics (A+), Game Theory in Economics (A+), Financial Economics (A+), Microeconometrics (A). Macroeconometrics, Macro Forecasting, International Finance
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro(A)
Letters of Recommendation: Strong letters I hope, but from weak recommenders. Undergraduate Thesis adviser (Math Phd, PSU I think), current supervisor (non-academic), and Grad School professor (UVA Econ Phd).
Research Experience: Undergrad Honors thesis on game theory/agent based modeling. Presented preliminary results from an unfinished game theory/behavioral paper on wagering Behavior in "Jeopardy!" at the Stony Brook Game Theory Conference. My current work is at a research lab, but it's not econ focused.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Game Theory, Behavioral Economics/Finance, Discrete Micro
SOP: Strong maybe? I explained my research interests, the road I took in discovering them, and I describe the type of ideas that I have and how to test them.
Concerns: My letter of recommendation could be stronger, but that's a result of access. No RA, for which I am kicking myself, because I could have taken it as an elective in my EE MS program. No clue how adcoms view EE/signal processing (which is very much proof based calc at times)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Stanford GSB Finance ($$$$), UCSD($), uArizona
Waitlists: Columbia (asked to be removed), Kellogg MEDS (implicit, later rejected)
Rejections: Princeton, NYU, Wharton, Booth, Berkeley, UCLA, CMU
What would you have done differently? Geesh, well, for starters, I would have realized my interest in economics earlier than 22 months ago (May 2009). I also regret some of my school choices, I probably should have applied MIT/Sloan instead of UCLA and I definitely should have applied for NSF, since I had a pretty good idea for a proposal, but I didn't learn about it in time. The late interest in economics really made it difficult to get good LORs while working full-time.
In reverse chronological order, I would have taken RA when I had the chance (Spring 2009), taken more than one econ course in my undergrad (2003-2007), potentially taken a different major entirely, and applied back in high school to more schools than just the PSU honors program (2002). But maybe I shouldn't have done anything differently; I got into a top 5 program about which I am very excited, and can lead to a wide variety of future opportunities. And I doubt I would have gotten in if I had a more traditional background. So although I sometimes feel I've wasted the past four years of my life, I did earn 2 masters in that time while saving up enough money to finance an extravagant (by grad student standards) lifestyle for the next 4-5 years, which is something at least.
Accepts:
    access. No RA, for which I am kicking myself, because I could have taken it as an elective in my EE MS program. No clue how adcoms view EE/signal processing (which is very much proof based calc at times) RESULTS: Acceptances: Stanford GSB Finance ($$$$), UCSD($), uArizona
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Finance PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No mention Notification date: Feb 14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: I'm blown away right now
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Letter coming later Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Relieved. This is the school a priori I thought I'd most likely attend. So even though I'll probably turn them down for Stanford GSB, it's just good to know that I wouldn't have been completely shut out if I hadn't had that fluke admit.
  • Institution: u Arizona Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: ?? Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Expected, but appreciated. This was my last minute safety school. I feel pretty good that my self-assessment of likely admits was pretty much dead-on, given this and UCSD (and my implicit waitlist at Kellogg). I will reject this for my completely unexpected Stanford GSB admit, so I'm glad to be spared a potentially difficult choice between a well-funded uA offer and a minimally funded UCSD offer.
Rejects:
    rejected) Rejections: Princeton, NYU, Wharton, Booth, Berkeley, UCLA, CMU
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 10 Notified through:Email Posted on GC: yes Comments: "Our applicant pool is outstanding and unfortunately we cannot offer admission to all good candidates." Very disappointed, this was one of my top choices.
  • Institution: uChicago Booth MOB Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Slighty disappointed, but I had already convinced myself that Stanford GSB dominates them in my interests, so no biggie.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not unexpected, it was a bad fit, which I realized as I was prepping my SOP for them. I regret not applying to MIT/Sloan instead, but I guess I went on a Cali kick when selecting schools.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Expected, given how things have been trending.I would be feeling incredibly depressed and hopeless right now if it weren't for Stanford GSB.
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not unexpected given the talk of waitlists over the weekend. Strictly dominated by other offer, so only hurts my ego, not my future.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - NA Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: email
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Oh well, I figured that this was the case. They must have read the complaints I posted on this board Stanford it is then!
  • Institution: Kellogg MEDS Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not surprising, I guess I was on their implicit waitlist, and they realized that they wouldn't need to draw from it. Overall a bit disappointing, because before decisions started rolling in they were my top pick of schools I thought I had a decent chance of getting. Of course things have changed a lot since then, and I'm happy with the way things turned out.
  • Institution: Columbia GSAS MA in Mathematics of Finance Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 06/22/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check site Posted on GF: No Comments: The Columbia PhD application had the option to also apply to an MA program for no additional cost. I figured why not, so I checked that box, and submitted to them the same exact SOP as I did to Economics. I don't particularly care, since I've accepted an offer elsewhere, but I am amused because I thought I was finished with getting rejection letters.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Columbia (asked to be removed), Kellogg MEDS (implicit, later
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Full Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : yes Comments: My very first wait-list, I'll probably ask to be removed when they ask later.

Elliephant 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: business (Canadian school, econ dept. ranked >100 worldwide)
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0 or 3.98/4.0, depending on conversion scheme
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q800, V790, AWA 6.0
Math Courses: calc I-III, linear algebra I-II, applied stats, real analysis I-II (all A or higher)
Econ Courses (grad-level): none
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): intro micro, intro macro, international econ, advanced micro, advanced macro, metrics (all A+); supply-side macro (B+); did a term in China's top econ department (roughly speaking, >85 = A): international trade (90), information econ (91), Chinese development (93), urban and regional econ (98); applied metrics and forecasting (spring); managerial econ (spring)
Other Courses: none relevant
Letters of Recommendation: micro prof (reasonably well-known in IO and a past department chair); research supervisor in Beijing (used to be tenured at UNC, well-connected in health policy); UG director at b-school
Research Experience: summer fellow at an econ think tank in Beijing, one RAship at my home school, two conference presentations of my sole-authored papers
Teaching Experience: TAed micro and business statistics
Research Interests: still fluid; currently economics of human capital (education, health), transition economies, other applied micro
SOP: standard
Concerns: credibility of LORs; insufficient math background; low visibility of UG econ department
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Wharton health, Kellogg MECS, Penn, UMich, Toronto MA, Queen's MA, UBC MA
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Berkeley, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, NYU (implicit)
What would you have done differently? If I had known in high school that I wanted this, I would have gone to a better UG school and done a double major in math and econ. However, given my constraints, I'm very happy with my results, and it's entirely possible that I would not have ended up with equally good offers if I'd had the option of slacking off in UG (by being in a better department, say). I'll write up a detailed "lessons learned" thread for applicants from low-ranked UG departments, non-quantitative majors, and internationals without a master's in the next couple of weeks.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Wharton health, Kellogg MECS, Penn, UMich, Toronto MA, Queen's MA, UBC MA
  • Institution: Northwestern - Kellogg Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: phone (unofficial) Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Penn - Wharton Health Care Management and Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: email/phone Posted on GF: no Comments: absolutely awesome department
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment:
  • Institution: Toronto MA Decision: accepted Funding: no Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: no Comments: waitlisted for doctoral stream
  • Institution: Michigan - Ann Arbor Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition waiver, funding after first year Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Queen's MA economics Decision: accepted Funding: yes, lots Notification Date: 3/14/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UBC MA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: email from the grad school Posted on GC: No Comments: still no word from the department (on funding, etc.)
  • Institution: UBC MA Economics Decision: accepted Funding: yes, TA Notification date: 3/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: apparently they were having email issues last week
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Berkeley, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, NYU (implicit)
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 16 February Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: c'est la vie
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/09/11 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: certainty is good
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: finally!
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

econchef 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small Liberal Arts University, Atlantic Canada (Honors Econ, Minor Math)
Undergrad GPA: 3.95 (4.0 Econ) (4.0 Math) (Converted) (top graduate in Econ)
Type of Grad: MA Econ, Queen's University
Grad GPA: 4.0 (Converted) (top graduate)
GRE: 800Q 570V 5.5AW
Math Courses: calculus (I,II,III), linear algebra, ODE, Discrete, Intro Stats, History of Math, Intro to Game Theory (All A or higher)
Econ Courses (grad): Micro, Macro , Econometrics, Resource, Applied Econometrics, Research Problems and Methodology, Empirical Micro (All 90%+)
Econ Courses (u/g): Adv Micro, Adv Macro, Uncertainty and Strategy (Adv Micro II), Econometrics (full-year), All intermediates and Intros, a bunch field courses (All A or Higher)
Letters of Recommendation: All positive, 2 full professors (1 resource econ, very well established; 1 applied time series), 1 associate professor (gaining a big rep in time series), I supplement with three other profs who know me well at universities where they have contacts.
Research Experience: master's essay, summer research paper in u/g, Internship at Inter-American Development Bank (Poverty Research / HH Exp'd Surveys), 3 applied metrics courses in Grad, very strong STATA programming skills and LATEX knowledge
Teaching Experience: Taught tutorials for principles (Micro and Macro) for 2 years in u/g; environmental econ and principles macro at Queen's
Research Interests: Econometrics, Labor, Education
Concerns: Could have taken more math; Small unknown undergrad
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Berkeley ($$$), Princeton ($$$), BU ($$), U Toronto ($$$), Queen's ($$$), Chicago (3rd year)
Waitlists: MIT, U Penn, U Mich
Rejections: Harvard, Northwestern, Stanford, NYU, Yale, Columbia
What would you have done differently? Well if I had a time machine, I would have gone back to the start of first year and convinced myself not to take any political science courses in second year and instead replace them all with math courses. I also might have convinced myself that I should have taken more math in fourth year instead of taking basic sciences for med school (I applied and got in but decided to continue with econ grad school). The only other thing I might have changed regarding my record with said time machine would have been to write my MA essay on a time series theory topic as opposed to one in applied micro but I'll be honest these wouldn't be the first things I would do with a time machine. Perhaps with those changes I might have had a better shot at Harvard but there's always some noise in the dgp so who knows. Overall, I'm very excited by my results and can't wait to visit my top two offers.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Berkeley ($$$), Princeton ($$$), BU ($$), U Toronto ($$$), Queen's ($$$), Chicago (3rd year)
  • Institution: UofT Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship/teaching assistant/ra-ship ($31K first year, $28K 2-4) Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: First acceptance albeit expected. Exciting nonetheless!
  • Institution: Queen's University (Kingston) Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship/TAship/Summer Stipend Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Good to know I have a couple fall back options.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 25000 for first year + tuition/fees Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: E-mail (attached letter is dated 1 March 2011) Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No funding until phase two (3rd year) Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Really exciting to get in to Chicago but no funding first and second year is a hard sell with other funded offers.
  • Institution: BU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: accepted Funding: tuition/fees and stipend Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: I'm surprised. I thought this would come much later.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: Email Comments: Incredible!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Northwestern, Stanford, NYU, Yale, Columbia
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: On the bright side, the rule of complements holds true - much rejoicing ensues.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: certainty...at last
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: The sign off on the reject letter is first class
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: I haven't read White Man's Burden...they must have known...
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16/11 Notified through: Post Posted on GC: no Comments: Unfortunately I'm not a 6'5" crew star nor did I revolutionize social networking. Ex post I should have spent more time trying to prove the Riemann Hypothesis before applying.
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: certainty..at last!
  • Institution: MIT Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected from waitlist Funding: NA Notification date: 04/07 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Makes the deciding easier.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: MIT, U Penn, U Mich
  • Institution: U Penn Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: placed high on the waitlist for admission (I'm sure they say that to everyone)
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: waitlisted Funding: 1st year tuition waiver, TA/RA 2nd year onward (if admitted) Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Enthusiastically placed on the waitlist!
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: I hope it's not a fake

burkaru 2011:
Type of Undergrad: Computer Science
Undergrad GPA: 3.33
Type of Grad: Economics
Grad GPA: 3.4 (when applied, now 3.6)
GRE: Q 800, V 340, AW 3.0
Math Courses:
undergrad: Calculus (C), Linear Algebra (C), Probability Theory (C), Discrete Math (C), Methods of Optimization (C), Advanced probability (A), Advanced statistics (A), Stochastic processes (A), Applied probability theory (A), Advanced discrete math (A), Differential eq's (B), Eq's of math physics (B), Introductory calculus of approximations (C), Advanced calculus of approximations (B), Game theory (A), Econometrics (A), Methods of univariate statistical analysis (A)
grad: probability (B), statistics (A-), econometrics (1 B, 2 B-, 3 B+, 4 B-), math for economists (1 B, 2 B+), game theory (A)
Econ Courses:
undergrad: Economics (A), Macromodels (1 A, 2 A)
grad: Macroeconomics (1 A-, 2 B, 3 A-, 4 B+, 5 A-, 6 A-), Microeconomics (1 B-, 2 A-, 3 A, 4 A, 5 A), Financial markets (B+), Derivatives (A-), World Economic History (A+)
Other Courses: a lot of computer science stuff (grades A and B), sociology (A), history (A), philosophy (B)
Letters of Recommendation: from 2 scientific advisors (good?), strong from economic history professor, one from professor in microeconomics (probably weak?)
Research Experience: no
Teaching Experience: no when applied (yes right now)
Research Interests: macro, political science
SOP: why I love economics, my strong side, research interests, current research
Other: TOEFL 91, IELTS 7.5
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCLA, BU, Wisconsin-Madison
Rejections: UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Brown, Cornell
What would you have done differently? instead of professor in microeconomics asked about recommendation well-known professor in political science
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UCLA, BU, Wisconsin-Madison
  • Institution: UCLA Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No 1st year stipend Notification date: 03/02/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No 1st year funding Notification date: 03/05/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: no for the 1st year Notification date: 03/16/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes Comments: not going there
Rejects:
    Rejections: UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Brown, Cornell
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Reject Funding: -- Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Weird, was accepted to much better programs
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/16/2011 Notified through: emailed Marj about status Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

Segan 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large Canadian University, not very well known for economics
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800 Q/570 V/5.0 AW
Math Courses: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability/Stats for Economists, Mathematical Economics I and II (all A+)
Econ Courses: Econometrics I (grad); Intro to econometrics; Microeconomics I, II, and III; Macroeconomics I, II, and III; Environmental Economics, Economic Growth, Cost-Benefit Analysis (all A+).
Other Courses: 2 geomatics courses (1 in geostatistics), a minor in political science
Letters of Recommendation: 1 full professor, 1 assistant professor, and 1 associate professor. The full professor is a star in the department, but I doubt any will have major name recognition.
Research Experience: At the time of my application, this was a concern. I have 2 interesting research experiences in the private and public sectors related to policy, but had not worked on a strictly economics related project. Since applying, I have taken a directed research job with a professor at our department.
Teaching Experience: NA
Research Interests: Environmental economics, developmental economics
SOP: Elaborated on the contents of the mathematical economics courses I took, particularly because mathematical economics II covers the basics of real analysis and forces us to write some basic proofs.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Brown ($$), Maryland AREC ($$), UBC MA ($$), LSE MA, Cambridge MA
Waitlists: MIT
Rejections: Berkeley AREC, Columbia, Stanford
Pending: Queen's MA
What would you have done differently?
Definitely more math, and would have chosen my undergraduate institution more carefully. I am currently unsure about whether I should spend a year to upgrade math courses and take an MA in Canada, or to take what are good options at Brown/Maryland.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Brown ($$), Maryland AREC ($$), UBC MA ($$), LSE MA, Cambridge MA
  • Institution: Maryland Ph.D. Agricultural and Resource Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Cambridge MA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waiting to hear more Notification date: 2/01/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Notes: Still no word re: College choice/Funding Sorry for the delay!
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 20,000 stipend Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Email to check Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UBC MA Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship topped off with an RA (16,000) Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Rejects:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley AREC, Columbia, Stanford
  • Institution: Berkeley ARE Phd Decision: Reject Funding: NA Notification date: 3/14/11 Notified through: Email to check Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/08/11 Notified through: Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/09/11 Notified through: Email to check Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: MIT
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No

wheretogo1 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Big 10 School - top 50 undergrad
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0
GRE: 800Q/550V/4.5Writing
Math Courses: multivariable calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, real analysis (2 semesters), abstract algebra, topology
Econ Courses: intermediate micro, intermediate macro, econometrics, game theory, labor, international
Other Courses: java programming
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from institution (one advised me during research paper), 1 from current boss (who is a professor at a top 5 program)
Research Experience: junior year research project, 3 years at a public policy thinktank
Teaching Experience: tutored calculus at college.... does that count?
Research Interests: applied micro, labor, public econ, but open to anything really
SOP: Not great, not terrible
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Maryland, Virginia, Texas
Rejections: Berkeley, Yale, nwestern, columbia, mich, wisconsin, cornell, carnegie mellon, penn state, illinois, duke, UCSD
Wait lists: BU, Uwashington, Upenn, Minnesota
What would you have done differently?
Build closer relations with economics faculty at my undergrad institution. My rec letters were not as strong as others.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Maryland, Virginia, Texas
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley, Yale, nwestern, columbia, mich, wisconsin, cornell, carnegie mellon, penn state, illinois, duke, UCSD
Waitlists:
    Wait lists: BU, Uwashington, Upenn, Minnesota

Integral 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Math & Econ, top-30 US undergrad
Undergrad GPA: 3.7 overall; 3.5 in math; 4.0 in econ, or near enough
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 790Q 640V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-II-III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Probability, Advanced Calculus, Real Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Topology
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Econometrics, lots of field courses, PhD Micro I
Other Courses: nothing special; a few programming classes
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from thesis advisor; 1 from honors director & RA supervisor; 1 from a course instructor. All quite good, I think. Two of the three are reasonably well-known.
Research Experience: Honors thesis (money/macro), RA for one summer (trade), RA for a private research firm for one summer
Teaching Experience: Six semesters of teaching Intro Micro, Intro Macro, and Intro Stats.
Research Interests: Social Choice Theory, Mechanism Design, Monetary Economics, Macroeconometrics, Nonparametric Econometrics (it's a weird combo, I admit)
SOP: Nothing special.
Other: Some schools got my grades for Micro I, Algebra, and Topology; others didn't. I took those three in the fall.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Iowa State ($$), UC-Davis, Boston College ($$)
Waitlists: Wisconsin-Madison
Rejections: Columbia, NYU, NWU, Penn, Brown, Duke, WUSTL, Penn State, Carnegie-Mellon
Attending: Boston College
What would you have done differently?
Two things stand out:
1) Gotten better grades in math. I had B's in several key math courses which I'm sure torpedoed my chances at more than one school. On the other hand, I am fortunate enough to have a control: a friend of mine, at the same institution, who had a far better math record than me, was rejected across the board at the top 10. So who knows?
2) Taken the GRE earlier and gotten an 800Q. I doubt it would have made much of a difference, but I think the GRE cutoff is near 800, if not exactly 800, at the very top. At the very least, getting an 800Q would have put off one dimension of uncertainty.
In terms of undergrad institution and letters, I did about as well as I possibly could have. I started teaching very early; while that didn't affect admissions one iota, teaching was one of the things that opened doors for me in the department and got me the letters of rec I needed. I did all the research I could within the constraints that I had.
It's been a wild ride; I have no true regrets about any of it. I'm incredibly excited to join BC in the fall.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Iowa State ($$), UC-Davis, Boston College ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Columbia, NYU, NWU, Penn, Brown, Duke, WUSTL, Penn State, Carnegie-Mellon
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Wisconsin-Madison

LoS 2011:
PROFILE
Type of Undergrad: Best school of business in Poland (but an American citizen)
Undergrad GPA: 3.37/4.0 in conversion, though it's not that simple
Type of Grad: Master's at the same school, exchange semester in Tilburg
Grad GPA: 3.30/4.0 at home school, 7.8/10 at UvT
GRE: 800Q, 610V, 4.5AW
Math Courses: Multiple courses in calculus, mathematical analysis, linear algebra, probability, statistics - though some dispersion in grades
Econ Courses (grad-level): advanced macroeconomics (comparable to US grad courses), bayesian econometrics, field econ classes (labor, public sector, development, institutional)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): multiple intermediate courses in micro and macro, mathematical economics, game theory.
Other Courses: lots of econometrics (did major both in grad and undergrad), retirement and life cycle economics at Tilburg
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Polish profs, 2 phds, one phd from Tilburg
Research Experience: bachelor's thesis, RAed for over 1 year at a large Embassy
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: empirical work, econometrics both at micro and macro level, also development and environment
SOP: standard I think, maybe a little chaotic but revealing passion and interests
Concerns: no outstanding or internationally renowned LORs, dispersion in grades, maybe too wide research interests
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Tinbergen ($$), EUI Florence ($$), Minnesota (TA, from waitlist), Tilburg, QEM
Waitlists: Minnesota (admitted April 11th)
Rejections: Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, Maryland, RA positions at FRB and JPAL
What would you have done differently?
As you can easily notice, I cracked practically everything in Europe, but I was pretty unsuccessful in the US. I think what I lacked was one strong letter of recommendation from somebody in a good standing on the other side of the ocean.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Tinbergen ($$), EUI Florence ($$), Minnesota (TA, from
  • Institution: Tinbergen M.Phil. Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: My first admit. Happy!
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Admitted from the waitlist Funding: TA Notification date: April 11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: EUI Florence Ph.D. Economics Decision: Admitted (after interview) Funding: Full fellowship Notification date: April 11 Notified through: E-mail
Rejects:
    Rejections: Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, Maryland, RA positions at FRB and JPAL
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: happens
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check the decision Comments: as expected
Waitlists:
    waitlist), Tilburg, QEM Waitlists: Minnesota (
  • Institution: U of Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: Waiting List Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Some hope remains

spaceship earth 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Double major in Business Economics & Environmental Studies; Top 10 public, top 40 econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.88
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 780Q 640V 4.5AW
Math Courses: calc series (A+/A), diff equations (A)
Econ Courses: intro micro (A+), intro macro (A-), Micro I (A), Micro II (A), Macro (A+), Nat Resource Econ (A), Env Econ (A+), Data Analysis (A)
Other Courses: lots of ecology & environ science for my environ studies major; relevant because of my research interests, but no substitute for more math/stats/econ
Letters of Recommendation: 1 tenured prof known for resource econ, 1 tenured prof who i performed research under (also known in env/resource econ), 1 recent phd in env econ who was probably unknown but was close to me (TA'd several of my econ classes & guided me through admissions process, now teaches at another unranked school)
Research Experience: employed about 9 months doing econ research part time; also got course credit another time for doing not very technical research related to role of competitive social pressures in mitigating climate change
Teaching Experience: nothing formal; just tutoring on & off for a while
Research Interests: Resource Econ, Environmental Econ, Sustainable Development, Energy Econ/Policy, etc
SOP: Talked about why I wanted to be a economist studying environmental issues. Emphasized extra-curriculars & research.
Other: Was president of an undergrad campus org. Also, I've been working at a global financial services firm since undergrad and I got a CPA license. It probably would have been relevant if I wanted an MBA, but I'm thinking it was no use in this PhD application
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UC Davis ARE ($), UC Santa Barbara (wl$), U Maryland AREc ($)
Waitlists: None.
Rejections: Stanford, UC Berkeley ARE, Columbia, NYU, Yale, Cornell AEM, UC San Diego
Pending: None.
What would you have done differently? No regrets; I was appropriately placed given my research interests. I reached high and the results were similar to my expectations. Also, you only need 1 good admit. That said, if I knew I was going to get a PhD earlier on here's what I would change (in no order):
1) Take the GRE earlier, so I could retake for an 800Q (I took it in Nov, just weeks before the app deadlines; I'm confident i could have gotten an 800Q since I did on several practice exams)
2) Get a straight "econ" major instead of a "business econ" major (this would mean more math/econ/stats/econometrics instead of more finance/accounting)
3) Get a job post-undergrad that is a better stepping stone to PhD (ie: research job, econ thinktank, econ analyst, certain consulting positions) instead of a job that is a stepping stone to an MBA (ie: finance, accounting, certain banking positions)
4) Realize the importance of LORs earlier and connect with more professors who have connections at top institutions (& do more research under them)
5) Regarding top straight econ depts, I also think I was out competed by alot of people w/ masters degrees. It might have served me well to get a masters to bulk up on econ/math/stats/etc.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UC Davis ARE ($), UC Santa Barbara (wl$), U Maryland AREc ($)
  • Institution: UC Davis , Agricultural and Resource Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: TA/RA, but details will come later. Notification date: 1/30/2011 Notified through: Phone Comments: very happy with this one.
  • Institution: UC Santa Barbara Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No mention yet... hopefully that will come later..... Notification date: Feb 14 Notified through: website Comments: I was expecting this, but I am still very excited to see it :-)
  • Institution: University of Maryland Agricultural and Resource Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: graduate research assistantship, tuition waiver, health insurance. Notification date: 03/29/2011 Notified through: Letter attached to Email Comments: This came out of nowhere... I had heard they do "semi-rolling admits" but this was so late I thought it was over.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford, UC Berkeley ARE, Columbia, NYU, Yale, Cornell AEM, UC San Diego
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Email to check status on website Comments: Kinda like flirting with a supermodel out of my league. Expected rejection, but I had to know for sure so I never thought "what if..." 10yrs from now.
  • Institution: Cornell , Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: Email w/ attached reject letter Posted on GC: no Comment: I hold offers that better fit my research interests so its no big deal. Still, since I originally expected to get in here, the rejection is a dismal sign of more results to come...
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5/2011 Notified through: Mailed letter Posted on GC: no Comments: Expected this unfortunate rejection. Also, my mailing address is close to the school, so if they sent them all on then same day then most people should get them in 1-2 days. Good luck.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/15 Notified through: e-mail to check status Posted on GC: no Comments: Obviously disappointed since this was my dream school, even though a rejection was expected.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None.

goose88 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 15 undergrad, Top 30 Econ PhD
Undergrad GPA: 3.5/3.76 for econ
Type of Grad:n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 620V, 4AW
Math Courses: Calc(I-III: B+,B-,B-), Linear Algebra(B+), Intro to proofs(A-), Real Analysis(A), Lebesgue Integration (In progress with an A so far)
Econ Courses (grad-level):
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro and Macro, IO, Property Rights, Intro and Applied Econometrics, Game Theory etc. (all A-/A's except for one B)
Other Courses: MATLAB(in progress)
Letters of Recommendation: All econ PhDs...2 well Known professors (one Stanford and another from Rochester), and one ok recommendation (Stanford)
Research Experience: Award winning Honors thesis, summer fellowship
Teaching Experience: Teaching Assistant for a intro level macro class
Research Interests: Development econ, Applied Micro/IO
SOP: Good but didn't bother to customize it for each school...highlighted my diverse background
Concerns: Weak GPA and Math grades...I was not the best student for the first two years of my college career and my grades suffered...hopefully they can also see the radical change in my grades from B's to A's
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Northwestern($$), WUSTL($$), ASU($$), UWO-PhD stream MA($$)
Rejections: Brown, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, NYU, Queens, Rochester, Stanford, U Minnesota, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, U Wisconsin, Yale
Withdrawn: Columbia, Purdue
Attending: Northwestern
What would you have done differently? So, so many things. I think I was ridiculously lucky given how marginal my profile looks (but I promise, I am not as bad as I look on paper)
i) I would have started out as an Econ major instead of waiting till junior year to switch out of the Business school (no offense to business majors but that place drained my soul and made me super lazy)
ii) I would have taken my Calculus classes seriously or at the very least attended them for more than the first week
iii) I would have taken some more stats classes than the basic courses such as Stochastic Processes or Probability Theory
iv) I would have done more research/get to know more professors but then again, this is tied to (i)
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Northwestern($$), WUSTL($$), ASU($$), UWO-PhD stream MA($$)
  • Institution: Arizona State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No info on funding yet Notification date: 03/01/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comment: Some good news finally
  • Institution: Washington University (WUSTL) Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship ($$) Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Feeling better already
  • Institution: University of Western Ontario Economics, Masters (doctoral stream) Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/09/2011 Notified through: Personal call Posted on GC: yes Comment: Good to have options
  • Institution nstitution: Northwestern Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted, off of the waitlist Funding: more info next week Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: YESSSSSSSS!!! Hopefully, I will get something for the first year.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Brown, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, NYU, Queens, Rochester, Stanford, U Minnesota, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, U Wisconsin, Yale Withdrawn: Columbia, Purdue
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: I seriously overestimated my chances.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: via email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Nicest rejection letter so far
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Worst Rejection Letter Ever!
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: postal mail Posted on GC : no Comments: SHOCKER...not
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: Somewhat surprised but could not care less
  • Institution: NYU Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/18/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: oh well
  • Institution: Brown Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/18/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: meh
  • Institution: Wisconsin Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/18/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: Brutal day oh and a postal rejection from UCLA just in case I didn't get the message from their email rejection
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Wait list Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail, said it is an unofficial notification and the official one will come later. Posted on GC : yes Comments:Second unofficial wait list but still happy

LameDuck 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS Mathematics, Physics Minor @ state university
Undergrad GPA: 3.24/4.00 (3.8ish Math)
Type of Grad: First year of Mathematics MS @ same university
Grad GPA: 4.0/4.0
GRE: 800Q 700V 3.5AW
Math Courses: Around 20 -- Topology, Grad Analysis Sequence, Grad Algebra Sequence, a few Linear Algebra courses, DiffEQ, Stat Theory, Programming/Applied courses, etc.; mostly A's
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A+); both taken as a non-degree student after my BS
Other Courses: Programming (Java), Physics courses (Mechanics, Circuit Design, Math Modeling, etc.)
Letters of Recommendation: Good(great?) letters from 3 math professors who are somewhat known in the math world -- I really had no access to econ letters
Research Experience: Math research (Approximation Theory)
Teaching Experience: One year as a TA for Calc. III, and one year as an Algebra instructor while I was in the MS program
Research Interests: International Macro, Development, Game Theory -- admittedly, I'm not entirely certain which route I'll go.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Iowa($$), Boston U.(MA), Pitt(unfunded) <-- deferred from 2010
Waitlists: U. Washington - Seattle
Rejections: Columbia, Minnesota, UPenn, Boston U. (PhD), Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Maryland, UWO, Wisconsin
What would you have done differently?
This year was my full-court shot at some high ranked programs; I already held a deferred offer from Pitt. In retrospect, I might not have applied to some of the places that weren't really a good fit for me -- live and learn.
If I had it all to do over again? Well, I'd be a less capricious youngster, perform better in the first years of my undergrad, and I'd realize an interest in economics earlier than a few years ago. That being said, I'm happy where I am, but I wouldn't recommend my circuitous route to anyone; the hope is that experience matters, no?
Given my lack of access to econ reference writers and my nontraditional background, I think I did alright for myself. The fact that I missed out on funding at Pitt this year gave me a scare, but I got into another program that I heavily targeted.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Iowa($$), Boston U.(MA), Pitt(unfunded) <-- deferred from 2010
  • Institution: University of Iowa Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted (off the waitlist) Funding: Yes Notification date: April 8 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Ecstatic to have a funded offer! The department is going through some changes, but I'll likely still go here.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Columbia, Minnesota, UPenn, Boston U. (PhD), Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Maryland, UWO, Wisconsin
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Saw a rejection here, checked the website. Posted on GC: not yet Comment: suck, I had hopes for this one.
  • Institution: Upenn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: email to log onto the website Posted on GC: not yet Comment: Expected, but still a crappy day.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: yep Comments: twas inevitable, but I had to try
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected. The last of my reach schools -- only waiting on realistic admits now.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14/11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: short letter
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: another rejection :/
  • Institution: University of Western Ontario Economics MA/PdD track Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: 8th rejection, this one from a school I thought I had a good shot at. If I were not holding onto a deferred offer from last cycle this would be a very sad year.
  • Institution: Boston University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection FUnding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments: Mass public slaying
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: U. Washington - Seattle
  • Institution: University of Washington-Seattle Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: no Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: It'd be nice to have funding if admitted but I'll see how it goes -- might still consider going.
  • Institution: Iowa Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: if admitted Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: They foresee admitting a few from the waitlist. I'd be really happy to go here.

hzzhangyu 2011:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ from a top-tier Chinese university; Exchange at a top-15 econ department in U.S.
Undergrad GPA: overall 91.3/100 (1/48, but the program includes people doing sociology and political science); Exchange GPA 4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: V700 Q800 AW4
TOEFL: 119 (iBT)
Math Courses: Single Variable Calculus (90), Multivariate Calculus (92), Linear Algebra & Analytical Geometry (91), Probablity Theory & Math Stats (97) -- (mandates of my program, these four appear in transcripts as College Math for Social Sciences 1, 2, 3, 4: really bad course names which need explaining in the SOP) -- , Real Analysis (96, rank 1st), Stochastic Calculus(92).
Econ Courses (grad-level): Phd Micro I (A), Math Econ I (A). both at the exchange department and top in both classes.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): typical econ major requirement at home university (all but one are above 90/100); International Finance (A), Game Theory(A), Econometrics (A) at the exchange department, top in all three classes.
Other Courses: lots of typical mandates required in China.
Letters of Recommendation: all come from professors in the exchange department, two senior faculty from grad micro and undergrad international finance (both relatively well-known in their respective fields), one AP from grad math econ course (should be very enthusiastic).
Research Experience: Virtually none. Started to write a Honor Thesis only after applying.
Teaching Experience:No
Research Interests: Macro theory and behavioral macro. likely to change after 1st year.
SOP: talks about my love for math, however I have no solid research experience to write about.
Concerns: lack of research experience (also all three letters are supposed to talk about not much more than performance in class); bad names for math courses.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: MIT(wl for $ -> unfunded), Stanford($$$), Princeton($$$), Minn, UCLA, PSU
Waitlists: UPenn(-> rej), UMich
Rejections: Harvard, Chicago, Yale, Berkeley, Northwestern, NYU, Columbia, Duke.
Withdrawn: UCSD, Wisc.
What would you have done differently?
My lack of research experience partly results from some family reasons and an unexpected health incident; I guess I couldn't have done much differently.

Accepts:
    Acceptances: MIT(wl for $ -> unfunded), Stanford($$$), Princeton($$$), Minn, UCLA, PSU
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes (TAship) Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email with formal acceptance (pdf) Posted on GF: not yet Comments: one rej one offer, 16 more to go!
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship (only covering tuition & insurance) Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA-ship Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: waitlisted Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: cannot believe it!!!
  • Institution : Stanford Program : Economics PhD Decision : Accepted Funding : $33,000 Notification date : 3/7/2011 Notified through : E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: Email Comments: Greetings Hongkai! If you are looking at this post you know what I mean~ Hope to see you at the flyout
Rejects:
    rej), UMich Rejections: Harvard, Chicago, Yale, Berkeley, Northwestern, NYU, Columbia, Duke. Withdrawn: UCSD, Wisc.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb. 16 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments: wasn't pleasant to start with a reject, but life goes on right?
  • Institution: Duke PHD economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comment: no
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: expected
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/5/2011 Notified through: website Posted on GC: no Comments: Eventually...
  • Institution : Chicago Program : Economics PhD Decision : Rejection Funding : N/A Notification date : 3/7/2011 Notified through : E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments :
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: meh~
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UPenn(->
  • Institution: UPenn Econ PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: No information offered Notification date: 02/25/2011 4pm EST Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: extremely short email
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: waitlisted Funding: 1st year tuition waiver, TA/RA 2nd year onward (if admitted) Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: says that chances of admission is high and everbody gets funding if admitted

chisquared 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BBM Quantitative Finance and BSc Economics. Small university in SE Asia.
Undergrad GPA: 3.92/4.00
Type of Grad: MSc Applicable Mathematics, LSE
Grad GPA: In Progress
GRE: 800Q, 660V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Linear Algebra (A), Differential Equations (A-), Real Analysis (A-), Intermediate Mathematics for Economics (A+), Advanced Mathematics for Economics (A), Stochastic Calculus (A), Numerical Analysis (A), Probability Theory and Statistical Inference (A-), Continuous Time Optimization (Grad, IP), Probability and Measure (Grad, IP), Stochastic Analysis (Grad, IP)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Advanced Microeconomics (IP)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Microeconomics (A+), Intermediate Macroeconomics (A-), International Economics (A+), Economics of Financial Intermediation (A+), Applied Econometrics (A), Economic Development in Asia (A)
Other Courses: A lot of other business and finance courses. A few courses in psychology, sociology and political science.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Stanford PhD, 1 Berkeley PhD, 1 Harvard PhD, 2 UPenn PhDs distributed over different schools. All supposedly good letters.
Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis in political economy (A-), a few research assistantships
Teaching Experience: A few terms as a teaching assistant
Research Interests: micro theory, game theory, financial economics, political economy
SOP: Standard
Concerns: Unknown undergrad institution. Limited (read: almost none) placement history. Unknown letter of recommendation credibility.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: LSE ($$$, initially on a waiting list for funding), Michigan (off the waiting list, $$), BU ($$, initially on a waiting list for first-year funding)
Rejections: Tons. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Chicago, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern (Kellogg MEDS), UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Caltech, UCSD (actually, I never heard from them. Should probably send them an angry email.), Chicago Booth, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Minnesota
Withdrawn:
Attending: LSE
What would you have done differently?
It's hard to say, really. A few ideas, though:
(i) Work harder on my senior thesis. Winning the senior thesis prize may have helped me sneak on to a few more waiting lists.
(ii) Write a more interesting SOP. It probably wouldn't help much, but it just might matter on the margin, and it's hard to say where I was or wasn't a marginal candidate exactly (at least, for the schools ranked just above where I was admitted. I'm only kidding myself by trying to claim I could have been a marginal candidate at Harvard/MIT.).
(iii) Done more undergrad field courses in econ. This would help me write a more interesting SOP, I guess, since it would give me more research ideas. This would mean that I'd have to drop one of my majors, or not do a senior thesis, though. I'm not sure I would be willing to do the former ex-ante, nor the latter ex-post.
(iv) Tried to go on exchange at the one top 10 department my undergrad had an exchange program with. Someone from my undergrad did this, and it seemed to have helped her out a lot this admissions season. That being said, that entails the same kind of tradeoffs that I mentioned in (iii), so I'm not sure I'd do this if I could do everything over again.
(v) Worked really hard on my MSc, graduate with distinction, and apply for admission in fall 2012 instead. I may still consider this, in fact.
(vi) Considered schools that I was applying to more carefully. While I don't think I'd have applied to fewer schools, there are some programs (PSU, CEMFI, Toulouse) I wish I applied to after all the deadlines were over but before the admissions results were released. While I wouldn't have gone to any of those aforementioned programs over any of the options I had, this may have been a wiser decision ex-ante (even if I may be out a few hundred dollars ex-post).
Accepts:
    Acceptances: LSE ($$$, initially on a
  • Institution: London School of Economics MRes/PhD Track 1 Decision: Accepted Funding: No. "Unfortunately competition for funding is very strong and we are not able to offer you any financial support at this stage. However you are waitlisted for funding and we will inform you immediately if and when this becomes available. In the meantime we would be grateful if you could update us on the outcome of any funding applications you have made." Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: Relieved. Will probably need funding though.
  • Institution: BU Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: After first year, tuition + $19k stipend Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted from the waiting list Funding: Full Notification date: April 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: None.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Tons. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Chicago, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern (Kellogg MEDS), UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Caltech, UCSD (actually, I
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Expected, but still depressing.
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Analysis and Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: February 18 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 22 February 2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: UPenn Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Website -- checked it after I saw the rejection on GC Posted on GC: No Comments: Ouch. A shut out is looking likelier every day. Ah, well.
  • Institution: Minnesota Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Saw a rejection on GC, then checked the website. ...I should really stop doing this. Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Ouch.
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: Not too surprising.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Well, that was a long-shot.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Ugh.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Sigh.
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Hm, I guess a shut-out wasn't all that unlikely. (Yes, I am aware at the pitfalls of considering probabilities ex post.)
  • Institution: Northwestern - Kellogg Ph.D. MECS Decision: Rejection Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: I appreciate their promptness. Take note, NYU. <-- Ditto. I guess this marks the close of the admissions season for me.
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/11 Notified through: Snail Mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail after I asked about my status Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/21/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: That took a while.
Waitlists:
    waiting list for funding), Michigan (off the waiting list, $$), BU ($$, initially on a waiting list for first-year funding)
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Yes, if accepted Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:

Potica 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA econ and psych from top 10 liberal arts college. Post-BA math classes in continuing studies program at top 20 University
Undergrad GPA: 3.5 (overall), 3.4 (BA institution), 3.8 (post-BA), 3.6 (econ classes), 3.6 (final two years of UG at liberal arts college)
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q780, V650, AWA 5.0
Math Courses: Calc I-III (C, A, A), Linear Algebra (A), Differential Equations (A-), Game Theory (A-), Probability I-III (A, A, A-), Real Analysis I-III (B+, A, A-), Math Stats I (B-). All but Calc I taken post BA.
Econ Courses: Intro Micro (B+), Intro Macro (B+), Intermediate Micro (A-), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (B+), IO (A), Decision Making (A-), IO Seminar (A), Trade (B+), Managerial Econ (A-), Law and Econ (P)
Other Courses: lots of psychology courses, a few history classes.
Letters of Recommendation: Two young (well known) economists at top 10 econ PhD program for whom I had a 1.5 year RA job. One economist who previously had a senior position at the FTC who supervised me at a consulting firm for 5 years. Letters were clearly strong.
Research Experience: Undergrad thesis (both econ and psych), work at econ consulting firm (5 years), full time RA job at top 10 university (1.5 years), co-authored working paper with supervisors at RA job, and a little bit of very preliminary work on a couple of my own ideas
Teaching Experience: TA for 2 quarters of intro micro and 2 quarters of intro macro
Research Interests: Applied micro (changed the fields a bit from school to school)
SOP: Probably strong. Good argument for why I want to study econ and why I am prepared. Wrote extensively about two research ideas. Customization varied from school to school.
Concerns: Relatively old, weak undergraduate grades, no grad classes.
Other: Presented co-authored paper as a poster at a conference in late March (a mention that the paper was accepted for the conference made it onto about half of my apps)
RESULTS
Acceptances: UW Madison ($), Cornell ($), UT Austin ($), UVA ($), OSU (unclear), Vanderbilt ($), UC Davis ($), UC Irvine ($), Notre Dame ($)
Waitlists: U Chicago Booth econ (accepted), U Michigan Ross econ (accepted), Brown (accepted), U Maryland (accepted, no $), U Michigan (withdrawn, prob could have gotten in at last minute), UNC (withdrawn), U Minnesota (rejected)
Rejections: Yale, Harvard PEG, Berkeley ARE, Stanford, Princeton, UPenn, Wharton Applied Econ, U Chicago, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, CMU, Duke, JHU, Rochester, University of British Columbia, UCSD, Wash U
Attending: U Chicago Booth econ
What would you have done differently?
Not much. Would have changed my mix of schools slightly and not applied to UBC (with its $150 application fee). Obviously I could have done better as an undergrad, but at the time I had no interest in graduate school. I think the RA job was hugely beneficial (for a number of reason). My results would have been much worse without it. The last five months have been very busy and stressful, so I'm happy it's done even, especially given how well it turned out.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UW Madison ($), Cornell ($), UT Austin ($), UVA ($), OSU (unclear), Vanderbilt ($), UC Davis ($), UC Irvine ($), Notre Dame ($)
  • Institution: Notre Dame Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ~$17k/year Notification date: 2/9/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UC - Irvine Economics Decision: Accepted ("unofficially") Funding: a few quarters of fellowship with TAship for the rest Notification date: 2/9/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted (conditional on OK from Grad Admissions office) Funding: Decision "before the end of March" Notification date: Feb 11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Very happy about this one.
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ? Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GF: No Comments: They let me in even though the grad school listed two of my three transcripts (including the one for my BA) as incomplete
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes (1st year fellowship, later years TA) Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA-ship (not much money) Notification date: 03/01/2001 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: 14 other people copied on email. Indicated they previously made 13 fellowship offers
  • Institution: UT - Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Unclear Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Admitted (off waitlist) Funding: Not currently, but they indicate they may be able to offer me funding Notification date: 3/17/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: One waitlist down, four to go!
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Sage Fellowship: 22.25k stipend +4.7k summer stipend + tuition waiver, health insurance, etc. (required to RA or TA after first year) Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Personalized email Posted on GC: No Comments: A very nice offer...looks like I'll have some decisions to make after all
  • Institution: U Chicago Booth Ph.D. Business Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Notification date: April 8 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Was waitlisted
Rejects:
    rejected) Rejections: Yale, Harvard PEG, Berkeley ARE, Stanford, Princeton, UPenn, Wharton Applied Econ, U Chicago, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, CMU, Duke, JHU, Rochester, University of British Columbia, UCSD, Wash U
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 10 Notified through:Email Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 16 February Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of Rochester Economics (PhD) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Harvard Kennedy School Political Economy and Government (PhD) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Letter Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UPenn Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UChicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Somewhat surprised by this rejection. I guess it's evidence of the randomness of the process.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/08/11 Notified through: Mail Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: CMU (Tepper) Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejection Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail to check status Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: I was looking forward to getting this one after all the waiting.
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/29/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GradCafe: No Comments: The application fee was steep. Probably should have just skipped this one.
  • Institution: UCSD Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: U Chicago Booth econ (
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University Michigan Economics Decision: Waitlisted (indicate that last year I would have been admitted without funding and there is a reasonable chance of being admitted this year) Funding: if admitted tuition waiver, TA after first year Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: first two sentences of the letter: "I am happy to report that the Admissions Committee of the Department of Economics has enthusiastically recommended you for our Ph.D. program. I would like to inform you that you have now been placed on a waitlist for admissions." Thought I was in until I read it more carefully!
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics Decision: Waitlist ("...you are highly ranked on the Economics waitlist.") Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: Pretty happy about this one. Because I excpected a rejection. No idea what my chances are of getting off the waitlist.
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Wait List Funding: "...There is also some probability that we may be able to offer financial aid" Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: University of Michigan (Ross) Business PhD (international business and business economics) Decision: Waitlist Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: Response to email asking about my status Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: I think it's yes if admitted Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Email to check Website Posted on GC: no Comments: Waitlist number 6 (this must at least put me in a tie for the most waitlists)
  • Institution: UNC Ph.D. Economics Decision: waitlist Funding: ? Notification date: April 13 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No

JerseyBoy89 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Economics, B.A. Mathematics (Top ~10 Econ Dept / Top ~5 Math Dept)
Undergrad GPA: 3.85/4
GRE: 800Q/700v/5.0a
Math Courses: Linear Algebra, Multivariate Calculus, Intro Probability Theory, Mathematical Statistics, Stochastic Calculus, Numerical Analysis, Analysis I, Topology, Vector Analysis, Abstract Algebra (Overall, 3.85 GPA)
Econ Courses: Basic Microeconomics Course, Math for Economists, Micro Theory, Macro Theory, Global Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Adv. Macro and Finance, Adv. Micro Theory, Independent Study (Overall, 3.9 GPA)
Other Courses: Finance Courses (foundations financial markets, corporate finance), Business Core (don't wish to list these )
Letters of Recommendation: I received one recommendation from an extremely well known econ professor. Other two recs from well known econ academics that are very successful as well.
Research Experience: RA work sophomore and junior summers. Also worked on independent thesis project senior year.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Macro-Finance (consumption-based asset pricing, term structure models), Corporate Finance in macro setting, Monetary Economics, Business Cycles
SOP: My statement was pretty straightforward - I discussed my research interests and motivations, coursework, research experiences, and my broad fit with each program.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Carnegie Mellon ($$$), UMN ($), UPenn ($$), Wharton Finance ($$$), UCLA ($$ eventually)
Waitlists: Michigan, Princeton (eventually rej), Columbia Business
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, among others
Attending: Wharton
What would you have done differently? I am very very happy with my results and am really pumped to go to Wharton. That said, I think the one thing I should have considered is attending an MA program in econ (eg. Toronto, LSE) or an RA job at one of the regional Federal Reserve banks. Given my relatively strong recommendations, either one of these would have solidified my candidacy for a higher-ranked program (not that I didn't get into a great program already!). Looking back, coming from an undergraduate program, I also wouldn't mind some more economics training before I start a PhD program - it would certainly make me more economically mature as well. Nonetheless, I am very very happy with my results.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Carnegie Mellon ($$$), UMN ($), UPenn ($$), Wharton Finance ($$$), UCLA ($$ eventually)
Rejects:
    rej), Columbia Business Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, among others
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Michigan, Princeton (eventually

gkhn 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad:Econ (one of the top state universities in my country) and Math
Undergrad GPA:Econ CGPA:4/4, math CGPA:3.86/4
Type of Grad:n/a
Grad GPA:n/a
GRE:780Q 550V AWA(3.5)(rescore 3.0),First try was 760Q 530V 3.5 AWA
Math Courses:Calculus 1-2,Advanced Calc.1-2(all AA except Adv. calculus 1 CB) linear algebra 1-AA,Basic linear algebra AA,Differential equations AA, Real Analysis BA,point set topology(AA),Lebesgue Integral(AA)
Econ Courses (grad-level):n/a
Econ Courses (undergrad-level):Mathematical economics 1-2,intermediate macro,micro, Mathematical statistics for economist 1-2,Intro to Econometrics 1-2,International Trade courses(1-2),and other standard courses all AA
Other Courses:-
Letters of Recommendation:1 from stanford phd,1 from upenn phd,1 from university of manchester.
Research Experience:No experience.
Teaching Experience:TA-intermediate micro,and econometrics
Research Interests:Micro theory,Game theory,Mechanism design
SOP:ordinary.I described my research interests and some papers I appreciate.
Concerns:GRE score,and no research experience.
Other:
RESULTS:
Attending: Minnesota
Acceptances: Toulouse M2(ecomath)($$), UBC MA($$), CEMFI($$),
Waitlists: UCLA(rej), Uminnesota($$,eventually)
Rejections: Yale, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Northwestern(on hold,rej afterwards), Upenn, JHU
Comments:
(i) I do not know which school got which GRE score as I rescored my AW, and ETS did not send my second scores to some places.(UCLA got my first try scores).In the nutshell, I can say that GRE destroyed me completely. First, my classmate with less stellar math grades, similar econ grades got into places where I was wait-listed. In such a case, it is important to make yourself known to DGS. After an inquiry regarding my rejection, UMN put me on short-list for admission(they said they had made a clerical mistake). Northwestern put my application on hold for a while although I was rejected eventually. So, GRE myth is true in some sense.
(ii) For internationals, having a master's degree is very important. This is what I heard from the ad-com member working at Top10 after his seminar.
(iii) Initially, my plan was to apply only top places and master programs in order to have a chance to strengthen my profile for the next cycle. However, this process turns out to be too long and stressful. For this reason, I avoided attending master program to improve my profile.
Accepts:
    Attending: Minnesota Acceptances: Toulouse M2(ecomath)($$), UBC MA($$), CEMFI($$),
  • Institution: Toulouse school of economics M2 ecomath Decision: accepted Funding: Eiffel candidate Notification date: 17 december Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UMinnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: accepted from the waitlist Funding: TA Notification date: April 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
Rejects:
    rej), Uminnesota($$,eventually) Rejections: Yale, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Northwestern(on hold,rej afterwards), Upenn, JHU Comments: (i) I do not know which school got which GRE score as I rescored my AW, and ETS did not send my second scores to some places.(UCLA got my first try scores).In the nutshell, I can say that GRE destroyed me completely. First, my classmate with less stellar math grades, similar econ grades got into places where I was
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: first official rejection...I feel that attending a master program will be the final result of this cycle for me..
  • Institution: Upenn Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCLA(
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: ? Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Economics Decision: waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: First, they posted rejection on the website, but after e-mailing them regarding why they rejected me, they say they have made a clerical mistake, and I am on the waitlist, they can make an offer..Strange

HealthEconGirl 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ from top-30 U.S. university
Undergrad GPA: 3.76 / 4.0, magna cum laude
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q800, V720, AW5.5
Math Courses: Calc I&II (AP), Multivariable Calc (A), Diff Equ (A), Intro to Proofs (A), Upper-level Probability Theory (A), Lin Alg (A), Intro to Analysis (A-)
Econ Courses (grad-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Regular econ major courses (mostly A's, one B+ and one B), IO (B+), African Development (A-), Econ Reforms and Corruption (A-), Pol Econ of Growth, Redistribution and Poverty (A-), Intermediate Econometrics (A), Senior thesis seminar (A)
Letters of Recommendation: Senior thesis advisor (Columbia Ph.D.), one Assoc Prof (Foreign Ph.D.), one Epidemiologist (Berkeley Ph.D.), one former supervisor
Research Experience: Senior thesis, RA for epidemiologist since August 2010, Paid Internship where I basically do standard RA work (data cleaning, analysis) since June 2010
Teaching Experience: none really, but LORs talked about my potential for teaching
Research Interests: economics of global health, specifically HIV and sexual behavior in developing countries
SOP: Highlighted my senior thesis, significant time working in a developing country, and well defined research interests; customized to each school
Concerns: While I have extensive work experience that is relevant, it's not the standard econ RA work; no graduate econ classes despite being in a research univ.
RESULTS:
Attending: UCSD
Acceptances: UCSD ($), UBC ($$$)
Waitlists: U Mich (Withdrawn), UCLA (Withdrawn)
Withdrawn: BU, U Toronto
Rejections: UC Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Harvard, MIT, Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke, UPenn, UMD College Park, NSF (Honorable Mention)
Comments:
Overall, I am very pleased with this result. Even though I had a lot of rejections (and that was hard), you only need one good admit, and I am extremely excited about UCSD. I applied to all of the top ten on the advice of my undergrad advisor, but I knew that cracking the top ten was a long shot.
The best thing I did was apply for the NSF GRFP. The application process, and particularly the process of developing a research proposal, really helped me crystallize my objectives and research interests, and I believe the experience made my SOPs that much stronger.
Taking my choice of undergrad institution, GPA, GRE, and work experience as given, there isn't much I would have done differently. However, writing the SOPs took me much, much longer than I expected. If I could do it again, I would start drafting SOPs over the summer.
A note about my LORs: a lot of people say that LORs from non-economists are useless. But I decided to go with an letter of recommendation from an epidemiologist who is extremely well know both within and outside her field, knows me really well, has a good sense for my research ability, and wrote me a glowing recommendation. I believe that if they are relevant to your research interests, LORs from disciplines that are close to econ, such as math, poli sci, or epidemiology, can be acceptable, and may even be preferable to letters from econ profs who barely know you.
I'm so glad the waiting is over!
Accepts:
    Attending: UCSD Acceptances: UCSD ($), UBC ($$$)
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not yet specified Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Didn't get an official admission letter, but an invitation to their open house that says "Congratulations on being nominated for admission to the Economics Doctoral Program at the University of California San Diego for Fall 2011. You should receive a formal admission email from the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) soon and we want to welcome you!" I am so, so happy.
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 25k Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GradCafe: no Comments: Deadline to respond is Mar 29!
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, NYU, Harvard, MIT, Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke, UPenn, UMD College Park, NSF (
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: website (saw above and checked) Comments: really disappointing, I thought I had a good chance of getting in
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: My first choice. This sucks.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally!
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5/2011 Notified through: Mailed letter Posted on GC: no Comments: Expected but still disappointing, as this was my last shot at staying in the SF Bay Area.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Expected.
  • Institution: UMD College Park Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Testudo website Posted on GC: No Comments: Still no admits.
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: I appreciate their promptness. Take note, NYU.
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14/11 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: no Comments: The letter finally came.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally.
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments: Waiting on two more.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: U Mich (Withdrawn), UCLA (Withdrawn) Withdrawn: BU, U Toronto
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Even though it's only a waitlist, feeling better about my chances.
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Yes, if accepted Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:That letter is seriously confusing. Like others, it says I would have been admitted without funding last year. I wonder what happens if I am able to find an external source of funding (will call tomorrow).
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Honorable Mention Funding: No Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Obviously funding would have been great, but I knew it was a long shot, so I'm happy with this result.

Economics Dude 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S.B.A. Economics from Top 15 public, Top 50 Econ (considered public Ivy for whatever that's worth)
Undergrad GPA: 3.94/4 (Summa cum laude - Won Outstanding Scholar Award, sort of equivalent to Valedictorian)
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA:
GRE: 800Q/630V/4.5AWA (Not a native speaker of English)
Math Courses: Calc sequence, Sets and Logic (Intro to proofs), Diff Eq, Linear Algebra, Intro to Prob, Intro to Stats Theory, Regression Analysis, Advanced Calc, Modern Analysis (All A's, no A+ at my school, except for 1 B+ on the easiest class, Diff Eq.)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro Theory
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Usual stuff plus Empirical Research seminar (All A's)
Other Courses: AEA Summer Training Program: Econometrics, Micro Theory, Applied Micro, Research - 5 A's 2 A+'s and 1 A- (Only 3 professors gave A+'s - I missed one)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 director of AEASTP (Ph.D. Chicago), 1 professor (Ph.D. Chicago), 1 professor and current boss (Ph.D. Yale), 1 professor and current boss (Ph.D. Florida). Should all be strong. My office is on the same hallway as virtually all econ professors. I run into them every day and chat with them often (usually about random things besides econ, though).
Research Experience: RA'ed as an undergrad. Won a grant to conduct research as undergrad. Presented replication and extension of a paper at the AEASTP. Currently work as a Associate Research Economist at a research center in the university where I got my degree from.
Teaching Experience: TA'ed for almost 2 years for 1 introductory and 1 intermediate econ course.
Research Interests: Labor, Econometrics, Public Econ/Choice.
SOP: Long (about 2 pages).
RESULTS:
NSF Honorable Mention
Acceptances: Duke MA(some $),BU (no 1yr$), BC($$), UT-Austin ($$), Rochester($$$), UCSD($)
Waitlists: None
Rejections: Berkeley, NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, and Michigan.
Attending: UCSD
What would you have done differently?
I guess I could have moved to the US for high school and gone to a better undergrad institution, but I was having too much fun in Brazil at the time. I guess I could also have had more math (isn't that almost always the case?) In any case, I will be attending one of my top choices, which also happens to be right by the ocean.. I couldn't ask for much more.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Duke MA(some $),BU (no 1yr$), BC($$), UT-Austin ($$), Rochester($$$), UCSD($)
  • Institution: Rochester Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship (Full tuition + 24k) Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: E-mail with attachment Posted on GF: Yes Comments: First school I hear from. I'm really excited.
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: RA-ship $16.5K Notification date: 3/1/2011 (at 9pm) Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments:E-mail was personalized since they mentioned my two friends that are already in their program.
  • Institution: UT-Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship (unofficially told, not sure how much but prob. around $15K) Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail to check website (status check website) Posted on GC: No Comments: At least I didn't finish the day on the negative side of the board.. Economics Dude 1 x 1 Rejections today! Damn you Berkeley!
  • Institution: Duke University Econ Masters Decision: Admitted Funding: ? Notification date: 3/8 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: Even though I have 3 funded PhD offers, it still feels good.
  • Institution: BU Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No first year funding at all, afterwards tuition + $19k stipend Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Good for the ego (better than rejection or WL), but with no 1st year funding, I'd much rather take one of my other offers.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Letter coming later Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Big f-ing yeahhh! My top choice! Hoping good news is coming regarding financial aid!! Invited to the open house with expenses paid.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley, NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, and Michigan.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: First rejection. Oh well.. you can't always win!
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Kind of expected.. didn't use my strongest letter of recommendation writer, one other letter of recommendation writer sent my letter a month later, they didn't have my transcripts for universities I attended but not receive a degrees from nor my fall 2010 grades. Even without that I would still not be surprised with a rejection.. oh well! The game continues..
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification Date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Got mine!
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Thought I had a good chance based on some inside info.. guess not! Glad to hear though. The season is almost over for me.
  • Institution: NYU (GSAS) Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: "Unfortunately, we are not able to make you an offer this year. We had a very strong applicant pool this year --- almost 1000 applicants for 18 slots --- and we have had to pass over literally hundreds of high-quality applicants. Please take one of your other options." I'm really glad I heard, though. 1 more school left to hear from then it's fly-out and decision time!
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through: Email Posted on GradCafe: No Comments: F-ing finally!
Waitlists:
    Honorable Mention
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Honorable Mention Funding: No Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Not bad given that I put the proposal together in 3-5 days and didn't get a chance to have any of my professors give me feedback on it. I'm not sure what to make of the Teragrid access, though. Does anybody actually use supercomputers in economics? EDIT: I will be applying again next year.

ggoofer 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ, Math at Non-HYP Ivy
Undergrad GPA: 3.89 overall, 3.94 Math, 3.97 Econ (out of 4)
GRE: 790 Q, 660 V, 4.5 AWA
Math Courses (undergrad level): Baby Linear Algebra (A+), Multivariable Calc (A), Honors Analysis (A), Linear Algebra (A-), Honors Algebra (A-), Topology (A), Stochastic Processes (A+)
Math Courses (grad level): Measure Theory (A+), Applied Functional Analysis (A), Algebra (A), Probability (A), Topics in Group Theory (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad level): Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Prob & Stat (A+), Intro to Econometrics (A+), Money and Banking (A-), Financial Economics (A+), Game Theory (A), Intertemporal Economics (A+), Trade (A+)
Econ Courses (grad level): Micro I (A), Micro II (A), Decision Theory II (A+), Contract Theory (in prog)
Other Courses: Stochastic Calculus for Finance (A-)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ, 1 math. I know these people well. Expecting strong letters.
Research Experience: Econ, none worth mentioning. Spent a summer working on finite group theory with a math prof here. Learned how much I hate group theory.
Teaching Experience: TAing is not allowed. I have done a lot of tutoring for the department since sophomore year.
Research Interests: Micro theory topics
SOP: Weak. Did not spend much time.
RESULTS:
Attending: Northwestern
Acceptances: Northwestern ($$$$), Berkeley ($$), Princeton ($$$), Yale ($$$$), UMN ($), Cornell ($$$)
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, Chicago
What would you have done differently? Not much really. Very happy with my results. I should have spent more time on my SOP probably. Wish I could have gotten econ research in somehow, but it is borderline impossible to get anything that is not applied/data monkey work (and any theory stuff you do yourself e.g. for thesis most likely sucks). Also would have stopped taking undergrad econ courses a lot sooner. Most are a waste of time.
Accepts:
    Attending: Northwestern Acceptances: Northwestern ($$$$), Berkeley ($$), Princeton ($$$), Yale ($$$$), UMN ($), Cornell ($$$)
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: $$ Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes Comments: so excited!!!!!!!
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: Email Comments: Choices!
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, Chicago
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC : yes Comments: A little disappointing, but oh well.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : yes Comments: Mostly bruises the ego, I doubt I would have attended.
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: I am really doing much worse than I thought would, but I have a stellar funded admit, so it doesn't matter much at this point (thank God!). I'm just curious why my expectations were so off
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comment:

urray 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA, Major Economics, Minor Mathematics one of the top schools in Middle East
Undergrad GPA: 3.7/4
Type of Grad: MA Economics, same university
Grad GPA: 3.85 /4
GRE: 790Q, 600V, 4.5AW
TOEFL:116/120
Math Courses: UG Level: Calculus Sequence, Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Discrete Mathematics
Grad Level: Real Analysis, Measure Theory, Stochastic Calculus, Abstract Algebra
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro I-II (Taken at senior year in UG), Matching and Auction Theory (Taken at senior year in UG), Macro I-II, Metrics I-II, Advanced Topics in Macro Theory, Advanced Topics in Game Theory
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Way too many to list.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Minnesota PhD, 1 Rochester PhD, 1 BU PhD, all should be very good,
Research Experience: Co-authoring a paper with one of the letter of recommendation writers, which had incredibly good feedback from a few conferences, going to submit it pretty soon.
Teaching Experience: 8 semester of TA for a variety of classes, (intro to Micro, intro to Game Theory, etc.) Instructed the math camp for incoming graduate students at our university.
Research Interests: Game Theory
SOP: Pretty standard, I actually forgot to change the phrase "university X" to the name of the university in a few cases
Concerns: My GPA in the first two-years in undergrad where I took the majority of the ug level math courses was lowish (around 3.4) Got a C+ plus from linear algebra as I had to skip an exam due to a medical condition(did not mention the reason in my sop), 790Q in GRE
RESULTS:
Acceptances: NYU, Kellogg Mecs, Minnesota, Michigan, Caltech, CMU, Boston U, Rochester, JHU, WL from WUSTL
Rejections: Yale, Brown, Columbia GSB
COMMENTS:
I decided to do a PhD only around my junior year or so, I wasn't even actually planning to study economics when I entered university. I did pretty stupid things in my first two years, I think my overall attendance was around %10 or so of the classes, entered some exams after night-outs without sleeping etc. On the other hand I took quite a bit of grad courses in my last two years as an undergraduate, as a result I had a chance focus on research on my masters. I actually came up with my own idea for the current paper we are writing pretty early in my masters. Then again due to a death in the family I couldn't get it published before the admission season started, hence didn't bother to apply to top 5. In retrospect, I think I should have given it a shot. And if I had the opportunity I would slap my younger self for my behavior in my first two-years.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: NYU, Kellogg Mecs, Minnesota, Michigan, Caltech, CMU, Boston U, Rochester, JHU, WL from WUSTL
  • Institution: Caltech Social Sciences PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $28k/year Notification date: Feb 10 Notified through: email Comments: No phone call, probably due to 10 hour difference (the e-mail came at 02.30 local time)
  • Institution: Kellogg MECS Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$$ Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Rochester Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Minnesota Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Michigan Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: No first year funding 17k+ after 2nd year Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Tepper Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$$ Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: No offer since they think I will end up with other offers Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: NYU Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Rejects:
    Rejections: Yale, Brown, Columbia GSB COMMENTS: I decided to do a PhD only around my junior year or so, I wasn't even actually planning to study economics when I entered university. I did pretty stupid things in my first two years, I think my overall
  • Institution: Yale Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance & Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

philecon 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS Business Economics, relatively unknown university in Southeast Asia
Undergrad GPA: no idea how to convert it, but I graduated magna cum laude (Rank: 7/150)
GRE: 800Q, 590V, 5.0AW
TOEFL:112/120
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis and Math Stats
Econ Courses: the standard Econ courses, nothing special
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Northwestern PhD, 1 Ohio State PhD, 1 PhD from my uni
Research Experience: undergrad thesis (won an award, forthcoming in local journal), RA for six months
Research Interests: Health Economics, Industrial Organization
SOP: Pretty standard
Concerns: I shifted from Accounting to Economics, and I took a leave for a year to take a break; first to apply as an undergrad from my school (never been done ever)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Georgetown, LSE EME, BGSE MS Economics, CEMFI MSc Economics and Finance, PSU (from waitlist)
Waitlists: PSU (eventually admitted, but without funding), Michigan (rejected off the WL though)
Rejections: Northwestern, Columbia, Brown, Penn, Virginia, Stanford, Duke, Singapore Management
COMMENTS:
I wasn't an economics major when I entered college, and I left school for a year after sophomore year (since something happened to me) to evaluate myself, and the direction I was going. I accidentally stumbled upon economics, and I found out that I loved it. Like the previous poster, however, I decided to do a PhD only around my junior year, so I had to cram a lot of math during my last two years, plus take the economics classes. I knew it was a huge risk, applying with only an undergrad degree, as most students from my university had at least a year of graduate coursework before applying to even European masters. I am very pleased with my results, though, and I look forward to attending the program that I chose. The only things that I probably would've done differently are: (1) I would've probably majored in math when I first thought about it (since my Math average is significantly higher than my Business average), or that I would've done my undergrad in the US when I had the chance and (2) I would've probably applied to mainly masters programs.
I guess I'll be back again for Fall 2013 PhD admissions.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Georgetown, LSE EME, BGSE MS Economics, CEMFI MSc Economics and Finance, PSU (from
  • Institution: UPF MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification Date: 2/25/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I wish I had funding. Haha.
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification Date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I don't think I will attend Georgetown, even if I can sweet talk my parents into funding me.
  • Institution: CEMFI Master in Economics and Finance Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition waiver, plus 10,000 euros per academic year Notification Date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: first admit with funding! Yay! And I think I'd love to go to CEMFI.
  • Institution: LSE MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics Decision: Admitted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Happy, but I didn't get funding though. Have to talk it out with the parents.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/15/11 Notified through: E-mail Comments: WTF. No funding for the first year though.
Rejects:
    rejected off the WL though) Rejections: Northwestern, Columbia, Brown, Penn, Virginia, Stanford, Duke, Singapore Management COMMENTS: I wasn't an economics major when I entered college, and I left school for a year after sophomore year (since something happened to me) to evaluate myself, and the direction I was going. I accidentally stumbled upon economics, and I found out that I loved it. Like the previous poster, however, I decided to do a PhD only around my junior year, so I had to cram a lot of math during my last two years, plus take the economics classes. I knew it was a huge risk, applying with only an undergrad degree, as most students from my university had at least a year of graduate coursework before applying to even European masters. I am very pleased with my results, though, and I look forward to
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/26/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I knew I was a long shot.
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/25/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: One of the schools I was hoping to get into, but okay.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: as expected.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: This broke my heart.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: last minute application
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: as expected.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: as expected.
  • Institution: Singapore Management University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 05/03/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: If the thread on highest ranked admit vs. lowest ranked rejection is still around, I'll probably win the award. Hahaha. But no worries, I think I'm all set for September. All I have to do is post my profile.
Waitlists:
    waitlist) Waitlists: PSU (eventually
  • Institution: Michigan Economics and Public Policy Decision: Waitlisted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Should I even try to wait and see if I'll eventually get an admit?

ryanmagic 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Rank 3 University in China (Fudan), B.A. of econonmics, with one semester exchange experience in UC Davis.
Undergrad GPA: 3.57 in Fudan, top 10%; 4.0 in UC Davis (courses with * below).
Type of Grad: N/A.
Grad GPA: N/A.
GRE: 800Q 540V 3.0 AWA, TOEFL 105.
Math Courses: Advanced Math (differential calculus, integrals, a little differential equations)(B&A-), Linear Algebra(B+), Probability Theory(A), Statistics(A-).
Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Political Economics(A), Micro(A), Macro(B+), International Trade(B+), History of Economic Thoughts(A), Econometrics(A+*), Macro Development(A*), Money and Banking(A+*), Financial Management(A-), Industrial Economics(A), Investment(B), Economic History of China(A), Accounting(B), Contemporary Chinese Economy(B+), Theory on Capital(C+).
Other Courses: C programming(A).
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from UC Davis, 1 from Fudan.
Research Experience: RA for a term, one independent project and one team project in progress.
Teaching Experience: Representative for a course.
Research Interests: Labor, Development, IO.
SOP: So so.
Other: Awarded the National Scholarship in China (for top 1tudents).
RESULTS:
Acceptances: BU MA, UC Davis ARE MS.
Waitlists:
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Northwestern, UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Duke, CMU, Rochester, Maryland, Berkeley AREC, BU, JHU, UC Davis, Georgetown, U Colorado - Boulder, UC Davis ARE PhD.
Pending: Syracuse, Columbia QMSS.
What would you have done differently?
I would apply to Canadian master programs, Duke master and Tufts master.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: BU MA, UC Davis ARE MS.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Northwestern, UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Duke, CMU, Rochester, Maryland, Berkeley AREC, BU, JHU, UC Davis, Georgetown, U Colorado - Boulder, UC Davis ARE PhD.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

huxleyms 2011:
Type of Undergrad: Economics + Applied Math, top15 econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.77/4.00
GRE: 800Q 620V 4.0AW
Math Courses: Calc(B+,A-,A+), Vector Calc (A+), Linear Algebra(A), Applied Linear Algebra(B), ODE(B+), PDE(B), Complex Analysis(B), Probability(B), Math Reasoning(A), Real Analysis(B+,A-), Numerical Analysis(A,A,A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Microeconomics(A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Environmental Economics(A, different uni), Intro Microeconomics (A+), Intro Macroeconomics(A), Intermediate Microeconomics (A,A-,B+), Intermediate Macroeconomics(A,A-), Enterprise Finance(A), Financial Markets(A), Econometrics(A,A), Economic Growth(A), Decisions Under Uncertainty(A+)
Other Courses: C/C++(A), Java(A-), honors sections(all A's)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 MIT PhD (took small classes, honors section), 1 Yale PhD (comp. econometrics project), 1 UCLA math PhD (ODE/LA tutor, took classes w/projects )
Research Experience: nothing formal, just independent work in honors sections
Teaching Experience: matlab tutor, mock trial captain?
Research Interests: everything
SOP: long
Concerns: Lots of B's in math, wondering how many an A in grad micro can outweigh, low AWA score. Lack of research experience.
Other: Expect high variance
Results:
Rejected: Chicago, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Caltech, Brown, Cornell, Johns Hopkins
Accepted: UCSD, Carnegie Mellon, UTexas, UVA
Would do differently: I would have taken fewer math classes and tried to do more economic research. Also, I should have gotten better grades. Overall, I am very happy with my outcome.
Accepts:
    Accepted: UCSD, Carnegie Mellon, UTexas, UVA Would do differently: I would have taken fewer math classes and tried to do more economic research. Also, I should have gotten better grades. Overall, I am very happy with my outcome.
Rejects:
    Rejected: Chicago, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, NYU, Caltech, Brown, Cornell, Johns Hopkins
Waitlists:

noa 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics, specialized in Quantitative Econ (basically lots of Econometrics) from unranked European Univ
Undergrad GPA: 9.27/10 (top of 300+ class)
Type of Grad: One year Master in Economics from the same uni (taking it now)
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q 660V ?A
Math Courses: linear algebra, topology, calc and advance calc, real analysis, matrix algebra, linear and non-linear programming (all A+ save for linear algebra, A-)
Econ Courses (grad-level): macroeconomics, microeconomics, quant methods, energy markets, labor markets, monetary markets
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I-IV, Macro I-IV, game theory, tons of Econometrics and Statistics courses (mostly As, a couple of Bs)
Other Courses: Some applied econ courses, business courses, operations research
Letters of Recommendation: Should be quite good, from teacher whose PhD is from Harvard, UPenn, SUNY, CEMFI, Stanford, and whose Post-Doc was from Berkeley, Princeton,... (I think asking for approx. 10 LORS is a lot so I'm splitting the work a bit)
Research Experience: TA/RA Scholarship for a semester, I wasn't allowed to do much however, university system in Spain is not flexible at all...
Teaching Experience: High School Math and English tutor
Research Interests: Applied Econometrics, Macroeconomics, Micro Theory
SOP: Not finished yet, hopefully decent
Concerns: Adcoms not knowing my uni, not knowing how to interpret grades, etc. Also I'll be applying as a US student but I have more of a Int'l profile (I have dual citizenship)
Other: Any suggestions welcome!
Applying to: assorted top 20 and some safeties, also applying for several RA positions
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: not yet Comments: expected, but still disappointed since it was one of my top choices
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: oh well
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: -
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Postal mail, postmarked March 4th Posted on GC: No Comments: The letter got here quick... I live in Spain
  • Institution: UMD Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Postal mail, postmarked March 4th Posted on GC: No Comments: Deserved. I said Berkeley once in the SOP. Still no admission though, and I don't think I'll be getting one. Life goes on...
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/11 (not really sure about this one...) Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: Snail Mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail after I asked about my status Posted on GC: no Comments: Guess I'll be staying home this year!
Waitlists:
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 2/28 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: no Funding: N/A Comments: Honestly, a bit surprised. This proves you shouldn't listen to your professors when they say "don't worry, they've [Adcom at Penn] already assured me you're in".

thewhiterabbit 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: MIT, SB Economics, SB Political Science, LSE study abroad (General Course)
Undergrad GPA: 4.8/5.0 overall and across both majors (converts directly to 3.8/4.0). All 1st class marks on exams at LSE (4.0/4.0).
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 790Q 660V ?AWA
Math Courses: Statistics (AP), Single Variable Calculus (AP BC), Multivariable Calculus (P under P/no record - mandatory for first term), Principles of Econometrics (LSE advanced intro course, known in UK to be very hard, 1st/A), Differential Equations (credit by advanced standing, B), Linear Algebra (audited), Introduction to Analysis (pending, ~60hance A, 40hance B)
Econ Courses (grad-level): International Economics I (A), Politics and Economics (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro (grad Varian, A), Game Theory (A), Intermediate Macro (B), Econ Research (A), Public Economics (LSE: 1st/A), Development (A), Principles of Micro (B), Principles of Macro (A)
Other Courses: Political Science degree, French concentration
Letters of Recommendation: 3 very recognizable names in my field. They all mentor the very top students regularly (since I'm at MIT) so it is somewhat hard for me to gauge strength of two of them. (I feel a little like a medium sized fish in a big pond)
Research Experience: Oodles: part time RA all through undergrad, full time RA since 2007. ~2 years field work. Speak Indonesian fluently. No journal publications. AAA+ Stata programmer. Best thesis award for political science thesis.
Teaching Experience: After school teacher for middle schoolers, test prep.
Research Interests: Development, behavioral, health
SOP: Have a lot of material to work with, will condense three NSF essays
Concerns: The obvious, math preparation. That I haven't had the chance to coauthor (just hasn't been an option) but some other people in RA jobs do. That I've been out of school longer than most people similar to me.
Other: I've done some cool work in technology innovation that is somewhat relevant to economics and which I wrote about for NSF. I'm really happy with my NSF app (and have been told by profs who are historically very honest with me that it was good).
Applying to:
Funding: NSF
Econ: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, NYU, Chicago, LSE, Columbia, Brown, UCLA, Caltech, UCSD, Oxford, BU, UMD, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, UCL, Georgetown, BC
Other: Berkeley (ARE), Stanford (GSB), Chicago (GSB), Harvard (Public Policy), HSPH Economics
Accepts:
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "You have been nominated for a San Diego Fellowship and your file is currently under review at the UCSD Office of Graduate Studies." - came in later email. Notification date: Feb 11 Notified through: email Comments: First result, so I'm happy
  • Institution: London School of Economics MRes/PhD Track 1 Decision: Accepted Funding: "2+2 Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) studentship which provides full fee remission and maintenance support of 18,590 a year for four years subject to satisfactory progress in your studies." Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: A welcome bit of news.
  • Institution: Harvard School of Public Health Doctor of Science (SD) in Global Health and Population, Economics track Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: 02/18/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 5 years, $20,000 Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: No decision in the online web portal through ApplyYourself, it looks like, only an email.
  • Institution: Harvard Kennedy School of Government Public Policy Decision: Accepted Funding: Full funding with stipend (no dollar amount mentioned) Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: Voicemail Posted on GC: Not yet
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No first year funding Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition waiver, stipend after first year, can discuss stipend in first year if I want to come. Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Oxford MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Not decided; haven't even been put through college selection yet. Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Same UK visa problem.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: They think I will win NSF Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Um. What?
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $33,000 Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Now I'm really confused.
  • Institution: BU Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No first year funding at all, afterwards tuition + $19k stipend Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Will decline immediately
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full Fellowship Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: I emailed for feedback on my file and reasons for rejection, not asking for it to be reconsidered. The response was a full fellowship offer and an apology for never having read my file. Eesh.
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20.5k stipend +3.5k summer stipend + tuition waiver, health insurance, etc. Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Email to check Website, letter posted Posted on GC: No Comments: Email came at 9:24am EST.
  • Institution: NSF GRFP Decision: Accepted Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: NSF website Posted on GC: no Comments: Really happy, since funding at MIT was still uncertain. For all future years, it seems like there is a pattern where they announce planned server maintenance on Fastlane from 11pm-5am on some day in early April, and upload the results then. The results become available around 2AM.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Analysis and Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comment: Was a terrible fit anyways. Also, I'm presuming I'm out at Caltech and Northwestern, but haven't heard officially.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: As much as people say admissions are random, I am starting to see a distinctly bright line in the rankings of the places where I am admitted and rejected.
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: Laughed out loud at "Our action is not intended to discourage your interest in further study nor is it a judgment of your overall ability."
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: University of Maryland, College Park Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - NA Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: email
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/11 Notified through: Post Comments:Quelle Surprise!
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Caltech wins among my schools for greatest lag between notifying admits and notifying rejects.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail after I asked about my status Posted on GC: no
Waitlists:

riskaverse 2011:
Type of Undergrad: B.Sc. Economics at Top10 South American university; B.A. International Relations (not the same university as Economics)
Undergrad GPA: 7.5/10 for Economics (Top 5%); 8.46/10 for International Relations
Type of Grad: M.A. Economics at Top10 South American university (not the same as undergrad).
Grad GPA: 7.98/10
GRE: 800Q/540V/4.0A (2nd try)
Math Courses (undergrad): Calculus I and II
Math Courses (grad): Real Analysis, Measure Theory, Linear Algebra (audit)
Econ Courses (undergrad): a lot of them
Econ Courses (grad): Micro Theory I to IV (entire MWG), Macro Theory I to III, Econometrics, Microeconometrics, Corporate Finance, Empirical Microeconomics, Mathematical Economics I and II (some chapters of Stokey&Lucas).
Other Courses: lots of them too because of International Relations
Letters of Recommendation: A total of 4 letters, all from my MA professors. I think all of them like me, but I'm pretty unsure about the strenght of the letters. Two of them are somewhat well known, specially in their fields. I sent the letter from my advisor to all universities and rotated among the other recommenders.
Research Experience: My MA Dissertation. I have some works from undergrad published (co-authored), but not in academic journals (they were mainly directed to policy makers in my country - only one of them written in English).
Teaching Experience: TA for Microeconomic Theory II and Statistics II at the graduate level; TA for International Finance and IO in MBA courses; TA for Micro and Trade for undergrads.
Research Interests: Microeconomics, Contract Theory, Corporate Finance
SOP: very honest. I liked it in the end.
Other: TOEFL 106, but a low grade in the speaking portion. Although I applied to all parts of the US, I have very strong personal reasons for wanting to be in the East Coast.
Concerns: my first GRE try was a disaster, the second try was in December 2010, which made me really afraid of my results getting to the universities very late. My profile seems sometimes a Frankstein for me and I'm really concerned about my letters of recommendation. I don't have the minimum score for the TOEFL speaking portion that many universities require. I'm not the strongest applicant from my country this year, which makes me very pessimist about my dream schools. Also, I worked some time before entering my MA, so I'm kind of older I think... well, lots of concerns!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Penn State (PSU) Decision: Accepted Funding: yes (RAship) Notification date: 2/20/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: Totally unexpected for a Sunday! Really relieved!
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes (TAship) Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email with formal acceptance (pdf) Posted on GF: yes Comments: very very happy!!!
  • Institution: Arizona State (ASU) Economics (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: not mentioned Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Rochester Economics (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: no funding Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: yes Comments: wrote the department to ask about my results. They replied with a letter attached saying I was accepted but no funding...
  • Institution: U Penn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "very high on the wait list for a first year fellowship" Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comment: kind of worried about funding but very very happy . Great school!!
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: I am very very happy!! The program seems very nice and l would love to live in Philadelphia!!
  • Institution: Wisconsin - Madison Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: no first year funding, support guaranteed for the next three years Notification date: 03/14 Notified through: Email (informal) Posted on GC: yes Comment: without funding, even only for the first year, is impossible for me
  • Institution: UIUC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 3/14/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GradCafe: yes Comment: very nice, specially after a week of rejections
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification Date: March 23, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: no funding for 5 years as well... but I'm really surprised to be accepted
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments: I cried... one of my very top choices. Already expected from not hearing from them, but it is still hard... Congrats for the ones accepted and waitlisted!
  • Institution: Harvard Kennedy School Political Economy and Government (PhD) Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Postal service (the letter was dated 2/18) Posted on GC: Yes Comments: long long shot, but still
  • Institution: Duke PHD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments: kind of expected
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution : Chicago Program : Economics PhD Decision : Rejection Funding : N/A Notification date : 3/7/2011 Notified through : E-mail Posted on GC : yes Comments : soooo sad... I thought I had a good chance
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/08/11 Notified through: email Posted on GF: yes Comments: it was a long shot
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: This one hurt a lot...
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: never really thought I had a chance, but I had to try... it was my dream school, both for academic and personal reasons
  • Institution: NYU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Finally... they replied my email
  • Institution: Boston University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection FUnding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through: Email Comments: Mass email with no care about privacy...
  • Institution: Washington University St. Louis (WUSTL) Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -- Notification date: April 13 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: finally^2
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics Decision: Rejected (from wait list) Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/19/2011 Notified through: e-mail to see website Posted on GC: no Comments: I happened to know that I was waitlisted from the rejection letter.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Wait listed Funding: I think it's yes if admitted Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Email to check Website Posted on GC: yes Comments: short wait list

Econ1012011 2011:
Type of Undergrad: Top 5 U.S. Liberal Arts College. Well-respected Econ Dept but some difficulty placing people into PhDs in recent years, perhaps b/c of lack of grad classes to take and failure to keep pace with big U.S. universities and foreign universities in their emphasis on math in undergrad econ curriculum.
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0
Type of Grad: M.Sc., top ten European program. 1 year of coursework, no thesis, didn't do as much of the PhD core theory sequence as I should have.
Grad GPA: 8.4/10.
GRE: 800 Q / 800 V / 6.0 W (native English speaker)
Math Courses: Calc I and II (AP credit from high school), Calc III mini course (A, at my undergrad institution), Calc III (A-, taken after my B.A. at so-so university #1, not known for econ or math, approx. rank 50), Linear Algebra I (A, taken after my B.A. at so-so university #2, not known for math, approx. rank 80), Math for Econ (A-, post-B.A., masters-level but taken at so-so university #2), Intro to Sets and Proofs and Stuff (A, taken post-M.Sc. at so-so university #1), Ordinary Differential Equations (A-, post-M.Sc., so-so university #1), Real Analysis I (A-, post-M.Sc., so-so university #1; taken fall 2010, some schools didn't allow submission of fall grades), Mathematical Statistics (B+, post-M.Sc., graduate level, so-so university #1, ditto on fall grades.) In progress: Real Analysis II, Mathematical Statistics II.
Econ Courses (grad-level): Did masters in econ. Didn't do PhD-level micro (the Mas-Colell textbook), did mostly masters-level stuff. Did PhD macro, applied micro, applied econometrics, and six standard electives (e.g. labor, public).
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Full major, 3.9/4.0. Did the most advanced international econ, development econ, and econometrics. Didn't do the most advanced micro and macro theory. Econometrics grades somewhat erratic (Intro: A+. Intermediate: B. Advanced: A-.)
Other Courses: Basic Latex, Matlab, and Maple class during Spring 2011 so no grade on transcript.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from masters who knows I wasn't the best student in the class (Princeton PhD), 1 from undergrad who adores me but didn't teach me any advanced stuff (MIT PhD), 1 former boss who is a PhD economist but not an academic (Columbia PhD).
Research Experience: One summer RA in college doing non-quant stuff, 2 years at a relatively well respected think tank (but it's not academia for sure), 3 years in research department at international organization (very applied, far from academia).
Teaching Experience: TA'ed intermediate micro and macro early in undergrad career, nothing since then.
Research Interests: international, macro labor, environment (not the most coherent storyline).
SOP: Pretty decent (this is a skill of U.S.-trained applicants, I think), but I may have expressed interest in too many different things. Was careful to mention that I know who is doing what in areas I was interested in within each department to show I was paying attention.
Concerns: Most are mentioned throughout up above. Main ones: 1. My math might look like an afterthought, and my grades are in the A- average range, not As. 2. I'm old. Too many years away from school hurts you. 3. I don't come across as focused on a coherent set of topics / tools. 4. I wasn't a rock star at my masters. Solid, but not a rock star, as I hadn't done the needed math yet when I entered that program.
Other: My list of schools is a bit odd, because I have geographic constraints (the result of being older). Also applied to a few law schools as back up, and got offer of full funding at a top school, so I have options if I don't get funding at an econ program.
Applying to: Already Rejected Yale. Still waiting (in geographic order) Harvard, MIT, Columbia, NYU, Princeton, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, Georgetown, Duke, University of Michigan, University of Washington.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: yes, ~18.5k for 5 yrs (2 Fellowship, 3 TA/RA) Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: No decision in the online web portal through ApplyYourself, it looks like, only an email.
  • Institution: UVA Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: no info yet Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: I never got an acceptance email. Friday, I got an email inviting me to the admitted students weekend. I checked the online application and it said my application hadn't been submitted at all! Two days later, I check, it shows I've submitted, and there is a link to a letter saying I am admitted. Weird. Profile here (Roll Call 2011) In: Georgetown ($$), UVA (no funding info yet). Out: Yale, U Penn, Duke. Waiting: everywhere else.
  • Institution: University of Washington [Seattle] Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: yes, lowish as is standard for publics Notification date: 03/07/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: No decision in the online web portal. Great fit for my research interests, but Im in at UMD and UMD has much better placement.
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: yes, not high but pretty good for a public Notification date: 03/03/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: My best option right now. Not sexy, but a solid option.
Rejects:
    Rejected Yale. Still
  • Institution: Yale PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: None Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Profile here (Roll Call 2011)
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Got email telling me to check status on website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Yale PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: None Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Profile here (Roll Call 2011)
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/07/2011 Notified through: I called them Posted on GC: no Comment: I knew that all the admits and waitlists had been sent out, but I called to confirm. Indeed, if you havent heard, you are rejected.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/07/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: Clear straightforward email is much appreciated. Profile here (Roll Call 2011) In: University of Washington [Seattle] ($), UMD ($$), Georgetown ($$), UVA (no funding info yet). Waitlist: U Michigan. Out: Harvard, MIT, Yale, U Penn, Duke. Waiting: Columbia (no answer yet, so probably reject, very bummed, dream school), NYU, Princeton (as if!), Johns Hopkins
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comment: My top choice. Damn.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: I called and they confirmed that all admitted and waitlisted students had already been notified, so if you havent heard, youre out. Posted on GC: no Comment: Profile here (Roll Call 2011) In: University of Washington [Seattle] ($), UMD ($$), Georgetown ($$), UVA (no funding info yet). Waitlist: U Michigan. Out: Harvard, MIT, Yale, U Penn, Duke, Columbia, Princeton. Waiting: NYU (according to secretary, as of 3/11, NOT all admits and waitlists had gone out), Johns Hopkins.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: guaranteed if admitted Notification date: 03/03/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comment: Super misleading letter that makes you think youre in, but wait, sucker!!!, youre not in yet. They are flying out the waitlisted students, though, so I think they do plan to take some eventually. Ill go, sit at the loser table with other waitlisters, and see what the deal is.

s1391470 2011:
Type of Undergrad: B.Sc. Comp Sci, B.Sc. Mathematics (Average Canadian Uni)
Undergrad GPA: 8.9/10 (Comp Sci), 8.7/10 (Math)
Type of Grad: MBA - Top Canadian Program, M.A. Econ (Average Canadian Uni)
Grad GPA: 3.8/4 (MBA), 4.25/4.33 (Econ).
Other Education: CFA
GRE: 800 Q / 720 V / 6.0 W (native English speaker)
Math Courses: Calc I, II, III (A), Real Analysis (A), ODE (A-), Probability (A), Stats (A), Complex Analysis (B+), Linear Algebra (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Macro, Micro, Econometrics, Finance, International Trade, Environment, Public Policy, Labour Economics,
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro, Macro
Other Courses: During MBA, Game Theory and Micro/Macro
Letters of Recommendation: 4 from M.A. econ. 2 Minnesota Grads, 1 Queens Grad, 1 Toronto Grad
Research Experience: Patent, Masters Thesis, R.A. in Econ and Comp. Sci
Teaching Experience: TA'ed bunch of courses
Work Experience: Nearly 10 years in a variety of roles in technology and finance
Research Interests: international trade and development
SOP: Pretty strong, I think.
Concerns: I have some pretty poor grades in upper level math courses (not listed) including several Cs. However, in my SoP I mentioned how I was working full time while completing this degree, and how my patent is directly related to my math degree (it is related to obfuscation/encryption and group theory).
Other: I'll be 35 when I start my PhD, so I'm a bit older than the average grad student.
Applying to: Columbia, NYU, U Penn, Minnesota, University of Michigan, Brown, Cornell, Wisconsin (Missed funding date), Cornell, Queen's, Toronto, Carnegie Mellon
Accepts:
  • Institution: Queen's University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notification date: 3/15 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Happy!
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification Date: March 23, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Says no funding for 5 years! Ouch
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/19/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: In response to email inquiry. I had sent them an email asking for confirmation of my status (expecting a rejection) since I had to confirm with schools by April 22. Instead, I received an offer!
Rejects:
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Would have been nice but a real stretch
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Eh, was a bit of a throwaway app
  • Institution: Wisconsin - Madison Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/29/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GradCafe: No Comments: Expected at this point
  • Institution: UPenn Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected from the waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: April 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Response to email request on status
  • Institution: Toronto Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/15/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: In response to email inquiry
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: ? Notification date: 02/23/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comment: Not the "short" list, so a little disappointed
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: ? Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comment: "high" on waitlist. not sure if that means anything.

illuminatus 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BSc in math from a regular less known Midwest university
Undergrad GPA: 3.95
Type of Grad: MA in Econ
Grad GPA: 3.95
GRE: 560V / 800Q / 4.0 awa
Math Courses: lots, grad level: RA, CA, differential geometry, optimization (1st course, so not too rigorous), categorical data analysis, Bayesian statistics.
Econ Courses (grad-level): econometrics, time series, microeconometrics, micro theory, macro theory, forecasting,
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): basic and intermediate theory and econometrics
Letters of Recommendation: 3 from econ ans 1 from a math less known professors. All of them are probably pretty good.
Research Experience: senior thesis, masters thesis
Teaching Experience: TA for 1.5 years
Research Interests: macro, development, econometrics
SOP: standard 1.5 pages.
Concerns: not a lot of experience in research and teaching. (partly concerned about low verbal and awa scores on GRE).
Other: I have a pretty high credit score.
Applying to: LSE MSc EME (2nd year), Oxford Mphil, Toulouse 2nd year ECOMATH, BGSE Masters in econ. PhD in econ: Minnesota - Twin Cities, Columbia, Northwestern, UMich, Wisconsin - Madison, U Washington, UCSD, U Toronto.
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE MSc EME Decision: accepted Funding: I still need to write the essay explaining why I need funding (wtf?) Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Pretty excited!
  • Institution: U Oxford MPhil Decision: accepted Funding: Depends on college and external scholarshpis. Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: no Comments: Oxford is awesome!
  • Institution: BGSE MSc in Economics Decision: accepted Funding: Half tuition waiver Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: I would love to go there if they gave me better funding. I applied in late January, so they may have had less funding available.
Rejects:
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: rejected Notification date: ~mid march Notified through: website Posted on GC: no Comments: I was a bit surprised to see this, since they have a large entering class without any funding. But I wouldn't go there over Oxford and LSE anyways.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: rejected Notification date: ~mid march Notified through: website Posted on GC: no
Waitlists:
  • Institution: UMN - Twin cities Economics Decision: waitlisted Notification date: 2/23 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Would love to go to Minnesota.

Exodus 2011:
Institution: Yale
Program: Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: yeah, right..
Notification date: Feb 16
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: nope
Comments: Nothing surprising... I never had a date with a supermodel either..
11 more to go!!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Accepted !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!! Funding: no (but I have a fully funded benefactor from my home country) Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail GC: no Comment: I am literally crying!!!!!! Gracias SeoR!!!!!
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: yeah, right.. Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: nope Comments: Nothing surprising... I never had a date with a supermodel either.. 11 more to go!!
  • Institution: Duke U Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 2/25/2011, 1.57PM Notified through: email to check the application website Posted on GF: No Comments: Sad. My second rejection, no admission so far.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No acceptance so far. Starting to freak out.
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: This is what I was afraid of: "I regret to inform you that you have not been admitted to the doctoral program in economics at the University of Michigan. We had a particularly strong group of applicants this year, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, "
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: No admission so far. This was supposed to be my safety, given that I was admitted with full fellowship last year. Sad. 4 more to go...
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Very Expected, but already admitted in a dream school
  • Institution: Brown U Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Email to check Embark website. Posted on GF: no Comments: At this point I think I only will be admitted by my top choice... That is not possible in a rational model... am I wrong?. 1 more to go.
  • Institution: UCLA, Anderson Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n.a. Notification date: 03/29/2011 Notified through: link to website to see decision status. Comments: Finally.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Game over. Finally accepted in only one university: UChicago, my top choice. Very Happy!
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Wait List Funding: "...There is also some probability that we may be able to offer financial aid" Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Could it be possible that I havent been admitted anywhere yet???. Can any university take me out of my misery? please!!!!

thirty 2011:
Institution: Yale
Program: Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: Feb 16
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: no
Comments: Started thinking about applying next year if I don't get any offer.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: very high on the wait list for a first year fellowship Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comment: So happy.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Started thinking about applying next year if I don't get any offer.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: California dreaming...
  • Institution: Harvard Kennedy School of Government Public Policy Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/03/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: 3rd reject this week.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/08/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance PhD Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comment: 9th straight rejection. Only Princeton rejection is left, and I'll be relieved after that.
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: End of the season for me (with implicit rejections from Harvard, NYU). I'm happy for my only offer, hoping funding comes through.
Waitlists:

lostworld21 2011:
Institution: Yale
Program: Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: Obviously not
Notification date: Feb 17
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: nope
Comments: 8 more .. chances seem to have dwindled greatly!
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Obviously not Notification date: Feb 17 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: nope Comments: 8 more .. chances seem to have dwindled greatly!
  • Institution: UPenn Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Umm no Notification date: Feb end Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: I have no hope at all
  • Institution: UC Berkeley & UCLA Economics Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Ummm .. 4 to go
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 11th March Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Blah
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 12th March Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Not surprised
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 12th March Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Done with all my results .. scored a dismal zilch. No news from Harvard or NYU .. mails must be coming in soon .. drat
Waitlists:

kida 2011:
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 02/16/2011
Notified through: email to check site
Posted on GF: no
Comments: sad to start with rejection..
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: accepted
Funding: yes
Notification date: 02/22/2011
Notified through: email to check site (yesterday department also sent email with funding details)
Posted on GF: no
Comments: soooo happy
Institution: Northwestern
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: accepted
Funding: yes /edit: called them and apparently my first email with details on funding got lost... /
Notification date: 02/23/2011
Notified through: no notification, checked site after seeing post here
Posted on GF: no
Comments: yay!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: email to check site (yesterday department also sent email with funding details) Posted on GF: no Comments: soooo happy
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: accepted Funding: yes /edit: called them and apparently my first email with details on funding got lost... / Notification date: 02/23/2011 Notified through: no notification, checked site after seeing post here Posted on GF: no Comments: yay!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: very very happy
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: speechless...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: email to check site Posted on GF: no Comments: sad to start with rejection..
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: email GC: no Comment: oh well
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification Date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Very nice letter though
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: and with this I got all my decisions (except the implicit rejections from Harvard and BU), good luck to all those still waiting!!
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: - Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: via email Posted on GC: no Comment: finally a decision... I thought it will never come
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: waitlisted Funding: - Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: I cannot believe it, wow...

growth 2011:
Institution: UPenn
Program: Phd in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/24/2011
Notified through: Website
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Expected result. I still don't know why I applied there in the first place.
Institution: LSE
Program: MSc Economics (research)
Decision: Accepted (conditional offer)
Funding: No
Notification date: 02/24/2011
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Happy but I can't fulfill all the conditions. Have to negotiate with the admittion committee.
Accepts:
    Accepted (conditional offer) Funding: No Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Happy but I can't fulfill all the conditions. Have to negotiate with the admittion committee.
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics (research) Decision: Accepted (conditional offer) Funding: No Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Happy but I can't fulfill all the conditions. Have to negotiate with the admittion committee.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $-$$, no obligations first year, TA or RA 2-4 Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comment: Very, very happy!!
  • Institution: University of Oxford Economics Mphil Decision: Accepted Funding: No idea...probably not Notification date: 03/16/2011 Notified through: Snail Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Very very happy with this one
Rejects:
  • Institution: UPenn Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected result. I still don't know why I applied there in the first place.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comment: At least a decision. Heard of 3, waiting on 14.
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Penn State University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: finally the answer..
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail to check status Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Snail Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally indeed!
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection FUnding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments:
  • Institution: Boston University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection FUnding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments:Mass email, I could see the address of other 100 students
Waitlists:

ahasuerus 2011:
Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Program: Ph.D. in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: February 24, 2011
Notified through: website - I checked after seeing the rejections on this forum
Posted on GC: no
Accepts:
  • Institution: Cornell University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Acceptance Funding: No. "[...] I regret that the University cannot offer you any financial assistance. With around 720 applicants, we can only afford to offer aid to 30f the total. We cannot respond as generously as we would like to all the excellent applicants who need aid." Notification Date: March 23, 2011 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I am delighted to finally have an acceptance after so many rejections, but the lack of funding is a disappointment. I will have to explore a bit to see whether or not it will be prohibitive. However, I noticed that other Cornell acceptances said something about "no funding for five years" - was the five years actually stated, or was it inferred? My letter says nothing about any time frame - only that they cannot offer me aid.
Rejects:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: February 24, 2011 Notified through: website - I checked after seeing the rejections on this forum Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of Chicago Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Disappointing, but obviously it is a competitive school. I am more distressed now because people were getting waitlisted at Carnegie Mellon, and I haven't heard from them.
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: I could use some positive news...
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: IIRC, their Ph.D. program in the Business School includes Economics Ph.D.s but other subjects as well. I think that their class size includes all those fields, so it was more competitive for an Economics spot than I realized.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 (the decision is dated on the website March 21, 2011 but the email was sent this morning) Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: This is getting more depressing... oh well.
  • Institution: New York University Ph.d. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Based on all the NYU discussion, I figured it would probably go this way. I am disappointed, but more because I only have two shots left than because I expected this to go otherwise.
  • Institution: Vanderbilt University Ph.D. in Law and Economics Decision: Rejection FUnding: N/A Notification Date: 03/24/2011 Notified Through:Email response Comments: That's my last response. 1/8. But I have requested some clarification about this one.
Waitlists:

Pinkee 2011:
My apology for posting late too.
Institution: Penn State
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Full fellowship
Notification date: really early
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comment: One of the earliest decisions.
Institution: UC Berkeley
Program: PhD in ARE
Decision: Recommended for admission
Funding: Nominated for competition
Notification date: 02/04/2011
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Email saying a more formal letter would follow, but haven't received it yet.
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/16/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: No
Comment: My top choice, perfect match for my research interests (development and political economy). I thought I had a shot, but got to know the sad result about a week before the official notification, so kinda prepared for it.
Institution: Stanford GSB
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/18/2011
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GC: No
Comment: Super long shot. I actually regret applying...
Institution: Penn - Wharton
Program: PhD in Applied Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/22/2011
Notified through: Email to check the website
Posted on GC: No
Comment: I think my research interests do not really match.
Institution: Penn
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 02/24/2011
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comment: One of my top choices. Hoping for the best.
Accepts:
    Accepted Funding:
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full fellowship Notification date: really early Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: One of the earliest decisions.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley ARE Decision: Recommended for admission Funding: Nominated for competition Notification date: 02/04/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: Email saying a more formal letter would follow, but haven't received it yet.
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: One of my top choices. Hoping for the best.
Rejects:
    Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comment: Super long shot. I actually regret applying... Institution: Penn - Wharton Program: PhD in Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: Email to check the website Posted on GC: No Comment: I think my research interests do not really match. Institution: Penn Program: PhD in Economics Decision:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comment: My top choice, perfect match for my research interests (development and political economy). I thought I had a shot, but got to know the sad result about a week before the official notification, so kinda prepared for it.
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comment: Super long shot. I actually regret applying...
  • Institution: Penn - Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: Email to check the website Posted on GC: No Comment: I think my research interests do not really match.
  • Institution: Duke University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: Expected.
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Long shot.
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Long shot.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments:
  • Institution: UMD Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
Waitlists:
    Waitlisted Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: One of my top choices. Hoping for the best.
  • Institution: UMich Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Yes, if accepted Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: A bit confusing letter.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/5/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: 3 wl's in a row... a bit disappointed

econfin2011 2011:
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 02/16/2011
Notified through: email to check letter on the website
Posted on GC: no
Comment: First result. First rejection. This hurts!
Institution: UC Davis
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: to be decided before the end of march.
Notification date: 02/17/2011 (unofficial) and 02/28/2011 (official)
Notified through: unnoficial email (at first) and then email to check letter on the website
Posted on GC: no
Comment: First acceptance! Feels good not to be rejected...
Institution: Arizona State University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 5-year Assistantship (TA/RA) + insurance
Notification date: 02/22/2011
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: no
Comment: My two safeties worked out. Hoping for a TOP 20 offer now...
Institution: U Penn
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 02/24/2011
Notified through: email to check letter on the website
Posted on GC: no
Comment:
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: n/a
Notification date: 02/28/2011
Notified through: email to check letter on the website
Posted on GC: no
Comment: Hurts so much! I really liked their department...
Waiting for more 14 results...
Accepts:
    Accepted Funding: to be decided before the end of march. Notification date: 02/17/2011 (unofficial) and 02/28/2011 (official) Notified through: unnoficial email (at first) and then email to check letter on the website Posted on GC: no Comment: First acceptance! Feels good not to be
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: to be decided before the end of march. Notification date: 02/17/2011 (unofficial) and 02/28/2011 (official) Notified through: unnoficial email (at first) and then email to check letter on the website Posted on GC: no Comment: First acceptance! Feels good not to be rejected...
  • Institution: Arizona State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 5-year Assistantship (TA/RA) + insurance Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comment: My two safeties worked out. Hoping for a TOP 20 offer now...
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Wait list Notification date: 3/4/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Great research fit! Hoping funding comes...
Rejects:
    rejection. This hurts! Institution: UC Davis Program: PhD Economics Decision:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: email to check letter on the website Posted on GC: no Comment: First result. First rejection. This hurts!
  • Institution: U Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: email to check letter on the website Posted on GC: no Comment:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: email to check letter on the website Posted on GC: no Comment: Hurts so much! I really liked their department... Waiting for more 14 results...
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: kind of expected...
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: This sucks!
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: -
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Dream school... =(
  • Institution: ColumbiaUniversity Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: This one really hurt!
  • Institution: PrincetonUniversity Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Long shot... expected.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail after I asked about my status Posted on GC: no Comments: And the dream is over...
Waitlists:
    Waiting for more 14 results...
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Wait Listed Funding: ? Notification date: 3/8/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: One more wait list...

fexical 2011:
Institution: USC
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 1 year fellowship, 4 year graduate assistanship
Notification date: 3/2/2011
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Yay
Accepts:
  • Institution: USC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 1 year fellowship, 4 year graduate assistanship Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Yay
  • Institution: University of Texas at Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not mentioned in the Letter Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Email to check the website Posted on GC: No Comments: Hum...
Rejects:
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/29/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GradCafe: No Comments: Emailed them several times asking for a result! Finally got an unofficial rejection and she said she will send me something more formal this week. What a pitty. I could have bought a more decent cellphone than what I own now with the $150 application fee.
Waitlists:

Milo2010 2011:
Rejections:
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: -
Notification date: 2/16/11
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF:
Comments:
Institution: UPenn
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: -
Notification date: 2/24/11
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF:
Comments: A bit shaken, as this is the second reject.
Institution: UC Berkeley
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/2/11
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF:
Comments: As expected. Been told that we tend not to take our own undergrads.
Institution: Northwestern
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/4/11
Notified through: Checked the website.
Posted on GF:
Comments:
Institution: Stanford
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/6/11
Notified through: Mail
Posted on GF:
Comments: The most painful reject thus far. I was hoping not to leave the Bay Area.
Institution: MIT
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/7/11
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF:
Comments: Very much expected. It was a long shot anyways.
Admits:
Institution: UCLA
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Acceptance
Funding: No first year funding.
Notification date: 3/2/11
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF:
Comments: Really not thrilled with the "no first-year funding" part.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Acceptance Funding: No first year funding. Notification date: 3/2/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Comments: Really not thrilled with the "no first-year funding" part.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Unspecified. Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Invitation to open houseonly. Details will come in the official admission letter later.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 2/16/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Comments:
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 2/24/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Comments: A bit shaken, as this is the second reject.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/2/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Comments: As expected. Been told that we tend not to take our own undergrads.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/4/11 Notified through: Checked the website. Posted on GF: Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/6/11 Notified through: Mail Posted on GF: Comments: The most painful reject thus far. I was hoping not to leave the Bay Area.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/7/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Comments: Very much expected. It was a long shot anyways. Admits:
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Quite painful reject. Thought that this would have been within reach. Perhaps my expectations in general were off.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Dream school. Sad it didn't work out.
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: NYU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Finally scrambled up the courage and emailed them...prompt reply.
Waitlists:

marginalised 2011:
Institution: MIT
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/7/2011
Notified through: Email
Posted on GC: No
Comments:
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: U Penn Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Unofficial E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: "your application was judged to be very strong ... but not strong enough"
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/09/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected but still disappointing...
Waitlists:

oikomaniac 2011:
I am a new member. My results below (all funded offers):
Institution: Stanford GSB
Program: PhD in Finance
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Northwestern
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Harvard
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Maryland
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: MIT
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Stanford
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Chicago
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Institution: Columbia
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: yes
Accepts:
    Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Yale Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Duke Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Northwestern Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Harvard Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Maryland Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: MIT Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Stanford Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Chicago Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Institution: Columbia Program: PhD in Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Finance Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
Rejects:
  • Institution: MIT Sloan Finance Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Financial Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Columbia Business Finance & Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: London Business School Finance Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Wharton Finance Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes
Waitlists:


Waitlists:

rthunder27 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BS in Electrical Engineering from Penn State, Math Minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.92 (1 B, assorted A-'s)
Type of Grad: MS in EE from Johns Hopkins, MA in Applied Econ from JHU in progress
Grad GPA: EE: 3.91, Econ: 3.95
GRE: 800Q, 630V, 4.5AW (08/10) / 770Q 650V 5.5AW (08/06)
Math Courses(undergrad): Calc, Multivariate Calc(A), Diff Eq(A), Matrices(A), Linear Programming(A), Game Theory(A), Stats(A), Numerical Computation(A-), Discrete Math-proof based(A)
Math/other Courses(grad)- My emphasis in EE was signal processing, which is pretty much all advanced calculus. Neural Networks (A), Intelligent Algorithms (A), Probability (B), Math of Finance (A), Control Systems (A), Digital Signal Processing(A), Advanced Signal Processing(A), Multidimensional Signal Processing (A), Wavelet Signal Processing (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro (A), Macro (A-), Statistics(A) Econometrics (A+), Game Theory in Economics (A+), Financial Economics (A+), Microeconometrics (A). Macroeconometrics, Macro Forecasting, International Finance
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro(A)
Letters of Recommendation: Strong letters I hope, but from weak recommenders. Undergraduate Thesis adviser (Math Phd, PSU I think), current supervisor (non-academic), and Grad School professor (UVA Econ Phd).
Research Experience: Undergrad Honors thesis on game theory/agent based modeling. Presented preliminary results from an unfinished game theory/behavioral paper on wagering Behavior in "Jeopardy!" at the Stony Brook Game Theory Conference. My current work is at a research lab, but it's not econ focused.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Game Theory, Behavioral Economics/Finance, Discrete Micro
SOP: Strong maybe? I explained my research interests, the road I took in discovering them, and I describe the type of ideas that I have and how to test them.
Concerns: My letter of recommendation could be stronger, but that's a result of access. No RA, for which I am kicking myself, because I could have taken it as an elective in my EE MS program. No clue how adcoms view EE/signal processing (which is very much proof based calc at times)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Stanford GSB Finance ($$$$), UCSD($), uArizona
Waitlists: Columbia (asked to be removed), Kellogg MEDS (implicit, later rejected)
Rejections: Princeton, NYU, Wharton, Booth, Berkeley, UCLA, CMU
What would you have done differently? Geesh, well, for starters, I would have realized my interest in economics earlier than 22 months ago (May 2009). I also regret some of my school choices, I probably should have applied MIT/Sloan instead of UCLA and I definitely should have applied for NSF, since I had a pretty good idea for a proposal, but I didn't learn about it in time. The late interest in economics really made it difficult to get good LORs while working full-time.
In reverse chronological order, I would have taken RA when I had the chance (Spring 2009), taken more than one econ course in my undergrad (2003-2007), potentially taken a different major entirely, and applied back in high school to more schools than just the PSU honors program (2002). But maybe I shouldn't have done anything differently; I got into a top 5 program about which I am very excited, and can lead to a wide variety of future opportunities. And I doubt I would have gotten in if I had a more traditional background. So although I sometimes feel I've wasted the past four years of my life, I did earn 2 masters in that time while saving up enough money to finance an extravagant (by grad student standards) lifestyle for the next 4-5 years, which is something at least.
Accepts:
    access. No RA, for which I am kicking myself, because I could have taken it as an elective in my EE MS program. No clue how adcoms view EE/signal processing (which is very much proof based calc at times) RESULTS: Acceptances: Stanford GSB Finance ($$$$), UCSD($), uArizona
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Finance PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No mention Notification date: Feb 14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: I'm blown away right now
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Letter coming later Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Relieved. This is the school a priori I thought I'd most likely attend. So even though I'll probably turn them down for Stanford GSB, it's just good to know that I wouldn't have been completely shut out if I hadn't had that fluke admit.
  • Institution: u Arizona Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: ?? Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Expected, but appreciated. This was my last minute safety school. I feel pretty good that my self-assessment of likely admits was pretty much dead-on, given this and UCSD (and my implicit waitlist at Kellogg). I will reject this for my completely unexpected Stanford GSB admit, so I'm glad to be spared a potentially difficult choice between a well-funded uA offer and a minimally funded UCSD offer.
Rejects:
    rejected) Rejections: Princeton, NYU, Wharton, Booth, Berkeley, UCLA, CMU
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 10 Notified through:Email Posted on GC: yes Comments: "Our applicant pool is outstanding and unfortunately we cannot offer admission to all good candidates." Very disappointed, this was one of my top choices.
  • Institution: uChicago Booth MOB Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Slighty disappointed, but I had already convinced myself that Stanford GSB dominates them in my interests, so no biggie.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not unexpected, it was a bad fit, which I realized as I was prepping my SOP for them. I regret not applying to MIT/Sloan instead, but I guess I went on a Cali kick when selecting schools.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Expected, given how things have been trending.I would be feeling incredibly depressed and hopeless right now if it weren't for Stanford GSB.
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not unexpected given the talk of waitlists over the weekend. Strictly dominated by other offer, so only hurts my ego, not my future.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - NA Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: email
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Oh well, I figured that this was the case. They must have read the complaints I posted on this board Stanford it is then!
  • Institution: Kellogg MEDS Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not surprising, I guess I was on their implicit waitlist, and they realized that they wouldn't need to draw from it. Overall a bit disappointing, because before decisions started rolling in they were my top pick of schools I thought I had a decent chance of getting. Of course things have changed a lot since then, and I'm happy with the way things turned out.
  • Institution: Columbia GSAS MA in Mathematics of Finance Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 06/22/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check site Posted on GF: No Comments: The Columbia PhD application had the option to also apply to an MA program for no additional cost. I figured why not, so I checked that box, and submitted to them the same exact SOP as I did to Economics. I don't particularly care, since I've accepted an offer elsewhere, but I am amused because I thought I was finished with getting rejection letters.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Columbia (asked to be removed), Kellogg MEDS (implicit, later
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Full Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : yes Comments: My very first wait-list, I'll probably ask to be removed when they ask later.

goose88 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 15 undergrad, Top 30 Econ PhD
Undergrad GPA: 3.5/3.76 for econ
Type of Grad:n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 620V, 4AW
Math Courses: Calc(I-III: B+,B-,B-), Linear Algebra(B+), Intro to proofs(A-), Real Analysis(A), Lebesgue Integration (In progress with an A so far)
Econ Courses (grad-level):
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro and Macro, IO, Property Rights, Intro and Applied Econometrics, Game Theory etc. (all A-/A's except for one B)
Other Courses: MATLAB(in progress)
Letters of Recommendation: All econ PhDs...2 well Known professors (one Stanford and another from Rochester), and one ok recommendation (Stanford)
Research Experience: Award winning Honors thesis, summer fellowship
Teaching Experience: Teaching Assistant for a intro level macro class
Research Interests: Development econ, Applied Micro/IO
SOP: Good but didn't bother to customize it for each school...highlighted my diverse background
Concerns: Weak GPA and Math grades...I was not the best student for the first two years of my college career and my grades suffered...hopefully they can also see the radical change in my grades from B's to A's
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Northwestern($$), WUSTL($$), ASU($$), UWO-PhD stream MA($$)
Rejections: Brown, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, NYU, Queens, Rochester, Stanford, U Minnesota, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, U Wisconsin, Yale
Withdrawn: Columbia, Purdue
Attending: Northwestern
What would you have done differently? So, so many things. I think I was ridiculously lucky given how marginal my profile looks (but I promise, I am not as bad as I look on paper)
i) I would have started out as an Econ major instead of waiting till junior year to switch out of the Business school (no offense to business majors but that place drained my soul and made me super lazy)
ii) I would have taken my Calculus classes seriously or at the very least attended them for more than the first week
iii) I would have taken some more stats classes than the basic courses such as Stochastic Processes or Probability Theory
iv) I would have done more research/get to know more professors but then again, this is tied to (i)
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Northwestern($$), WUSTL($$), ASU($$), UWO-PhD stream MA($$)
  • Institution: Arizona State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No info on funding yet Notification date: 03/01/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comment: Some good news finally
  • Institution: Washington University (WUSTL) Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship ($$) Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Feeling better already
  • Institution: University of Western Ontario Economics, Masters (doctoral stream) Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/09/2011 Notified through: Personal call Posted on GC: yes Comment: Good to have options
  • Institution nstitution: Northwestern Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted, off of the waitlist Funding: more info next week Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: YESSSSSSSS!!! Hopefully, I will get something for the first year.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Brown, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, NYU, Queens, Rochester, Stanford, U Minnesota, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, U Wisconsin, Yale Withdrawn: Columbia, Purdue
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: I seriously overestimated my chances.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: via email Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Nicest rejection letter so far
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Worst Rejection Letter Ever!
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: postal mail Posted on GC : no Comments: SHOCKER...not
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: Somewhat surprised but could not care less
  • Institution: NYU Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/18/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: oh well
  • Institution: Brown Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/18/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: meh
  • Institution: Wisconsin Econ PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 03/18/2011 Notified through: postal Posted on GC: No Comments: Brutal day oh and a postal rejection from UCLA just in case I didn't get the message from their email rejection
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Wait list Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail, said it is an unofficial notification and the official one will come later. Posted on GC : yes Comments:Second unofficial wait list but still happy

FromTheHip 2011:
Well, time to throw out my profile, which I suspect will make my results a source of hope for many with mediocre undergraduate GPAs.
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS in a science field at a highly-ranked U.S. university
Undergrad GPA: 3.34/4
Type of Grad: Part time classes at a top-5 econ program
Grad GPA: 4.0/4
GRE: 800Q, 700V, 4.5AW
Math Courses: Linear Algebra (A), Multivariable Calculus (A), Vector Analysis (B), Differential Equations (A-), Real Analysis (B+)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Two semesters of core micro (A/A), both grades near the top of the class
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro (A-), Intro Macro (A-), Intermediate micro (A-), Intermediate Macro (A-), Two term theoretical econometrics course (B/B+)
Other Courses: A lot of very quantitative science courses.
Letters of Recommendation: All three were economists with tenure at a top-5 econ program and PhDs from top programs. One was a professor from my core micro who talked about my coursework, while another was my long-time boss (see below). The third worked as my advisor on an independent project.
Research Experience: Two years as an RA and an independent research project (still ongoing).
Research Interests: Resource/environmental, development, game theory, IO. Statement focused on resource, game theory, and development.
SOP: Fairly long. I’ve spent some time outside of undergrad and was not an econ major, so I spent a bit of time explaining how I’d come to be interested in economics and putting my non-economics accomplishments into context.
Other experience: Several years work experience before starting my economics career
Concerns: Non-economics background, low undergraduate grades
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Cornell (no $), Georgetown ($), Iowa State ($),LSE ($), Penn State ($), Rochester ($), UC-Davis ($), UC-San Diego ($), UC-Santa Barbara (no $), University of British Columbia ($), University of Colorado ($), UPenn (initially wl for $, then $), University of Wisconsin ($), Yale ($).
Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Brown, Caltech, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Duke, Harvard, Minnesota, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
Waitlists: BU (withdrew), Columbia (withdrew), MIT (eventually rejected)
Withdrawn: University of Wyoming
Attending: Yale
What would you have done differently? Gotten better undergraduate grades and started as an economist sooner.
Other Comments: Given where I was coming in, I’m pretty ecstatic about my results. There was a lot of variance in my admits, and I’m grateful to all the programs which were willing to take a chance on me.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Cornell (no $), Georgetown ($), Iowa State ($),LSE ($), Penn State ($), Rochester ($), UC-Davis ($), UC-San Diego ($), UC-Santa Barbara (no $), University of British Columbia ($), University of Colorado ($), UPenn (initially wl for $, then $), University of Wisconsin ($), Yale ($).
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Will be decided in March Notification date: Feb 11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Extremely happy about my first acceptance.
  • Institution: UC Santa Barbara Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No mention of funding Notification date: Feb 14 Notified through: website (I checked after seeing an acceptance up at GC) Posted on GC: no Comments: I suspect decisions are generally available, even though an e-mail notification hasn't been sent yet.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: To be announced (but they fund everyone, so it seems a safe bet) Notification date: Feb 15 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Um, yeah, I'm pretty happy
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Very high on the waitlist for 1st year fellowship Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: LSE Economics MRes/PhD (track 1) Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: yes; 3 years TA, 2 years Fellowship Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA-ship Notification date: 03/01/2001 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of British Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Sorry, slow to post this one. Excited though - looks like another option which will solves my two-body problem!
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted? Funding: No idea? Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Got an e-mail with an invitation to visiting day and a second congratulations on admission. I never got any sort of notification the first time around, so I'm just guessing.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Will get a letter next week Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of Colorado - Boulder Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA+Fellowship Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Brown, Caltech, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Duke, Harvard, Minnesota, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
  • Institution: University of Minnesota PHD economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Duke PHD economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Chicago - Booth School of Business Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Guess I picked the wrong week to quit smoking... (Airplane reference for the humorless)
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 (letter dated 3/5) Notified through: post Posted on GC : no Comments: Guess I picked the wrong week to quit drinkin'... (Airplane reference part 2 for the humorless)
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BU (withdrew), Columbia (withdrew), MIT (eventually
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Please pardon the interruption -- when NYU/Stanford rejects come out, we will return to your regularly scheduled Airplane-based programming.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: BU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no

SubEffect 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 5 US liberal arts college.
Undergrad GPA: overall 3.89, with about the same in econ/math and a strong upwards trend since freshman year
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800 Q 720V 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Modeling (A), Math Stats I (A), Math Stats II (A), Differential Equations (A), Data Analysis (A), Real Analysis (B+), Topics in Analysis: Dynamical Systems (A+), Senior Research Project (A) [freshman year: Honors Linear Algebra (P), Honors Multivariable Calc (B)]
Econ Courses (PhD-level): NA
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro (A), Advanced Micro (A/A-), Intermediate Econometrics (B+), Adv Econometrics (A), Polit Econ of Africa (A), Economic Development (A+/A), Public Policy Evaluation (A), Experimental Economics (A+), Behavioral Economics (A), Senior Research Project (A+), [freshman year: Int. Macro (A-), International Polit Econ. (A-)]
Other Courses: Nothing too useful, except for Comp Sci (A+).
Letters of Recommendation: 1) prof with MIT PhD, took two high level classes with and talked a lot about research ideas; 2) assistant prof with Berkeley PhD, did independent research and took three classes with; 3) prof at top policy school who I worked for. From my NSF feedback, it sounds like they were all good, though the ones from my undergrad profs were probably stronger.
Research Experience: JPAL field RA for a year; RA for a prof at a top 5 econ for a summer; did independent research project with a prof at my school; thesis for my math major, which won best paper award in department; separate thesis-like econ paper, which won best paper award in my department
Teaching Experience: TA for Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Econometrics
Research Interests: Development, Behavioral, Auctions, tons of different applied micro topics
Statement of purpose: Probably fine.
Other: Can't think of anything
RESULTS:
Attending: Yale
Acceptances: NSF, Yale ($$, off waitlist), Berkeley ($, off waitlist), Cornell ($), Brown ($)
Waitlists: MIT, Chicago Booth, Columbia
Rejections: Harvard, Princeton, NYU
What would you have done differently? I spent a long time thinking about this, especially the painful stretch between the first wait list and getting the NSF. My school has had really good placement in the past, and my profs had been pretty excited about my chances at top 5 schools, so letting them down was a bit of a bummer. With another year at JPAL, especially at the Cambridge office, or taking real analysis 2 to get the A , maybe I could have been a contender at M/H? Still, I'm pretty eager to start working on my own research, so wouldn't have wanted to take more time off beforehand; this also lets me be near my girlfriend, which is a high priority. The one thing I would change is to apply to more business PhD programs, but Yale was my third choice behind the Cambridge schools, so I am very happy to be going there. Since they do a lot of behavioral/dev combined, it might even be a better fit for my interests than the others.
A couple of people have asked for advice on the NSF. It didn't end up helping me too much with admission (since Yale would have worked out anyway), so I feel kind of bad getting it when it might have helped someone else, but it did get me into Berkeley. Jeeves and others have a lot of good things to say, so I'll just focus on three things.
First, working at JPAL/doing a proposal on development topics is clearly a huge advantage. JPAL produced at least 200f the NSF's this year, which is just absurd. All three my reviewers mentioned it, and two included it in their comments on both intellectual merit and broader impacts. Second, don't be bashful about multiple applications. I put out feelers in a proposal last year, and the comments were extremely helpful in succeeding this time around. Even if you're rushing to finish it, you'll be able to get a sense of what they think of your idea. Third, just follow their criteria for broader impacts. In your personal statement, you can dedicate a paragraph to each one individually; make their lives easier in checking off excellent for each one. Non-econ related things, such as tutoring or mentoring other students is looked upon favorably, especially if you plan to continue doing so. Also, make sure to devote some substantial part of your research proposal to broader impacts, they look for that too: I had the final half page be just about ways that my proposal could be broadly applied. If you can tie in broader impacts in any way, do it.
Accepts:
    Attending: Yale Acceptances: NSF, Yale ($$, off
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Letter coming later Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Wooooooooo first acceptance! Though they say that funding details won't come out until later, so a little nervous about that...
  • Institution: Brown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20.5k stipend +3.5k summer stipend + tuition waiver, health insurance, etc. Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Email to check Website, letter posted Posted on GC: No Comments: First fully funded offer (except maybe USCD?)! So pretty happy. Email came at around 9:25am EST, last initial is W.
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Sage Fellowship: 22.25k stipend +4.7k summer stipend + tuition waiver, health insurance, etc. Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Personalized email, including a follow-up email from one of the professors with whom I'd be interested in working. Posted on GC: No Comments: What a weird (great) day: two fully funded offers after months of wait lists/nothing. I'm guessing the Cornell offers might be rolling out slowly because they seem to be quite personalized...good luck to everyone else who applied!
  • Institution: NSF cash money Decision: Accepted Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email from the director, results are available here: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/Aw...oadAwardeeList Posted on GC: no Comments: I almost teared up in the office, just so so happy after all of this uncertainty (and surprised to get it at such a late hour). Congrats to all the other winners!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted, off of the waitlist Funding: NSF covers first three, Berkeley gives tuition + 16k in the fourth and TA/RA in the fifth. Notification date: 04/05 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Praise God. I'm pretty ecstatic, best of luck to those still waiting...
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: It's coming, but should be the full 37k a year Notification date: April 13 Notified through: E-mail, he would have called but knew I was asleep Posted on GC: No Comments: So, so, so happy, I definitely plan on attending.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Princeton, NYU
  • Institution: MIT Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected off of waitlist Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/15/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Cool, now I can accept at Yale and not have to stay up too late.
Waitlists:
    waitlist), Berkeley ($, off waitlist), Cornell ($), Brown ($) Waitlists: MIT, Chicago Booth, Columbia
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: ....? Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: My heart was beating out of my chest when I got the email, but still not too unhappy to get this... but I guess it means the regular admission may be over . Sorry gals/guys....
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail around 3:15 pm in Berkeley Posted on GC: No Comments: I should probably be happy, but kind of feel like always a bridegroom, never a bride: my only official replies have both been wait lists, and last time I applied, I was also put on lots of wait lists! Please be mine, econ grad school, and make me the happiest boy in the world.....
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: At this point, the number of waitlists I am on is pretty absurd (3/3 for schools that have contacted me + 1 implicit rejection). However, I'm not "highly ranked", so this is probably an eventual rejection...
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Now I'm 4-4, no admits or rejects, but only wait lists.... starting to wonder if there is some conspiracy to wait list me everywhere?
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Wait list Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail, said it is an unofficial notification and the official one will come later. Posted on GC : yes Comments: My fifth wait list... out of five notifications. Let's see if I can get a perfect record!

beeconomist 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Math and Economics double major at Maryland
Undergrad GPA: 3.9 overall, 4.0 math, 3.7 economics
GRE: 770Q, 730V, AWA 4.5
Math Courses: Calc II (A+), Calc III (A), Linear Algebra (A-), Differential Equations (A), Intro to Analysis (A), Number theory (A), Probability and Statistics (A), Advanced Calculus (A-), Math of Finance (A), Stochastic Processes (A), Advanced Calculus II (A), Advanced Linear Algebra (A) , Numerical Analysis (IP)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro (A-), Intro Macro (B+), Intermediate Macro (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Econometrics I (A+), Development (A), Honors Thesis I (A), Risk and Uncertainty in Economics (IP), Mathematical Economics (IP), Econometrics II (IP), Honors Thesis II (IP)
Other Courses: C Programming (A), Writing for Economics (A+)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 very strong from assistant professor I've RA'd for a year and a half, 1 very strong from distinguished professor I've RA'd for a year, 1 semi-strong from professor who is director of the econ honors thesis program
Research Experience: RA for macro professor (1 and a half years), RA for environmental economics professor (1 year), received a grant to complete a math research project, 2 summer research programs for women in mathematics, honors thesis
Teaching Experience: Tutored math for a semester
Research Interests: When I applied, it was macro. Now I'm interested in learning more about public, health, environmental, and agricultural and food policy.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Maryland (graduate assistantship), NYU (fellowship), Penn (waitlist for funding), UVA (fellowship), Duke (1st year tuition), GW (fellowship)
Waitlists: Columbia, Johns Hopkins
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, UNC, Georgetown
Attending: Maryland
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Maryland (graduate assistantship), NYU (fellowship), Penn (
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Yay!
  • Institution: Duke Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: So happy!
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Very high" on the wait list Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: Very happy but hoping funding comes through!
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Graduate assistantship with $18,000/year stipend Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Very excited! Good location for me, and the best funding offer I've received so far.
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 5 year fellowship, $23,622 stipend Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This morning, I received a voicemail from an NYU professor asking if I was still interested in NYU. I called back and said I was. A few hours later, I got an email saying I was accepted!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, UNC, Georgetown
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC : No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: The last decision that I care about (Haven't heard from UNC, Georgetown, or GW). Now I just have to choose!
Waitlists:
    waitlist for funding), UVA (fellowship), Duke (1st year tuition), GW (fellowship) Waitlists: Columbia, Johns Hopkins
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: ? Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC : No Comments:
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: ? Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC : No Comments:

frozenchip 2011:
PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 10 University (Overall, Econ, Math) (top 5 depending on the ranking system)
Undergrad GPA: 3.8 Math + Econ
GRE: 780M/750V/5.5A
Math Courses: Calculus (honors), Analysis (real and complex), Algebra (honors), ODE (mostly A's, couple A-/B+), some other logic type stuff
Econ Courses: Micro (Intermediate), Macro (Intermediate and Advanced), Econometrics (Honors, Topics, Advanced), some random joke topic classes (Population economics, econ of crime, etc) (mostly A's, couple A-)
Other Courses: Statistical Modeling, Probability Theory, Intermediate level CS courses
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Stanford PhD, 1 Harvard PhD, 1 Berkeley PhD (All both supervisors and professors, 2 well known, the 3rd very very well known)
Research Experience: Undergrad Thesis, 3 years as an U-Grad RA, 1.5 year econ consulting (I've heard others complain about this, but I actually run regressions, plan pricing surveys, etc...)
Teaching Experience: Math TA (3 years) for Calculus
Research Interests: IO/Micro/Dev
SOP: Generic (was told to make it as bland as possible by my profs)
Concerns: the couple B+ grades; spent waaay too much time on non-academic activities in college (but I did have a blast)
Other: Facing the academic two-body problem.
Applying to: Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Chicago, Chicago(Booth), Northwestern(Kellogg), Berkeley, NYU, UPenn(Wharton), NYU(Stern)
Accepts:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: To be announced Notification date: Feb 15 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: First notification, first acceptance!
  • Institution: Northwestern - Kellogg Managerial Economics and Strategy (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: phone (unofficial) Posted on GF: no Comments: two acceptances, no rejections yet...
  • Institution: NYU Stern Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: Call Posted on GC: No Comments:
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: First Rejection.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: UPenn Wharton Phd Applied Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: "Please note that you are highly ranked on the Economics waitlist."
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Is this one of those, "You are in if you get the NSF waitlists?"
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Wait list Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail, said it is an unofficial notification and the official one will come later. Posted on GC : no Comments: My fifth wait list too. Thank god Yale accepted me, otherwise I'd be on complete edge!

econger 2011:
Institution: LSE
Program: EME 2y
Decision: Accepted
Funding: no "graduate support scheme" - other available scholarships pending till July...
Notification date: 01/21/11
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: no
Comments: if I don't get any form of financial support, I cannot afford the fees (plus living expenses London!) - so I guess I hope for PhD-admits or other Master-programs, which are more generous
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE EME 2y Decision: Accepted Funding: no "graduate support scheme" - other available scholarships pending till July... Notification date: 01/21/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: if I don't get any form of financial support, I cannot afford the fees (plus living expenses London!) - so I guess I hope for PhD-admits or other Master-programs, which are more generous
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: nothing for the first year, then salary via assistentships plus tuitions but not including the enormous non-residential fee Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: Well... happy on the one hand to get my first admit... but sad on the other hand that I will hardly be capable to finance this...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: sad - but not suprising, since obviously all admits were already made yesterday
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Quite expected - why do they vary so much in how they inform the applicants? Anyway, I think it is very respectful from them to send a real letter as rejection-notification... (esp. seen in contrast to some other universities that obviously think that they are too brilliant to send official rejections at all...)
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Reject Funding: -- Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail (I asked them) Posted on GC : no Comments: Not really suprising
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Reject Funding: -- Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: no Comments: well, at least it's nice that they did answer at all.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Wait list Funding: dunno Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail, unofficial Posted on GC : no Comments: Actually, one of my absolute favourites - so happy to be still part of the race (is this an English saying? anyway...)

jl8 2011:
Institution: MIT
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Admit
Funding: tuition + 30K stipend
Notification date: 3/9/2011
Notified through: E-mail...actually sent an email this morning to admissions since I had heard nothing. Had assumed implicit rejection.
Posted on GC : no
Comments: a relief (edited: a bit too specific)
Institution: Columbia
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Wait list
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/9/2011
Notified through: E-mail which said it is an unofficial notification.
Posted on GC : No
Comments: Strange email...W/L because they think we won't come due to better offers? Oh well...
Accepts:
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Admit Funding: tuition + 30K stipend Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail...actually sent an email this morning to admissions since I had heard nothing. Had assumed implicit rejection. Posted on GC : no Comments: a relief (edited: a bit too specific)
Rejects:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Wait list Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2011 Notified through: E-mail which said it is an unofficial notification. Posted on GC : No Comments: Strange email...W/L because they think we won't come due to better offers? Oh well...

GdeltaFsigma 2011:
Institution: JHU
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlist
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/09/2011
Notified through: Email with attached letter dated 3/8
Posted on GC: no
Institution: Columbia
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlist
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/09/2011
Notified through: Unofficial email from Graduate Coordinator
Posted on GC: no
Comment: So happy to finally hear something positive after 10 days' of mental torture!
Does anyone know the likelihood of getting full funding if off the wait list?
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/16/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: sent email to check status.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: JHU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/09/2011 Notified through: Email with attached letter dated 3/8 Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/09/2011 Notified through: Unofficial email from Graduate Coordinator Posted on GC: no Comment: So happy to finally hear something positive after 10 days' of mental torture! Does anyone know the likelihood of getting full funding if off the wait list?
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 16 accepted out of 68 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.81, average GREQ was 800.0.
From the Department webpage in 2010 (please send me a link if this is wrong!)
Most successful applicants to our program have analytic GRE scores above the 90th percentile. Students are advised they should have completed undergraduate linear algebra, probability and statistics, advanced calculus and real analysis to be prepared for classes in the Economics PhD program. Superb reference letters or excellent performance as an undergraduate are considered in the admission process as well...The program receives approximately 700 applications each year. Each year, the department admits about 20 to 25 applicants.
(Source)

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econphd.econwiki.com
Last Updated: 14:58:1, Fri May 11, 2012