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

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


Acceptances:

Zoethor2 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large public state university, no reputation in economics or mathematics. I will be the 3rd graduate ever from the economics department to pursue a PhD in Economics.
Undergrad GPA: 3.93 overall, 4.0 economics, 3.85 math
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 780Q, 660V, 4.5A
Math Courses: Intro Calc, Intro and Theoretical Linear Algebra, Intro Proofs sequence, 2 semester Theoretical Stats sequence, 2 semester Real Analysis sequence, Theoretical Complex Variables, Intro to DiffE
Econ Courses: Intro and Advanced Econometrics, Intro and Intermediate Macro and Micro, Managerial, Monetary, International Trade, Experimental (Game Theory), 6 Independent Studies doing my own research (fun!)
Other Courses: Majored in Psych, also, so a whole slew of those, but I doubt they hugely impacted my application.
Letters of Recommendation: Very strong, but by relatively unknown professors. Two econ, one math.
Research Experience: Did about 6 independent (though overseen by faculty) pieces of research, each culminating in a paper. 2 in experimental economics, several in economics of education, and one in game theory and conflict situations. Each paper was presented at a professional conference, mostly in non-student sessions.
Teaching Experience: Was a TA for Johns Hopkins CTY for 2 summers for the Probability and Game Theory course.
Research Interests: applied microeconomics/econometrics, experimental economics, economics of education
SOP: I think it was reasonably strong. My advisors and I revised it quite a bit.
Other: Triple-majored in economics, mathematics, and psychology. This meant a lot of semesters with 6 courses, as well as taking me 5 years to graduate.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: U of Maryland (no funding), UCLA (no funding), U Michigan (no funding), Georgetown (funded), Boston College (funded), CMU's Decision Science PhD (funded)
Waitlists:
Rejections: MIT, UPenn, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Caltech, Princeton, NYU (presumably), UPitt (presumably), GMU (presumably)
(Presumably = I still haven't heard either way from these schools as of 4/12.)
What would you have done differently? I would have applied to more schools in the top 20. When all my results were in, I was choosing between unfunded offers from top 20 schools and funded offers from schools ranked below 40. I wish I had looked into and applied to more schools in the 10-30 range, where it seems I could've performed well. As I said, pretty much no one from my school has applied to graduate programs before, so I had very little information to go on as far as my chances at top programs. Overall, though, I'm ecstatic about my results. I was expecting to get into GMU, UPitt, BC and maybe one other school. Getting into UMD, UCLA, UMich was a fantastic surprise.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: U of Maryland (no funding), UCLA (no funding), U Michigan (no funding), Georgetown (funded), Boston College (funded), CMU's Decision Science PhD (funded)
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, UPenn, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Caltech, Princeton, NYU (presumably), UPitt (presumably), GMU (presumably) (Presumably = I still haven't heard either way from these schools as of 4/12.)
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

anothereconstudent 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 research University with unknown econ dept.
Undergrad GPA: 3.97 cumulative
Type of Grad: Straight from undergrad
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 780Q, 690V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses:
Calc I-III (A/A/B+), Linear Algebra (A-), Diff EQ (A), Time Series & Spatial Analysis (A), Prob & stats (A-), Real Analysis (current)
Econ Courses:
Intermediate Micro/Macro, Adv Micro, about 12 subject courses and econometrics. (4.0)
Letters of Recommendation: Econ profs - senior thesis advisor, 2 profs I had TA'd for and had in at least 2 classes. They were pretty strong.
Research Experience: Senior thesis, research assignments at work
Teaching Experience: TA for Intro Micro/Macro
Research Interests: Applied Micro, applied IO
SOP: Fairly generic
Other: Won award for best thesis, best econ student. Extensive programming experience in SAS and stata. Economics-related job.
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
UIUC (attending)
OSU
Georgetown
all funded
Rejections:
MIT
Berkeley
Chicago
Columbia
Northwestern
Maryland
UT Austin
What would you have done differently?
Applied to more schools, especially schools in the 5-20 range. Taken real analysis sooner.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UIUC (attending) OSU Georgetown all funded
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT Berkeley Chicago Columbia Northwestern Maryland UT Austin
Waitlists:

macrotime 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Third world country (unknown to most)
Undergrad GPA: 76/100 (math 90/100)
Type of Grad: Third world country (well known top program)
Grad GPA: 6/7
GRE: 780Q/500V/4.5A
Math Courses: Calculus, Linear algebra, ODE, Dynamic prog., optimization, probability, econometrics
Econ Courses: micro, macro, just as many courses an econ major should take
Letters of Recommendation: 1 (MIT), 2 (NYU), 1 (Duke), 1 (UCLA) all of them really strong. 4 of them publish or have published in top journals, one less known.
Research Experience: 2 years as an RA in a well known research institute, 2 years working in an interntional organization but in a more policy oriented position
Teaching Experience: TA ecometrics grad level, TA international macroeconomics, instructor undergard macro, TA while undergrad macro, an intro courses to economics
Research Interests: Macro, econometrics
SOP: Honest, just described my research interests
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
Duke ($$)
Georgetown (no $$)
Rochester ($$)
Waitlists:
NYU
Rejections:
MIT
Harvard
Northwestern
Columbia
BU
What would you have done differently?
First, I would have resaerched more the universities I wanted to apply. Probably, that would have led me to apply to other set of universities. I would have worked less, and I would have taken more math classes.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Duke ($$) Georgetown (no $$) Rochester ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT Harvard Northwestern Columbia BU
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: NYU

rdblots 2007:
Profile:
Gre: 800 Q, 570 V, 6.0 A
GPA: Overall: 3.86. Math: 3.96, Econ: 3.94 (Econ major with math minor)
Classes:
Math: Calc II, Multivariable, Intro Lin Alg, Diff Eq, Math Stat, Intro Proofs, Linear Algebra (A's), Advanced Calc (A-)
Econ: all the usual undergrad courses (A's). PhD Math Econ (A), PhD Micro (B+).
Type of Undergrad: Virginia Tech
Research Experience: this past summer and fall I RA'd for a professor at my school, I only did minor tasks, but it was still a pretty good experience
Teaching Experience: 3 semesters of tutoring economics (principles and intermediate micro)
LORs: All of my letter writers were encouraging and thought my choice of schools fit me well, so I am taking that to mean the letters should be decent. 1) Assoc. Prof/Head of Undergrad (PhD Stanford) who I tutored for and with whom I took a class, 2) Assist. Dean/Assoc. Prof who I worked with on my RA project (PhD Northwestern), 3) Prof., tutored his intermediate micro course, took intermediate micro and PhD Math Econ with him. (PhD Minnesota)
SoP & Interests: I talked about being interested in applied micro research. I named some professors from each school who had research that I found interesting.
Other: male/white/american. Boring.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Funding- Duke (attending), Cornell, Boston College, UNC, UVA, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Georgetown
No funding- Maryland, Boston U.
Rejections: Brown
What would you have done differently? I would have only applied to Duke.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Funding- Duke (attending), Cornell, Boston College, UNC, UVA, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Georgetown No funding- Maryland, Boston U.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Brown
Waitlists:

Jhai 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: 40-ish ranked American LCA
Undergrad GPA: 3.70
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800 M, 690 V, 5.0 A
Math Courses: Calc I through III (taken while in high school, mix of A's & C's), Linear Algebra (A), Analysis (A-), Differential Equations (B+), Operations Research I (A), Operations Research II (A-), Probability & Statistics I (A), currently in Probability and Statistics II
Econ Courses: Intro (A), Int Micro (B-), Int Macro (A-), Quantitative Analysis (A-), Math Econ (A), International Finance (B+), Nobel Laureates & Their Work (A), International Econ (A), Game Theory (A-), Econometrics (A-), Advanced Micro (A)
Other Courses: Advanced Logic (A-) - it was pretty proof-intensive
Letters of Recommendation: Three from econ profs at my undergrad (head of the dept from Southern Methodist, assistant prof from Minnesota, and associate prof from Stanford) plus a new math professor from U of Indiana. I expect (and in some cases know) them to be very, very strong, but none of the professors do much research since they're at a teaching college.
Research Experience: two summers of research (at undergrad in international finance and at Georgia State in urban), plus a big project in Econometrics, which then developed into my senior thesis this semester (on H-1B applications)
Teaching Experience: 3 years of tutoring econ, math, and logic classes at undergrad. Also TAed a freshman seminar on ethics & leadership, which was taught by the chair of the econ department
Research Interests: International (trade) and development. Some interest in labor & political economy
SOP: I think it was a pretty well-written SoP, with the last paragraph customized for each school (mentioning professors, strong research groups, facilities, etc). Said I was interested in the overlap of development, labor, and international, with different emphasis depending on the school's strengths.
Other: American female student. Partially Hispanic. Applied as a senior in college. Philosophy as a second major.
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
UC Davis (no funding)
UC Santa Cruz ($21k fellowship for two years followed by TA/RA)
Georgetown ($27k fellowship for five years, two with work responsibilities, includes summer research work with a professor/mentor) Accepted!
Waitlists:
None
Rejections:
Stanford
Stanford GSB
UC Berkeley
UCSD
UCLA
Duke
Johns Hopkins
What would you have done differently?
I think I probably should have applied to a few more schools in the 30 range - I guess I overestimated my chances. I suppose I could have given up my philosophy major and taken more math, but you're only an undergrad once, and I really, really like philosophy. I think part of the problem was that my professors are pretty unknown, as is the school. I'm very happy with where I'm headed, though, so I guess it doesn't matter too much. In the end, I doubt I would have changed much at all.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UC Davis (no funding) UC Santa Cruz ($21k fellowship for two years followed by TA/RA) Georgetown ($27k fellowship for five years, two with work responsibilities, includes summer research work with a professor/mentor) Accepted!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford Stanford GSB UC Berkeley UCSD UCLA Duke Johns Hopkins
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

Fermat 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 25 per USNews (UVirginia), Math and Econ double
Undergrad GPA: 3.3, 3.4 in Econ, 3.0 in Math
Type of Grad: Master's in (applied) Mathematics, Clemson Univesity (Not sure of the ranking, top 100?)
Grad GPA: 4.0 through first year, summer courses, and fall semester
GRE: 800Q, 450V, 3.5 AW
Math Courses: All the standard as an undergrad math major. I had a lot of B's in those classes, nothing worse than a B-. As a graduate student:Discrete Math (A), Matrix Algebra (A), Statistical Inference (A, Casella and Berger), Functional Analysis (A), Statistical Models (Regression, etc., A), Operations Research (Linear Programming, A), Probability (A), Stochastic Processes(A), (Network flows(A), Computation (A), more stochastics (A) finished in fall semester...sent grades to places where I applied)
Econ Courses: The highlights are Intermediate Micro (A-), Intermediate Macro (B+), Game Theory (A-), Stat and Prob for Econ (A), Econometrics (B), Economics of Taxation (B+), Econ and Gender (A-), Money and Banking (B)
Letters of Recommendation: Not from economists. Statistician (pretty well-known), Operation Research professor (had best grade in her class), and Anaylsis Professor. All were pretty good I believe
Research Experience: None at the time of applications
Teaching Experience: Worked as TA last year and teaching two sections of a business calculus class in the previous fall and one in the spring (currently) of this year.
Research Interests: Micro Theory and IO, perhaps econometrics, but also applied to engineering programs and OR programs.
SOP: Ok, had a typo or two. Had to rush to get it done. Don't think it mattered much.
Other: American Male.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: ECON: UTaustin(no $), UVA ($$ eventually), UCIrvine ($$), Georgetown ($$)...NON-ECON: UVA Systems Engineering ($$)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Cornell Operation Research,
Pending: Haven't heard from Ohio State econ or UNC econ...don't care anymore
What would you have done differently? Nothing really...I decided to take the UVa systems engineering offer as I now feel I would make a better engineer than economist given my background. I am really happy to be going back to UVA, my undergraduate institution and being closer to my family. Since this is an econ board, there really is nothing different that I would have done with the econ applications. I would have been really happy taking the georgetown, uva, or UTAustin offer. I hope this helps, let me know if you have questions on my profile.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: ECON: UTaustin(no $), UVA ($$ eventually), UCIrvine ($$), Georgetown ($$)...NON-ECON: UVA Systems Engineering ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Cornell Operation Research,
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

Chess is life 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Public University BA
Undergrad GPA: 3.94/ 4.0 Math/ Economics
Type of Grad: Public University MA
Grad GPA: 4.0/ 4.0 Economics
GRE: 670 V 800 M 5.0 Writing (I took it when I was 19 to get a job at Kaplan and it worked!)
Math Courses: Topology, Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Calculus 1-3, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Analysis, Econ Courses: International Economics I and II (MA), Math for Economists (MA and PhD), Microeconomics (MA and PhD), Urban Economics (MA), Econometrics (MA and PhD), Health Economics (MA), Macroeconomics (MA), Intro. to Econometrics, Statistical Methods, Intermediate Micro and Macro, Industrial Organization (Best Class ever), Seminar in economics, Money and Banking, several independent studies,
Other Courses: Physics 1 and 2 (I seriously considered majoring in it). Computer science 1.Letters of Recommendation: Math and Economics professors. I did research with the economics professors.
Research Experience: A lot. Washington, DC think tank work for almost a year now, mainly immigration and trade issues. However, I am currently doing research on state policies that effect economic growth and presented at the CATO Institute on microcredit. I also have done research on child abuse, social capital, fed policy and housing prices, a senior thesis on NAFTA's effects on Mexico, municipal government efficiency (Global Perspective), and the fed challenge (Rutgers won our district).
Teaching Experience: Tutor for my University 2 years and tutor/teacher for Kaplan test and prep.
Research Interests: Probably Microeconomics, most likely something very game theoretical. This is subject to change given that I have yet to take a PhD level economics course in Macroeconomics.
SOP: General but adapted to each university I applied to.
Other: I think being affiliated with the CATO Institute (libertarian think tank) hurt me. Also, Rutgers has a tendency of sending students to programs and watching them promptly fail the qualifier. This couldn’t have helped me.[/font]
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Rochester (24k Fellowship), Duke (17k fellowship), Washington University, St. Louis (TA/ RA 20k), Rutgers (30k Presidential Fellowship), Michigan (Nada), UCLA (Nada), Wisconsin (Nada), Georgetown (Wait-list for funding), UCSD (TA and after a complicated formula 7k), Cornell (Nada)
Waitlists: Minnesota, NYU (High whatever that means), MIT (later rejected)
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Chicago, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Stanford, Berkeley, Northwestern,
Pending: Nothing
Concerns: My letter writers are not very well-known
What would you have done differently?
Maybe take more math? I really don’t know what else I could have done. I think I will regret not taking more computer science courses.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Rochester (24k Fellowship), Duke (17k fellowship), Washington University, St. Louis (TA/ RA 20k), Rutgers (30k Presidential Fellowship), Michigan (Nada), UCLA (Nada), Wisconsin (Nada), Georgetown (
Rejects:
    rejected) Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Chicago, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Stanford, Berkeley, Northwestern,
Waitlists:
    Wait-list for funding), UCSD (TA and after a complicated formula 7k), Cornell (Nada) Waitlists: Minnesota, NYU (High whatever that means), MIT (later

mysherona 2008:
My turn!
Type of Undergrad: Economics from Philippine university
Type of Grad: Mathematics from the same university (will not complete degree)
GPA: I can't convert it so it's useless
GRE: 800Q, 760V, 6.0AWA
TOEFL: 118/120
Courses: Typical in the programs I took; nothing special
Teaching: A year of intro calculus
Research: First prize for undergrad paper
RA: Small jobs here and there
LORS: Former econ profs
Interests: International, Monetary
SOP: Used the same thing for all the schools
Others: Male, 22
RESULTS:
Attending: Columbia ($)
Other acceptances: Northwestern ($), Duke ($), Georgetown ($), master's programs at Oxbridge, LSE and Toulouse ($)
Waitlists: Berkeley, Penn, Brown---all rejected me in the end
Rejections: the rest of the top 10 econ programs, UCLA, UCSD
Comments: I was very lucky so I'm happy with the way it turned out. If I could start over again I'd probably do my BA abroad.
Accepts:
    Attending: Columbia ($) Other acceptances: Northwestern ($), Duke ($), Georgetown ($), master's programs at Oxbridge, LSE and Toulouse ($)
Rejects:
    rejected me in the end Rejections: the rest of the top 10 econ programs, UCLA, UCSD Comments: I was very lucky so I'm happy with the way it turned out. If I could start over again I'd probably do my BA abroad.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Berkeley, Penn, Brown---all

anx1ous 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ & Int'l Affairs from top 10 U.S. public (with an 'unranked' econ dept.)
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800Q, 680V, 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Diff Eqs, Stats I, grad Prob & Stats
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): the usual suspects
Other Courses: lots of poli sci/int'l affairs
Letters of Recommendation: all econ, 2 'unknown' (Berkeley ARE & Michigan State) and 1 'known' (MIT)...probably 2/3 were 'really' strong
Research Experience: in my 4th semester as an RA, worked on 2 projects that led (or rather, are leading) to a working paper & a senior thesis
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: applied micro--labor (specifically education) & development
SOP: standard?
Other: did a summer research program at a top 20 dept. (which I think was incredibly instrumental in my outcomes); tried to show that despite my weak math background I at least had some programming skills
Concerns: LACK OF MATH...everything else was ok, I think
What I would have done different: TAKEN MORE MATH, but I didn't know I wanted to do an econ PhD until 2nd semester junior year and was always drawn more to the social sciences than math (and had no idea they could be one and the same!)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Columbia ($), Maryland ($), Berkeley ARE ($), Texas ($), Vanderbilt ($), Georgetown (waitlisted w/ $), GW (no $)
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Brown
ATTENDING: Columbia
What could I have done differently?
In terms of the application process: applied to 2-3 fewer lower ranked depts. and put that money/time/effort towards applying to a few more top 10 schools (probably just to cover my bases, as I have no reason to believe that I would've done any 'better'). Also: stayed away from TM/Gradcafe during admissions season!
In terms of preparation: again, done a math minor/double major (for admissions as much as self-preparation--I'm pretty worried now!), but you can only take this 'should've/would've/could've' question so far, since I simply didn't know until later that I wanted to pursue this path or what was required of me.
All in all, however, I am extremely happy with my outcomes. I obviously had zero expectations or I wouldn't have applied to such a wide-ranging group of schools.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Columbia ($), Maryland ($), Berkeley ARE ($), Texas ($), Vanderbilt ($), Georgetown (
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $15.9K Notification date: 2/9 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: UC-Berkeley ARE PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship nomination Notification date: 2/5 Notified through: Email Anxiously waiting on: lots
  • Institution: U Texas-Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 02/25 Funding: ?? Notified through: E-mail, but via a grad school flyout invitation Comments: Been hearing some negative things about the department recently...
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $22K Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $18K + $5K first summer Notification date: 3/5/09 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Brown
  • Institution: Yale Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/20 Notified through: E-mail link Comments: No surprise, but still sad (first rejection)
Waitlists:
    waitlisted w/ $), GW (no $)
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted for admission w/ funding Funding: $18.5K if accepted Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: Email Comments: Oh well?

dodora 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Physics (HK)
Undergrad GPA: 3.95/4
Type of Grad: Physics (TOP 20 US)
Grad GPA: 3.97/4
GRE: 800Q, 640V, 4W
Math Courses (undergrad): math required for physics major undergrad
Math (grad): advanced mathematics for physics (A+)
Econ Courses (grad): Macro I (A+), Econometrics (A+), Computational Macro (didn't take for grade)
Econ Courses (undergrad): None
Other Courses: a lot physics courses and a few biology courses...they're irrelevant, i guess
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors and one physics professor and one math professor
Research Experience: RA for a condense matter physics lab; doing research in biophysics/computational bio labs...again, irrelevant
Teaching Experience: TA for two years
Research Interests: Macroeconometrics
Concerns: obvisously, tooooo few econ courses. And I should apply to more places...
Applied to: Stanford, UPenn, Cornell, UCSD, UMD, JHU, Georgetown, UBC, UToronto
Accepts:
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellow Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: fellow Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: UBC Economics M.A Decision: Admitted Notification date: 03/9 Notified through: email Comments:
  • Institution: UCSD Economics, PhD Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Email Comments:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: more or less expected...
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: more or less expected..but it still hurts...i'm not going to the gym today...i need to eat something really really sweet~~~
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/11 Notified through: email Comments: the rejection email is so short and unfriendly(?)~~~
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email

sk0325 2009:
Institution: UVA
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: don't know yet
Notification date: 2/13
Notified through: website
Comments: open house is 3/13. it will be a pain to get there though since the charlottesville airport is probably not even a real airport.
Institution: Georgetown
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 18.5 K fellowship plus tuition and health ins and maybe summers
Notification date: 2/25
Notified through: Email with attached letter
Comments: open house is 4/3. will reimburse you for some expenses
Accepts:
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: don't know yet Notification date: 2/13 Notified through: website Comments: open house is 3/13. it will be a pain to get there though since the charlottesville airport is probably not even a real airport.
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5 K fellowship plus tuition and health ins and maybe summers Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Email with attached letter Comments: open house is 4/3. will reimburse you for some expenses
Rejects:
Waitlists:

tommyg28 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top UK BA econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.85(ish) equivalent
Type of Grad: MA econ, same uni
Grad GPA: 3.9
GRE: 800Q, 720V, 5.5AW
Math Courses: The usual (real analysis I, II, Topology, functional analysis, linear algebra, ODE I, II, advanced statistics and probability theory, etc.) Mostly As, one A-
Econ Courses: Many: Micro I-IV; Macro I-IV; Econometrics I, II; Economic theory; IO, etc. All As, some A+
Other Courses: None, econ all the way
Letters of Recommendation: From people who knew me well, but alas, few people know them. Nice letters though.
Research Experience: Undergrad thesis and Grad dissertation - they were OK.
Teaching Experience: Coached various sports, but pretty sure this counts for squat
Research Interests: Everything. Probably IO, stock-flow macro dynamics and labour if I had to narrow it down.
SOP: Bland
Concerns: Interpretation of UK grades
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Duke ($$), U Washington-Seattle ($), Georgetown ($$)
Waitlists: UCLA
Rejections: A lot: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Michigan, Yale, Penn, etc.
What would you have done differently? it's been said many times before, but I didn't pay sufficient heed: LORs matter! Unless you have Slightlyconfused's profile you need to get well-known profs to write decent enough LORs. I'm a little disappointed with my outcome. My faculty is pretty weak at the mo, so I don't think I could've done much better. But I should've done my MA elsewhere to get access to better letter of recommendation writers. Shucks.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Duke ($$), U Washington-Seattle ($), Georgetown ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: A lot: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Michigan, Yale, Penn, etc.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: "Don't care anymore." Enough said.
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Trying to tell myself that I had forgotten about this one. Alas....
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCLA

2010app9357 2010: Profile:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Econ, Politics top 15 US LAC
Undergrad GPA: 3.92 = probably top 2 or 3 % at my school
Type of Grad: None
GRE: 800Q, 740V, 6.0 AWA
Math Courses (undergrad-level): Real I, Real II, Linear, Calc 1-3, ODE, Probability Theory (calc based) ~ all A or better
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro and Inter Micro and Macro, Trade, M+B, Comparative Labor, Mathematical Econ (simon + blume), Game Theory (gibbons), IO, Honors Thesis, ~ all A or better. Econometrics B+
Letters of Recommendation:3 econ professors from LAC, all actively researching, popular probably only in select circles but they know me well and will probably say nice things
Research Experience: RA one year during undergrad, honors thesis (the department liked it & was impressed), currently RA at regional fed
Teaching Experience: volunteered as peer tutor for econ, stats, politics
Research Interests: micro theory, political theory
Statement of Purpose: Working on one.
Concerns: No graduate courses, average amounts of math, from LAC
Schools: mit, princeton, stanford, berkley, yale, NW, UCSD, U Mich, caltech,wisconsin, duke, MD, rochester, UVA, ohio, UC-Irvine
Accepts:
  • Institution: Georgetown University Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: $$$ Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail Comments: YAY!!
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20K Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: If only it weren't so cold :(
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5K Notification date: 1/19 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: YAY!!!
  • Institution: JHU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition waved Notification date: 3/01 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: No $ :(
  • Institution: Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: ??? Notification date: 3/01 Notified through: Website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Best Yet!
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20K Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: If only it weren't so cold
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: No $
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through:E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: decisions decisions...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/18/2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Comments: well that was fun
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: oh well
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: oh well:(
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: oh well
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: oh well
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: me too!!
  • Institution: CalTech Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally!
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/30/10 Notified through: I called them Comments: I mostly wanted to see if they lost my application or something. Very very late...
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 4/12/10 Notified through: E-mail
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail Comments: eh
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Still feels good.
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Still feels good.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: Mar 17 Notified through: email Funding: Another NSF hopeful...

TommyG28 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Econ, top UK university
Undergrad GPA: 3.8/4 (equivalent)
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 720V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis I, II; ODE I, II; Multivariable calc I, II; Linear Algebra I, II; probability theory I,II; and Measure Theory. Mixture of A and B
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Many (border grad level, e.g. Mas-Colell, Varian, etc.) All As
Other Courses: None
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (2 from good US), likely to be a mix of ok to good.
Research Experience: Except for term papers and thesis, none.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Game theory, Labour, IO
statement of purpose: Standard format, tailored each application to Profs I'd like to work with
Concerns: Math marks only ok, and possibly not wide ranging enough; US Adcoms not being able to decipher UK transcripts (e.g. 80 0s top mark, 70+ 0s A equivalent)
Other: Glad I have seen this forum, but panicking slightly now. Hadn't realised it would be quite this competitive.
Applying to: MIT, UPenn, NYU, Harvard, Michigan, Duke, Georgetown, Wisconsin, Texas, Berkeley, etc.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5k for 5 years Notification date: 19 Feb Notified Through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments: Pretty chuffed. Nice to have one in the bag.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 18 feb Notified Through: Email to check online status Posted on Grad Cafe: no Comment: Seems a part of me has died inside; that part which creates dreams. On a brighter note, still 11 more potential acceptances to come in. 12 would have been awkward to manage.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail with link to site Comments: Lack of strictly positive news is starting to be detrimental to my health

wozz 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS in Economics, - some LAR
Undergrad GPA: 4.00/4.00,
GRE: Q 800, V 680, AWA 4.5
Math Courses: Calculus (I, II, III), Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Real Analysis, Entry level Stats (all A)
Econ Courses: (all A) Micro, Macro, Math Econ, International Finance, International Trade, Econometrics, Applied Macro, Applied Econometrics;
Other Courses: Some Programming, Corporate Finance,
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors and 1 math - hope good
Research Experience: Computer science (I doubt that helps)
Teaching Experience: 1 semester TA
Research Interests: macro and international
Statement of purpose: Just talking about school projects and interests, study abroad and cs research
Concern: No Probability and Stats, No econ research, no thesis; not well-known school, spent a year away from school working.
Applying: BC, Georgetown, JH, NYU, Columbia, American, UVA, UPF, UAB, TI, TU.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: none mentioned Notification date: Feb. 18 Notified Through: Email to check website Posted on Grad Cafe: No
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5k for 5 years Notification date: 19 Feb Notified Through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: No
Rejects:
Waitlists:

devtron 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A Econ/BS Commerce, top 25 university
Undergrad GPA: 3.80/4
Type of Grad: Math, non-degree
Grad GPA: 4/4
GRE: 800Q, 690V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Undergrad: Multivar. Calc (A-), Intro Analysis (A), Diff EQ (A), Linear Algebra (B+); Grad: Real Analysis II (A), Advanced Linear Algebra (A), Math Stat I (A) and II (In progress), Stochastic Processes (In progress)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): NA
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro/Macro, Corporate Finance, Econ of Advertising (A-), Econ of China, Econometrics, International Trade - All A's and A+'s, except advertising
Other Courses: a lot of business/finance courses, probably only marginally helpful
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ phd's, 1 econ professor, 1 math professor
Research Experience: 2 years at a federal reserve bank as an RA, 2 publications in an internally reviewed journal
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: macro and IO
statement of purpose: Pretty standard, made some changes for each school to talk about whose research I am interested in... I talked mostly about my experience, in more detail than elsewhere on the application - only briefly about my future plans
Concerns: no graduate econ, could have taken more math.
Applying to: UVA, Duke, UPenn, Minnesota, Wisconsin-Madison, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, BU, BC, OSU, Wash U in St. Louis, Georgetown, Penn State, ASU, Maryland
Accepts:
  • Institution: Arizona State Economics Decision: accepted Funding: no word Notification date: 11 February Notified through: just checked the my.asu site - no e-mail yet on funding Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: Ohio State Economics Decision: accepted Funding: no word Notification date: Very early February on the site, February 10th received a letter Notified through: online and then a follow up hard copy letter Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: accepted Funding: nominated for fellowship Notification date: January 26 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ?? Notification date: Feb. 19 Notified Through: Email to find letter on website Posted on Grad Cafe: No
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5k for 5 years Notification date: 19 Feb Notified Through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: No
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Very High Waitlist" Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 02/27/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: no funding = reject for me
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ PhD Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email alerting me that the decision was on the application website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: n/a Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: reject = reject for me
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: n/a Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: reject = reject for me
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: PSU Econ Phd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: Email.
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: nada Notification date: 3/16/2010 Notified through: e-mail, after having inquired with the grad secretary Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

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

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?

weatherdilem 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS Management Science (Honors), BA International Relations @ top 20 Econ school
Undergrad GPA: 3.75 overall, 3.82 Econ
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 740V, 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Multivariable, Linear Algebra, Applied Linear Algebra, Intro to Higher Math
Econ Courses (grad-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro, Decisions Under Uncertainty, Financial Markets, Game Theory, International Monetary Relations, Econometrics (full year), Developmental Economics
Other Courses: Political Economy, A ton of Political Science courses w/international slant
Letters of Recommendation: 1 strong from well known econ professor, 2 fairly strong from good professors, 1 very strong from lecturer in econometrics.
Research Experience: Independent research starting in 2nd year, no RA positions, senior thesis in progress
Teaching Experience: 1 semester of TA
Research Interests: Game theory, Behavioral, Public finance, International Relations
SOP: ?Haven't written
Concerns: Math and grades are so so, I'll be taking Analysis after I apply
Other: Double majoring was a poor choice, should've focused on math/econ and had the time to take grad courses
Applying to: Not sure yet, definitely Berkeley and a bunch more from different tiers
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Decisions made before the end of March Notification date: 1/14 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: I had no idea schools sent out admissions before the end of February. This process is going to make me go gray. Now I just have to survive the next 13 (there's a lucky number)...
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: yes, ~18.5k for 5 yrs (2 Fellowship, 3 TA/RA) Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: This whole process is an emotional roller coaster. But now I've gotten into my two "safeties" so fingers crossed for a reach school in the top 20!
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 16 (2:34p EST) Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comments: Yeah... not exactly a surprise at this point.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comment: ...
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I knew it was nearly impossible, but I wanted to go here so badly.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
Waitlists:

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

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

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

Regularity 2011:
Institution: Vanderbilt
Program: Economics (PhD)
Decision: accepted
Funding: yes (1st year fellowship + tuition + insurance)
Notification date: 2/23/2011
Notified through: email with formal acceptance from DGS
Posted on GF: to be posted
Comments: !!!So Happy! First Offer!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics (PhD) Decision: accepted Funding: yes (1st year fellowship + tuition + insurance) Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: email with formal acceptance from DGS Posted on GF: to be posted Comments: !!!So Happy! First Offer!
  • Institution: Wisconsin Agricultural & Applied Economics PhD Decision: admitted Funding: pending Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: they are still taking stock of funding situation for next year
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes, 2-Year Fellowship + 3-Year TA/RA Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Got into another Safety. Hope I can get one offer from top 20 in the following weeks.
  • Institution: University of Maryland, College Park Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: 3/16/11 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I was short listed early this month and got off the list today. I'll definitely go there if financial aid is granted later hopefully before April 15th.
  • Institution: University of Maryland, College Park Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Assistantship Notification date: March 30 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: I was first wait-listed for admission, then short-listed for funding. Another surprise is that on the campus visit day, I was told that my name was confused with the other one. Then I got funding immediately and I'm ready to attend UMaryland this fall.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Brown University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:Expected
Waitlists:
  • Institution 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. Sigh, I really wanna go there

econtp 2012:
Institution: Vanderbilt
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: $21,200
Notification date: 02/10
Notified through: Email
Comment: My first admit with quite generous funding!
Institution: WUSTL
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: Waitlisted
Notification date: 02/16
Notified through: Email
Institution: UCSB
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/23
Notified through: Email to check website
Comment: Quite surprised..
Institution: Stanford GSB
Program: EAP PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 02/23
Notified through: Email to check website
Institution: UT Austin
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: If I want, I have to contact them ASAP.
Notification date: 02/23
Notified through: Email
Comment: Hm.. I prefer Vandy to UT since my interest is Macro
Accepts:
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $21,200 Notification date: 02/10 Notified through: Email Comment: My first admit with quite generous funding!
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: If I want, I have to contact them ASAP. Notification date: 02/23 Notified through: Email Comment: Hm.. I prefer Vandy to UT since my interest is Macro
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruz Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "I am unable to guarantee you financial support at this time. Should you have questions about future financial support, please contact your department." Notification: 2/24/12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: It is a good place for Monetary Econ..
  • Institution: USC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 23k stipend + health/dental insurance + health center Notification date: 2/28/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I like the offer especially the health center part. Is 23k enough for living in LA with a wife and a baby?
  • Institution : Georgetown Econ PhD Decision : Accepted Funding : 22k Fellowship Notification Date: 2/29 Notified Through : E-mail Posted on GC : No Comments: Good!
  • Institution: Indiana University Bloomington Economics Decision : Accepted Funding : 1st yr 20,000 fellowship, 2-5 16000 TAship Notification Date: 3/19/2012 Notified Through : E-mail Posted on GC : No Comments: Good option for macro, metrics!
Rejects:
  • Institution: UCSB Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 02/23 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Quite surprised..
  • Institution: Stanford GSB EAP PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 02/23 Notified through: Email to check website
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/29/12 Notified Through: Application website Posted on GC: No Comments: very very sad...
Waitlists:
  • Institution: WUSTL Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 02/16 Notified through: Email


Rejections:

wobo82 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 25 research university per USNWR
Undergrad GPA: 3.33 (electrical engineering BS)
Type of Grad: Top 100-ish research university without an econ PhD program
Grad GPA: 3.87 (economics MA)
GRE: 790Q/670V/5.0A
Math Courses: Calc I through III, Diff Eq, Matrix/Linear Algebra, Math Stats, Stochastic Proc, Analysis
Econ Courses: Micro Theory, Applied Econometrics, bunch of field courses
Other Courses: Bunch of undergrad EE courses (lots of Matlab, some C++)
Letters of Recommendation: Three from econ profs at grad school. (They were not alumni of the schools I applied to so where they got their PhDs was of no consequence.)
Research Experience: Very insignficant.
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Development, broadly speaking.
SOP: I liked it.
Other: Male, international
RESULTS:
Acceptances: USC (fellowship), UMD AREC (RA), UMN APEC (fellowship), UVA (waitlisted for aid), GWU (waitlisted for aid), UW-Seattle (no aid)
No news as of Apr 3rd (not that I care anymore): UNC-CH, Pitt, Purdue
Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Brown, Georgetown, Vanderbilt
What would you have done differently?
Nothing. (Well, perhaps tried the PowerPrep tests.) My personal circumstances were such that I couldn't have done things differently. I do feel that I had overestimated the difficulty of getting in (to the departments I chose) but underestimated the difficulty of getting funding. But hindsight is 20-20. The biggest holes in my profile going in were: unknown grad school, bad undergrad record, lack of research experience, complete absence of a macro course (taking my first one right now). I feared the lack of macro would shut me out from the straight econ depts. All in all I am happy with my acceptance tally.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: USC (fellowship), UMD AREC (RA), UMN APEC (fellowship), UVA (waitlisted for aid), GWU (waitlisted for aid), UW-Seattle (no aid) No news as of Apr 3rd (not that I care anymore): UNC-CH, Pitt, Purdue
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Brown, Georgetown, Vanderbilt
Waitlists:

snigai 2007:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: International Student, top 10 University in the country, exhange student in the US.
Undergrad GPA: 85%
Type of Grad: MA in Economics, Top 3 University in the Region
Grad GPA: 4,10 out of 4,33
GRE: 770/420/5.0, TOEFL: 115/120
Math Courses: Mathematics for Economists, Mathematical Programming
Econ Courses: relevant Micro I, II; Macro I, II; Econometrics I,II all grad
Other Courses: Statistics, Probability
Letters of Recommendation: all grom grad economics professors
Research Experience: GRA for 1 semester for visiting professor
Teaching Experience: GTA for 2 semesters
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics
SOP: It was allright I suppose )))
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UVA, Penn State, UC Riverside, American U (probably)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Harvard, Berkeley ,Cornell, Georgetown
What would you have done differently?Nothing. I did the best I could.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UVA, Penn State, UC Riverside, American U (probably)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Berkeley ,Cornell, Georgetown
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

txecon 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Medium State University, Econ Major/Math Minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.91 (4.0 Econ/3.8 Math)
Type of Grad: This coming Summer in the AEA Summer Program at UCSB
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 750Q / 560V / 4.5A
Math Courses: Calculus I-III, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics Theory I-II, Intro to Real Analysis, a few business analysis courses, and self-guided through Diff. Eq.
Econ Courses: Principles, Intermediates, Labor, Managerial (Game Theory, Applied Micro, etc.), Development, Monetary, Econometrics (UCSB), Master's Level Micro/Macro (UCSB), Economics Research Methods (UCSB)
Other Courses: A few programming courses
Letters of Recommendation: Mostly professor at my undergraduate. All know me very well, and some are well known for research.
Research Experience: Two years as an undergraduate research assistant
Teaching Experience: 2 years tutoring and teaching recitation courses
Research Interests: Financial Econometrics, Labor, Applied Micro, dabbled in Development
SOP:I think it shows my writing ability and explains some of my weak points. I think simplicity is desirable in an SOP. They want to know you can write concisely and well as clearly.
Other: I spent a summer taking courses at UChicago (unfortunately I didn't know at the time that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and didn't build a memorable relationship with my professor. DOH!)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Texas A&M ($$$)(attending),Texas (no$), UNC (no$), SMU($$), Claremont ($), UIC ($)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Rochester, Georgetown, UVA, Colorado
Pending: None
What would you have done differently? To be honest I was a bit behind the curve in learning the process and the method for applying for an Econ. Ph.D. I learned I needed a strong math background late, so I had to settle for a minor. I learned about the importance of LORs, so my time at UChicago didn't help much. Saying this, though, I am very happy about my outcome. TAMU will be an excellent place to receive sound training.
I should note that it is said on here a lot that the two most important things about your application is GRE scores and LORs, and I just simply want to reiterate that. GRE will get you through the door, and letter writers who are known (either because they are famous or just simply have a contact in the AdCom) will get you a place at the dinner table and possibly nominations for fellowships.
Good Luck to all those still waiting to hear this year, and beginning the process next year! If you are reading this in the Fall and have a question about TAMU, please don't hesitate to PM me.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Texas A&M ($$$)(attending),Texas (no$), UNC (no$), SMU($$), Claremont ($), UIC ($)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Rochester, Georgetown, UVA, Colorado
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

friendlyskies 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small, mid-ranked liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.99 Business admin major, Econ minor
Grad GPA: 4.0 as non-degree math grad student
GRE: 780q, 620v, 5.0w
Math Courses: multivariable calculus, linear algebra, diff eq, real analysis (2 sem.), math stats (2 sem. w/ Casella&Berger)
Econ Courses: intro micro/macro, intermediate micro/macro, IO, statistical analysis for econ
Letters of Recommendation: 2 fed economists, 1 undergrad finance prof.
Research Experience: 3 yrs as a Fed RA, a couple undergrad publications in weak journals
Teaching Experience: TA for a couple semesters in UG
Research Interests: macro, int'l trade and finance
SOP: pretty standard...try to explain away the weaknesses and accentuate the positive. emphasized my fed research experience, recent math classes, programming abilities, teaching experience.
RESULTS:
Attending: Arizona State University
Acceptances: UVA ($$), Boston College ($$), Boston University ($$$), UNC ($$), Arizona State ($$$), Vanderbilt ($$$), Tufts MA ($)
Waitlists: UT Austin
Rejections: Maryland, Duke, Brown, Georgetown
Pending: Never heard from WUSTL
What would you have done differently? I don't think I would have done much, if anything, differently. I think I targeted the range of schools pretty well given the outcome, and I'm happy with the results. ASU is a small but growing program, and I'm stoked about the opportunity to work closely with guys like Prescott and Rogerson. I am really glad that I took a few years after undergrad to build up my resume before applying though...getting good research experience, working with well-known economists, and taking higher math classes made all the difference in the quality of programs for which I was a competitive applicant.
Accepts:
    Attending: Arizona State University Acceptances: UVA ($$), Boston College ($$), Boston University ($$$), UNC ($$), Arizona State ($$$), Vanderbilt ($$$), Tufts MA ($)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland, Duke, Brown, Georgetown
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UT Austin

JasonEcon 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Industrial Engineering with honors; U.S. top 5 engineering program
Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.2/4.0, Econ: almost none, Math: 3.1/4.0
Type of Grad/Post-Bac: M.S. Economics at large state non-Ph D granting university
Grad/Post-Bac GPA: 3.9/4.0
GRE: 800Q 630V 5.0AWA
Undergrad Courses: Calculus II-III (A/B), Linear Algebra (B)
Grad & Post-Bac Courses: Grad Micro (A), Grad Macro (A), Grad Metrics (A), 3 grad field courses (As); Diff Eq (A), Adv Calc (A), Grad Analysis (B)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 Econ, 1 Math, good professors but not well known.
Research Experience: Only a directed study on growth at the time of application.
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: International/Development
SOP: discussed my very late interest in Economics and thus my five year hiatus between undergrad and returning to school, other than that boilerplate.
RESULTS:
Attending: Vanderbilt (Fellowship year 1, TA years 2 - 5)
Acceptances: Vanderbilt ($), NC St ($), Virginia
Rejections: Duke, Maryland, UNC-CH, Arizona St, Georgetown (never heard)
What would you have done differently? I would of done more research with professors as part of my grad program. I think my professors were able to write solid but not exceptional recommendations because they just did not know me well enough to elaborate extensively. That said, Vanderbilt is the best fit for me in terms of fields and as a personal fit, so I am thrilled with going there!
Accepts:
    Attending: Vanderbilt (Fellowship year 1, TA years 2 - 5) Acceptances: Vanderbilt ($), NC St ($), Virginia
  • Institution: NC St Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD in March Notification date: 2/1/09 Notified through: Grad coordinator Comments: Notified at open house
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $15.9 fellowship 1st year/assistantship next 4 Notification date: 2/9/09 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: UVA Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: Website Comments: Just randomly checked the website. I expect there will not be funding, but don't actually know that.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke, Maryland, UNC-CH, Arizona St, Georgetown (
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 2/17/09 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: Arizona St Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 2/23/09 Notified through: Website Comments:
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: ~ Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Website Comments:
  • Institution: UNC Chapel Hill Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/9/2009 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
Waitlists:

Texcards 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Minor Economics and Math at very large state school (top 15 engineering, top 50 economics)
Undergrad GPA: 3.35/4.0 (3.65 Math, 4.0 Econ)
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 550V, 4.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III(A,B,A), Differential Equations (B), Linear Algebra (A), Mathematical Probability and Statistics (A), Fund Discrete Math (Spring 09)
Econ Courses: Principles of Micro and Macro (A, CR by exam), Intermediate Micro and Macro theory, Econometrics (A,A,A)
Other Courses: Lots of engineering
Letters of Recommendation: 2 not well known assistant econ professors (UT-Austin, Rice) but excelled in their classes, 1 associate engr professor (Berkeley) that I went on a study abroad trip with
Research Experience: none
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: International and Development
SOP: Paragraph about why I wanted to do econ even though I did engineering as an undergrad, another on my interests, and another on why I wanted to be an academic. Slightly altered my interests paragraph depending on the school, but for the most part the same for each one.
Other: Didnt start considering this until fall of last year.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UC Riverside (Fellowship), University of San Francisco MA in International and Development Economics (1/2 tuition remission + TA), UC Davis, University of Washington, UC Santa Cruz, Colorado, Oregon, UI-Chicago
Waitlists: Oregon fellowship, eventually notified of no funding
Rejections: Maryland, Boston University, Boston College, UT Austin, Michigan State, Georgetown, UBC MA
Pending: Toronto MA, Queens MA
What would you have done differently?
I wouldnt have applied to the Canadian MAs (1 year wouldnt have been enough to help me), Michigan State, UCSC, or UI-Chicago and maybe applied to a couple more reaches instead, but I really didn't think I would get into as many as I did. I dont know if it would have changed anything though, after really thinking about it I think an MA is a very good choice for me. Ive realized that my 3 economics courses hasnt given me enough of a background in general economics knowledge. Yes I could learn it in the course of a PhD but I think strengthening my economics background will allow me to have more focus on what field I want to go into and give me more ideas when I eventually start to write my dissertation. An MA will also allow me to improve 3 big weaknesses in my profile: (1) Do some research which will allow me to have (2) stronger letter of recommendations and (3) a more focused SOP.
I think I learned a lot in this application process and feel like I will be able to put together a much better application in 2 years after an MA.
Attending:
University of San Francisco MA in International and Development Economics
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UC Riverside (Fellowship), University of San Francisco MA in International and Development Economics (1/2 tuition remission + TA), UC Davis, University of Washington, UC Santa Cruz, Colorado, Oregon, UI-Chicago
  • Institution: UC-Riverside Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship: 13.5K stipend first year, 16.6K TA/RA next 4 + Health Insurance Notification date: 1/22/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: My super safety
  • Institution: UC-Davis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: End of March Notification date: 2/4/09 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Very Excited! Especially if I get funded!
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruz International Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "I regret that I am unable to offer you any financial support at this time" Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through:Email Comments: Surprised again... too bad there is no funding
  • Institution: Oregon Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "Currently being evaluated for a graduate teaching fellowship" Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Kind of expected after the UCSC and Davis admits. I'm hoping it will replace Riverside as my best funded offer. Even if I am funded, will likely decline in favor of Davis
  • Institution: UI-Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Mid-March Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: USPS letter dated 2/26, postmarked 3/3 Comments: I applied to far too many safeties.
  • Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Email Comments: I was hoping I would get funded...
  • Institution: Washington-Seattle Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "Cannot offer you funds right now" Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: e-mail Comments: I e-mailed the grad director and got a response saying I was "very appealing" and if I wanted an unfunded offer they would send me a letter of admission "right away."
  • Institution: University of San Francisco International and Development Economics (IDEC), Master's Decision: Accepted Funding: Didn't say anything about it Notification date: 4/11/2009 Notified through: Postal Mail Comments: Would actually consider this if they fund me...but will definitely decline if not (EDIT: No funding, will decline)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland, Boston University, Boston College, UT Austin, Michigan State, Georgetown, UBC MA
  • Institution: UT-Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Website Comments: Oh well...
  • Institution: Maryland Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/13 Notified through: Website Comments: Expected...
  • Institution: UBC Economics, MA Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Wasn't ever really sure I would want to go this route and go through this whole process again anyways...
  • Institution: Boston College Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Agora Comments: Grad A+S Decision Letter mailed, I am assuming this is a rejection but I'm on spring break so I can't check my mail! Edit: officially a rejection!
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/25 Notified through: response to my inquiry email Comments: I don't think I would have liked living in East Lansing anyways
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/27 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Continuing the trend of no East Coast love
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/13/2009 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: Finally after sending 2 e-mails.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Oregon fellowship, eventually notified of no funding

tm_guru 2010:
Type of Undergrad: University College Dublin, Ireland, BSc in Economics & Finance (Final Year Concentration - Mathematical Analysis) Undergrad GPA: First Class Honours - converts to a 3.74 GPA according to WES conversion, higher grades in Math and Econ, boring but required Finance/Tax/Accounting classes dragged me down
Type of Grad: National University of Ireland, Galway MSc in Economic Science (Concentratiion - Planning and Policy Evaluation), essentially it was an MPP/MPA degree but we don't really have that in Ireland
Grad GPA: 4.0 (1st out of cohort of ~50 students across 3 concentrations with a lot of common classes)
GRE: 780Q, 630V, 5.0AWA
Math/Stat Courses: 3 semesters of Linear and Matrix Algebra, 2 semesters of calculus (although very little if any multivariate calculus), courses called 'Analysis and Calculus', 'Complex Analysis', various Math for Econ/Finance classes, 3 semesters of Math Stats/Probability... I honestly have no idea if I am prepared for core classes adequately... all A's except one B and one awful grade which I explained in my SOP.
Econ Courses: 3 semesters of Macro (1 MS-level), 4 semesters of Micro (1 MS-level), 4 semesters of Econometrics (1 MS-level) 2 semesters of International Econ, 2 semesters of Public Econ, 3 semesters of Game Theory, Economics of Innovation, Economics of Education... tons really... I hope this will help me get started with research
Other Courses: Tax/Accounting/Finance/Management, nothing useful
Letters of Recommendation: All were strong but mainly graduated in the 1960's or 1970's, 1 has a UCI PhD, 1 LSE, 1 UMD CP (Math), and one had a PhD from Edinburgh but who has an impressive CV and was a visiting professor at Berkeley last year... I used different combinations of three for different schools. I will speak more about this below.
Research Experience: Central Bank internship, MS Thesis (my adviser awarded me the highest grade he has given to a student in 30 years at that University)
Teaching Experience: lots, 3 semesters as a TA, 6 years giving private tutorials to groups of 1-10 students amounting to probably over 200 students in over a dozen different subjects from math to stats to econ
Research Interests: Applied Micro - health, education, labor, public policy, etc.
Statement of purpose: I had too much to explain for it to stand out, I spent the entire 1000 words explaining the holes in my profile (more on this below)
Concerns: Everything...
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Rutgers (no funding), PSU (generous TA funding), UPitt (top fellowship),
Waitlists: BC, UMass-Amherst
Rejections: CMU, Rochester, Syracuse, Cornell, Wharton, Georgetown, UVA, Duke
What would you have done differently?
As many know, this is my second time around, the mistakes I made in last year's applications are embarrassing when I think about them so I will only say this about it - I was blissfully ignorant of the entire process, how many schools to apply to, what a US PhD program entailed, what to say in a SOP, how I would compare to other students... you name it, I messed it up! Seriously, I applied to schools that suited me geographically, no other criteria, I had no idea what I was doing or about the research strengths of different schools... then I found this forum! I am also fortunate to have a fiancee who eventually helped me understand the US education system.
I have ended up at this point in my life not because of careful planning or organization, but through sheer luck and good fortune. I picked my UG degree ten years ago on a whim, and I am lucky that it covered the required analysis, calculus, and algebra courses... We have denominated degrees in Ireland, so you have to decide which one to pursue at age 17 before graduating from 'secondary' school and then apply through a centralized application system. I was going to do Electrical Engineering, but the dot.com crash in 2000/2001 made me change my mind literally an hour before the deadline... only for that decision I would be in a very different place in my life.
I also pursued a Master's degree in Ireland with the intent of 'lecturing' at a community college-type institution but as soon as I returned to the classroom something just changed, I suddenly found myself devouring journal literature, participating in class, loving my TA duties, and acing all my exams... I can only think that the change in my attitude towards classes and college was maturity. As an undergrad I was rarely even in class, never mind an active participant.
Other mistakes - I hurriedly took the GRE as I had no idea how important it was (I took one - paper - practice exam). I decided not to retake as I was worried about not getting an 800 and the signal that might send. I probably could have gotten an 800 with one day of genuine preparation...
In terms of LORs, the three schools I got accepted to, and one of the waitlists were a particular combination of letters, I used that combination for Duke too, but not anywhere else. I know it is a small sample size, but of 5 schools with that specific combination of letters I got 3 acceptances, and 1 waitlist. I got 1 waitlist and 7 rejections when I didn't use that combination of letters. Interesting, very interesting.
However, I can say with all honesty that I am delighted with how things have worked out for me, I am sure I will be very successful and more than intellectually satisfied at UPitt.
Lastly, I am a prime example of the noise associated with applicants coming from unknown schools/countries. I received the top fellowship from 400 applicants to UPitt this year, received full funding at PSU, but was rejected by Syracuse. It is bizarre!
If any forum members, and especially applicants coming from unknown universities, have any questions please feel free to PM me!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Rutgers (no funding), PSU (generous TA funding), UPitt (top fellowship),
  • Institution: Rutgers PhD Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: None (no mention of a waitlist either) Notification date: Jan 27th 2009 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: Bizarrethat there is not even a hope of funding offered
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accept with generous TAship. Generous being an understatement given the low COL in central PA. Notification date: 02/10/2010 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: nope, why on earth would I do that, TM forever! Comment: Awesome awesome feeling!
  • Institution: U Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Slesinger fellowship year one, regular funding after that (just under 18k, but does not include health insurance) Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not sure what to make of the offer... fellowship is nice!
  • Institution: Penn State Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship - 24k, plus 800f already subsidized health insurance Notification date: 2/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Nice!
  • Institution: Rutgers Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification date: 1/27 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: No funding, so declined:)
  • Institution: Rutgers Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification date: 1/27 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: No funding, so declined
Rejects:
    Rejections: CMU, Rochester, Syracuse, Cornell, Wharton, Georgetown, UVA, Duke
  • Institution:Cornell Econ Decision:Reject Funding: N/A Notification date:8th Feb 2010 Notified through:email
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Duke University Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Website. Posted on GF: no Comments: Disappointed
  • Institution: Cornell Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: meh
  • Institution: Rochester Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not bothered, only really applied there cause the apps are free! Couldn't even begin to imagine living in Rochester for 5 years :-/
  • Institution: Rochester Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not bothered, only really applied there cause the apps are free! Couldn't even begin to imagine living in Rochester for 5 years :-/
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: I would have been so torn if I got in... Philly is not my favorite place, but the program would have been perfect for me
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) PhD Econ and PP Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: Mass email Comments: Expected. Ironic as I just arrived at my hotel in Pittsburgh, I can see the campus, and I opened my computer and bam, rejection email...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BC, UMass-Amherst
  • Institution: UMass - Amherst Phd Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2/23 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Really wanted to get an offer and to go visit the department and see what the program is really about... there's so much good and bad said about this program
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: My second year to be waitlisted at BC, they didn't take anyone from the waitlist last year...
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: My second year to be waitlisted at BC, they didn't take anyone from the waitlist last year...

ilikefreefood 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ major from a top 5-10 Midwestern liberal arts college.
Undergrad GPA: 3.73/4, magna cum laude, distinction in major for senior thesis research.
Type of Grad: first semester of PhD microeconomics at Maryland
Grad GPA: 3.00/4.00 (B+)
GRE: 800Q 640V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc II-III (A,B+), Linear Algebra (Pass), Statistics (A), Mathematical Structures (A-), Real Analysis (B, taken as a non-degree student at a local school Fall 2008), Probability (A, taken as a non-degree student at a local school Summer 2009)
Econ Courses: Principles Micro/Macro (A-,A), Intermediate Micro (A) Intermediate Macro (B), Econometrics (B+), PhD Micro Theory I (B+), pre-thesis seminar (A-), Ag. & Food Econ. (A), Development Econ. (B+), Econ. of Inequality (A), Econ. of Water Policy (B+), British Econ. history (B+)
Other Courses: A pass/fail seminar on game theory, a Poli. Sci. course on agent-based computer modeling (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ. professors (liberal arts college profs but with Chicago/Stanford PhDs), including my thesis adviser who has previously stated that my thesis was one of the best he's ever advised. 1 Partner at my Econ. consulting firm with whom I've worked extensively on econometric analyses (PhD Cornell).
Where possible, a third Econ. professor (PhD Chicago).
Research Experience: ~3.5 years as an RA in a major Econ. consulting firm; I specialize in statistical and econometric analysis within my office.
Awards: Thesis award from state Economics association, thesis presentation award from state science association, college fellowship
for (non-research) work in development related to microfinance.
Research Interests: Development, environmental/resource economics, urban economics, general applied micro.
Statement of Purpose: Well-written but fairly standard; mentioned specifically my interest in development and applied micro fields.
Other: This is my second time applying, and I am reapplying to several schools with the additional Probability and PhD micro courses and a new letter of recommendation. I am deferred at Minnesota ARE from last year.
Applying to: Maryland, Maryland AREC, Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Washington, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Michigan State, Northwestern, WUSTL, Georgetown, Texas, Boston University, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, UC Davis ARE, Illinois, Penn State, Virginia
RESULTS:
Attending: Boston University
Acceptances: Boston University (no $), U. of Washington ($), Michigan State ($ waitlist), Illinois ($), UC Davis ARE ($), Maryland AREC ($).
Rejections: Maryland Econ., Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Texas, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Penn State, Virginia
No Response: Georgetown
What would you have done differently?
I would have taken more care to keep my grades in key courses consistently high in college to avoid a few potential red flags. I would have started my math education earlier and taken more classes as an undergrad. I would have worked only 2 years as an economic consultant and timed the business cycle to avoid applying in 2009 and 2010. I would have applied last year to a few schools that just missed my 2009 list (BU, Washington, and Illinois were all nearly on it), and potentially avoided the annoyance of waiting another year. I would have done more research to discount the advice of my advisors who said I would definitely get into schools on my 2009 list. All those things said, i feel that BU is really a fabulous program for my interests, and I am very, very excited to be headed there.
Accepts:
    Attending: Boston University Acceptances: Boston University (no $), U. of Washington ($), Michigan State ($
  • Institution: UC Davis ARE Decision: Accepted Funding: "We are going to offer you funding" Notification date: January 28th Notified through: Phone (Voicemail) Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Comments: This feels good.
  • Institution:UC Davis (ARE) Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16K RA/TA Notification date: 1/28 Notified through: Phone Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: A solid first offer to start the season.
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for TAship Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comment: The plot thickens.
  • Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: First year fellowship 8.5k, TA years 2-5 17k + tuition & fee waiver Notification date: 3/23/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Booyah.
  • Institution: Maryland (AREC) Agricultural & Applied Economics (AREC) Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for assistantship Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Official letter said no possibility of funding, but it was followed by an email saying "Under normal budgetary conditions, we would have made an offer of financial assistance in the form of a graduate assistantship ... our ability to support incoming graduate students is severely limited at this time. I wanted you to know that your name has been place on a waiting list for just such an assistantship."
  • Institution: Boston University (BU) Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Funding: No funding. Comments: Given my interests, this is a tempting option. Lots of thinking to do.
  • Institution: University of Washington, Seattle Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "we are in a position to make you a funded offer" Notification date: 4/15 Notified through: Email (at 1:15am Pacific!) Comments: UW never really officially told me I was in before this because I told them I wouldn't come without funding. However, I have given this eventuality a lot of thought in the past few days, and I will decline their funded offer for an unfunded offer at BU. In spite of the funding-related antics, I really liked UW, I love Seattle, and this was a tough decision to make.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland Econ., Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Texas, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Penn State, Virginia No Response: Georgetown
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
  • Institution: Yale Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/18/2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Comments: expected
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Bummer. As with many other posters, I'm going to try not to read into this one too much.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More or less expected.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Very disappointing. Last year they held my application until April, and since then I have added a letter of recommendation from a Cornell Ph.D.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Never really expected to get in, but boy I wish it hadn't taken so long to determine that I hadn't.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Not surprised to get re-rejected, but this was a program at which my advisor thought I had a good shot, so it's still a bummer.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More or less expected.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Very disappointing. Last year they held my application until April, and since then I have added a letter of recommendation from a Cornell Ph.D.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Never really expected to get in, but boy I wish it hadn't taken so long to determine that I hadn't.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Not surprised to get re-rejected, but this was a program at which my advisor thought I had a good shot, so it's still a bummer.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/05 Notified through: Email Comment: Got the email during a presentation at a flyout. So expected I didn't even flinch.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Ag & Resource Econ (ARE) Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notified through: E-mail Date: 03/08 Comment: This one is a major disappointment. I really wanted to go here, and my advisor thought I had an excellent shot.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Bummer. I'm pretty sure my family would've loved to see me as a Nittany Lion.
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not really.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website) Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Interesting program, but I didn't think I was going to get in anyway.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Obviously this one was assumed at this point, but it's especially disappointing because I took a graduate course in this department to beef up my application recently. C'est la vie.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: -
  • Institution: University of Texas, Austin Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Bummer. I'm hanging out with friends from Austin today and had to break the news to them that I won't be joining them anytime soon.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/31 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: Yes Funding: - Comments: Charlottesville would have been nice.
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 4/6 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment: The field narrows.
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 4/16/10 Notified through: Letter Comment: Maybe Georgetown's objective in waiting till after April 15th is to ensure that no one cares if they're rejected?
Waitlists:
    waitlist), Illinois ($), UC Davis ARE ($), Maryland AREC ($).

Mpianatra 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 20 econ program
Undergrad GPA: 3.56/4
Type of Grad: MS in same major/university
Grad GPA: none at time of application
GRE: 780/580/5.5
Math Courses: Calc I/II (A-), Real Analysis (in progress during app), Calc III (A+), Linear Algebra (A), Ord. Diff. Eq. (A) [last three courses taken as non-degree student at state school w/o econ phd]
Econ Courses: Intro Micro/Macro (A), Inter Micro (B+), Inter Macro (A), Labor Economics (B), Income Distribution (A), Developing Country Labor Markets (A-), Applied Econometrics (A-), Econ Dev't (A-), Public Finance (A-), Economic Data (B), Grad Micro Theory I (in progress), Grad Econ of Education (in progress)
Other Courses: Intro Stats (A-)
Letters of Recommendation: Thesis Adviser- known for a long time (pretty strong), Second Thesis Adviser-mostly knew from a course (positive but probably pretty generic), RA prof (also probably pretty generic)
Research Experience: Master's thesis but hadn't done much for it at time of application
Teaching Experience: Just short of teaching credential
Research Interests: Development, Political Economy, Labor
SOP: Nothing special. Run of the mill about why I like econ, why I was qualified, and why I liked the school.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: American ($?), BU (no $), CUNY (Fellowship), Fordham ($?), Colorado ($$$), UI-Chicago ($?), Washington (no $), Wisconsin ($$)
Waitlists: BC
Rejections: Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, USC, Texas,
Attending: Wisconsin
What would you have done differently?
What I wouldn't have done differently was apply to so many schools. I had a lot of reach schools on my list and all it takes is one of them to accept you. Some rejections from very lowly-ranked schools with some acceptances from relatively high-ranked so it can be hard to predict. Obviously getting better grades would always help but I'm very satisfied with the overall results.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: American ($?), BU (no $), CUNY (Fellowship), Fordham ($?), Colorado ($$$), UI-Chicago ($?), Washington (no $), Wisconsin ($$)
  • Institution: UIllinois-Chicago Decision: Accepted Funding: will hear in March Notification date: 2/10 Notified through: Postal Service Posted on GF: yes Comments: At least I got one in the bag
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: Email + More info by mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Anyone else accepted know if they reimburse for flyout?
  • Institution: CUNY Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Short list" for an 18k fellowship Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Likely will withdraw due to better offer.
  • Institution: Fordham University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: I hadn't researched the program well. Just picked it b/c it's in NYC.
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: Email + More info by mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Anyone else accepted know if they reimburse for flyout?
  • Institution: CUNY Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Short list" for an 18k fellowship Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Likely will withdraw due to better offer.
  • Institution: Fordham University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: I hadn't researched the program well. Just picked it b/c it's in NYC.
  • Institution: UC-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ~15k TA, 5k Fellowship Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment:
  • Institution: BU Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: $0 Comments: Out at GWU and in at BU? This is a weird process.
  • Institution: U of Washington Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Funding: no Comments:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, USC, Texas,
  • Institution: Duke Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Minnesota Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Oh well...
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: No surprise there.
  • Institution: Minnesota Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Oh well...
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Notre Dame Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check Website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Emory University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: got an early interview so this surprised me a bit
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email response from Marjorie Lesser Comments: zero surprise but still a bummer
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: Mar 15 Notified through: Postal Service Funding: N/A Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: E-mail to Check Website Posted on GC: No Comments: C'est la vie.
  • Institution: George Washington Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/27 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Funding: n/a Comments: Seriously? Definitely didn't expect this.
  • Institution: University of Texas Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment:
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BC
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 12:30am ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Not sure if I'll put my name on the list or not...
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 12:30am ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Not sure if I'll put my name on the list or not...

mariobross 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Civil Engineering. (Latin America)
Undergrad GPA: 3.57/4
Type of Grad: M.A International Development (Concentration in Dev Economics)
Grad GPA: 3.68/4
GRE: 770Q, 450V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses (Undergrad): Calculus I-III (B+, A-, A-), Real Analysis (A-) , Algebra I (B+) , Linear Algebra (A-), Diff. Eq (A-)
Econ Courses (Graduate): Micro (B+), Macro (A-), Econ Theory (A), Econ Dev (A), Household Econ (A-), Intro Econometrics (B+), App Econometrics (A), Advanced Econometrics (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (PhD Columbia, PhD Brandeis) and my Supervisor (PhD Harvard).
Research Experience: 2 years as RA in grad school, master's thesis, Research Fellow at the World Bank and IADB (3 years)
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics and International Trade
Applying to: Maryland(Econ), Maryland (PubPol), Georgetown (Econ), Chicago (Econ), Chicago (PubPol), Brandeis(Econ), Duke (PubPol), Harvard (PubPol), Oxford (Econ), Pompeu (Econ), Columbia (SIPA)
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Public Policy (Econ concentration) Decision: Rejected Notification date: 17 February, 2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: no Date of Gradcafe post: Comments: One less, nine more to go... ;)
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics PHD Decision: REJECTED Funding: ??? Notificationn date: 02/17 Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: Duke PP Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: none Notification date: Feb15 Notified through: email Posted on GF: Comments:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: none Notification date: Feb 20 Notified through: letter Posted on GF: Comments:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: none Notification date: Feb 20 Notified through: letter Posted on GF: Comments:
Waitlists:

blackwhite 2010:
Institution: Georgetown
Program:PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification date: 2/22
Notified through: Mail
Posted on GF: yes
Comments:
Institution: Pittsburgh
Program:PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Decision is still being made
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: yes
Comments:
Institution: Carnegie Mellon
Program:PhD Economics
Decision: Waitlisted
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/19
Notified through: Personal email
Posted on GF: No
Comment: Those who were admitted to CMU please tell them that you don't wanna got there asap if you have better option. Many thanks...
Accepts:
  • Institution: NC State Economics Decision: admitted Funding: None Available Notification Date: February 12 Notified: website Posted on Gradcafe: yes, February 12 Comments: Does anyone know what "none available" means for assistantship part?
  • Institution: Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Decision is still being made Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments:
  • Institution: UC Riverside Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship Notification date: 3/10/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: "due to the California budget crisis, the number of fellowships we are able to offer has been severely reduced". I need funding man!..
  • Institution: Claremont Graduate University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 35% tuition, 2k RA-ship for a year Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Their funding offer is really interesting... But better than having nothing...
Rejects:
  • Institution: UC Davis ARE PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 2/12 Notified Through: website Posted on Grad Cafe: Yes, 2/12
  • Institution: Rice University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/16 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on Grad Cafe: Yes, 2/16
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Checked Online Status Posted on Grad Cafe: Yes, 2/18 Comment: I am sooo sad
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: Mail Posted on GF: yes Comments:
  • Institution: Rochester Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: 6th rejection :(
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: expected but still sad... :(
  • Institution: Rochester Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: 6th rejection
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: expected but still sad...
  • Institutioninstitution: Emory Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: no Comments: unexpected
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: Mail Posted on GC: No Comment: As expected... but still hurts
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No.
  • Institution: Arizona Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/15 Notified through: Email Comment: Soooo sad.... I was so hopeful....
  • Institution: CalTech Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally!
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Randomly check Testudo website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Arizona State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/23/2010 Notified through: checked website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/23/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Washington U - St Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/05/2010 Notified through: Mass Email Posted on GC: No Comment:
  • Institution: CMU Economics Decision: Rejected off the waitlist Funding: NA Notification date: 4/12/10 Notified through: E-mail Comments: No Comment
  • Institution: UCI Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 4/13/10 Notified through: Randomly checked website Comments: No Comment
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Personal email Posted on GF: No Comment: Those who were admitted to CMU please tell them that you don't wanna got there asap if you have better option. Many thanks...
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Personal email Posted on GF: No Comment: Those who were admitted to CMU please tell them that you don't wanna got there asap if you have better option. Many thanks...

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.

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

claphands 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A Area Studies, minor Spanish, urban state university
Undergrad GPA: 3.65/4
Type of Grad: M.A. Area Studies, top 25 econ program, big public school
Grad GPA: 3.8/4
GRE: 770q/710v/5.5a
Math Courses: (All taken at the big public, over three semesters at the end of my M.A.) GPA: 4.0 - Calc 1&2 (includes multivariate); Intro to Discrete, Intro to Real Analysis, Probability 1, Linear Algebra
Econ Courses: Excluding misc topic courses I took as an undergrad, I took a bunch of calc-based undergrad econ courses at the top 25 program at the end of my M.A. GPA: 4.0 - Intermediate Micro/Macro, Economic Stats, Intro to Econometrics, Development Economics, Computational Economics
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: All from full professors with reputable PhDs I had for a single econ course each. One may have been strong, others were probably good but not personal.
Research Experience: None in econ except for course work, M.A. thesis involved reading an obscene amount of academic economics articles to analyze economic thought in the region I was studying
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Open-economy macro, development, trade, inequality, poverty, agent-based computational
SOP: Pretty good I think, tied together why a student with such a background was going to study economics. On one of my flyouts, grad director asked me questions about things I'd mentioned in my SOP which made me think having said those things helped me.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Cornell (-), Washington (-), Colorado ($$), Oregon ($$), UMass ($), UC-Santa Cruz (partial$)
Waitlists: NA
Rejections: UC-San Diego, Georgetown
Attending: Colorado
What would you have done differently? Based on my results, I would have applied to several more programs ranked, say 20-40. But money and letter writer goodwill were very much on my mind and I think I did alright in that respect. I actually wouldn't really have changed my academic trajectory, I think most, if not all of the courses I took to get my M.A. and B.A. were interesting and useful for making me the type of thinker and writer I am now. If you are curious where I started from (before I had taken a single math class or basic econ prereq), check this thread: http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...hd-advice.html (Interdisciplinary grad student, weak on math. Needs econ phd advice.)
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Cornell (-), Washington (-), Colorado ($$), Oregon ($$), UMass ($), UC-Santa Cruz (partial$)
  • Institution: UMass - Amherst Econ PhD Decision:Accepted! Funding:$ (all admits are funded) Notification date: 2/19/2011 Notified through: Phone Posted on GF:Y Comments:First admit and a place I'd love to go. very excited.
  • Institution: Oregon Phd in Economics Decision: Accepted "pending grad school approval" Funding: ??? Notification date: ??? Notified through: Just happened to check the website after the post earlier in this thread Posted on GC: No Comment: Nice to have some some choices
  • Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz International Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 1 year Notification date: 03/01/2011 Notified through: via email Posted on GC: no Comment: Choices make me happy
  • Institution: Colorado-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $$ Notification date: 03/11/11 Notified through: Email Comments: Best offer so far, very happy.
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Same as everyone else Notification Date: March 23, 2011 Notified through: Official e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: No funding is probably impossible for me, though flattering to be admitted to the highest ranked program I applied to!
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC-San Diego, Georgetown
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: NA

AREStudentHopeful 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in economics from a satellite state school
Undergrad GPA: 3.35, 3.7 in econ
Type of Grad: M.A. Agricultural and Resource Economics from a large state school
Grad GPA: 3.45 (health problems in fall semester dropped from 3.6 to 3.45)
GRE: 780Q, 590V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III (C, B, B+), Linear Algebra (A), Axiomatic Systems-Intro to Proofs (A), Intro to Stats (A), Advanced ODE (B)
Econ Courses (masters-level): Micro, Math for Econ, Applied Metrics, Agricultural Production, Water Economics, Research Methods in Economics, Natural Resource
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to micro, intro to macro, intermediate micro, intermediate macro, advanced macro, environmental, natural resource, comparative systems, developmental, money and banking, econometrics
Other Courses: Many environmental science courses
Letters of Recommendation: 5 econ professors (1 Davis ARE, 1 U Colorado, 1 Berkeley ARE, 1 NC State, 1 U Chicago) depending on what school I'm applying to based on their connections
Research Experience: RAed for an econ prof in undergrad, worked as an RA both years of my masters including one project that I'm getting published in a low-tier journal, masters thesis
Teaching Experience: TA for intro to micro and natural resource econ
Research Interests: Environmental is the main one, plus behavioral, urban and game theory on the side. I'm actually one of the few ARE-type people who enjoy theory (and macro).
SOP: Pretty standard plus very detailed paragraph individual to each school
Concerns: Not as stellar math grades as many of you, low undergrad GPA, no RA (a sin on this forum!)
RESULTS:
Attending: UCSB
Acceptances: UCSB ($?)
Waitlists: Wyoming
Rejections: UCSD, UCLA, Berkeley ARE, Davis ARE, U Colorado, U Arizona, ASU, NC State, Rutgers, Duke, Maryland ARE, Georgetown, NSF
Comments:
I'll stress how much letter of recommendation's matter. Just one unfortunate letter of recommendation seems to have diminished my results greatly. I would think that an acceptance from Colorado, Davis, Arizona and NC State would be likely without that letter of recommendation problem. That being said, I would pick UCSB over any of them so I am very happy with my result. I could probably have been on the borderline for ASU as well, and possibly Rutgers or Georgetown, but no regrets! For more insight into my comments on the process see here: http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...n-process.html (Advice from a 2 1/2-Year Application Process)
Accepts:
    Attending: UCSB Acceptances: UCSB ($?)
  • Institution: UC Santa Barbara Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Pending Notification date: Feb 14 Notified through: website Posted on GC: no Comments: Woohoo, first acceptance of the season! My nerves are somewhat calmer now...
Rejects:
    Rejections: UCSD, UCLA, Berkeley ARE, Davis ARE, U Colorado, U Arizona, ASU, NC State, Rutgers, Duke, Maryland ARE, Georgetown, NSF Comments: I'll stress how much letter of recommendation's matter. Just one unfortunate letter of recommendation seems to have diminished my results greatly. I would think that an
  • Institution: Maryland AREc PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 01/21/11 Notified through: Email notice for decision posted in online application status Posted on GF: no Comments: 1 down, 13 to go...now I'm starting to remember why I filled out all those applications
  • Institution: North Carolina State University , Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/11/2011 Notified through: Online status Posted on GF: No Comments: Rough start to the season with these two...
  • Institution: Davis ARE PhD Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: checked the web status Posted on GF: no Comments: 'Nother one down.
  • Institution: Rutgers Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/24/2011 Notified through: web status Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: via email Posted on GC: no Comment: Saw this one coming a mile away
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Kind of nice that they did them all in one day.
  • Institution: CU Boulder Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: not surprised...
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11 Notified through: snail mail Posted on GC: no Comments: 5 more to go
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/14 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: only 4 more to go!
  • Institution: u Arizona Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/17/11 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Rough season, this one
  • Institution: ASU Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/1/11 Notified through: myASU website Posted on GF: No Comments: Only one admit this season? Crazy
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/5 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: last year of eligibility
  • Institution: UCSD Ph.D. in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/06 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: 'bout time!
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Wyoming
  • Institution: U Wyoming Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 04/08 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:

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

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

arcadia 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Business from top state school
Undergrad GPA: 3.75
Type of Grad: MA Economics from top 50ish PhD granting school in US
Grad GPA: 3.5
GRE: 770 Q, 530 V, 4.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc 1-2, Matrix and Linear Algebra, Math Stats (undergrad and graduate level... some PhD level too)
Econ Courses (grad-level): all the core courses at my university, plus some field courses, tons of econometrics
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): intermediate micro & macro, econometrics
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: two pretty good from professors from top schools, one from the professor I TA'ed for.
Research Experience: not a lot outside of some research papers during my masters
Teaching Experience: tons. I TA'ed during my masters and taught before that as well. taught my own courses.
Research Interests: growth and development, international trade, econometrics... have some narrowing down to do
SOP: i think its good...
Concerns: lack of formal math... but my performance in core courses should show I have self-studied plenty and know what I'm doing. Oh, and my low Quant.
Other:
Applying to: BC, Georgetown, American, GWU, Houston, UW-Seattle, UCSB, Claremont, UMass?
Accepts:
  • Institution: American University Economics Decision:Accepted!! Funding: Decisions in February Notification date: 12/17 Notified through: Postal Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Yay! Will probably attend if funded.
  • Institution: Houston Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA+fellowships Notification Date: 03/10/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: Never been to Houston... Can't wait to visit. Are they having an open house?
Rejects:
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/18/11 Notified through: Snail Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally!
Waitlists:

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:

Icametoconquer 2011:
Institution: Rutgers
Program: Econ PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None
Notification date: 2/23/2011
Notified through: Online
Posted on GF: Yes
Comments: No funding=No PhD
Accepts:
  • Institution: Rutgers Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 2/23/2011 Notified through: Online Posted on GF: Yes Comments: No funding=No PhD
  • Institution: Houston Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TA+fellowships Notification Date: 03/10/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: My first full funding. I thought I was going to be shut out for good
  • Institution: UConn Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None (got the letter emailed from the department) Notification date: 03/21/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Harassed the department. Was told that I was admitted and that the official acceptance was sent via snail mail last week.
Rejects:
  • Institution: U of Maryland, College Park Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/06/2011 Notified through: Online Posted on GC: No Comments: Sad ((
  • Institution : Georgetown Program : Economics PhD Decision : Rejected Notification date : 03/07/2011 Notified through : Snail mail Posted on GC : no Comments : Oh well, I definitely saw it coming
  • Institution: Penn State Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification Date: 3/10/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: They were taking so much time I started to wonder... but no, a rejection
  • Institution: NYU Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: 03/17/11 Notified through: Asked Marjorie via E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Sad, it was my dream school
  • Institution: BU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/22/2011 Notified through: Response to my email Posted on GC: No Comments: My second choice. Oh well. At this point I just want to have all the information
  • Institution: UMass Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/24/2011 Notified through: E-mail Comments: My final decision. This cycle is over for me. Looks like I'll be going to U of H.
Waitlists:

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

Abibler 2011:
Institution: Oregon, Michigan State
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waiting to hear from Oregon, not likely from MSU unless more funds become available
Notification Date: Oregon - January, MSU 3/8
Posted on GF:
Comments: Oregon grants admission on a rolling basis and decides on funding in March and April according to the website. No funding yet, still waiting to hear from 8 schools
Institution: Rice, Ohio State, Georgetown, Penn State
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:
Notification Date: End of February, beginning of March
Posted on GF:
Comments: Nothing too surprising, only need funding from one school
Accepts:
  • Institution: Oregon, Michigan State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waiting to hear from Oregon, not likely from MSU unless more funds become available Notification Date: Oregon - January, MSU 3/8 Posted on GF: Comments: Oregon grants admission on a rolling basis and decides on funding in March and April according to the website. No funding yet, still waiting to hear from 8 schools
Rejects:
  • Institution: Rice, Ohio State, Georgetown, Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification Date: End of February, beginning of March Posted on GF: Comments: Nothing too surprising, only need funding from one school
Waitlists:

greenrebelette 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA in International Studies and Chinese, Minor in Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.95
Type of Grad: MA in Economics at top 20 Econ Department, PhD-Track
Grad GPA: 3.49
GRE: Q800, V720, AW5.5
Math Courses: Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Advanced Calculus, Probability
Econ Courses: Econometrics I & II at PhD level, lots
Other Courses: first course in Stat PhD sequence
Letters of Recommendation: 1 excellent (well-known economist), 1 great (unknown instructor), 1 excellent (from political scientist), 1 of unknown (and suspect) quality.
Research Experience: 1 paper, presented at a conference & published on conference website
Teaching Experience: TA for Master’s level class, TA for introductory Chinese course
Research Interests: Environmental Economics, International Economics (Trade)
SOP: Told it was excellent by several profs
Other: none
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Michigan Econ, UMD AREC, UC Davis ARE, MSU AFRE, Ohio State AEDE, Duke UPEP, Iowa State Econ, Wisconsin AAE
Waitlists: Michigan Econ (originally)
Rejections: UC San Diego Econ, Harvard PEG, Brown Econ, Cornell AEM, Berkeley AREC, Georgetown Econ
Attending: Michigan Econ
What would you have done differently? Figured out what kind of career I wanted (in an econ dept or ARE dept) BEFORE I applied!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Michigan Econ, UMD AREC, UC Davis ARE, MSU AFRE, Ohio State AEDE, Duke UPEP, Iowa State Econ, Wisconsin AAE
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC San Diego Econ, Harvard PEG, Brown Econ, Cornell AEM, Berkeley AREC, Georgetown Econ
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Michigan Econ (originally)

unfallible 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 State School (flagship), BS Econ, BA Philosophy
Undergrad GPA: 3.9
Type of Grad:N/A
Grad GPA:N/A
GRE: 800Q, 760V, 5.5AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Intro Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Intro to Proofs, Linear Algebra, Intro Real Analysis (All As, except for A- in Linear Algebra)
Econ Courses: Intro/Intermediate Micro/Macro, Econometrics, Industrial Organization, Game Theory, Labor (All As); Grad Level: Math for Economists (B+)
Other Courses: Intro Probability
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Economics Professors I had in class + one administrator that I did something significant with (vague to protect anonymity)
Research Experience: Senior Thesis
Teaching Experience: 2 semesters TA (Intermediate Micro and Labor)
Research Interests: Labor, IO
SOP: brief, with a 'cutesy' anecdote about incentives
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT Austin ($$), Ohio State ($$), UC Davis ($), UC Irvine ($), UArizona($), UNC Chapel Hill (?)
Waitlists: Berkeley(rejected), Georgetown (declined)
Rejections: MIT, Stanford, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA,UCSD,Cornell,CMU,Maryland,Penn State
Pending: UIUC(Never responded. Maybe my application didn't fully go through?)
Attending: UTAustin
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UT Austin ($$), Ohio State ($$), UC Davis ($), UC Irvine ($), UArizona($), UNC Chapel Hill (?)
  • Institution: Ohio State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ? Notification Date:2/10/2012 Notified through: Online status change Posted on GC: no Comments: Anyone know if they have posted financial packages?
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Out of State Tuition Remission + 17k TA stipend Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: online status change. Followed by email the following day. Posted on GC: no Comments: Was not expecting this one! Just decided to check status randomly.
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: ?? Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: website, checked after saw reddavies post Posted on GC: No Comments: I'm getting more admits than I expected for it being so early!
  • Institution: University of Arizona Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ~7k (I think this is per semester. Otherwise this is a joke...) Notification date: March 26 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
Rejects:
    rejected), Georgetown (declined) Rejections: MIT, Stanford, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA,UCSD,Cornell,CMU,Maryland,Penn State
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified Through: Email to check webpage Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 3/1/12 Notified through: application Posted on GC: no Comments: ^econphdhopeful2 says it all
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification Date: 3/2/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Thought I had this one...
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Maryland Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 3/9/2012 Notified through: Website Status Posted on GC: No Comments: Surprised by this. Thought I had a good shot here
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics. Decision: Rejected. Funding: Notification date: March 23. Notified through: email. Posted on GC: No. Comments: I had hoped to get in here...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Berkeley(
  • Institution: Berkeley Ph.D Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: NA Notification Date: 2/27/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Best I could have hoped for...
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: NA Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No

Pho 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A in Economics (major), Maths & East Asian Studies (minors) from top 20 LA college
Undergrad GPA: 3.8/4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 790Q (91%), 580V (79%), 4.0 AWA (wanted to retake the GRE but did not have time to study)
Math Courses: Calc II-III (A,A), Linear Algebra (A), Intro. to Prob. and Stats. (A-), Real Analysis (A-), ODE (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A
Math Courses (grad-level): Mathematical Statistics
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): The usual, mostly A, a few A-
Other Courses: Many
Letters of Recommendation: PhD OSU (very strong), PhD Michigan (strong), 2 Math Professors (strong, strong), 1 PhD MIT (work supervisor)
Research Experience: Senior research project
Teaching Experience: TA/tutor for Intro to Stats & Probability, Metrics, and Intermediate Macro
Research Interests: Monetary as of now, might change later
SOP: Decent, I think. I tried to tailor for each school (specific research topics of the faculty that I am interested in working with, but not mentioning names, research centers...)
Other: I studied abroad for a year in London. Have been working for 2 years at an economic consulting firm. As an undergrad, I never thought I would want to pursue a PhD, so I filled my summers and work study assignments with banking and consulting gigs in the private sector.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: MA: Duke ($$), Oxford MPhil (???) PhD: WUSTL ($$$), JHU (off the waitlist - tuition waiver, but no 1st year stipend)
Waitlists: PhD: JHU (later off the waitlist), MA: Columbia Statistics
Rejections: Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown, Maryland, OSU
Pending:
Attending: Duke for Masters
What would you have done differently?
- Once I realized that I wanted to do a PhD, I should have actively sought out for RA positions, instead of staying in the private sector (even though the visa issue might complicate this).
- Took more Math classes in undergrad. Maths never hurts, regardless of what direction/sector I would go later. Also, majoring in Maths would give me extra OPT months, hence solving the visa issue.
- Took Econ classes with more professors (I took more than half of my classes with the PhD OSU professors), so that I didn't have such a hard time asking for recs.
Anyway, happy that I got such choices and I am excited to head to Duke!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: MA: Duke ($$), Oxford MPhil (???) PhD: WUSTL ($$$), JHU (off the
  • Institution: Washington University in St. Louis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship (Tuition Waiver + Fellowship-24K for first year) Notification Date:2/15/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: In cloud 9 - thank you TMers =).
Rejects:
    Rejections: Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown, Maryland, OSU
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/29/12 Notified Through: Application website Posted on GC: No Comments: NU was one of my favorites. Did not want to wake up (early) for this .
  • Institution: UChicago Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification Date: 2/29/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Illinois, y u no love me?
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc. EME Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 1 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: WTF man
Waitlists:
    waitlist - tuition waiver, but no 1st year stipend) Waitlists: PhD: JHU (later off the waitlist), MA: Columbia Statistics
  • Institution: JHU Econ PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification Date: 3/1/12 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Good luck to everyone!

northpaw 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 40 undergraduate university, not real well known for econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.94 overall/3.88 econ
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA:
GRE: 770Q, 750V, 4.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-II (A), Multivariate Calculus (A), Linear Algebra (A), Intro to Math Reason (A), Real Analysis (A), Mathematical Statistics I (A), Mathematical Statistics II (Spring)
Econ Courses (grad-level): ​N/A
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Introduction to Microeconomics (A), Introduction to Macroeconomics (A), Advanced Microeconomics (A), Advanced Macroeconomics (A), Econometrics (B), Labor Economics (A), International Economics (A), Development Economics (N/A), Senior Thesis (A)
Other Courses: International Political Economy (A, technically an international affairs course), Spanish minor
Letters of Recommendation: Senior Thesis advisor (International Affairs professor), Fed Economist, Analysis professor (not from my undergraduate institution). On the whole, they should be strong, but not well known. In terms of well written vs. well known references, I am heavily skewed to the well written side (hopefully).
Research Experience: Three years as a research assistant at a regional Fed
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Interests: macroeconomics, development economics, labor economics...really hoping to crystallize my interests after my first year
SOP:I spent a lot of time on it...does that mean anything? I had some help from people who know a fair amount about the process, so it should be fine.
Concerns: Not enough math, could have had a more rigorous undergraduate experience in econ, recommendations are not well known, less than stellar gre.
Other: I wish I would have taken more math in undergrad. I have learned a lot through this process about how little I know, which is both daunting and exciting
Applying to: Penn, UCLA, Cornell, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Duke, Maryland, UBC, Toronto, Ohio State, Penn State, Boston College, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Arizona State, UWO
Accepts:
  • Institution: Pittsburgh Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: To be determined at a later date. Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Things are looking up!
  • Institution: Arizona State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: not sure Notification Date: 3/2/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Maybe takes a little edge off the UCLA rejection.
  • Institution: University of Western Ontario Direct-entry Economics Ph.D. program Decision: Accepted Funding: $13,000/year plus $5,000 one-time after taking qualifying exams Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Penn Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/24/2012 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Disappointing, but expected
  • Institution: University of Minnesota Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: March 2 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: ​Thanks to everyone for letting me know about the website posting.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification Date: 3/2/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This one hurts.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/05/2012 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: ​It was only a matter of time...
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/8/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Officially out of my top 5 choices, which was pretty much expected
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date 3/9/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments: Oh well
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notified: 3/12 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GC: No Comments:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Boston College Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: Not yet Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Could be worse...could be raining
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: 20k TAship if admitted Notification date: 03/06/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Maryland Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 3/9/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Pleasantly surprised by this, I had given up on UMD.

ASManess 2012:
Good morning, everyone. I figured it couldn't hurt to register for this forum. I hope you all are well.
Good post? |
Accepts:
  • Institution: North Carolina State University Economics-PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Will hear by mid-March Notification date: 1/26/2012 Notified through: Email Comments: First response and first acceptance. Nice to know that.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/28 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of Texas, Austin Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/6/2012 Notified through: I checked the website Posted on GC: No Comments: I really, really wanted to attend UT-Austin. Oh well.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: Electronic mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Panic mode, y'all
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notified: 3/8/2012 Notified through: Electronic Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Third rejection in 36 hours. Woof.
Waitlists:

kmoney 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 40 US School.
Undergrad GPA: 3.5
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: -
GRE: Q-161, V-151
Math Courses: A little of everything (double degree in math and econ)
Econ Courses (grad-level): -
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): advanced micro and macro, finance & investment, econometrics, international, game theory, etc.
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: three econ profs - all with PhDs from Berkeley and current research being published
Research Experience: Micro-finance research in India
Teaching Experience:
Research Interests: Economics Development
SOP:
Concerns: Low GPA and GRE
Other:
Applied to: UCLA, Michigan, BC, BU, UNC, Georgetown, GW, Virginia Tech, Clemson
Accepts:
  • Institution: Clemson Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: FF + $15K Notification Date: 02/03/2012 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Berkeley Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification Date: 02/24/2012 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notified: 3/8 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Just got the email to check the status online - decision letter is at the very bottom!
  • Institution: George Washington University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/16/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Bummmmmer
Waitlists:

TripleAxel 2012:
Institution: Vanderbilt
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N.A.
Notification Date: 2/10/2012
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: First rejection, not surprised but still sad
Accepts:
  • Institution: North Carolina State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Will find out on March Notification Date: 2/13/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Delaware Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship (Full tuition waiver + 16K) Notification Date: 3/1/12 Notified Through: E-mail (informal) Posted on GC: No Comments: It's good to have an option
Rejects:
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 2/10/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: First rejection, not surprised but still sad
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:Expected, made a bad decision to donate money to them!
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 3/8/2012 Notified Through: Checked Website Posted on GC: Nope Comments:Sad
Waitlists:


Waitlists:

bertthepuppy 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 private university by US News
Undergrad GPA: 3.61
Type of Grad: a couple semesters of non-degree courses, medium-sized, well-ranked state school
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 790/500/5.5
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Lin Alg, Real Analysis, 3 semesters of Stats
Econ Courses: Int Micro & Macro, Money and Banking, Public Finance, Int'l Trade, Int'l Finance, Thesis Course, Econometrics...
Other Courses: many policy-related analytical courses
Letters of Recommendation: solid, all knew me very well one Yale, one Johns Hopkins, one Berkeley, and one Northeastern (but ironically, probably the most well-known)
Research Experience: RA in undergrad and currently RA for one of my letter writers
Teaching Experience: TA for Econ for Public Affairs and Macro
Research Interests: Labor, Applied micro
SOP: well-tailored to each school, and given emphasis on my drive, with comparisons to running the two marathons I did
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Wisconsin (short list for $), Texas (wait list for $), UNC-CH($), Ohio State (no $), Iowa ($), Colorado (?), Illinois ($), Cornell (no $), Vanderbilt ($), Kentucky ($)
Waitlists: Georgetown (then given fellowship)
Rejections: Duke, Michigan, MarylandWhat would you have done differently? I wish I would have realized that April 15th seems like this magical day when everything will be done. However, this is not always the case, especially if you are near the middle of the pack at some good programs. Even though I've been formulating preferences for months, I feel like they have all changed within the past week. I'll probably go to Wisconsin if I get off the wait list for $, otherwise I think I will go to Texas, perhaps unfunded. Ask me tomorrow and I will change my mind again.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Wisconsin (short list for $), Texas (
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke, Michigan, Maryland
Waitlists:
    wait list for $), UNC-CH($), Ohio State (no $), Iowa ($), Colorado (?), Illinois ($), Cornell (no $), Vanderbilt ($), Kentucky ($) Waitlists: Georgetown (then given fellowship)

FilleNouvelle 2009:
I'll post this now, since my decision is not going to be made especially soon, and it could eventually change.
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics MA (Hons), Scottish University (ranked overall #23 in the world)
Undergrad GPA: 1st Class (distinction), ranked 1 (tied with one other student) out of 98.
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 580V, 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Mathematical Methods (A), Applicable Mathematics (A), Linear Algebra (A), self-study of Real Analysis, private tutoring (Economics classes were very math-based as well)
Econ Courses: Everything there was to take, pretty much
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Oxford, 1 Cambridge, 1 LSE (2 with US teaching experience)
Research Experience: Econometrics research papers, senior thesis on convergence
Teaching Experience: TA for Econometrics
Research Interests: Development, Applied Econometrics, IO
SOP: standard
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UNC ($$), UVA ($?), UT-Austin (no $), BU (no $), Michigan (no $, off waitlist)
Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, NWU (initially waitlisted), Columbia, Berkeley, NYU, MIT, Harvard, Cornell (assumed), UChicago
Waitlist: UPenn, Georgetown
Withdrawn: LSE
What would you have done differently? Obviously, when choosing my undergraduate institution, I didn't know I wanted to do a PhD. If I had known, I probably would have chosen a different undergrad. Also, I think staying in the US may have made things a bit easier. My results show that it's very possible to get good results when your institution is international and perhaps not that well-known, but that sometimes schools do not know how to view you. I ended up with 4 waitlists this cycle and a few unfunded admits. Anyway, other than that, wouldn't have done anything differently.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UNC ($$), UVA ($?), UT-Austin (no $), BU (no $), Michigan (no $, off
  • Institution: UNC-Chapel Hill Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 02/03/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: UT Austin Decision: Accepted Funding: Not at this time Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: Email Comment: Fiddlesticks...I love UT, but I need $$!
  • Institution: Boston University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: E-mail Funding: None Comments: Really needed money...doesn't sound like there's any chance of funding
  • Institution: University of Michigan Programme: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 31/03/2009 Funding: None Comments: They said their budget makes it 'impossible' to offer me even a tuition waiver. I don't know what to do here.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, NWU (initially
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Couldn't care any less...Berkeley was probably my top choice, but I was drunkenly celebrating handing in my dissertation, so nothing could've knocked me down, lol.
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Good to know
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: check the website Comments: Soooo disappointed
Waitlists:
    waitlist)
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email First waitlist...dunno how I feel about that!
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted for admission Notification date: 3/6 Funding: Full funding if accepted Notified through: email Comments: Gah...admissions make no sense to me!
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Phone Comments: That makes 4 waitlists I've received this cycle...

anx1ous 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ & Int'l Affairs from top 10 U.S. public (with an 'unranked' econ dept.)
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800Q, 680V, 5.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Diff Eqs, Stats I, grad Prob & Stats
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): the usual suspects
Other Courses: lots of poli sci/int'l affairs
Letters of Recommendation: all econ, 2 'unknown' (Berkeley ARE & Michigan State) and 1 'known' (MIT)...probably 2/3 were 'really' strong
Research Experience: in my 4th semester as an RA, worked on 2 projects that led (or rather, are leading) to a working paper & a senior thesis
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: applied micro--labor (specifically education) & development
SOP: standard?
Other: did a summer research program at a top 20 dept. (which I think was incredibly instrumental in my outcomes); tried to show that despite my weak math background I at least had some programming skills
Concerns: LACK OF MATH...everything else was ok, I think
What I would have done different: TAKEN MORE MATH, but I didn't know I wanted to do an econ PhD until 2nd semester junior year and was always drawn more to the social sciences than math (and had no idea they could be one and the same!)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Columbia ($), Maryland ($), Berkeley ARE ($), Texas ($), Vanderbilt ($), Georgetown (waitlisted w/ $), GW (no $)
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Brown
ATTENDING: Columbia
What could I have done differently?
In terms of the application process: applied to 2-3 fewer lower ranked depts. and put that money/time/effort towards applying to a few more top 10 schools (probably just to cover my bases, as I have no reason to believe that I would've done any 'better'). Also: stayed away from TM/Gradcafe during admissions season!
In terms of preparation: again, done a math minor/double major (for admissions as much as self-preparation--I'm pretty worried now!), but you can only take this 'should've/would've/could've' question so far, since I simply didn't know until later that I wanted to pursue this path or what was required of me.
All in all, however, I am extremely happy with my outcomes. I obviously had zero expectations or I wouldn't have applied to such a wide-ranging group of schools.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Columbia ($), Maryland ($), Berkeley ARE ($), Texas ($), Vanderbilt ($), Georgetown (
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $15.9K Notification date: 2/9 Notified through: Email
  • Institution: UC-Berkeley ARE PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: fellowship nomination Notification date: 2/5 Notified through: Email Anxiously waiting on: lots
  • Institution: U Texas-Austin Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 02/25 Funding: ?? Notified through: E-mail, but via a grad school flyout invitation Comments: Been hearing some negative things about the department recently...
  • Institution: Columbia Economics, PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $22K Notification date: 02/27 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $18K + $5K first summer Notification date: 3/5/09 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, NYU, Brown
  • Institution: Yale Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/20 Notified through: E-mail link Comments: No surprise, but still sad (first rejection)
Waitlists:
    waitlisted w/ $), GW (no $)
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted for admission w/ funding Funding: $18.5K if accepted Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: Email Comments: Oh well?

3ohto4oh 2009:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, large top 25 U.S. Public research university
Undergrad GPA: 3.0 (rounding up LOL)
Type of Grad: M.A. Economics, terminal degree within department
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 790Q, 570V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-II (AP credits), Math Stats (A), Discrete Math (A), Math for econ (undergrad and grad, A, A)
Econ Courses: Tons. Sloppy undergrad grades, All A's in MA.
Other Courses: Random stuff like Japanese
Letters of Recommendation: 3 professors of econ
Research Experience: MA thesis, submitted for publication (fingers crossed!)
Teaching Experience: Tutoring
Research Interests: Macro, applied macro, forecasting.
SOP: Suggested a couple of potential research topics.
Concerns: No serious math courses hurt me in applications, could make things more difficult in my studies.
RESULTS:
Attending: City University of New York, Graduate Center. $18k "Enhanced Chancellor's Fellowship," guaranteed for 5 years.
Admitted, Declined: American U ($-WL), Northeastern U ($$), Suffolk U ($), and the New School ()
Waitlists: Boston C, U Washington, U North Carolina, Georgetown U
Rejections: Johns Hopkins U, U Maryland, Boston U, George Washington U, Michigan U
What would you have done differently?
Very happy with this outcome. I spread my applications far and wide, so I am sure that I got into the best program that I could have - and then I fell in love with CUNY on a campus visit. As for advice to others, I have a huge hole in my transcript where there should have been upper-level math courses, and I should have corrected that.
Accepts:
    Attending: City University of New York, Graduate Center. $18k "Enhanced Chancellor's Fellowship," guaranteed for 5 years. Admitted, Declined: American U ($-WL), Northeastern U ($$), Suffolk U ($), and the New School ()
Rejects:
    Rejections: Johns Hopkins U, U Maryland, Boston U, George Washington U, Michigan U
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Boston C, U Washington, U North Carolina, Georgetown U

crime_dog 2009:
Institution: Yale University
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 2/20/09
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: I love the smell of burnt ego in the morning.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: looks like yes - more formal details to come Notification date: 3/3/09 Notified through: email Comments: incredibly stoked
  • Institution: Univ. of Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/6 Funding: Yes ($) Notified through: email Comments: Very happy - great program
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I love the smell of burnt ego in the morning.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: phone call to Mercedes Thomas Comments: meh
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: email Comments: first American to be rejected - bad omen
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/2/09 Notified through: email Comments: expected
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/3/09 Notified through: email Comments: knew this as soon as i clicked 'submit' on the application
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted for admission Notification date: 3/6 Funding: Full funding if accepted Notified through: email Comments:

Kelei 2010:
Institution: Georgetown
Program: Ph.D. Economics
Decision: Waitlist for funding
Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April)
Notification date: 03/01/2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No.
Comment: waiting...
Accepts:
Rejects:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Georgetown Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist for funding Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April) Notification date: 03/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: waiting...
  • Institution: Georgetown Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist for funding Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April) Notification date: 03/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: waiting...

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

unfallible 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 State School (flagship), BS Econ, BA Philosophy
Undergrad GPA: 3.9
Type of Grad:N/A
Grad GPA:N/A
GRE: 800Q, 760V, 5.5AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Intro Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Intro to Proofs, Linear Algebra, Intro Real Analysis (All As, except for A- in Linear Algebra)
Econ Courses: Intro/Intermediate Micro/Macro, Econometrics, Industrial Organization, Game Theory, Labor (All As); Grad Level: Math for Economists (B+)
Other Courses: Intro Probability
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Economics Professors I had in class + one administrator that I did something significant with (vague to protect anonymity)
Research Experience: Senior Thesis
Teaching Experience: 2 semesters TA (Intermediate Micro and Labor)
Research Interests: Labor, IO
SOP: brief, with a 'cutesy' anecdote about incentives
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT Austin ($$), Ohio State ($$), UC Davis ($), UC Irvine ($), UArizona($), UNC Chapel Hill (?)
Waitlists: Berkeley(rejected), Georgetown (declined)
Rejections: MIT, Stanford, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA,UCSD,Cornell,CMU,Maryland,Penn State
Pending: UIUC(Never responded. Maybe my application didn't fully go through?)
Attending: UTAustin
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UT Austin ($$), Ohio State ($$), UC Davis ($), UC Irvine ($), UArizona($), UNC Chapel Hill (?)
  • Institution: Ohio State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ? Notification Date:2/10/2012 Notified through: Online status change Posted on GC: no Comments: Anyone know if they have posted financial packages?
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Out of State Tuition Remission + 17k TA stipend Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: online status change. Followed by email the following day. Posted on GC: no Comments: Was not expecting this one! Just decided to check status randomly.
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: ?? Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: website, checked after saw reddavies post Posted on GC: No Comments: I'm getting more admits than I expected for it being so early!
  • Institution: University of Arizona Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ~7k (I think this is per semester. Otherwise this is a joke...) Notification date: March 26 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
Rejects:
    rejected), Georgetown (declined) Rejections: MIT, Stanford, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA,UCSD,Cornell,CMU,Maryland,Penn State
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified Through: Email to check webpage Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 3/1/12 Notified through: application Posted on GC: no Comments: ^econphdhopeful2 says it all
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification Date: 3/2/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Thought I had this one...
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: University of Maryland Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N.A. Notification Date: 3/9/2012 Notified through: Website Status Posted on GC: No Comments: Surprised by this. Thought I had a good shot here
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics. Decision: Rejected. Funding: Notification date: March 23. Notified through: email. Posted on GC: No. Comments: I had hoped to get in here...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Berkeley(
  • Institution: Berkeley Ph.D Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: NA Notification Date: 2/27/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Best I could have hoped for...
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: NA Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No

marlow 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BCS Computer Science, Econ Minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.75
Type of Grad: MA Economics
Grad GPA: 3.41
GRE: Q:800 V:620 AWA:4.0
Math Courses: Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Combinatorics.
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro (Phd), Macro (MA), Development, Monetary, Econometrics.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro, Macro, Econometrics, Public, International.
Letters of Recommendation: Two very strong (profs I RAd for). One good.
Research Experience: RA for two econ profs, Research Analyst at non-profit, RA for political science prof.
Teaching Experience: TA stats for econ.
Research Interests: Development, Political Economy, Public.
SOP: Interests, background, one custom paragraph for each school.
Concerns: Low Grad GPA, low Analytical GRE, out of school for three years.
RESULTS:
Accepted: UofToronto ($$), UCSC($)
Waitlists: Georgetown (withdrew), Bocconi
Rejected: Duke, Brown, Michigan, Northwestern, UBC, UCL, McGill
Attending: Toronto
What would you have done differently?
Worked harder during my MA. Taken Real Analysis. Maybe applied to a few more schools. -- Happy with Toronto though.
Accepts:
    Accepted: UofToronto ($$), UCSC($)
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruz Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 2/24/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: My first result, good
Rejects:
    Rejected: Duke, Brown, Michigan, Northwestern, UBC, UCL, McGill
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Georgetown (withdrew), Bocconi
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Yes if admitted Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Good! Please let them know if you don't plan on attending.

DGSE 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Public, unranked PhD program
Undergrad GPA: 3.9
Grad: same
GRE: 650V, 800Q, 6.0
Math Courses(undergrad-level): CalcII,III, IV (B+, A+, A), Intro to Proofs (A), Linear Algebra(A+), ODE(A), Probability (B+), Intro to RA (A), Stats (A), Prob. II (A), Stat II (A), RA I (A)
Econ Courses(undergrad-level): Intro Micro,Macro(A,A), Intermediate Micro,Macro(A+,A), intro stats (A+), enviro econ (A+), Labor (A), Math econ (A), Trade I (A+), Trade II (A+), Directed Research (A, A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro TheoryI,II (A-,A), Math Econ (A-), Metrics(A), Metrics II (A)
Letters of Recommendation: One was my advisor for my thesis, another was my Micro I prof, and the last I RAed with and took graduate classes from
Research Experience: RAed a summer and a semester with one professor. Did a thesis. Not sure if it helped, but I interned under a govt. economist
Research Interests: Development, risk, political economy, labor (my main interest is in development)
SOP: nothing special just communicated my research interests
Results:
Accepted: UPenn (very high waitlist for funding--declined), Berkeley ARE ($, off waitlist), Cornell ($$$), Vanderbilt ($$$$), Maryland ARE ($$$$), Georgetown ($$), USC ($$)
Waitlisted: UVA (declined)
Rejected: MIT, Princeton, JHU, PSU, Maryland Econ, Michigan, Wisconsin
Attending: UC Berkeley ARE
What I would have done differently?
I had way too many safeties (USC, Georgetown, Maryland ARE). I kind of wish I'd applied to Duke, Columbia and NYU. I have the usual, "I wish I knew when I was a freshman", but my results are nothing to complain about, and if I'd really wanted to shoot for the top 10 I could've been more patient and done a European/Canadian masters.
Comments:
My interests also changed even during the short time while I was applying (I lost interest in growth and grew interested in political economy). I was surprised I got into UPenn, but not even a waitlist from places like PSU or Wisconsin, which should be easier than its ranking indicates since it has such a large class size. UPenn apparently with its large class size and tough comps doesn't mind taking chances on people from nowhere like me.
Accepts:
    Accepted: UPenn (very high
  • Institution: UC Berkeley ARE PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: ? Notification Date: 2/12 Notified through: email Posted on GC: not yet (maybe never) Comments: Whaaahuuu!!!! My first offer and I feel like dancing.
Rejects:
    Rejected: MIT, Princeton, JHU, PSU, Maryland Econ, Michigan, Wisconsin
Waitlists:
    waitlist for funding--declined), Berkeley ARE ($, off waitlist), Cornell ($$$), Vanderbilt ($$$$), Maryland ARE ($$$$), Georgetown ($$), USC ($$) Waitlisted: UVA (declined)

rivera 2012:
Institution: UC Santa Cruz
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: "I am unable to guarantee you financial support at this time. Should you have questions about future financial support, please contact your department."
Notification: 2/24/12
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GC: No
Comments: No funding...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC Santa Cruz Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "I am unable to guarantee you financial support at this time. Should you have questions about future financial support, please contact your department." Notification: 2/24/12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: No funding...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
  • Institution: University of Colorado- Boulder Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None first semester Notification Date: 3/8/2012 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
Rejects:
  • Institution: Boston University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 3/19/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
  • Institution: UC-Davis Economics. Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Definitely nothing Notification Date: 03/02/12 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: hum...
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Yes if accepted Notification date: March 9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes

MarineEconGuy 2012:
Institution: UC-Denver, UIUC, American University
Program: Masters in Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TAship
Notification: 2/6/12 (first 2), 2/22/12 (last one)
Notified through: E-mail from a professor
Posted on GC: NO
Comments: Definitely a sigh of relief knowing I have some choices after I get out of the Marine Corps.
Still waiting on Masters results from: UIC, Duke and Tufts (both a stretch, I have a weak profile, you can see in link below), Ohio University, George Washington, SDSU
Still waiting on PhD results from: Northwestern (dream school but totally unrealistic), UVA, Indiana, Notre Dame, Georgetown
Profile: (read first post) http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...economics.html (Marine transitioning to Masters Program to pursue a Phd in Economics)
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC-Denver, UIUC, American University Masters in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification: 2/6/12 (first 2), 2/22/12 (last one) Notified through: E-mail from a professor Posted on GC: NO Comments: Definitely a sigh of relief knowing I have some choices after I get out of the Marine Corps. Still waiting on Masters results from: UIC, Duke and Tufts (both a stretch, I have a weak profile, you can see in link below), Ohio University, George Washington, SDSU Still waiting on PhD results from: Northwestern (dream school but totally unrealistic), UVA, Indiana, Notre Dame, Georgetown Profile: (read first post) http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...economics.html (Marine transitioning to Masters Program to pursue a Phd in Economics)
Rejects:
Waitlists:
    waiting on PhD results from: Northwestern (dream school but totally unrealistic), UVA, Indiana, Notre Dame, Georgetown Profile: (read first post) http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-econo...economics.html (Marine transitioning to Masters Program to pursue a Phd in Economics)
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 24 accepted out of 67 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.81, average GREQ was 796.7.
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: 14:58:27, Fri May 11, 2012