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allinwonder 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ B.S. Math from top 5 university in Princeton Review China
Undergrad GPA: 3.7/4
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 620V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I,II(including multivariable one)linear algebra for two semesters, math stats, optimization, Analysis I, II, Complex Analysis, ODE,PDE, Abstract Algebra
Econ Courses (PhD-level): N/A
Econ Courses (undergrad-level):Intermediate Micro and Macro, Econometrics
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (2 of them are mentees of Nobel Laureate)
Research Experience: RA for Econ prof
Teaching Experience:
Research Interests: Experimental Economics, Game Theory
SOP: Focus on research
Concerns: Low grade on PDE
Other:
Applying to: Harvard, Caltech, UMichigan, Pittsburgh, OSU, ASU, UArizona, UVirginia, Purdue, George Mason U

jito32 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Finance from Univ Florida
Undergrad GPA: 3.89/4
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 650V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc Sequence (A), Sets & Logic (A) Diff. Eq, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Statistics next semester
Econ Courses: Principles (As) Intermediate Micro (A) Urban next semester
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors, one great one good, 1 from finance lecturer
Research Experience: RA for a year
Teaching Experience: TA for a year
Research Interests: Macro, public, interational
SOP: Boiler plate
Concerns: Just decided to pursue the degree this summer, so lacking in math/econ classes.
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
Waitlists:
Rejections:
Pending: Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Rochester, Boston U, Texas, Virginia, WUSTL, Iowa, George Mason
What you would have done differently: Started applying sooner. I knew all semester what I was doing but somehow everything got pushed back with my late GRE date of November 1st. Wish I would have read this forum earlier.

buckykatt 2009:
Institution: Caltech
Program: PhD Social Sciences
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/27/09
Notified through: Email
Comments: Not really a surprise. I wish I had done a better job on my application so I'd know it wouldn't have made a difference, though.

zjg 2010:
Type of Undergrad: Large, mediocre state university. Econ/math double major.
Undergrad GPA: 3.5 overall, 4.0 economics, 3.0 math
GRE: 780Q/720V/5.0A
Math Courses: Real analysis, linear algebra, probability, statistics, operations research, diff eq, calc.
Econ Courses: Took 2 grad courses (1 field course in public finance, plus grad micro) as an undergrad. Had electives in experimental economics and public choice.
Other Courses: 4.0 in my general education classes.. like anyone cares!
Letters of Recommendation: 3 professors, all taught me as an undergraduate for multiple courses and were highly encouraging
Research Experience: After graduation, worked at a DC think tank evaluating health policy and got listed on some policy papers, presentations. Worked as an undergraduate RA but no publishing credit, just "thank ___ for excellent research assistance" type stuff.
Teaching Experience: None. Did some grading.
Research Interests: Empirical public choice. Behavioral.
SOP: Pretty specific. I finished undergrad in 2006 so I've had a lot of time to think about what I want to research.
Other: I have sort of an unusual list. I chose schools that recently or historically have had successful job placements for people doing research similar to what I want to do and/or had some faculty I really wanted to work with.
Tangentially, after graduating in 2006 I worked at a think tank and then worked 3 years as a systems engineer doing some modeling and statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: George Mason ($15k, accepted), West Virginia ($16k)
Waitlists: Virginia (declined, but I suspect I would not have gotten in)
Rejections: Rochester, Maryland
Pending:
Last year I applied only to George Mason, I was accepted with no $ offer. Pretty stupid move, I applied to a larger net and had a much better result this year. I knew I intended to accept if I got a good offer, and they were able to make one.
If I would have done things differently I wouldn't have taken a senior year of nothing but upper level math classes (I feel I could have performed much better). Also, I wouldn't have bothered getting a taste of the real world after graduation - the real world sucks!

rob59404 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: State University with unheard of econ department
Undergrad GPA: 3.99
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA:
GRE: 760 Q 640 V 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Cal I-III(A,A,A), Linear Algebra(A),Probabilty/stat(A), ODE(A), Probability theory(A), math stats, intro analysis/proofs
Econ Courses: Intro micro/macro, intermediate micro/macro, development, adv. development, trade, history of thought, econometrics, graduate econometrics, graduate micro and macro. All A's
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: thesis advisor, department chair, other econ professor
Research Experience: Senior thesis
Teaching Experience: Some math and econ tutoring
Research Interests: Growth, political economy, applied micro
SOP: Standard
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Missouri($$), kentucky($$), Oregon($$), Colorado(no $), UW(no $), Virginia, GMU, Notre Dame ($$$ Attending)
Waitlists:
Rejections: NYU, BC, UIUC, Rochester
Pending: OSU (implicit rejection at this point)
What would you have done differently?
1) More math earlier
2) Should have got a math professor to write letter of recommendation
3) Get an 800Q

msu2010 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Big Ten School
Undergrad GPA: 3.7/4.0
Type of Grad:-
Grad GPA:-
GRE: 790Q 550V
Math Courses: I did a math major, the typical math courses
Econ Courses: Game Theory, Grad Metrics, nothing else outstanding
Other Courses: Some science courses (physics)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 very well known, 1 well know, 1 newer prof (all econ)
Research Experience: Wrote and presented paper at a conference, no publications or anything outstanding
Teaching Experience:TA for intro econ
Research Interests: Labor/Micro/Metrics
SOP: Very odd statement
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Boston College ($), University of Virginia ($), Ohio State ($$), Illinois ($$), Boston University, Arizona, UCSB, UC Davis, George Mason
Rejections: Too Many
Stanford, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, a lot more, I really am drawing a blank...
What would you have done differently? Gotten a better GPA. I guess a few things, but its over and I am happy, two years ago I didn't think I would be here. I am happy to be going to Boston College in the fall. Its not Stanford, but it suits me

jenferlizbeth 2010:
Institution: Columbia University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comment: I had already counted them out anyway...
Institution: UC Irvine
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Yes! $$
Notification date: 2/26/2010
Notified through: unofficial e-mail from director Dale Poirier
Comment: Very happy
Institution: Yale University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 02/18/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comment: ah well.

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.

bassmantin 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Accounting/Finance at a Big 10 school
Undergrad GPA: 3.97
Type of Grad: M.B.A. Accounting/Finance
Grad GPA: 3.91
GRE: 800Q, 700V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Calculus I, II, II, Linear Algebra, Intro to Advanced Math (all A) After submission of application: Differential Equations, Real Analysis (all A expected)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Econometrics, lots of grad level business school classes that overlap somewhat: managerial econ, real options, valuation, corporate finance, international monetary systems and hedging (all A) after submission: History of Economic Thought, Monetary Theory (all A expected)
Other Courses: Lots of business
Letters of Recommendation: Accounting professor, math instructor, former employer
Research Experience: N/A
Teaching Experience: two semesters intro to managerial accounting
Research Interests: macro/monetary
SOP: addressed my somewhat unique situation
Concerns: no econ prof letter of recommendation, not too much math before submitting app
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Vanderbilt, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa State, George Mason, Missouri
Waitlists: WUSTL (eventually accepted), Minnesota (withdrew)
Rejections: Chicago, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Attending: WUSTL
What would you have done differently? Take more math. Get letter of recommendation from economists. Get a mentor to guide me through the process.

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

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

ahall352 2011:
Institution: Indiana University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejection
Funding: N/A
Notified on: 3/18
Notified Through: email
Posted on GC? No
Comments: Bummed. Short email.

nyykid 2011:
Sorry I am a new user so I have all 5 decisions (I have been trolling since last summer when I was taking the GRE)
Institution: Fordham
Program: PhD Econ
Decision: Admitted
Funding: possible with outstanding rejections
Notification date: not withdrawing
Notified through: snail mail
Posted on GC: unknown
Comments: close to home, like the (MA and certifacte) programs, not looking to go into academia so it fits me
Institution: Clemson University
Program: PHD ECON
Decision: Admitted
Funding: possible with outstanding rejections
Notification date: not withdrawing
Notified through: online status/snail mail
Posted on GC: unknown
Comments: awesome program, far from home, already in debt
Institution: Temple University
Program: PHD ECON
Decision: Admitted
Funding: unknown
Notification date: not withdrawing
Notified through:snail mail
Posted on GC: unknown
Comments: low-ranking, friendly staff
Institution: George Mason University
Program: PHD ECON
Decision: Admitted
Funding: no info
Notification date: not withdrawing
Notified through: snail mail
Posted on GC: unknown
Comments: really cool program with big time personalites, unsure if i wanna get into government though (more into $)
Institution: Rutgers University
Program: PHD ECON
Decision: Rejected
Funding: rejected
Notification date: not withdrawing
Notified through: online status/email
Posted on GC: unknown
Comments: woulda been nice (cheap), but even with alumni reccomendations i couldnt get in, top 50 - ranked program.
Not sure what Im gonna do

austrianecon 2011:
After visiting as a guest for a few weeks, eventually, here is my results:
Institution: George Mason University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Decisions will be made later this month according to the program coordinator
Notification date: 3/24/11
Notified through: E-mail from College of Humanities and Social Sciences and also from the Department
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: The best program in the world!
Institution: Rutgers
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No
Notification date: 2/23/11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: was my last choice
Institution: University of Texas at Austin
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: Yes if accepted
Notification date: 3/7/11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: no comment
Institution: NYU
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/19/11
Notified through: Unofficial email
Posted on GC: No
Comments: So wanted to work with Mario Rizzo there!
Institution: Duke University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 2/25/11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: So wanted to work with Bruce Caldwell and study at HOPE center.
Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/14/11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: no comment, just applied!
Institution: Northwestern University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/4/11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: no comment, just applied!
Institution: Penn State University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 3/11/11
Notified through: email
Posted on GC: Yes
Comments: no comment, just applied!
In: Rutgers (-), George Mason (?) Waitlisted: Texas at Austin ($) Out: NYU, Duke, UIUC, Northwestern, PennState Waiting for: McGill

mjsmith1986 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ from small but respectable liberal arts college with well known Econ researchers; they don't do minors but I have taken enough math to qualify for a "minor" at other schools
Undergrad GPA: 3.67 cumulative, 3.83 econ
GRE: 800Q, 590V, 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I (A-), Calc II (A), Calc III (A), Linear Algebra (A), Proofs and Fundamentals (B), Stats (A), Real Analysis I (A), Topology (A), Real Analysis II (Spring '09), Dynamical Systems (Spring '09)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): The relevant ones: Intermediate Micro (B+), Intermediate Macro (A), Advanced Micro (A), Econometrics (A), Senior Thesis (A)
Other Courses: Some political studies/physics
Letters of Recommendation: Two from Econ Profs (UT-Austin and Yale), one from Math Prof (head of Math dept.)
Research Experience: RA for Econometrics professor; Awarded summer research grant (co-authored a paper with a professor, in publishing stages); senior thesis
Teaching Experience: TA for intro micro
Research Interests: Labor Economics (specifically Economics of Education), Behavioral Economics, basically Applied Micro and Econometrics stuff.
SOP: Just talked about my research experience and interests.
Other: Applied for an NSF grant to build on some conclusions from my undergraduate thesis.
Concerns: That my Verbal score might be a little low. I was easily testing in the high 600s but I basically rushed through it on the GRE to get to the Quant. I also declared a late major in Econ (in my junior year) and have spent the last year and a half rushing to make up the appropriate math/econ courses for grad school, so I don't know whether that sends a good or bad signal to the adcomms. Also, high volume of apps this year with rather homegenous profiles.
What I would have done different: Majored in math from the start. Curse my fickle interests!
Applying to: Princeton (Woodrow Wilson School), Cornell, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, George Mason, Carnegie Mellon, Boston U, Boston College, Virginia, Duke
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Boston College ($$), Johns Hopkins ($), UVA ($?)
Rejections: Princeton, Brown, Maryland, George Mason, Boston U, Duke, CMU
Pending: Cornell (Probably rejected)
ATTENDING: Boston College
What could I have done differently?
As I said before, I would have majored in math from the start rather than rushing in my last semesters to make up the appropriate coursework. Aside from that, not much; I am pleased to have the offer that I do and am looking forward to graduate school!

walt526 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Political Science from UC Davis (started at a well-regarded LAC in the Midwest)
Undergrad GPA: 3.50/4.00 (combined)
Type of Grad: MA in Economics from lower-tier public university
Grad GPA: 3.92
GRE: 800Q, 600V, 6.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (high school with AP, plus C from Fall 1998), Linear Algebra (A), Intro to Statistics (A), Math for Economists (A), Intro to Formal Math (A-), Numerical Analysis (A), Axiomatic Set Theory (B+), Real Analysis (in process), Mathematical Statistics MA-Level (in process), Operations Research (Spring 2010), Applied Linear Algebra (Spring 2010)
Econ Courses (MA-level): Advanced Micro Theory (A-), Advanced Macro Theory (A), US Economic History (A), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A), Applied Econometric Analysis (in process), Econometric Theory (in process)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Economics (B+ from spring 2000), Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (D), Public Microeconomic Theory (A+), Economics of Development (A-), US Economic History (A-), World Economic History (A), Economics of Education (A), Econometrics (A), History of Economic Thought (Spring 2010)
Political Science Courses:
- High School: AP American Government, AP Comparative Government
- LAC: International Relations (A-), American Political Thought (B+), Central European Politics (A), Russian Politics (A-), Soviet and Russian Foreign Policy (A)
- UC Davis: Systematic Political Science (A-), The Legislative Process (A-), The Politics of Interdependence (A-), National Security Policy (A), Intro to Judicial Politics (A), Judicial Politics: First Amendment (A), Judicial Politics: Equality (A-), Seminar in American Political Behavior (A+)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 WUSTL, 1 UC Davis ARE, 1 Stanford)
Research Experience:
- Research assistant to LAC political science professor (developing new course in environmental international politics)
- Research assistant to UC Davis political science professor (judicial politics--read a sample Supreme Court decisions and classified the argument type of each paragraph)
- Masters Thesis: Does State Support for Public Four-Year Universities Decrease as Minority Enrollment Increases?
Teaching Experience: TA to Intermediate Micro
Research Interests: My research interests lie along the intersection of political science and economics. I am interested in Public Choice (Law and Economics and Institutional Factors), Industrial Organization, and Miscellaneous Applied Microecomics
Statement of Purpose: Should be strong
Concerns: The D in Intermediate Macro came in a semester wherein I received incompletes in my other courses (personal issues) in winter quarter of 2004). I completed the two lower-division courses that I needed to fulfill the BA in Political Science at community college (statistics and history of western civilization). No topology, possibly weak advanced math grades.
Other: Have a career certificate in Accounting from a community college, worked for 2 years as an accounting administrator and 3 years as a purchasing agent for an electrical contractor.
Applying to: UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Stanford, Michigan, UPenn Wharton (Applied Econ), WUSTL, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Texas, UIUC, Maryland, Virginia, UC Davis, George Mason, Vanderbilt, Rochester, Michigan State, Georgetown, UC Irvine, UMass-Amherst, Arizona, Colorado, Syracuse, Kentucky (might whittle down the list some)

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.

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