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


Acceptances:

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.

barkles 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. double major in Mathematics and Economics from large public US university (top 15 econ)
Undergrad GPA: 3.80 - will graduate summa cum laude
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA:
GRE: 770Q/630V/4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Lin. Algebra and Diff. Eqs. Applied Linear Algebra, Real Analysis I & II, Abstract Algebra I & II, Probability and Statistics I & II, Topology, Stochastic Processes (gpa ~ 3.80)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): 4 intro courses, International Trade, Financial Economics, Econometrics, Game Theory, Industrial Organization, Cost-Benefit Analysis (IP), Macroeconomic Policy (IP) (gpa = 4.00)
Other Courses: 1 class in C++ programming
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ profs, one senior faculty who I took a course with and one junior faculty who I'm doing research with right now, plus a math professor who is my adviser for my honors thesis and who I did a bunch of research for.
Research Experience: Did research in the math department (at first just to do it, ended up being the material for my honors thesis) for a professor at my school. We will try to get the work published eventually; we're working on a draft right now. Also am an RA for an economics professor which began right before I started applying.
Teaching Experience: Just some tutoring, nothing major. Didn't mention it on any apps
Research Interests: Macro (?) Really don't know actually.
SOP: Pretty standard I think. I didn't feel that great about it, but my letter of recommendation writers said they thought it was strong FWIW
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Carnegie Mellon ($$$), UCSD($), UIUC ($$), Iowa ($$), UPitt($$)
Waitlists: Wisconsin*, Princeton (later rejected)
Rejections: MIT, Yale, Northwestern, NYU, Michigan, Rochester
Attending: Carnegie Mellon University
*Based on my short email conversations with the department, I believe I would have been made an offer if I had still been interested. However, I was pretty set on CMU at that point and asked them to withdraw me from their waitlist.
What would you have done differently?
I think there are two main things that hindered me from breaking the top 10. The first was my relatively low GRE quant score of 770. I only took the test once, and by the time I realized that the median accepted student had an 800 GRE Q score at basically every school I was applying to it was too late to try to retake it. The second thing was a couple of mediocre math scores that could easily have been higher: a B in topology and a B+ in Abstract Algebra II. I took both of these spring semester of my junior year, and for some reason I decided to go into mega-slacking mode right before finals. Here's a continuous bijection for you: finals: A -> B. Wah wah. Those were the two biggest "warning flags" on my transcript I think; if I could go back and change any two grades, those would be the ones.
I also wish I would have taken a couple of grad school classes, either in math or in econ. Undergraduate econ classes are for the most part mind-numbingly boring in my experience, with only precious few exceptions.
Overall, though, I'm perfectly happy with my results and with the prospect of attending Carnegie Mellon in the fall.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Carnegie Mellon ($$$), UCSD($), UIUC ($$), Iowa ($$), UPitt($$)
  • Institution:UCSD Economics PhD Decision:Accepted Funding: As above (decision next week) Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Pretty happy with this one, we'll see what the funding's like though.
  • Institution: UPitt Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes - fellowship Notification date: 03/04/2011 Notified through: Email + attachment Posted on GC: yes Comments: Probably won't attend, can't go to flyout as it conflicts with CMU's
  • Institution:Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes - fellowship Notification date: 03/01/2011 Notified through: Email and official notification through postal service on the same day (pretty impressive if it was intentional) Posted on GC: yes Comments: Very happy! One of my top (realistic) choices going in, and they have great funding for all admitted students.
  • Institution: UIUC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship year1, TA yrs 2-5 Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments
  • Institution: University of Iowa Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments:
Rejects:
    rejected) Rejections: MIT, Yale, Northwestern, NYU, Michigan, Rochester
  • Institution:MIT Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Funding: Notification date: Notified through: Posted on GC: Comments: Whatevs
  • Institution: UMich Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/05/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Comments: Meh. Was disappointed, but I probably prefer CMU anyway.
  • Institution:Rochester Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/24 (?) Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Comments: Rochester fit my research interests really well, so it stung a bit to get rejected. But upstate NY gets too much snow anyway :P
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb Notified through: Posted on GC: Comments: Whatevs.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Wisconsin*, Princeton (later
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Waiting List Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: I want to get in SO BAD! Have some other good offers, but I mean c'mon...it's princeton.
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:"The applications are read by two faculty members and your application was rated in a category that is normally well above the line for admission, and indeed on the bubble for financial support. But this is very far from a normal year."

dobrin 2011:
Institution:Carlos 3 de Madrid
Program: Economic Analysis MSc
Funding:YES
Notification date:Feb 17
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Well, not bad
Accepts:
  • Institution: Tinbergen M.Phil. Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: partial(only tuition) Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Even with full funding i would have rajected it.
  • Institution: University of Pittsburgh Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: waitlisted( I think??) Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: My first Ph.D admit ... very happy
Rejects:
  • 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: the same
Waitlists:

bea 2011:
Institution: Boston College
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: RA-ship $16.5K
Notification date: 3/1/2011
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments:First acceptance, very happy!
In: Toulouse M1, Boston College Out: Yale, Duke, Virginia, Rochester, Carlos III MA Waiting: 10 PhDs and a couple of MAs
Accepts:
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: RA-ship $16.5K Notification date: 3/1/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments:First acceptance, very happy! In: Toulouse M1, Boston College Out: Yale, Duke, Virginia, Rochester, Carlos III MA Waiting: 10 PhDs and a couple of MAs
  • Institution: USC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notification date: 3/1/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments: In: Toulouse M1, Boston College, USC Out: Yale, Duke, Virginia, Rochester, Carlos III MA Waiting: 10 PhDs and a couple of MAs
  • Institution: Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $$$ Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: In: Pittsburgh, Boston College, USC Out: Yale, Rochester, Duke, Virginia Waitlist: UCSB Waiting: 8 more
Rejects:
Waitlists:

Seiryu 2011:
Institution: U of Pitt
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Pending
Notification date: 3/7/11
Notified through: email from DGS
Posted on GF: yes
Comments: Thrilled! I thought I would never get an admission :' ) (GRE 750/490/4.5)
Accepts:
  • Institution: U of Pitt Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Pending Notification date: 3/7/11 Notified through: email from DGS Posted on GF: yes Comments: Thrilled! I thought I would never get an admission :' ) (GRE 750/490/4.5)
Rejects:
Waitlists:


Rejections:

urbanecon2011 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics and Math Major from a non-Ivy research university in New England
Undergrad GPA: 3.56/4
Type of Grad:
Grad GPA:
GRE:800 math/720 verbal/5.5 writing
Math Courses: A bunch but my grades were all over the place. Linear Algebra, Multivariate, Proofs, Stochastic Calculus, Probability Theory, Statistics, Groups, Introduction to Mathematical Research, Real Analysis I, Differential Equations
Econ Courses (grad-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): 7 Courses with A/A-, three B+s
Other Courses: Odds and ends. Spent a semester abroad
Letters of Recommendation: Mostly unknown, but one is from a math prof for whom I did an inspired bit of research on Catalan numbers.
Research Experience: Wrote one paper where I was a single author, still being reviewed for publication. Research assistant on a paper that was published in a peer review journal on law and economics.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Urban economics and all related fields. Passing interest in several other areas, such as econometrics and labor economics.
SOP: Nothing extraordinary, I don't think, although as a native speaker of English with a few writing awards under my belt, I suspect mine would read a bit better than most.
Concerns: Where to start. I was often distracted and unfocused as an undergrad, so I didn't do extraordinarily well in either major compared to most who are applying for economics Ph.D. programs. None of my recommenders are particularly famous. My post-college life has been pretty productive, however, and my GRE scores are where they should be, so I think that should help me.
Other:
Applying to: UCSD, Brown, BC, UIUC, Pitt, Irvine, and Syracuse Ph.D., and Cornell's city and regional planning MA as a backup.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UC Irvine, Cornell City & Regional Planning Masters
Waitlists: Boston College, Syracuse (sort of, anyway)
Rejections: UCSD, Brown, UIUC, Pitt
Attending:: UC Irvine
What would you have done differently?
Two things stand out:
1) Gotten much better grades in math and econ. For both majors, I really did a terrible job of spacing out of my course load appropriately, so I was both unfocused and overwhelmed during a few critical semesters.
2) Gotten to know the department better and sooner. I never had many professors I was incredibly close with until my senior year of college. If I had to do it over again, I would have started forming relationships sooner and maybe gotten even stronger LORs.
Like the poster above me, it's been a wild ride; I have no true regrets about any of it, even through the often frustrating process of realizing I needed two years off to burnish my resume, taking two different jobs (one of which involved a couple of 80+ hour weeks), and writing my own academic paper down to the wire. I am very happy to be going to UC Irvine, and I look forward to moving to California come August.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UC Irvine, Cornell City & Regional Planning Masters
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics Decision: Accepted!! Funding: Fellowship after a few quarters of TAship (Details to be provided later). Notification date: 2/9/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Very pumped. In addition to urban economics, my other area of interest is transportation economics.
  • Institution: Cornell City and Regional Planning MA Decision: Accepted Funding: $6k stipend Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: With my UCI PhD acceptance, I will almost surely decline this offer, unless UCI doesn't follow through on their funding.
Rejects:
    Rejections: UCSD, Brown, UIUC, Pitt
  • Institution: UIUC Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/16/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Disappointing. I had had several conversations with the head of the economics department there, who seemed to think I had a good shot. On the other hand, one of my recommenders was two weeks late in getting in his letter and I can't help but think that played a role. In: UC Irvine Out: UIUC Wait List: ? Waiting on: UCSD, Brown, BC, Pitt, and Syracuse.
  • Institution: Brown U Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email to check Embark website. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: This one stings. Brown was my top choice - I really wanted to work with Nathanael Baum-Snow.
  • Institution: University of Pittsburgh Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Although I've already accepted at Irvine, never fun to be rejected. Oh well, as much as I love the Cathedral of Learning, my allergies will thank me for moving to SoCal
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/02/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Hate to be the one that opens up UCSD's rejection round, but here it is.
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/25/2011 Notified through: US postal service Posted on GC: no Comments: Confirming what I was told by the people at BC - rejected off of the waitlist.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Boston College, Syracuse (sort of, anyway)
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision:Wait Listed Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Actually, pretty happy to be on the wait list. Better than a rejection!

oleador 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA International Economics, unknown Eastern European school
Undergrad GPA: 3.4/4
Type of Grad: MSc Economics, Barcelona GSE
Grad GPA: 6.78/10
GRE: 780Q, 560V, 3.5AW
Math Courses: Advanced math for economists(B) one year course which includes uni- and multivariate calclulus, linear algebra, difference and differential equations, set theory and basic topology, intro to real analysis; Probability and Statistics (B), Theoretical Statistics (A), Optimization (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro theory (D ), Advanced Micro theory (A some improvement over micro ), Econometrics (B), Advanced Econometrics I (C), Macroeconomics (A), International Economics (B), Experimental Economics (B), Econ growth (A).
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Microeconomics (B), Macroeconomics (B), other standard courses
Letters of Recommendation: All from BGSE, should have been quite good.
Research Experience: Macroeconomic research analyst at an investment bank (2.5 years)
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, international economics and finance, economics of information
SOP: Standard, focused on research interests and ideas
Concerns: Many My profile has many drawbacks as you can see.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: U Houston ($$), Warwick (no $)
Rejections: Maryland, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, LSE MSc, UBC MA, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, McGill, Simon Fraser, WUSTL, USC
Attending: University of Houston
COMMENTS:
I realized that I want to do a PhD only after I finished my BA and started working. If I knew this since my first year of undergrad I would study much harder and would have a much better GPA. To some extent getting an MSc from a top European school helped me, though my performance there was quite mediocre (due to poor undergrad preparation). I have made a large progress by now and studied a lot on my own, so now I am confident that now I am well prepared to study at a PhD level.
Finally, given my terrible profile, it's good that I got into U of Houston, which could not be a top school, but fits my interests and has quite decent placement.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: U Houston ($$), Warwick (no $)
  • Institution: University of Warwick Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: not mentioned, I suppose I should apply for it separately Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: First admission!!! Extremely excited!!!
  • Institution: University of Houston Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: April 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Hoping for funding...
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, LSE MSc, UBC MA, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, McGill, Simon Fraser, WUSTL, USC
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: website Posted on GC: no Comments: expected
  • Institution: Emory University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: LSE MSc in Economics (Research, L1U3) and MSc in Economics (L1U1) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GradCafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: UBC MA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/17/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: University of Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Simon Fraser University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: April 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Washington University St. Louis (WUSTL) Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: April 13 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: expected
  • Institution: University of Southern California Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/15/2011 Notified through: called them to find out my status Posted on GC: yes Comments: Finally the uncertainty is over. Going to Houston!
Waitlists:

Chevrox 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: State flagship
Undergrad GPA: 3.68
Type of Grad: Non-degree (part time classes while working)
Grad GPA: 3.66
GRE: V650Q800W4.0
Math Courses: Very limited; took AP Calc I&II in high school; intro statistics (A-) and into econometrics (A) only in college; and Calc III (A+), Math methods in Econ (B+), and linear algebra (right now) after college
Econ Courses (grad-level): Macro, math methods
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): 2 micro, 2 macro, 2 environmental, 1 natural resources, 3 public finance, 1 developmental, among others
Other Courses: Second major was French and Spanish; took 1 accounting class
Letters of Recommendation: 2 professors from undergrad econ department and 1 from a former manager from a well-known financial services company
Research Experience: was a volunteer at a medical lab
Teaching Experience: taught classes at the company where I'm working
Research Interests: local environmental regarding habitat destruction due to land/resource use, alternative energy, environmental legislation, open to secondary concentration in public finance and developmental economics
SOP: Got a really bad review from one of the letter of recommendation writers which prompted a semi-rewrite. Realized what they are but couldn't part with some cheesy cliches that are too dear to me. One paragraph dedicated to justifying wanting to attend each school. Identified general learning and research goals. Identified unique situation (working while taking more math classes)
Concerns: have 1 non-academic letter of recommendation; not enough math; so-so undergrad grades; typos in SOP sent to 2 schools; generally didn't research enough prior to applying
Other: TOEFL ibt R30/L30/S30/W29 (only a couple schools required it despite undergrad in US); having been working FT for almost 3 years since undergrad; native of China
Applying to: UTAustin, UPitt, Purdue, CUBoulder, UOregon
RESULTS:
Acceptances: CUBoulder (no$), Uoregon ($?)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: UTAustin, UPitt, Purdue
Pending: none
What would you have done differently?
1. Should have applied to more schools. I picked 5 public schools on a ranking gradient from the Association of American Universities and thought it would have sufficed. I wasn't wrong, but I probably would have had a much better chance at funding if I applied to at least 10.
2. More math! I took Calc I & II in high school and didn't take Calc 3 until 2 years after graduating college. The only math class I took during my undergrad was statistics, and at the time I was applying I didn't even have a grade for either Calc III or Linear Algebra, which are requisites for almost all schools.
3. Should have done a lot more research before applying. I pretty much just winged it; had I known about this forum when I was applying I think I would have done better as well.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: CUBoulder (no$), Uoregon ($?)
  • Institution: University of Oregon Environmental Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Pending Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Still waiting on funding decision and official offer letter
  • Institution: University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: no initial funding Notification date: 03/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: funding not available "at this time" but eligible to apply as early as Spring 2012.
Rejects:
    Rejections: UTAustin, UPitt, Purdue
  • Institution: University of Texas at Austin Environmental Economics Decision: Denied Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/14/2011 Notified through: Email, though I found out earlier by logging into the Status Check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: it was a long shot, though still disappointing
  • Institution: University of Pittsburgh Environmental Economics Decision: Denied Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Would've been nice... Still waiting on Purdue
  • Institution: Purdue Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/21/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments: Couldn't get any concrete response from the grad coordinator and not a single notification until 4/21. From GC it looks like Purdue in general has a pretty bad track record with timeliness and keeping people notified. I had to ask another school to extend the already generous deadline to respond to offer because I had no idea what my standing was... I'm glad it's over though, and kinda glad I'll get to stay in the Mountain West
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

fj217 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BBA Applied Economics/Applied Mathematics (minor) from a mid-sized university in Hong Kong
Undergrad GPA: 3.76/4.00 (#1 in the program)
Type of Grad: -
Grad GPA: -
GRE: Q800 V530 AW4.0
Math Courses: Calculus & Linear Algebra (A); Mathematical Analysis I (A); Mathematical Analysis II (B+); Linear Algebra (A); Statistical Methods & Theory I (A-); Differential Equations (A-); Real Analysis (B); Numerical Methods I (A-); Mathematical & Statistical Modeling (A)
Econ Courses: Principles of Microeconomics (A); Principles of Macroeconomics (A); Intermediate Microeconomics (B+); Intermediate Macroeconomics (A); Mathematical Economics I (B+); Applied Econometrics (A); Money & Banking (A-); International Economics (A); Industrial Organization (A); Aisa-Pacific Economies (A-); Public Finance (A); Money & Finance in China (A)
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: One professor from another local university (Stanford PhD); one regionally well-known professor (UW Madison PhD); one statistics professor with a PhD from Germany. At least the latter two letters are very strong.
Research Experience: Summer research at another local university; honors degree project
Teaching Experience:
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, International Economics
SOP: I put much effort into writing it; mainly explaining my interest in economics and my past learning experience
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: IUB PhD ($$, attending), Albany PhD ($$), Simon Fraser MA ($$)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Cornell PhD, PSU PhD, UPitt PhD, USC PhD, Notre Dame PhD, etc.
Pending: CUHK MPhil
What would you have done differently?
I think Id have done better had I picked Mathematics as my major and Economics as minor. That way not only could I have taken more math courses, but I also could have taken them systematically. Now I often had to taken advanced math courses early on without the basic courses. If I could have taken them systematically I would have better math grades.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: IUB PhD ($$, attending), Albany PhD ($$), Simon Fraser MA ($$)
  • Institution: University of Hong Kong MEcon Decision: Admission Funding: None Notification date: 2/28/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Don't know if institutions in HK are of any people's concern here. Just saw some non-US schools so I thought it doesn't hurt to post anyway...
  • Institution: Simon Fraser University MA Economics Decision: Acceptance Funding: Yes Notification date: 3/10/11 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: University at Albany Economics Decision: Acceptance Funding: Tuition Waiver + 13k Assistantship Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Indiana University Bloomington Economics Decision: Acceptance Funding: Waiting list Notification date: 4/4 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comments: Really hope I can get funding... Update: I was informed of funding for five years at around 2:30am (UTC+8) Apr. 16. Very happy and have already accepted their offer!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Cornell PhD, PSU PhD, UPitt PhD, USC PhD, Notre Dame PhD, etc.
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Applied Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/11/11 Notified through: Email directing to website Posted on GF: No. Comments: My first certain response. Still waiting for the rest.
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/17/2011 Notified through: Email -> website Posted on GF: No. Comments: My reach school.
  • Institution: Duke University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Pennsylvania State University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/7/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Just another rejection.
  • Institution: Iowa State University MS in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/9/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Sad.
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/23 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Iowa (Tippie) Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comments:
  • Institution: University of Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Emory University Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Notre Dame Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/30/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: -
  • Institution: University of Toronto MA Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 5/5/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Not going even if admitted. Got better plans.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

oyvey 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 20 Nat'l University, Math/Econ joint major (BA 2010)
Undergrad GPA: 3.52
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q 570V 4.0AW
Math Courses: Calc III, Diff Eq, Linear Intro to Proof, Real Analysis I, Comp Sci
Econ Courses (grad-level): Price Theory (Audit)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): The whole shebang
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation:
Research Experience: Summer RA, Honors Thesis
Teaching Experience: 1 Semester Micro TA
Research Interests: Behavioral, Experimental
SOP: Pretty Standard, talked about improvements made since last year
Concerns: low-ish GPA bad metrics grade
Other:
Applying to: see signature
Accepts:
  • Institution: American University Econ PhD Decision: Admit!!! Funding: TBD Notification date: 1/29/2010 Notified through: Postal Posted on GF: yes Comments: so excited first admit!!! am out of town and it came through mail so i had to skype my mom to find out lol
  • Institution: George Mason Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No word Notification date: 3/19/11 Notified through: mail Posted on GF: yes Comments: i literally just got back from the american flyout
  • Institution: Georgia State University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Admit FUnding: 18K Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments: WHOO! First funded admit
Rejects:
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Policy and Analysis Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: February 18 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: meh
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: they never updated my wolverine account to say complete
  • Institution: Emory Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/14/11 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Form email, at least expected a soft reject since i'm an alum
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: March/21/2011 Notified through: None, just checked website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Pitt Phd Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Comments: email was signed randall walsh, but from the account of amelia linn...odd
  • Institution: Cornell Phd Economics Decision: reject Funding: na Notification date: 3/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Maybe now the schools I'm waiting on will hurry up and reject me
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Canergie Mellon Economics PhD Decision: waitlist Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: secondary waitlist

JG0626 2011:
Type of Undergrad: Private, Liberal Arts University (U.S. News Top 15 – Regional Universities South)
Undergrad GPA: Overall 3.93; Econ 3.92; Math 4.00
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 780Q 630V 4.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I (A+), Calc II (A+), Linear Algebra (A+), Probability (A+), Intro to Math Reasoning (A+), Calc III (In-Progress), Math Stats (In-Progress), Ordinary Differential Equations (In-Progress)
Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): International (A+), Money and Banking (A+), Investment Theory (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A-), Econometrics (A+)
Other Courses: Business Administration second major
Letters of Recommendation: Two econ professors, 1 math professor
Research Experience: Nothing past a term research paper for my econometrics class
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Interests: Two broad areas: Macro/Financial Economics and Austrian/New Institutional
SOP: I feel confident in the main body of my statement, but I put most of the customized effort into GMU, WUStL, IU, and FSU.
Concerns: The analytic writing score from my GRE is embarrassing. I’m also concerned about my hiatus from academia; I received my B.A. in economics in December 2006 and worked for a brokerage firm for a few years. I have, however, returned to school for what will amount to a math minor equivalent. Hopefully, this signals my commitment to PhD programs.
Other:
Applying to: George Mason, IU-Bloomington, Washington U – St. Louis, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, UVA, UChicago, Boston U, Florida State
Accepts:
  • Institution: Florida State Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No information Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Glad to have the option. I really like the program.
  • Institution: George Mason Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No information Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Snail mail (Letter dated 3/11, postmarked 3/15) Posted on GC: No Comments: Really, really, really pumped. By far, this is my favorite program.
Rejects:
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/7/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Even though it turned out to be a very expected rejection, I'm glad to finally hear something official from one of my ten schools.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/8/11 Notified through: E-mail to check website for decision (sent at 1:11 AM EST) Posted on GF: No Comments: It's nice to know the official decision, but based on the dates of earlier decisions posted here, why does it take weeks to send someone an automated rejection notification? Oh well, eight more to go.
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 3/8/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I can't say this is surprising, but it stings a little more than my other two rejections. I really like WUStL's program. Oh well, seven more to go.
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: Letter dated 3/7/11 Notified through: Snail mail Comments: Six to go.
  • Institution: University of Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Bleh.
  • Institution: Indiana University - Bloomington Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/30/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Response prompted by my e-mail inquiring about status late yesterday.
  • Institution: Vanderbilt University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/30/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Down to waiting for an inevitable BU rejection and GMU's funding decision.
Waitlists:


Waitlists:
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 5 accepted out of 11 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.80, average GREQ was 773.3.
No link to department posted statistics has been added, please let me know if these exist and I will add them.

Links:
Test Magic Econ Forums
econphd.econwiki.com
Last Updated: 14:58:1, Fri May 11, 2012