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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:

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

valelee 2011:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, minor history and arts from Peking University, No.1 in China
Undergrad GPA: 86%
Type of Grad: M.S. Agricultural and Resource Economics from a flagship state university
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 780Q, 530V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus and intro statistics were taught in high school; in college, adv mathematical analysis 1 2, topo, linear algebra, prob theory, adv stats, dynamic programming, things like that (a total of about 30 hours); in grad school, adv stat, topo, real analysis
Econ Courses: In college: pretty much standard as in U.S. schools, and mostly taught by profs with U.S. PhDs (econ 101/102 was taught by a UC Berkeley prof when he was on sabbatical). In grad school: adv micro, two adv metrics, adv environmental field classes
Other Courses: My history and western arts minor classes. Some environmental science classes in grad school.
Letters of Recommendation: four very solid letters
Research Experience: A lot. Undergrad RA since sophomore year, post-undergrad full time RA (10 months), RA in grad school, etc. Have several papers published/accepted in U.S. and in China.
Teaching Experience: In undergrad, TA for intro environmental econ and micro. In grad, econ 101 sort of things for one semester.
Research Interests: Environmental economics and policies, but had also been involved in health, energy and public policies.
SOP: Nothing special, but emphasized my consistent interests and experiences in environmental economics and policies.
Concerns: GRE not so great. Not really solid GPA.
Other: It's my second application cycle. Oh, and I am sort of a writer while in China (I published about 50 articles, prose, short novels, etc., and was editor in chief of a student publication for three years )
RESULTS:
Attending: North Carolina State University
Acceptances: UC Davis ARE (waitlist $), UNC Econ (waitlist $), NCSU Econ ($$$), Wisconsin AAE ($$), Purdue ARE ($$), UMN Applied Econ ($$, declined), Oregon State Applied Econ ($$, declined), Texas A&M AgEcon ($$, declined), VT ARE ($$, declined), Iowa State Econ (waitlist $, declined), Oklahoma State AgEcon ($$$, declined), Washington State Econ ($$, declined)
Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Cornell AEM, UCSD Econ, UCSB Econ
Withdrawn: MSU ARE, Ohio State ARE
No news so far: UFL Econ
Accepts:
    Attending: North Carolina State University Acceptances: UC Davis ARE (
  • Institution: Texas A&M University Ag Economics Decision:Accepted Funding: Will notify me in Feb Notification date: 12/22/2010 Notified through: Postal mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: This one is really fast...
  • Institution: Washington State University Economics Decision:Accepted Funding: Will notify whether it's fellow- or assistantship in Feb Notification date: 1/7 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Virginia Tech Ag Economics Decision:Accepted Funding: Pending... Will let me know in March. Notification date: 1/9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Applied Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: Feb 03 Notified through: Was told to check website Posted on GF:Yes Comments: As expected
  • Institution: North Carolina State University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "Your Major Department Will Contact You" Notification date: Feb 07 Notified through: Website Comments: I thought I should get in...
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Madison Agricultural and Applied Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "At this time, we are still taking stock of our funding situation for next year. We will keep your application under review for funding, and if an opportunity becomes available we will notify you immediately." Notification date: Feb 24 Notified through: Randomly checked online Posted on GC: No way... I will ignore GC... Comments: Yes, I like cheese, beer and ginseng.
  • Institution: Oregon State University Applied Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: Mar 3 Notified through: Email with attachment Posted on GF: Said I will stay away from GC.. XDDD Comments: Glad. I know they have pretty good env&resource people.
  • Institution: Oregon State University Applied Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Roughly 19.5K/ 12 months Notification date: March 08 Notified through: Phone call Posted on GC: No Comments: My second funded admit (I forgot VT)
  • Institution: Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 24.5K for three years, plus 4.05K fellow for the first year Notification date: March 13 Notified through: Email and phone Posted on GC: No Comments: This funding is amazing and crazy. But...
  • Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Agricultural Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 17K Notification date: Feb?? Notified through: Phone. Mail received last week Posted on GC: No Comments: Will decline
  • Institution: Iowa State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: However, I do not think I am not going to wait for them...
  • Institution: Purdue Agricultural Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending. Notification date: 3/16/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Probably waitlisted for funding.
  • Institution: North Carolina State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Updated today. 16k for 9 months and 4k fellowship. TA...?? Notification date: 03/23/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Finally. Would be perfect if it is not TA...
  • Institution: U Wisconsin Agricultural and Applied Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 16K for 9 months Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: A very late offer, I would say. Basically ruled by the UC Davis admit, but a tough choice against NC State.
  • Institution: Purdue Ph.D. Ag Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: RA Notification date: April 8 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Cornell AEM, UCSD Econ, UCSB Econ Withdrawn: MSU ARE, Ohio State ARE No news so far: UFL Econ
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail to check status Posted on GC: no
Waitlists:
    waitlist $), UNC Econ (waitlist $), NCSU Econ ($$$), Wisconsin AAE ($$), Purdue ARE ($$), UMN Applied Econ ($$, declined), Oregon State Applied Econ ($$, declined), Texas A&M AgEcon ($$, declined), VT ARE ($$, declined), Iowa State Econ (waitlist $, declined), Oklahoma State AgEcon ($$$, declined), Washington State Econ ($$, declined)
  • Institution: UNC Chapel Hill Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: April 7 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Interesting... If I go to NCSU, I still can meet UNC folks, I presume.

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

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:

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:

anfield 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 20 Liberal Arts College. Big econ department for a school of its size (but i have no clue about its research reputation though). Econ and Math double major.
Undergrad GPA: 3.69 overall, 3.93 Math, 3.83 Econ
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: None
GRE: 800Q 620V 4AWA
Math Courses: Calc 2, Calc 3, Linear Algebra, Number Theory, Abstract Algebra, Probability (all As), Topology (A-), taking now: Numerical Analysis, Real Analysis, Differential Equations (I expect As, or at least A-)
Econ Courses (grad-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Labor Economics (A), Applied Econometrics (B+), International Econ I (A), International Econ II (A-), British Economy (A-), European Economy (A-)
Other Courses: A bunch of liberal arts type of courses (but not relevant to economics by any means).
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ Prof (one is my thesis advisor and one I RA'ed for a year), 1 Math Prof.
All are senior professors and sort of the most known within my school. I think the two Econ recs will be good, but the Math one is questionable.
Research Experience: 1 year RA for Econ prof in labor, and doing my honors thesis in labor as well.
Teaching Experience: Tutor some Maths for Calc students, but does that count?
Research Interests: Labor and Development
SOP: Just typical I guess, I talked about how I developed my research interests.
Concerns: Low grade in Econometrics (one of my letter of recommendation writer said she would address that in her letter, but that's my only hope)
Other: I definitely need funding in order to attend.
Applying to: Far Reach: MIT, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Yale, Princeton
Less Reach: Maryland, BU, WUSTL, Penn State, Brown, Duke
Realistic: BC, UVA, Canergie Mellon
Accepts:
  • Institution: UVA Economics PhD Decision: Accepted!!! Funding: Will be decided in April Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Just checked the application website today after seeing a few admits here on TM. Obviously the decision was up on the 21st but I never received any email notification about it... Posted on GC: no Comment: First admit. Very relieved, although I need money to attend. And Charlottesville seems like a nice town too
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 02/16/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comment: Was my first result of the season. Expected but still sad.
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comment: Second result. More sad.
  • Institution: Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: not expecting much
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC : no Comments:
Waitlists:

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.

huhansan 2011:
Institution: UVA
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Notification date: 2/21/2011
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: O Well...
Institution: UPenn
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 2/24/2011
Notified through: Website
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: not surprised at all.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: O Well...
Rejects:
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: not surprised at all.
Waitlists:

Liwanyo 2011:
I know I'm late to the party, but:
Institution: Northwestern (Kellogg)
Program: Managerial Economics & Strategy (PhD)
Decision: Accepted
Funding: don't know yet
Notification date: 2/23/2011
Notified through: phone
Posted on GC: no
Comments: my #1 choice!
Institution: Virginia
Program: Economics (PhD)
Decision: Accepted
Funding: don't know yet
Notification date: 2/21/2011
Notified through: e-mail to check grad apply
Posted on GC: no
Comments: none
Accepts:
  • Institution: Northwestern (Kellogg) Managerial Economics & Strategy (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: don't know yet Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: phone Posted on GC: no Comments: my #1 choice!
  • Institution: Virginia Economics (PhD) Decision: Accepted Funding: don't know yet Notification date: 2/21/2011 Notified through: e-mail to check grad apply Posted on GC: no Comments: none
Rejects:
Waitlists:

kautro 2011:
Institution: UC Irvine
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TA some semesters, Fellowship others
Notification date: 2/23/2011
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No.
Comments: First acceptance! Great location.
Institution: Virginia
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted!
Funding: Didn't say
Notification date: 2/26/2011
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No.
Comments: Now I have a choice to make.
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/1/2011
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC:
Comments: Thought I'd get in. Oh well.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA some semesters, Fellowship others Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: First acceptance! Great location.
  • Institution: Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted! Funding: Didn't say Notification date: 2/26/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: Now I have a choice to make.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/1/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Comments: Thought I'd get in. Oh well.
Waitlists:

moerae 2011:
New to forum, so playing catch-up Have been lurking since Spring Break (aka when the waiting got too intense!)
Accepted
Institution: University of Maryland
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Admitted (off the wait list)
Funding: Wait list for funding
Notification date: March 17
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: So happy! Will definitely go if the money situation works out
Institution: University of Virginia
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: ?? have not notified yet
Notification date: Feb 22
Notified through: email to check website
Posted on GF: No
Comments: First admit. Very excited, but thought would hearing about funding by now...
Institution: Rutgers University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: None
Notification date: 2/23
Notified through: snail-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: It was strange; did not hear anything from the Dept. Contact them last week regarding funding and was informed if nothing was included with the acceptance letter, it meant no funding...
Rejections: Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Michigan, Berkley, UCLA, CalTech, Johns Hopkins.
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics Decision: Admitted (off the wait list) Funding: Wait list for funding Notification date: March 17 Notified through: email Posted on GF: No Comments: So happy! Will definitely go if the money situation works out
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: ?? have not notified yet Notification date: Feb 22 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: First admit. Very excited, but thought would hearing about funding by now...
  • Institution: Rutgers University Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: None Notification date: 2/23 Notified through: snail-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: It was strange; did not hear anything from the Dept. Contact them last week regarding funding and was informed if nothing was included with the acceptance letter, it meant no funding... Rejections: Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Michigan, Berkley, UCLA, CalTech, Johns Hopkins.
Rejects:
  • Institution: NYU Ph.d. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: n/a Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified Through:official email Posted on GC: No Comments: sadness. guess i'll just have to live in NYC after getting my PhD
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through: Email Posted on GradCafe: No Comments: Don't even care anymore.
Waitlists:


Rejections:

SASsy 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small Public U (~12K UG & G) comparable to liberal arts college; top 5 party school
Undergrad GPA: 3.38 overall, 3.81 econ, 3.76 Spanish, 3.35 intl studies
Type of Grad: same as UG
Grad GPA: 3.50
GRE: 800Q/760V/4.5W (12/2010)...but 700Q/700V/3.5W (11/2010 - obviously I had to study harder)
Math Courses: Cal I (B), Cal II-IV (As), Foundations (B), Linear Algebra I (B), Intro to Stat Methods (B), Differential Equations I (A), Intro to Math Stats (A), Advanced Cal I-II (As)
Econ Courses: Honors Principles Micro (A), Honors Principles Macro (A), Int Micro (A), Int Macro (B), Honors Global Econ (A), International Trade (A), Game Theory (A), Managerial (A), Econ for Engineers (B), Econ Stats II (A)
Grad Econ Courses: all taken with PhD students, Micro I (A), Macro I (B), Econometrics I (A), Price Theory (A), Managerial (A), IO (A), Math Econ (A), Econ History (A), Math Methods for Econ (B), Stat Methods for Econ and Business (B), three Econ seminars, and a course that I failed 5 years ago due to very odd circumstances...hence the low grad GPA.
Other Courses: 6 senior history courses, 2 senior sociology courses, 1 law school course, several heterodox courses (polisci/history/sociology/philosophy/law) for intl studies; lots of language courses, including graduate level spanish (but other languages as well)
Letters of Recommendation: I used a mix of 5 professors, to reduce the burden on them. 1 prof recommended me to all schools with what I assume was a very strong letter of recommendation. I asked all of my grad-level theory professors (micro, macro, metrics) plus the two professors I had written research papers for (and who had taught many electives to me). None were extraordinarily well-known (to my knowledge) but knew me very well and knew my understanding of applications of econ.
Research Experience: My Formal experience was very limited; At time of application I had just accepted RA job at a university, in an unfamiliar field. Otherwise, had collected my own data for papers and had done all research independently.
Teaching Experience: TA for campus-wide service during MA, more like a math tutor; tutored for 8 years
Research Interests: micro/labor/health, IO, public finance, behavioral, development...isn't it all related on some level?
SOP: It was ever-evolving. The "best" SOP (the one that yielded my Chicago acceptance) was very professional, very direct, and discussed all research papers I had written previously. The others talked more about my one big idea. I also took a more "persuasive" tone in them. All mentioned that I want to teach.
Other: I have won several scholarships and fellowships in the past, for which I think I provided a pretty good ROR on the investment. I also worked 40 hours/week for the last 3 years while bringing my grades up significantly. During this time I made sure to be one of the top, if not the top, students in each class. (Except macro. Damn.) Also my Chicago writing sample was a paper in which I disproved my undergraduate thesis.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Chicago with level one fellowship
Waitlists: Rice
Rejections: Harvard, NYU, Princeton, Northwestern, UT-Austin, Rochester, Georgetown, Duke, Maryland, Cornell, Brown, UVA and LSE
Incomplete: Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Melon, American, George Mason
What would you have done differently?
This is a difficult topic. Obviously I did something right. I also did many things wrong. Points (1) and (2) are changes that would've made me an entirely different person. These are more like life lessons, that required trial and error with my own life to discover. On the other hand, I like to think that if I had only enacted (3) and (4) from below, I would have had a much better application season in spite of my past.
(1) I would have taken my academic destiny into my own hands years ago. I let my course load and academic interests be chosen by well-meaning advisers instead of determining what I actually wanted to learn. Thus I was disinterested in many of my courses, and I underperformed. I also let exogenous factors affect my grades too much. I would have been more mature about accepting life's hardships rather than taking a few semesters to mope about it. I would not have partied so much.
(2) I would have been proactive about research with professors. This problem started with my undergrad thesis. I continually chose "interesting" rather than "executable" topics. My adviser at the time encouraged me to be intellectually curious. I should have asked to continue research under his specialty so the paper would have been easier. Instead, I spent the past 6 years chasing down data about a seemingly irrelevant topic. It makes me unique to have this expertise, but it also makes me OLD.
(3) I would not have experimented with my SOP. Really, what the hell was I thinking? I could've been shut out entirely this year. Clearly I am a strong candidate, but I really shot myself in the foot with the changes I made to my SOP at the end of December. While the SOP may not help an applicant, it surely can hurt him/her; I am a good example. I should've been professional, straightforward, and commanding in all of the SOPs.
(4) I would have planned to rock the GRE by mid fall. I cut it really close by taking the GRE in November and then again in mid December. If I had given myself a little more study time between the two exams, I think I could've aced the verbal and significantly improved my AWA. I took the exam late because I didn't expect to do so well, preventing myself from the possibility of applying to many excellent schools. I applied to Harvard at the last minute, and it was the only Dec. 15 deadline I met. I like to think that if I had taken more time to prepare that application, I'd be going to Cambridge in the fall.
Note: I would not have changed my initial course of study or UG institution. I believe that my background gives me a true appreciation for economics, and without it, I'd be a physicist (true story). I tried out the other social sciences first, as I chased down my interests in foreign cultures and varying governance systems. Writing research papers for other social science courses left me utterly frustrated because I could never prove what I said. My senior thesis left me utterly dissatisfied. Enter economics. It was a natural fit for my data and research. I am proud to say that I am passionate about economics.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Chicago with level one fellowship
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 5 year fellowship Notification date: 3/7/11 Notified through: email from dean of students Posted on GF: yes Comments: WOOT! I thought this day would never come. A good research match (though I'm still waiting for that rejection from the perfect match before I accept).
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, NYU, Princeton, Northwestern, UT-Austin, Rochester, Georgetown, Duke, Maryland, Cornell, Brown, UVA and LSE Incomplete: Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Melon, American, George Mason
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: nil Notification date: 2/22/11 Notified through: email from grad school Posted on GF: yes Comments: meh. I applied because of their reputation in IO, but I study applied micro theory/labor.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: nada Notification date: 2/25/11 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GF: yes Comments: ouch. Our reasearch doesn't match though.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -- Notification date: 3/4/11 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GF: yes Comments: started to worry I was going to be shut out.
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/09/11 Notified through: website Posted on GF: yes Comments: I wanted to go there. Dreamed of going there since I was an undergrad. Research matched the DGS so closely. I have the weirdest record.
  • Institution: UT - Austin Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/9/11 Funding: n/a Notified through: Website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Man, was my judgement way off. Clearly I don't know how to market myself.
  • Institution: LSE Track 1 and Track 2 Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/9/11 Funding: n/a Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected. Never turned in the 1500-word research proposal. It took them long enough.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: I appreciate their promptness, too. The email had multiple fonts though. Everyone else get odd formatting too?
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Snail Mail (Didn't look at the date) Comments: The letter was solely from the graduate school and mentioned something like 8000 total applicants to the grad school. I read that as, "We didn't even send your file to the department." It was expected by now, but still feels like a slap in the face. Until last fall, GTU was my 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: "We regret that we have to disappoint many bright and talented students."
  • Institution: Penn State University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Think they'd send me a few bucks anyway? Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment: I was wondering. The post immediately before mine on GC has almost the same GPA/GRE mix. I thought that was interesting.
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics PhD Decision: (rejected) Funding: rien!! Notification date: 3/14/11 (dated 3/11) Notified through: la poste Posted on GC: ouais Comments: "When you are a skunk, you learn how to hold your breath for a long time." Alors... Thus ends my Pepe le Pew obsession with the Harvard Econ Department. Stay tuned for the sequel in 5-7 years..
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: can i has money n e way? Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: A polite letter. Have been waiting for it for 2-3 weeks though.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: -($80 application fee + $23 ETS score report + some fraction of the favors I inevitably owe my letter of recommendation writers) Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through: Email Posted on GradCafe: Yes, in a sec Comments: Not a surprise at all. It's a nice touch that the email came from the DGS rather than the Dean of the Grad School.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Rice
  • Institution: Rice Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: implied that it goes with an offer Notification date: 2/13/11 Notified through: email from DGS Posted on GF: yes Comments: It was a nice email. Not super attached to the department, but Houston is nice.

geegro05 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS Economics from Small liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.08 (2.6 after 3rd year)
Type of Grad: MA Economics from Directional State Schoool
Grad GPA: 3.85
GRE: 780Q, 410V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III (C, B, A-), Math for Economists (A), Linear Algebra (B), Diff. Eq (A-), Intro. to Proofs (B), Complex Variable (A-), Advanced Calc. I (A), Topology (A), Math Stats I (A-)
Econ Courses (grad-level):Microeconomics I, II (A-,A-), Macroeconomics I, II (A-,A) Econometrics I, II (A,A), Time Series Forecasting (A), Growth and Development (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): tons, all A's and a few B's in the beggining
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from Dept. Chair and Thesis Advisor who I took 2 grad macro classes with, 1 from Prof. who I RA'd for and took 2 grad classes from, and an assistant prof I took grad micro 2 with. all should be decent
Research Experience: RA for 3 professors; working on a paper to be published with thesis advisor
Teaching Experience: TA'd for 4 professors
Research Interests: International Finance, Development, Poverty
SOP: rather informal, mentioned professors I would like to work with
Concerns: low ug grades, low verbal score, unknown letter of recommendation
Other: almost dropped out of college junior year. thanks to the support of a specific professor I turned my act around and started trying
Applying to: UCSC, Georgetown, MSU, JHU, PSU, GWU, UNC, UVA, CUNY, Kentucky, Oregon, Utah, Delaware, Kansas
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCSC($$), Oregon($$), Kentucky($$), Kansas($$), Delaware($$)
Waitlisted: Georgetown
Rejections: PSU, JHU, Virginia
Still Waiting on: UNC-CH, MSU, CUNY, GWU, Utah
What would you have done differently? First off let me say I am going to attend my dream program(UCSC) so what I could've done this cycle is just relax. But overall, I should have gone to a better undergrad, tried harder in school, and made better connections with professors. I was accepted at a top 20 school for my undergrad, but decided to stay close to home and continue dating my girlfriend from high school. While I believe all of these things could have propelled me to a much better program, who knows if I would've developed the same passion for economics and development that I did.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UCSC($$), Oregon($$), Kentucky($$), Kansas($$), Delaware($$)
  • Institution: University of Oregon Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: done by March Notification date: 2/1/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruz International Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 1 quarter Fellowship+1 quarter TA+tuition remission Notification date: 02/28 Notified through: Email Posted on Grad Cafe: Yes Comments: So excited!! This was my top choice so I will for sure be accepting their offer!!
  • Institution: Kansas U Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full tuition waiver and stipend Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: one of my safeties, still nice to get an acceptance though
  • Institution: University of Kentucky Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: they were in the allocation process Notification date: 03/25/2011 Notified through: E-mail from DGS asking how Kentucky ranked to other offers I've received Comments: Nice to get another admission, but replied back that I will be declining.
Rejects:
    Rejections: PSU, JHU, Virginia Still
  • Institution: Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Somewhat expected
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: expected, rather bad fit anyways
Waitlists:
    Waitlisted: Georgetown
  • Institution: Georgetown University Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Full funding if accepted Notification date: 03/01/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comment: This is the only school I would even consider attending over UCSC, and thought I had absolutely no chance of getting in! Turn down your GU offer peoples, conditional on you having a better offer of course

kt253 2011:
Profile:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, B.A. Philosophy (two degrees) - 170s ranked National University, Top 100 Econ PhD program
Undergrad GPA: 3.97 Cumulative, 4.0 in both majors and all math courses (only 1 B, in irrelevant course)
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 770Q, 550V, 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I, II, III (A, A+, A), Linear Algebra (A), currently in Differential Equations and calc-based stats.
Econ Courses: Intro Micro, Intro Macro, Econ Stats, Inter Micro, Inter Macro, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics (in progress), Moral Foundations of Capitalism, Development, Economic History, Economics of Entrepreneurship.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ Professors, 1 relatively recent PhD from Emory (will be co-authoring a paper and starting RA job with him soon), 1 well known professor from Florida State, and a math prof (my prof for Linear Algebra, m.s. from harvard, phd from Wisc)
Research Experience: RA for a professor, research on philosophical debate regarding organ markets and economics behind it
Teaching Experience: Tutored students in various math, econ, accounting, philosophy, and social science courses, TA for an intro level philosophy course.
Research Interests: Public Economics, Political Economy, Development, Microeconomics, Health Economics
Concerns: GRE score, lack of advanced math preparation (Real Analysis, Probability Theory, etc), reputation of undergrad school
Applied to: Carnegie Mellon (Econ and PP), Maryland, U of Virginia, George Mason, Florida State, West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan State, Indiana, Suffolk, UCSD
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UIUC ($), MSU ($$), FSU ($$), Vanderbilt ($), WVU ($), GMU (?), Suffolk ($, already turned down), UKY (turned down before $ offered)
Waitlisted: none
Rejections: Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, UC San Diego, Carnegie Mellon
Still Waiting on: none
What would you have done differently? I would have started taking math way earlier and more often, studied more for the GRE and maybe retaken it, narrowed my research focus a little in my SOP. I would have also applied to better reach schools - better in terms of those that let in more students, and with funding, a couple more 15-25 schools, and less safeties. I underestimated myself since I came out of a less reputable state school, despite my great GPA and adequate GRE scores. Turns out my undergrad institution wasn't quite as damning as I thought it was going to be.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UIUC ($), MSU ($$), FSU ($$), Vanderbilt ($), WVU ($), GMU (?), Suffolk ($, already turned down), UKY (turned down before $ offered)
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes (1st year fellowship, and insurance) Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email with formal acceptance from DGS Posted on GF: not yet Comments: SUPER PUMPED!!! First acceptance and notification for that matter!
  • Institution: michigan state Econ phd Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes, UEF fellowship Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: not yet Comment: very happy!
  • Institution: West Virginia University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/09/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: not yet Comment: Good to have options!
  • Institution: Suffolk University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 03/08/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: not yet Comment: Interesting new program, will check it out.
  • Institution: George Mason Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No word, whatsoever, kind of strange Notification date: 03/11/2011 (date on letter), received 3/17/2011 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC: not yet Comments: would like to find out about funding, will be emailing them
  • Institution: Florida State University Ph.d. in Economics Decision: Acceptance Funding: Fellowship ($$$) Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified Through: Personal email Posted on GC: No Comments: Very nice offer at a program that lines up very well with my interests, will certainly be visiting
  • Institution: UIUC Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 1st year fellowship, TAship years 2-5 Notification Date: 03/23/2011 Notified through: E-mail with acceptance letter attached Posted on GC: Not yet Comments: Very exciting!! I think this may be my highest ranked acceptance yet. I have way too much to think about now.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, UC San Diego, Carnegie Mellon Still
  • Institution: Virginia Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: website, no email, just checked the online app Posted on GC : not yet Comments: first rejection had to come sooner or later
  • Institution: Indiana University, Bloomington Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Not yet Comments: Disappointed, thought I had a good shot after receiving the acceptances that I've gotten to date. Guess it was a fit issue, more than anything.
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics and Public Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/29/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GradCafe: No Comments: Just confirming the already-known
  • Institution: UCSD Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Last school to hear from, kind of a bummer, would have made my decision extremely easy.
Waitlists:
    Waitlisted: none

mgou 2011:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 U.S. Institution
Major: Quantitative Economics
Minors: Math, Statistics
Undergrad GPA: Cumulative 3.47/ Econ GPA 3.8
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA:None
GRE: First take 760Q/450V 4writing…Retake 740Q/480V TBAwriting
Math Courses: Calc I-II(A,A) Math for Economists(Linear Algebra and Multi-variable Calculus) (A),Intro to Linear Algebra (C+), Linear Algebra (B+), Real Analysis II(A),Analysis of Several Variables (B), Intro Prob&StatsI-II-III (A-,B,A-), Stat Method in Finance (A-)
Econ Courses:
Basic EconI-II(B+,A), IntermedEconI-II-III(A,A,B+), Global Econ (A), Intl Trade (A-), Industrl Econ (D), Math Econ (C+), EconometricsI-II-III(B+,A,A-), Game theory (B), Labor Econ (B+), Finance Econ (A), Econ Honors thesisI-II(A-,A), 6 terms of Research (all A's)
Grad Level: (Stats Dept)Stats Methodology I-II(A-,A-), Survey Data and Analysis (IP), (Econ Dept)Business Cycle History(A)
Letters of Recommendation: A great letter from my advisor (Berkeley) whom I worked with for 8 terms. A good letter from the econ honors director (UCLA) who helped guide my thesis and is aware of the research I do. I've taken courses from both econ professors and done well. A good letter from a statistics professor (Washington) whose grad stats class I've taken that can comment on my ability to analyze and interpret data and is also aware of my research I do.
Research Experience: Undergraduate honors thesis. I am coauthoring a paper with my advisor. I have applied for 3 research grants and received three research grants. I presented my work at my university's undergraduate research symposium.
Teaching Experience: Tutored undergraduate calculus for two terms
Research Interests: Economic History, Empirical Macroeconomics.
SOP: tailored for each school I applied to.
Concerns: I studied abroad for a quarter and did poorly in Ind Econ, and Math Econ due to many reasons. I couldn't retake those courses at my home university since I took them abroad...unless I studied abroad again. Instead I decided to take harder math, econ and stat courses to try to compensate for those poor grades. Also, nowhere in my transcript does it formally say I've taken multivariable calculus. My GRE scores also aren't the best. So there is a lot I have to explain in my SOP.
Results:
Acceptances: UC Irvine($) Rutgers(no $)
Waitlists: UW
Rejections: UCB, NWU, GMU, Vanderbilt, BC, UofA, UVA, WUSTL, Emory
Attending: UCI
What would you have done differently?
Ummm...I don't know. I got bad grades when I studied abroad, but I don't regret that at all. GRE probably couldn't have been much better(actually did worse on the retake). Im happy to be going to UCI. As stated in the previous posts, you only need one good admit
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UC Irvine($) Rutgers(no $)
  • Institution: Rutgers Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: application status website Posted on GC: No Comments: Does anyone know where I can find out about funding?
Rejects:
    Rejections: UCB, NWU, GMU, Vanderbilt, BC, UofA, UVA, WUSTL, Emory
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UW
  • Institution: UC Irvine Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 2/18/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments:hopefully I can get off the waitlist

kevinp123 2011:
Type of Undergrad: BS Econ; Top 30 public, not highly ranked in econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.94
Type of Grad: MA Econ, same school as undergrad
Grad GPA: 3.92
GRE: 780Q, 610V, 4.5AW
Math Courses: Multivar Calc (A), Math for Econ (A), Adv. Calc I (A), Lin. Algebra (A), Probability (A)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro/Macro, Development, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Econometrics I,II, Game Theory (A), Corp. Finance (B)
Grad Econ Courses: Micro I,II, Public Finance (A), IO (B)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Chicago, 1 Princeton, 1 Stanford; 1 somewhat famous
Research Experience: Master's Thesis
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT-Austin, Maryland
Waitlists: Initially Maryland
Rejections: Harvard, Chicago, UPenn, Northwestern, Yale, NYU, Stern, UCLA, Michigan, Duke, CMU-Tepper, UVA, VanderbiltWhat would you have done differently? I would have started taking math courses before my junior (and mostly senior) year, especially statistics courses. I think not having any calculus based statistics courses really hurt me (other than probability). I also would not have withdrawn from an honors research course to take and LSAT prep class.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UT-Austin, Maryland
  • Institution: UT - Austin Economics Decision: Accepted! Funding: Didn't say Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No. Comments: First acceptance! Thought I wasn't going to get anywhere after so many rejections.
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not at this time Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Just got off the waitlist. Will probably attend if given funding.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Chicago, UPenn, Northwestern, Yale, NYU, Stern, UCLA, Michigan, Duke, CMU-Tepper, UVA, Vanderbilt
  • 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: Not surprised
  • Institution: Yale Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/19/2011 Notified through: Email 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: Meh, pretty much only applied b/c there was no application fee before Nov. 15. Not unexpected.
  • Institution: Stern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Not Surprised
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Checked Website Posted on GC: No Comments: A bit surprised, honestly. Wouldn't have gone there over my acceptances anyway, unless given a large fellowship. Oh Well.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Initially Maryland
  • 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: First Waitlist, Second non-rejection.

econm 2011:
PROFILE: econm
Type of Undergrad: Double major math (top 20) economics (top 30)
Undergrad GPA: 3
GRE: 800, 590, 4.5
Math Courses: all of them
Econ Courses: intermediates + urban, international, game theory, policy, development
Other Courses: year of bio & chem, 2 CS courses (matlab, java, C++, some unix), Thermal Physics & Statistical Mechanics
Letters of Recommendation: 1 semi-famous, 1 young rising star, 1 visiting, 1 emeritus
Research Experience: None
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Varied
SOP: Bad, just really not good
Other: Rejected by Oregon, accepted by MSU for a difference in ranking of about 30
RESULTS:
Acceptances: MSU ($$), Illinois (MS)
Waitlists: OSU (rejected on 14th after emailing), Purdue (withdrew)
Rejections: Virginia, Washington, Penn St, Oregon, BC, Cornell AEM, Iowa St
Attending: Michigan State University
What would you have done differently?
1) Taken less math
2) Taken math in the right order
3) Drank more milk
4) Not applied to Iowa St, Cornell AEM, Penn State, BC
5) Applied to UC Davis, UBC, Toronto, Texas, UNC
Accepts:
    Acceptances: MSU ($$), Illinois (MS)
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: confusing, sounds like none for the first year Comments: brain happy, tummy happy, my feet are rap dancin'
Rejects:
    rejected on 14th after emailing), Purdue (withdrew) Rejections: Virginia, Washington, Penn St, Oregon, BC, Cornell AEM, Iowa St
  • Institution: Oregon Decision: rejected Comments: Perhaps it was the egregious typo that I just found located conveniently in the second sentence of my SOP: "I culminate economics, PhD."
  • Institution institution: penn state program: phd economics decision: rejected comments: last name start with r
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: OSU (

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?

mallikagarg 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics from top Indian University
Undergrad GPA: N/A
Major GPA: N/A
Type of Grad: MA Economics from mid ranked Indian University
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q 790 V 640 A 3.5;
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Math for economists, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Statistical methods and probability, Differential Equations, Advanced multi-variable calculus.
Econ Courses (grad-level): Advanced Micro, Advanced Macro, Econometrics, Game Theory, International Trade, Industrial economics and investment analysis, International Banking and Finance, Development Economics
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I & II, Macro, Public Finance, Money and Baning, Economic History, Comparitive economic development, Development Economics, Economic Systems
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from grad quant prof, 1 from grad econometric prof, 1 from a well known economist i've RAd with.
Research Experience: one year's experience as an RA
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Applied Microeconomics, Industrial Organisation
SOP: Nothing out of the world
Concerns: Inadequate research experience, no publications, inadequate math courses, unknown Graduate university, unknown recommenders.
Applied to: MIT, stanford GSB, Chicago, Texas (Austin), Texas A&M, UIUC, Rice, Vanderbilt, USC, MSU, UCR, UVA, Clemson, Colorado at Boulder
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Clemson ($$); Colorado (Without funding)
Rejections: MIT, stanford GSB, Chicago, Texas (Austin), Texas A&M, UIUC, Rice, Vanderbilt, USC, MSU, UCR, UVA
Attending: Clemson
What would you have done differently?
With my kind of background, I am happy to have made it to where I did. Though, I guess I should not have targeted so high. I could have got better results had I applied to more schools in the 30-60 range and completely skipped the top 15.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Clemson ($$); Colorado (Without funding)
  • Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: March 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Clemson University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notification date: April 9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, stanford GSB, Chicago, Texas (Austin), Texas A&M, UIUC, Rice, Vanderbilt, USC, MSU, UCR, UVA
  • Institution: Rice Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 15 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment: first rejection, fingers crossed for the remaining 13...
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Policy and Analysis Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: February 18 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution:University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: February 19 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Ph.D. Economics Decision: rejected Funding: NA Notification date: March 3 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: MIT Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: March 7 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of Chicago Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: RA Notification date: March 8 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of Texas - Austin Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: March 12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UIUC Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: RA Notification date: March 26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of California, Riverside Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: - Notification date: 13/6/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I didn't want to go there anyway!
Waitlists:

lian 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. economics (unknown west-european university with a lot of unnecessary business courses)
Undergrad GPA: 1.3 on a scale from 1.0(best possible) to 5.0, (best of my class out of ca. 350)
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: none
GRE: Q700, V340 (TOEFL 109), AWA pending - awful, always scored 800Q before, taking it again in october
Math Courses: math for econs (A+), stats I (A), stats II and econometrics (in progress), real analysis I (in progress), linear algebra and analytical geometry I (in progress), 2 further high math courses in spring..
Econ Courses (grad-level): none, not possible at my university
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): micro theory I (A+), micro theory II (B+), macro I (A+), macro II (A-), Public Econ (A-), Institutional Economics and Game Theory(A+), International Economics (A+), Industrial Organization (A+), development econ (A+)
Other Courses: a lot of compulsory boring business classes, mostly A's, one B, one B-..
Letters of Recommendation: two micro profs, (i work as a RA for one, the other is an american prof), one macro prof. every letter should be very strong, but they aren't known outside europe.
Research Experience: RA for approximately 1.5 years. one research paper in progress. one discussion paper co-authored.
Teaching Experience: none but private tutoring since 1st school grade . i've tried, not allowed in my university as an undergrad to teach official courses.
Research Interests: microeconomics. IO, behavioral/institutional economics and game theory.
SOP: in progress, nothing special.
Concerns: terrible first GRE scores; totally insufficient math background; unknown recommendators and unknown undergrad university. Before studying economics a was a terrible student: A-Levels were awful - 2.7, and i quit my first university study (physics major, math minor)
Applying to: Master: LSE, Cambridge, UCL, UEA, Tinbergen, Tilburg, Toulouse, Paris, Barcelona, Toronto, British Columbia. PhD: Cornell, Michigan, Minnesota, Madison, ... not yet decided, depending on second GRE and self-confidence. i am not even sure if to apply now for a phd or after making a master degree.. any advice?
Accepts:
  • Institution: Southern Methodist University Ph.D. Decision: Admit FUnding: Additionally to my fellowship - a stipend that covers all uncovered expenses; full funding for last 2 years, Notification Date: 03/25/2011 Notified Through:Email Comments: WOW my first offer - soooo happy, sure I'll accept. Just 10 days to decide. For the future applicant: "short list" means: accepted if you show interest!
  • Institution: UCL M.Sc. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/30/2011 Notified through: e-mail after i inquiered Posted on GradCafe: yes Comments: damn, i was so sure I'll attend SMU, now i have to make pro-cons-lists for another week
Rejects:
  • Institution: Texas Austin Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/08/11 Notified through: website which says that i won't get an e-mail, website contains the official rejection.. Posted on GF: yes Comments: not surprised, missed like every single deadline they have, and apparently, they never received my third letter of recommendation.. still sad
  • Institution: JHU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -.- Notification date: March 14 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes Comments: that was my dream school..
  • Institution: Cornell Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: .. Notification date: 03/21/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: annoyed, just annoyed.. soooo disappointed, although it was totally expected..
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics 1 year Research Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: e-mail Comments: and the next one... I'm getting used to it..
  • Institution: UVa Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: April 8 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Y Comments: Finally, took them long enough..
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Rice University Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: they have ressources for 7 funded admissions Notification date: 2/13 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Honestly, with my international profile and nearly no official math at all - i didn't even expect to be waitlisted.. They received 200 applications with request for fin.aid.

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

Refused 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 5 undergrad, top 10 econ - Physics and Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.4
Type of Grad: Top 10 math, non-degree
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800q 680v 5.0aw
Math Courses: Real analysis, ODE, PDE, stats, probability (grad)
Econ Courses (grad-level):
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Advanced micro, econometrics, &c.
Other Courses: physics
Letters of Recommendation: 2 top 10 profs and one 1 top 5 PhD now in industry
Research Experience: RA one summer, economics research group at investment bank since college, 1 working paper
Teaching Experience: no
Research Interests: Macro
SOP: yes
Concerns: B- in real analysis
Other:
Applying to: NYU, NYU Stern, Wisconsin, UCLA, UCSD, Boston University, Duke, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins, UC Davis, Georgetown, Boston College, Penn State, UC Santa Barbara, University of Southern California, University of Washington, Virginia, Duke MA, UBC MA, Oxford MSc in Economics for Development
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "before the end of March" Notification date: Feb 11 Notified through: email Posted on GC: yes
  • 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: yes Comments: Not sure if I got an email as it's blocked at work
  • Institution: Duke AM Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 3/09/11 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: Yes
  • Institution: University of Washington, Seattle Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist for partial funding Notification date: 04/01/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: Email asking if I would like to be put on a waitlist for partial funding - doesn't actually mention acceptance but presumably they wouldn't give me partial funding to not attend
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: website (saw above and checked) Posted on GC: yes Comment:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Checked website, though I had done this an hour ago after seeing others had and nothing was there, so they seem to be trickling out Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: Post Comments: Letter dated 3/7
  • Institution: NYU Stern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: yes Comments: Email to check website; 1100 applications for 20 spots
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Penn State Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes Comment: first letter of surname is 75th percentile
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GradCafe: yes Comments: last name starts with 's'
  • Institution: University of Oxford Economics for Development MSc Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/17/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/11 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: yes Comments: No email, I just checked the website as I saw someone else had. The decision was available 3/18, apparently.
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 22, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: UCSD Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: UBC MA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: April 13 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/15/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments:
  • Institution: University of Southern California Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/23/2011 Notified through: Postal Posted on GC: yes Comments:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision: Wait list Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: No Notification date: 4/4/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments:

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:

birchtbarlow 2011:
Institution: North Carolina State University
Program: Economics- Management - PhD
Decision: Admitted
Funding: Pending
Notification date: 1/28/2011
Notified through: Online status
Posted on GF: ???
Comments: First admit
Accepts:
  • Institution: North Carolina State University Economics- Management - PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Pending Notification date: 1/28/2011 Notified through: Online status Posted on GF: ??? Comments: First admit
Rejects:
  • 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: Eh, moving on.
  • Institution nstitution: University of Pennsylvania Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: nstitution: Duke University Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC : no Comments: No big loss.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/11 Notified through: Email to check website Comments:
Waitlists:

kekecib 2011:
Institution: Rice
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: Feb 13
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: Terrible news for me. 1st decision I got. It was one of my safeties. I do know what is wrong with my profile according to their ad. committee's view.
Institution: UIUC
Program: PhD in Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: NA
Notification date: Feb 17
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: I started to freak out. I am wondering what will happen to the rest of my applications. This one did hurt and made me pretty sad.
In: None Out: Rice, UIUC Waiting: 19 Econ PhD
Accepts:
  • Institution: Rutgers Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: I personally looked at application status check web page after seeing a post here. Posted on GC: No idea. Comments: No funding = No PhD. I feel devastated.
  • Institution: MSU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: None at this time but waitlisted for funding Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: E-mail with decision and accept/decline letters attached Posted on GC: No Comments: Wait 2-3 weeks to see if funding becomes available.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Rice Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: Feb 13 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Terrible news for me. 1st decision I got. It was one of my safeties. I do know what is wrong with my profile according to their ad. committee's view.
  • Institution: UIUC Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: Feb 17 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I started to freak out. I am wondering what will happen to the rest of my applications. This one did hurt and made me pretty sad. In: None Out: Rice, UIUC Waiting: 19 Econ PhD
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: After I did send an e-mail to the graduate coordinator, they did send my rejection letter or they were anyway going to send it today. I wanted to get in this one. It was one of my reaches. I feel OK after unexpected rejections from Rice and UIUC. If I get another rejection from a low-tier school, I am gonna feel terrible then.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comment: After getting very abnormal results, I find this very normal.
  • Institution: UW Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: The best rejection e-mail I have received so far.
  • Institution: UT Austin Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: E-mail to check the application website Posted on GC: No Comments: No Comment
  • Institution: UVa Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/10/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No Comment
  • Institution: Duke Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/28/11 Notified through: E-mail to check the application website Posted on GC: No Comments: I wanted so bad to gain admission to that program. I will give another shot in 2013 Fall application cycle.
  • Institution: Uni. of Iowa Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/15/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No comment.
  • Institution: NYU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Unofficial e-mail from the secretary of the Economics Department upon my e-mail. Posted on GC: No Comments: This was my dream school. This time, it did not happen. See you on the application cycle of Fall 2013, NYU.
  • Institution: Iowa State University Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: E-mail upon my e-mail asking if they have decided on my application. Posted on GC: No Comments: I have no idea about how ad-coms are deciding this cycle
  • Institution: Indiana University, Bloomington Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: E-mail upon my e-mail asking if they have decided on my application. Posted on GC: No Comments: What a shame.
  • Institution: NYU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/22/11 Notified through: Official e-mail from the GSAS Posted on GC: No Comments: My dream university.
  • Institution: BU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 03/23/2011 Notified through: E-mail upon my e-mail sent to the Ph.D. Program Administrator Posted on GC: No Comments: I do not understand why they are not bothering to send an e-mail saying "I got rejected."
  • Institution: UCSD Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I was expecting this.
  • Institution: Boston College Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: Official rejection letter via postal mail. Posted on GC: No Comments: Am I a genius? I knew this.
  • Institution: UNC - CH Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: None Notification date: 04/14/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No comment.
  • Institution: OsU Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: None Notification date: 04/14/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No comment.
  • Institution: USC Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/18/2011 Notified through: E-mail after I e-mailed "Have you lost my application?" - Literally like this. Posted on GC: Of course, No. Comments: Waste of money. That school's application fee is one of the highest, and its application deadline is the earliest (together with OSU). Look at their treatment. They definitely make their life easy by making our application process harder.
  • Institution: University of Western Ontario Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected from the waiting list. Funding: NA Notification date: 05/20/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No comment.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: UWO Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Certainly on the second offer round. Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: E-mail upon my e-mail asking if they have decided on my application. Posted on GC: No Comments: I will wait and see what will happen.
  • Institution: UNC-Chapel Hill Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: NA Notification date: 04/07 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: They have not decided yet. Simply the e-mail says "wait a little more until after April 15."

centralbanker 2011:
Institution: Rochester
Program: Economics (PhD)
Decision: rejected
Notification date: 2/22/2011
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: no
Comments: I should be disappointed or feeling dejected, but all I keep thinking is thank goodness I've finally heard something!
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Rochester Economics (PhD) Decision: rejected Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: I should be disappointed or feeling dejected, but all I keep thinking is thank goodness I've finally heard something!
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: Shocker!
  • Institution: Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Not surprised, looking at the biggest shut-out in history
  • Institution: Rutgers Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: The gauntlet rolls on, I'm going for a record!
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/2011 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: no Comments: And another!
  • Institution: UVA Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/1/11 Notified through: website Posted on GF: No Comments: This was coming for at least a month, why did it take so long?
  • Institution: UNC - CH Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 04/14/2011 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: Not much of a wait afterall...
Waitlists:
  • Institution: U Washington Decision: Wait-listed Funding: Unfunded if admitted Notification date: 4/1/11 Notified through: email Posted on GF: No Comments: What? Somebody is willing to consider me for more than one second? I'm shocked!
  • Institution: UNC-Chapel Hill Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Waitlisted (implied) Funding: NA Notification date: 04/07 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Ditto above - don't know if I'd call this a waitlist, but lets cling to hope for a couple days...

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:

econbon 2011:
Catching up...
Institution: Oklahoma State University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 2/14-Valentine's Day
Notified through: Postal mail
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Ouch! And on Valentine's Day! Particularly bad considering this was my safest of safe schools. Talk about making me want to lose all hope. Oh well, didn't want to go there anyway (grape sour much?)
Institution: University of Virginia
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 2/19
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: I would've loved to go to UVA/C'ville, but I knew it was a bit of a reach
Institution: University of Kansas
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 3/4
Notified through: Email to check status
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Getting very nervous at this point
Institution: University of Illinois-Chicago
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: Letter dated 3/4
Notified through: Postal mail
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: At least they were gracious enough to spend paper on me. At this point virtually all of my safeties have responded "no."
Institution: Clemson
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: tuition remission+$15k
Notification date: I deferred from last cycle (so my admission date is irrelevant) and received notification of funding offer on 3/7
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: I have visited Clemson, and the prospect of funding is ALWAYS welcome. Finally some good news
Institution: George Mason
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: Letter mailed 3/12
Notified through: postal mail
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: I really, really, really wanted to go here. Applied here last year as well. C'est la vie
Institution: Indiana University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 3/18
Notified through: Email from Econ secretary (?)
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Applied here last year as well. 0-2
Institution: Arizona State
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 3/29
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Subject line: ASU Rejection. No punch line!
Institution: Vanderbilt
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: rejection
Funding:
Notification date: 3/30
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Expected.
Institution: UNC
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: "Waitlisted"
Funding:
Notification date: 4/5
Notified through: email
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Wow. My number one choice. Please someone decide not to go here. I would be ecstatic.
Institution: University of Oklahoma
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted?
Funding: ?
Notification date: ahem see comments
Notified through: see comments
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: Very unimpressed. Applied here last year. Was never contacted. Found out I was accepted into Master's instead of Ph.D. This year I had to call and was told I'd been accepted into Ph.D. Not very organized
Institution: Southern Methodist University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No :'(
Notification date: Called 4/6 and she told me over the phone
Notified through: phone
Posted on GF: ?
Comments: I would like to go, but no way without funding
Accepts:
  • Institution: Clemson Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition remission+$15k Notification date: I deferred from last cycle (so my admission date is irrelevant) and received notification of funding offer on 3/7 Notified through: email Posted on GF: ? Comments: I have visited Clemson, and the prospect of funding is ALWAYS welcome. Finally some good news
  • Institution: University of Oklahoma Economics Decision: Accepted? Funding: ? Notification date: ahem see comments Notified through: see comments Posted on GF: ? Comments: Very unimpressed. Applied here last year. Was never contacted. Found out I was accepted into Master's instead of Ph.D. This year I had to call and was told I'd been accepted into Ph.D. Not very organized
  • Institution: Southern Methodist University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No :'( Notification date: Called 4/6 and she told me over the phone Notified through: phone Posted on GF: ? Comments: I would like to go, but no way without funding
Rejects:
  • Institution: Oklahoma State University Economics Decision: rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/14-Valentine's Day Notified through: Postal mail Posted on GF: ? Comments: Ouch! And on Valentine's Day! Particularly bad considering this was my safest of safe schools. Talk about making me want to lose all hope. Oh well, didn't want to go there anyway (grape sour much?)
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: ? Comments: I would've loved to go to UVA/C'ville, but I knew it was a bit of a reach
  • Institution: University of Kansas Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email to check status Posted on GF: ? Comments: Getting very nervous at this point
  • Institution: University of Illinois-Chicago Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: Letter dated 3/4 Notified through: Postal mail Posted on GF: ? Comments: At least they were gracious enough to spend paper on me. At this point virtually all of my safeties have responded "no."
  • Institution: George Mason Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: Letter mailed 3/12 Notified through: postal mail Posted on GF: ? Comments: I really, really, really wanted to go here. Applied here last year as well. C'est la vie
  • Institution: Indiana University Economics Decision: rejection Funding: Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Email from Econ secretary (?) Posted on GF: ? Comments: Applied here last year as well. 0-2
  • Institution: Arizona State Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: ? Comments: Subject line: ASU Rejection. No punch line!
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics Decision: rejection Funding: Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: ? Comments: Expected.
Waitlists:


Waitlists:

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:
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 11 accepted out of 29 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.78, average GREQ was 790.0.
No link to department posted statistics has been added, please let me know if these exist and I will add them.

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