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:

jnaecker 2009:
Institution: Caltech
Program: Social Science Ph.D.
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 28k plus tuition and fees
Notification date: Feb 5, 4 pm PST
Notified through: Email
Comments:
Institution: UCLA
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition and fees totaling 10,000 in year 1, plus eligible for department supplementary fellowship. Tuition, fees, and living expenses in years 2-4.
Notification date: 2/10/09, 1 pm PST
Notified through: email
Notes: 2 for 2!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Funding: 28k plus tuition and fees Notification date: Feb 5, 4 pm PST Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition and fees totaling 10,000 in year 1, plus eligible for department supplementary fellowship. Tuition, fees, and living expenses in years 2-4. Notification date: 2/10/09, 1 pm PST Notified through: email Notes: 2 for 2!
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 20.5 K fellowship Notification date: 2/25/09, 1:22 pm Pacific Time Notified through: Email with attached pdf. Comments: Back to a winning average!
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 3/3, 3:43 pm Pacific Notified through: E-mail Comments: short mass email without any details. official letter of admission and other information will be sent via US mail tomorrow
  • Institution: Penn Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: High on waitlist for fellowship Notification date: 3/5, 2:00 pm Pacific Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/6, 4 pm pacific time Funding: info coming in letter Notified through: email Comments : hells yeah
  • Institution: UC San Diego Economics Ph.D. Decision: Admitted Funding: Not mentioned Notification date: 3/12, 9:20 am Pacific time Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09, 9:30 am Pacific Notified through: Email directing me to status on website Comments: My first rejection.
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Organizational Behavior Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/23/09 Notified through: Email directing me to status onwebsite Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3, 12:19 pm Pacific Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5, 11:45 am Pacific time. Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5, 5:00 pm PST Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: Phooey.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: Postal service.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Postal Service Comments: Letter dated March 13.
Waitlists:

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

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

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

EconHopeful2012 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts, LSE General Course
Undergrad GPA: 3.55 under grade deflation policy
Type of Grad: 2 semesters of Mathematical Statistics
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 168Q, 169V, 5.5W
Math Courses: Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Real Analysis
Econ Courses: Intro Micro, Macro; Intermediate Micro, Macro, Metrics; Personal Finance; Public Economics; Economic Integration of the EU; Monetary Economics; Comparative Economic Development; Urban Economics; Advanced Health Economics; Finance Theory & Applications
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Chicago PhD, Harvard PhD, Michigan PhD. Good mix of well-connected and well-known.
Research Experience: Thesis, Fed Intern, Fed RA 3 years, coauthoring 2 papers
Teaching Experience:
Research Interests: Applied Micro, Micro Theory, Urban
SOP: Generally standard, tried to tailor to different schools and mentioned professors I would like to work with.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Chicago Harris ($), USC Price ($), Wisconsin ($), UVA ($), Wharton AE ($)
Waitlists: Michigan (withdrawn), Minnesota (withdrawn)
Attending: Wharton !!
What would you have done differently?
There's a lot I could say here and I have often thought to myself that it's too bad that most of us only do this once because you learn so much by doing. (1) I would like to have As in some of the classes where I got Bs. I wasn't remotely aware of how competitive this process is while I was in undergrad. Just assumed that as long as I was one of the top dogs at my undergrad I would be competitive anywhere. (2) I wish I had done more research ahead of time about where I really was a great fit since this turned out to be a strong predictor of where I got in. There were some schools that I probably should have applied to and didn't. (3) I wish I could have found a way to break my addiction to this forum. Although there's lots of great advice and support to be had, checking for updates every 5 minutes during the months of February and March probably just made me super stressed out and unfocused.
Despite these lessons, Wharton was a top choice for me going in and there's a good chance I would have gone even if I had gotten into some other highly ranked schools. I can't wait to get started in the fall!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Chicago Harris ($), USC Price ($), Wisconsin ($), UVA ($), Wharton AE ($)
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA + $20K Notification Date: 3/5/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Glad I don't have to check my online status anymore!
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None for first; TA/RA afterwards Notification date: 3/7/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I feel like my luck is definitely turning!
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Phd Decision: Accepted Funding: 26K Fellowship Notification date: 03/14/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: Couldn't be happier!!
Rejects:
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Michigan (withdrawn), Minnesota (withdrawn)
  • Institution: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: 18K stipend + health/dental insurance if admitted Notification Date: 3/9/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I think I'm going to pass out I'm so happy I at least made it on the wait list.

SpiderPig 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Math, Econ Double major, Top 10 University
Undergrad GPA: 3.9 (3.8+ Math, 3.9+ Econ)
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: Q 800 V 800 AWA 5
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A+,A+,A), Linear Algebra (A+), ODE (A), PDE(A+) Probability (A-), Grad Computing I-II (A,A), Grad Algebra I (B+), Grad Analysis I-II (B+,B+)
Econ Courses (grad-level): PhD Econometrics I (Fall 2011), PhD Micro I (Fall 2011)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro (A), Micro I-II (A,A), Econometrics (A), Finance (A-)
Other Courses: nothing special
Letters of Recommendation:
1. Research advisor who I did (for entire summer) and will be doing IO stuff with, took undergrad metrics with
2. Research advisor who I did (summer) and will be doing applied micro stuff with
3. plan to get one from one of the PhD econ prof next semester
Research Experience: several projects in math, econ, pubpol, thesis
Teaching Experience: math TA for 2yrs
Research Interests: IO, applied micro, metrics, finance (not sure, but really I'm open to everything right now)
SOP: Almost done, fairly standard
Concerns: low grades in RA
Other:
Applying to: All top 10 Econ+some 10-20, most top 10 finance, a couple MA in econ/stats
Accepts:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Phd Decision: Accepted Funding: 26K Fellowship Notification date: 03/14/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 25%TA+$9000+50%tuition waiver-tuition = $1000 stipend???!!!! Notification date: 03/14/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: too late...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics. Decision: Rejected. Funding: Notification date: March 23. Notified through: email. Posted on GC: No. Comments: Oh well.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notified: 3/13/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: I feel honored to be waitlisted at the same time with the two fellas above
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: NA Notification date: 03/21/12 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments:Thanks laca for posting!


Rejections:

VGC 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Good Latin American university
Undergrad GPA: 5.9/7
Type of Grad: Same Latin American university as undergrad.
Ggrad GPA: 6.4/7
GRE: 790Q 510V 3.0AWA
TOEFL: 108/120
Math Courses (undergrad and grad): Calculus I & II, Algebra I & II, Probability, Mathematical Statistics, Analysis, Mathematical Economics (dynamic systems and optimal control)
Econ Courses(grad): Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Game Theory, Industrial Organization, Econometrics, Aplied Econometrics, Financial Econometrics, Financial Economics, Enviorenmental Economics.
Letters of Recommendation: Strong letter of recommendation from economics professor who know me well.
Research Experience: Master's Thesis, Working Paper, and several research assistanships. Mostly theoretical.
Teaching Experience: Undergraduate Principles of finance.
Research Interests: finance, auction theory.
SOP: I invested a lot of time in it.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Stanford GSB (finance)($$), MIT Sloan (Financial Economics)($$), Harvard (Business Economics)($$), Northwestern Kellogg (Finance)($$), NYU Stern(Finance)($$), Princeton (Economics)($$), Chicago (Economics)($$).
Waitlists: Berkeley Haas (Finance).
Rejections: Harvard (Economics), Wharton (Finance), Columbia GSB (Finance), Duke Fuqua (Finance).
Pending: MIT (Economics), Chicago GSB (Finance).
What would you have done differently?
I really have applied to fewer places.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Stanford GSB (finance)($$), MIT Sloan (Financial Economics)($$), Harvard (Business Economics)($$), Northwestern Kellogg (Finance)($$), NYU Stern(Finance)($$), Princeton (Economics)($$), Chicago (Economics)($$).
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard (Economics), Wharton (Finance), Columbia GSB (Finance), Duke Fuqua (Finance).
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Berkeley Haas (Finance).

needeconhelp 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: large US public university(SUNY-SB), Econ and applied math Major
Undergrad GPA: overall GPA: 3.79; eco: 3.89 ; math:3.88.
GRE: 800Q, 510V,AWA 4.0
Math Courses: Calc 1-3 (A), differential equations(A),Logic, Language and Proof (B), Introduction to Real Analysis (A), Mathematical Statistics(A), Data Analysis(A), Finite Mathematical Structures (B+),Applied Linear Algebra (A), Linear Algebra(fall), Real Analysis(fall),
Econ Courses: A's: Intro, Micro, Macro, Strategic thinking, Regional, Mathematical Statistics, Applied Microeconomics, Financial; Econometrics (A-), Money and Banking (B+)
Grad classes: Graduate Data Analysis (A), Introduction to Probability(B-), Microeconomics(fall)
Other Courses: Intro to comp. sci.(A)
Letters of Recommendation:
4 strong letters(Yale, Stanford,LSE )
Research Experience: Independent research(fall) with Economics honors thesis
Teaching Experience: Grading assistant for intro to economics.
Research Interests: economics of education, family ( i guess labor, developement), applied microeconomics
SOP: probably below standard.
Other: I have been part of a scientific research on arsenic in drinking water in bangladesh. Thus, I have been co-authored in a few science publications. I can get some very strong recommendations from some of these professors who are really well-known in their fields.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UVA($$), Ohio state($$),Duke (no stipend), Wisconsin(no $$ or tuition), Pittsburgh(no $)
Rejections: Berkeley, Columbia, Michigan, yale, brown, harvard, stanford, wharton, Upenn, UCLA, Maryland
What would you have done differently?
-more Pure math classes and actually work harder
-not send my Honors thesis to some school, because it was not that great.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UVA($$), Ohio state($$),Duke (no sti
Rejects:
    Rejections: Berkeley, Columbia, Michigan, yale, brown, harvard, stanford, wharton, Upenn, UCLA, Maryland
Waitlists:

MNGoon 2008:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics and Political Science with a Math Minor from large state University top 25ish in general, top 20 in Econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.07/4.0
Type of Grad: Master of Regional Planning
Grad GPA: 3.8/4
GRE: 780Q, 710V, 800A
Math Courses: Calculus (multi variate), Linear Algebra, Differential Equations
Econ Courses (PhD-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Public, Input-Output, IO, Urban, Housing, Game Theory, Micro and Macro Theory
Other Courses: A whole pile of Economic Development and GIS courses for Masters
Letters of Recommendation: 3 economic develoment professors (1 UC-Berkely PhD, 1 Cornell PhD, 1 Rutgers PhD), all extremely solid.
Research Experience: RA for Econ Development Prof, thesis, and cited extension work
Teaching Experience TA for Masters level Urban and Spatial Econ
Research Interests: Public Finance, Urban Econ, Spatial Modeling, Community Economic Development, Extension
SOP: Critiqued by Econ Profs
Other: Been out of school for a while, Former Peace Corps Volunteer, Currently working for a non-profit loan fund
RESULTS:
Attending: UW-Madison (Agricultural and Applied Economics)
Acceptances: Applied/Ag Econ Programs: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia State, Clemson
Waitlists:
Rejections: Econ Programs: Brown, BU, UMass-Amherst, UConn Applied: Cornell, Wharton, UNC
What would you have done differently? Maybe not have waited until I turned 30 to accept an offer. In all seriousness, as far as the application process goes, I would not have done anything differently. I spent last summer talking to former professors and asked them to introduce me to the people they know in departments that they thought would be a good fit for me. I also talked to them extensively about my interests and the work I had done with them in the past so that they would have more information to draw upon when writing the LORs. As a result, I got into more, and better programs than my profile may have suggested. I am though going to get my *** handed to me at Madison.
Accepts:
    Attending: UW-Madison (Agricultural and Applied Economics) Acceptances: Applied/Ag Econ Programs: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia State, Clemson
Rejects:
    Rejections: Econ Programs: Brown, BU, UMass-Amherst, UConn Applied: Cornell, Wharton, UNC
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

kevinomic 2008:
Undergrad: Small private university (Loyola University New Orleans) majored in Accounting and Finance
GPA: 4.0
Grad: MA Economics University of Colorado Denver
GPA: 3.98
Math:Calc I-III (As), Linear Algebra (A), Diff Eq (A), Abstract Math (A), Real Analysis I (A)
GRE: 790Q/530V/5.5AW
Teaching experience: Principles of Macro Instructor, Stats Lab Instructor, TA for Econometrics (Grad), Research Methodology (Grad), Intermediate Macro / Micro, Principles of Macro/Micro
Research experience: Masters thesis, turned into co-authored paper w/ advisor, submitted for publication. Blogged about on Freakonomics! (College Football and Crime). RA job during MA program (2.5 years)
letter of recommendation: 3 from professors. I think they were really good.
Interests: labor, education, health, applied metrics
What I learned: I'm very pleased with my results
Accepted: UCSB ($$$), Cornell - PAM ($$), UC Irvine ($$), MSU ($), Washington ($), CUNY ($$), Oregon ($$), CU Boulder ($$), Michigan (no $), Wisconsin (no $), UT Austin (no $)
Rejected: Berkeley, Princeton, Maryland, Wharton (Applied Econ)
Attending: UC Santa Barbara, very excited. Not the best program I got into, but great faculty to work with, great location, great fellowship package. I know a lot of people (especially in this forum) stress going to the best ranked school you get into, but I'm a little older and location and fit were very important to me. I'm very happy about my decision.
Other: I don't have any of the pedigree (top undergrad, grad, etc.), but feel that I did very well. I got to know my professors in grad school very well and got lots of research and teaching experience. I think my LORs pushed me up a few notches and allowed me to get really good funding packages from lower ranked programs (30-70) and got in with no funding to some 10-20 ranked programs.
Although I didn't contribute, I found this forum very helpful and a little addicting. Good luck to all you future applicants.
Accepts:
    Accepted: UCSB ($$$), Cornell - PAM ($$), UC Irvine ($$), MSU ($), Washington ($), CUNY ($$), Oregon ($$), CU Boulder ($$), Michigan (no $), Wisconsin (no $), UT Austin (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejected: Berkeley, Princeton, Maryland, Wharton (Applied Econ)
Waitlists:

shubhamk 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B. Tech. from IIT Kanpur (Best Techno-Managerial school in India)
Undergrad GPA: 3.0/4
Type of Grad: MBA also from IIT Kanpur
Grad GPA: 3.2/4
GRE: 800Q, 660V, 4.0AWA
Math Courses: All quantitative courses for Electrical Engineering (Communication Systems specialization). That also means related courses on probability, calculus and Linear Algebra
Econ Courses (MBA-level): Micro, Macro and International business economics
Other Courses: 4 Sociology courses (during undergrad). 1 Development Economics course (during MBA)
Letters of Recommendation: 1 econ Prof (IIT Kanpur), 2 other Prof (IIT Kanpur)
Research Experience: 1 research case study was done for UNICEF while I was UN intern for 3 months in India itself. This was published for internal UN circulation. I have been working on development field for 3 years with small IIT Kanpur reports being published internally.
Research Interests: Development Economics, Labor Economics and Public Policy
Results
Will be attending: Penn State ($$, Economics)
Rejections: Wharton (Applied Economics), UCLA (Economics), Columbia GSB (Economics), Cornell (Applied Economics)
Pending: CMU Tepper (Econ and Public Policy), ERIM (Labor Econ)
What would you have done differently?
Nothing!!! I am happy that I am finally going to do research in Economics which is more important than many other parameters we try to judge our acceptances and rejections on.
Accepts:
    attending: Penn State ($$, Economics)
  • Institution: Penn state Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: 20k for 5 years Notification date: 11-Feb-09 Notified through: email Comments:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Wharton (Applied Economics), UCLA (Economics), Columbia GSB (Economics), Cornell (Applied Economics)
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4th March Notified through: Email to check website
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Here goes out the only West Coast program I had applied to
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: E-mail asking to chk ApplyYourself
  • Institution: Cornell Applied Economics and Management PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/18 Notified through: Snail Mail dated 3/6
Waitlists:
    Pending: CMU Tepper (Econ and Public Policy), ERIM (Labor Econ)

bigleaguechew 2009:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ / B.S. Math from a top 100 econphd.net public school
Undergrad GPA: 3.5 Overall, 4.0 Econ, 4.0 Math
GRE: 790Q, 610V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: One year of real analysis (A+'s); two quarters each of theoretical linear algebra (A+'s), numerical analysis (A+'s), math prob stat, nonlinear dynamics and chaos; one quarter each of PDE's, abstract algebra and complex analysis
Econ Courses: applied metrics (A+'s), public finance (A+'s), labor, game theory (A+), and a few others in addition to intermediate micro/macro
Letters of Recommendation: It seems as though I had one very respected letter writer, and other letters were more or less ignored at many schools (just what I gathered from my conversations with grad directors where I was accepted)
Research Experience: Virtually none. Started an undergrad research project that was never finished
Work Experience: 2 years in consulting (business, but not econ)
Research Interests: Applied micro, IO
SOP: Talked about how my experiences and coursework have influenced my research interests. Tailored last paragraph to each school I applied to. I cannot say this with enough emphasis... THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE DEFINITELY MATTERS AT SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF THE TOP 10. IF YOU DO NOT COME FROM AN IVY AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SPOTLESS MATH/ECON RECORD WITH SOLID RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME ON YOUR SOP AND START WORKING ON IT EARLY!
Concerns: I had about a year straight of abysmal grades (yes, we're talking about F's and W's here people) in my sophomore year of college due to some family issues. I think it was important that this occurred when I was an english major, and I made up for it by excelling in all of my econ and math courses. So, if you have screwed up and permanently marred your transcript like I did, HOPE IS NOT LOST! It just means that you have to work extra hard to outperform your classmates from here on out.
RESULTS:
Attending: UCSD ($)
Admitted, Declined: Stanford GSB Marketing ($$$$$$$$), Penn State ($$), WUSTL ($), UNC ($/2), UVA ($), Texas ($$), ASU ($$), Arizona ($$), Pittsburgh ($), Ohio State ($), U of Washinton ($), Maryland (stiffed me)
Waitlists: Minnesota, BU
Rejections: Top 10, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan, JHU, Wharton (but it doesn't count in my mind cuz I hardly showed up for the interview)
Never heard back from: USC (not that I care anymore, but seriously WTF?)
What would you have done differently?
Nothing really. I had a huge black spot on my record with that one atrocious year, and nobody knew how that would affect me. My letter writers were extremely supportive in helping me apply to as many places as I could afford, and cover a broad spectrum of programs. I thought UCSD was a long shot heading into this process, and I am thrilled to be going there. I can honestly say that I would have been happy at just about any of the programs that I was accepted to, and it was incredibly difficult for me to turn down so many attractive offers. Obviously, this is a problem that I am happy to have, but you'd be surprised how gut wrenching it is to turn down a fellowship offer from a school that you had been day-dreaming about attending just a few weeks earlier. Still, I would advise everyone who isn't a superstar with stellar letter of recommendation's to adopt a similar strategy and apply to as many places as you can afford.
Accepts:
    Attending: UCSD ($) Admitted, Declined: Stanford GSB Marketing ($$$$$$$$), Penn State ($$), WUSTL ($), UNC ($/2), UVA ($), Texas ($$), ASU ($$), Arizona ($$), Pittsburgh ($), Ohio State ($), U of Washinton ($), Maryland (stiffed me)
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding:24k Assistantship Notification date: Feb 18 Notified through: Email Comments: Suck on that Duke!
  • Institution: Washington University, St. Louis Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: UNC Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: email
  • Institution: Univ. British Columbia MA Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: email
  • Institution: University of Maryland Decision: accepted Funding: waitlist Notification date: 3/10/2009 Notified through: email
Rejects:
    Rejections: Top 10, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Michigan, JHU, Wharton (but it doesn't count in my mind cuz I hardly showed up for the interview)
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: Feb 18 9:07 AM EST Notified through: Email Comments: Easier to take since I already have some other options.
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments: Decision available through ApplyYourself website - not the separate link they sent for decision status.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Chicago Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: snail mail
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: checked website after seeing other posts here (no email)
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: randomly checked website Comments: Not at all surprised. I had lost interest in this program prior to my interview, and I pretty much let that be known to them.
  • Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Website
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Minnesota, BU
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail

Visible Hand 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Applicant: International, big continental european country.
Type of Undergrad: Good public university but with a very bad school of Economics. Student of the university honor college (more selective than Ivy) which offers courses on its own, including in heterodox Economics.
Undergrad GPA: Overall: ~3.9/4.0; Economics: 4.0(+)/4.0; Math/Stat: 4.0(++)/4.0.
(+), (++) and ~ are due to different conversion methods that can be applied.
Type of Grad: Two-years Master in Economics (attending 2nd year), best public university of the country, 2nd department of Economics in the country, best in my fields. Enrolled in the first year of run of the program: it was brand new! Also student of the university honor college (less selective and prestigious than undergraduate's).
Grad GPA: 4.0-ε/4.0 or 4.0(+)/4.0 according to different conversion methods.
GRE: 790Q 530V 5.0AWA - TOEFL: 110
Math Courses: Several courses in Math and Stat covering all the basic Calculus/Analysis/Linear Algebra/ODE/Optimization/Measure stuff up to Simon-Blume (Vol. 2) and De La Fuente level, as well as Probability/Inference/Multivariate Stats up to Casella-Berger.
All full grades with mention.
Econ Courses: All the basic undergraduate Micro/Macro/Metrics stuff plus some applied/heterodox/history/quantitative courses. At Master Level, Micro I/Macro I/Metrics I (taking II for each in the fall) plus: Topics in Economic Theory, Economics of Innovation, Competition Policy.
All full grades, often with mention, apart from graduate Macro I (~A).
Other Courses: Undergraduate courses in Accounting, Management and Law; graduate Corporate Finance. I have lower grades on these on average.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 MIT, 1 Toulouse, 1 Louvain (from the Master program), 1 Sussex (from my undergraduate honor college). I know ex-post, they were good but not too informative (apart from the Toulouse one maybe); the Sussex one was maybe not very good in the "fill the form" part. They were not always all of them four on every place I applied to.
Research Experience: Started to work on Master Thesis in theoretical I.O.; some short dissertations and empirical projects in the past (none of them valuable).
Teaching Experience: In line of principle, not possible in my country before Master graduation. Starting this march, however, I have assisted my MIT Ph.D. recommender in the graduate course in Econometrics taught by him.
Research Interests: Industrial Organization, Behavioral Economics, Microeconometrics.
Statement of Purpose: A synthetic overview of my academic life and interests.
Other: I obtained full scholarships from both honor colleges I have been student of. Moreover, I have been awarded 2-years full funding (tuition+stipend) to attend a top PhD in Economics, by a board of economists from a prestigious private foundation in my country; most schools I applied to knew this. So basically I would have had ($$$$) in every school had admitted me, at least for the start.
RESULTS:
Attending: Berkeley
Acceptances, declined: Northwestern, Chicago, Stern, UWM, LSE, TSE
Waitlists, eventually rejected: MIT
Rejections: Princeton, Stanford, Yale, UCSD, NYU, CMU, HBS, Wharton (Mgmt), Caltech, EUI
General Comments: If you are an international applicant and the institutions you come from are not so well known, luck and connections really matter alot, even if you have good LoRs from famous economists and a brilliant CV. I know that MIT, for instance, preferred two other students with external funding from my country over me, and they both just came from the two institutions with more reputation in sending students to top Ph.D. programs (but one of them I know, she is really a genius, 780Q). External funding might help, but it depends on the school: for some it really does (MIT, Chicago) but for others it does not (Stanford, Yale). It's not easy to decline Northwestern offer! But, in the end, I am happy with Berkeley.
What would you have done differently? Definitely, attended another undergraduate institution, the best in my country, which is very well established in sending students to top Ph.D. programs. I would have not been funded as I was, at least for the first years, but ex-post I would have had definitely very good shots for Cambridge, MA. My parents had the money, I had been admitted, so I really regret it. I should have also tried to do more research with my recommenders in the first Master year: it hurted me, they did not know me enough well (they also more or less directly told it to me). Perhaps I should have worked more in the final undergraduate years to produce a good analytical working paper to be sent as a writing sample: it may help in some schools, I think; but there was not much I could do as my undergraduate institution was a mostly empirical/heterodox place (not fitting too bad with Berkeley!).
Accepts:
    Attending: Berkeley Acceptances, declined: Northwestern, Chicago, Stern, UWM, LSE, TSE
Rejects:
    rejected: MIT Rejections: Princeton, Stanford, Yale, UCSD, NYU, CMU, HBS, Wharton (Mgmt), Caltech, EUI General Comments: If you are an international applicant and the institutions you come from are not so well known, luck and connections really matter alot, even if you have good LoRs from famous economists and a brilliant CV. I know that MIT, for instance, preferred two other students with external funding from my country over me, and they both just came from the two institutions with more reputation in sending students to top Ph.D. programs (but one of them I know, she is really a genius, 780Q). External funding might help, but it de
Waitlists:
    Waitlists, eventually

zshfryoh1 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Math and Econ (double major), large public college in Northeast
Undergrad GPA: 3.78
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 770Q/630V/5.5A
Math Courses (Undergrad level): Calc I&II (A, A-), Multivar Calc (B+), Lin Alg (B+), Intro to Prob and Stats (B-), ODEs (C), PDEs (A-)
Math Courses (Grad - Masters level): Non-Measure Prob Theory (C-/A on retake), Numerical Analysis I&II - Proof based (B, A-), Stochastic Methods in Operations Research (A-)
Econ Courses (Undergrad level): Intro Macro (A), Intro Micro (A+), Mathematical Intermediate Micro (A+), Mathematical Intermediate Macro (A-), Money and Banking (A-), Investment Analysis (B+), Financial Markets (A+), Independent Study & Research Paper on Real Options (A), Computational Finance (A+)
Econ Courses (PhD level): Econometrics I (B-)
Other Courses: Algorithmic Programming I (A+), Algorithmic and OOP II (A+), Full Science Honors Research sequence including three research presentations (all A or A+)
Letters of Recommendation: One excellent from a Econ Prof who is fairly well known. One excellent from an Econ Asst Prof that I RA'd and TA'd for. One Excellent from CS prof I took for Computational Finance.
Research Experience: A lot.Three years as an RA for a prof doing research into financial markets, and as part of this research I am in the process of developing a new method of programming simulations of financial markets for market microstructure research. Currently working in paper explaining new method, which I hope to submit to journals before September. Project for the Independent Study course on an application of Real Options to labor bargaining in sports. Will be submitted to a journal in May or June. Honor's thesis on applications of real options to natural resource and agricultural investment.
Teaching Experience: One Semester as TA for Intermediate Micro. Subbed multiple times for professor in Options and Futures class
Research Interests: Financial Econ (specifically Market Microstructure and Real Options Analysis), Micro Theory, Mathematical and Computational Methods, secondary interests in everything but monetary macro.
SOP: Decent and pretty standard. Customized it for each grad school and explained some extenuating circumstances.
Other: Full time student (35+ hours per week) at a school for the advanced study of Talmudic Law, simultaneous with my college schedule. Six student seminar presentations of original research in Talmudic Law. Five publications of original research in Talmudic Law. Two semester of extenuating circumstances (taking care of ill grandmother). Applied for NSF, did not receive.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: A number math/stats/FE masters programs
Waitlists: UPenn
Rejections: NYU, NYU Stern Econ, NYU Stern Finance, Columbia, Columbia GSB, Wharton Applied Econ, Wharton Finance
Pending: None
Attending: MA Stat, same as UG
What would you have done differently? Nothing really. All my profs told me that with 20 more points on my GREQ I would have an excellent shot at 15-30 range schools and a chance at top 15's. However, my plan from the start was to only apply to a few top 15 programs, and if as expected I didn't get in, to go for a math/stat/FE masters and re-apply next year. I did not have the time to study to re-take the GRE anyway. Getting the UPenn WL this year is a good sign for next year's apps. Anyway, I will now have a chance to study for and re-take the GRE, take grad real analysis, a couple more PhD level econ classes and a few more stat classes. It is a one year MA with very flexible electives. I also hope to have two papers submitted to journals for publication as well as at least one conference presentation before application season next fall.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: A number math/stats/FE masters programs
Rejects:
    Rejections: NYU, NYU Stern Econ, NYU Stern Finance, Columbia, Columbia GSB, Wharton Applied Econ, Wharton Finance
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I only applied to reaches this year, pretty much expecting all rejections, with the intent to go for a masters in math and re-applying next year or the year after. Still, I was hoping on getting in somewhere.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: I was expecting this to come sooner or later.
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Expected. Still, I would have liked to do the RM concentration.
  • Institution: Wharton Finance PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/6 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Two Wharton rejections in one afternoon. Both were expected though.
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail to check the website Comments: Expected
  • Institution: NYU-Stern Finance, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: e-mail to check the website Comments: Expected
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Expected
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UPenn
  • Institution: UPenn Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: Email Comments: I was expecting straight rejections, so this is a positive sign. I guess my letter of recommendation's were better than I thought.

tmdruie 2009:
So I can get on the shiny charts!
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Physics and Economics from a top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.14/4.0
Type of Grad: One stats class
Grad GPA: 3.3
GRE: 790Q, 600V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III(I took them in high school, I really dont remember and nor do my transcripts), Linear Algebra (B), Mathematical Probability and Statistics (B-, B), Real Analyst(A, at a different school then my undergrad), Stochastic Processes (B+, grad course, at a different school then my undergrad)
Econ Courses: AP Micro and Macro (A, in high school), European Economic History (B+), Law and Economics (B), Intermediate Price Theory (B), Intermediate Macro Theory (B), Econometrics (B), Contemporary British Economy (B), Industrial Revolution-Britain (A-), Econ of Multinational Corps (A-), Thesis (labor econ)
Other Courses: Physics, which I put in my math lists. Quantum Mechanics I, Partial Differential Equations (B+), etc. I only did the bare minimum for a liberal arts major
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (my thesis advisor and the person who led my study abroad), 1 physics professor (thesis advisor), 1 economist who is my supervisor
Research Experience: RA for 2.5 years at a central bank
Teaching Experience: Tutored, graded and lab assisted for two years for physics in college
Research Interests: All over the place. Labor, policy, experimental, applied micro, development, etc.
SOP: Intro, I did physics I can do math!, I wrote a thesis in economic and liked doing research, Im working as an RA and like doing research, I took extra math and can write proofs, I was part of an econ paper reading group and like reading papers, interests (changed a bit depending on what the school had, and more policy oriented for ag econ schools). Also a few sentences about things I did that I removed or added depending on the school. The 500 word schools were hard, the 1000 word schools were easy. I also had a Personal History Statement about being a female doing math for the schools that wanted it.
Other: Applied for the NSF. I tried not to say anything to risky, and not say much about interest in policy to non policy/ ag econ schools. I like Aikido.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Boston University (waitlist for $), Michigan State(no $), University of Essex (ISER), Ohio State (Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics) ($-Fellowship), Indiana University ($-TA), Iowa State University ($-TA)
Waitlists: University of Minnesota
Rejections: MIT, Harvard (Econ and Political Economy and Government), Yale, Berkeley (Agricultural & Resource Economics), Northwestern, NYU, U Penn (Econ and Wharton), University of Wisconsin Madison (Econ and Agricultural and Applied Economics ), Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Caltech, University of British Columbia , Ohio State, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Econ and Public Policy and Economics), University of Maryland (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Boston College, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota (Applied Economics), University of California Davis (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Duke, University of Essex, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon (Econ, Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Public Policy and Economics)
Pending: Toronto MA, Queens MA
What would you have done differently?
Gotten better grades in undergrad. When I really started understanding what the things I need to do for a PhD I think I did the best I could, took real analysis, applied for the NSF (if only to write a SoP for them), read papers etc. I probably could have gotten more research experience at my job (co-author), and I defiantly could have gotten better grades and taken more math as an undergrad. But over all Im happy.
Attending:
Boston University
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Boston University (
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard (Econ and Political Economy and Government), Yale, Berkeley (Agricultural & Resource Economics), Northwestern, NYU, U Penn (Econ and Wharton), University of Wisconsin Madison (Econ and Agricultural and Applied Economics ), Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Caltech, University of British Columbia , Ohio State, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Econ and Public Policy and Economics), University of Maryland (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Boston College, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota (Applied Economics), University of California Davis (Econ and Agricultural Economics), Duke, University of Essex, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon (Econ, Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Public Policy and Economics)
Waitlists:
    waitlist for $), Michigan State(no $), University of Essex (ISER), Ohio State (Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics) ($-Fellowship), Indiana University ($-TA), Iowa State University ($-TA) Waitlists: University of Minnesota

DreamFactory 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BBA (minor Econ), International applicant, not top but one of the best schools in my country.
Undergrad GPA: 3.83/4.00 after rescale, summa cum laude (within 2% of the graduates, but the transcripts doesn't offer the rank anymore)
Type of Grad: Same school, MA econ - major:Economic theory (expected aug. 2009)
Grad GPA: 4.0/4.0 after rescale
GRE: 800Q, 670V, 4.0AWA
Math/Stat Courses:
Calculus I (B+),II (A), Intro to Probability (A+), Differential Equations I (B+), Linear Algebra I (Aced all exams, A+), II (A+), Analysis I (A+), II(A+), Topology I (A+), Stochastic Processes (A+), grad Real Analysis I (A)
Econ Courses: undergraduate - Principles I (A+),II (A), Biz Econ (A), Monetary (A), Financial (B+), Micro (A+), Macro (A), Metrics (B+)/ graduate - Micro I (A+) II (A), Macro I (A), II (A+), Metrics I (A+), Financial Economics (A), Micro Seminar (A+), Public Sector Economics II (A+)
Other Courses: Bunch in biz. especially in finance (mostly A's or A+'s in finance)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ (both micro), 2 biz (both finance), 1 math (analysis 1,2, topology 1), all very strong but not so famous
Research Experience: RA for 2 semesters (participated in a project), 1 working paper, conference participation etc.
Teaching Experience: grad Micro I (MWG) - 2 semesters
Research Interests: Behavioral Finance/Economics/Experimental, Market Microstructure, various topics in Micro Theory......actually almost everything in Finance and Economics since most of them are interesting (I'll choose them after I get to know more)
SOP: no idea how it look like to the adcoms.
Other: External fellowship.(5 years of tuition+health+18k)
RESULTS:
Acceptances/Attending: U of Chicago (Econ, very late admission!)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: 4 econ (actually I was rejected from Chicago econ in March) - Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia
17 finance - Booth, Kellogg, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Sloan, Stern, Haas, Fuqua, Tepper, Simon, Anderson, UIUC, OSU, UMinn-TC, Eli Broad, Wisc-Madison, Johnson
Pending: LSE MSc Finance and Economics (Applied after all those dings)
What would you have done differently?
I would've concentrated more on my SOPs. Should've had different major in my undergrad (changing major is not allowed in my alma mater, and Biz major had toooooooo many required courses back then). Also, I should have gone for exchange student in the U.S. when young...get some LORs from famous faculties there...BUT I DON'T CARE ex-post, I got into one of my favorite school!
Accepts:
    Acceptances/Attending: U of Chicago (Econ, very late admission!)
Rejects:
    Rejections: 4 econ (actually I was rejected from Chicago econ in March) - Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia 17 finance - Booth, Kellogg, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Sloan, Stern, Haas, Fuqua, Tepper, Simon, Anderson, UIUC, OSU, UMinn-TC, Eli Broad, Wisc-Madison, Johnson
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

Mobius Strip 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Mathematics and Economics from a top 10-15 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.87/4.0
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 570V, 5.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Alg, Modern Alg, Adv Modern Alg, Real Analysis, Game Theory (in Math Dept), Topology, Chaos Theory. Received department honors in Math.
Econ Courses: Basically all of them, 4.0 GPA, Thesis (A), Department Honors, Brownell Prize for Distinction in the Study of Political Economy
Other Courses: NA
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from Federal Reserve, 1 Math from Undergrad
Research Experience: RA for 3 years at FRB in DC. Co-authored published paper on racial discrimination in credit markets.
Teaching Experience: NA
Research Interests: Labor (Education), Real Estate, Financial Markets
SOP: Talked about my volunteer activities in tough, urban schools and how it shaped my interests in research in education. Transition to work at the Fed regarding discrimination in the credit markets. Final, throw-away paragraph naming some profs at schools who I'd be interested in working with.
Other: Crushed by NSF
RESULTS:
Acceptances: U Michigan (off waitlist, after 0-14 start)
Waitlists: NA
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Northwestern, Wharton, U Penn, NYU, Columbia, Duke
Pending: NA
Outside Fellowship: Received a $20k fellowship from undergrad college to supplement lack of funding from UM
What would you have done differently?
After receiving NSF results and reading Jeeves's posts, spelling out the broader impacts to make it easier to checklist. I scored fairly well on intellectual merit, but only average on the broader impacts.
Other than that, it's hard to say. I had nearly a 3.9 GPA with a Math and Econ double major, 3 years at the Federal Reserve, a published paper, and a presented working paper. I did spend 3 years in the private sector at a major bank, which probably hurt my admissions results, but gave me a broader personal, real-world experience that I do not regret taking.
Attending: U Michigan - Ann Arbor
Accepts:
    Acceptances: U Michigan (off
  • Institution: University of Michigan Programme: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification Date: 31/03/2009 Funding: None Comments: Now 1 for 15!
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton, Chicago, Chicago Booth, Northwestern, Wharton, U Penn, NYU, Columbia, Duke
  • Institution: Yale University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/09 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Did Yale and Duke have to be my first two responses?
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/24/09 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Getting frustrated ...
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/26/09 Notified through: ApplyYourself Website, No email
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Checked website Comments: Probably was my last shot: 800Q, 3.9 GPA, Math/Econ double major, and 3 years at the FRB -- but no graduate school in the Fall. $#@!
Waitlists:
    waitlist, after 0-14 start) Waitlists: NA
  • Institution: Michigan Economics, PhD Decision: Waitlist Notification date: 3/20 Notified through: snail mail Comments: Tease! Just when I got past anger and denial and into acceptance ...

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 ($).

ctown2009 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Psuedo-Econ at Cornell
Undergrad GPA: 3.87
Type of Grad: Master's Applied Statistics Cornell
Grad GPA: N/A at admission time; a couple of schools saw a low 3's GPA because of one bizarre grade
GRE: 800Q, 680V, 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-II (HS), Multivar Calc (B), Linear Alg (A), Analysis (A), Linear Optimization (B), Stochastic Calc (spring semester)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): A bunch all in micro and applied micro, econometrics, stats, all A's
Econ Courses (PhD): Econometrics I & II (B+'s), Cross-Sectional Econometrics (A-), Micro I (B), Micro II (spring semester)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 which I think were all strong
Research Experience: A lot: summer intern at a think tank, RA for well-known behavioral economist and a well-known public finance prof, senior thesis, co-authored paper submitted to a good journal
Teaching Experience: TA 1 class, not too demanding
Research Interests: Empirical micro, IO, law & econ, regulation, a little public finance
Statement of Purpose: Does it really matter
Work Experience: Good Econ consulting firm for about a year
Applying to: Chicago, Columbia, Wharton Applied Econ, Michigan Business Econ, NYU, Berkeley Haas BPP, Harvard Kennedy, Yale, Duke, Maryland, Brown, JHU...not Cornell
Other: Very uncertain given my hybrid degree from a top school and mixed grades in the toughest classes, but I challenged myself and took the hardest ones
RESULTS:
Attending: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$)
Acceptances: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$)
Waitlist: JHU, Wharton
Rejections: everywhere else, only surprised about Berkeley and bummed about Wharton, dream school was Chicago
What would you have done differently?
Hmm, not too much, I did well in my undergrad classes and put myself thru the grinder once I realized I wanted to try for the PhD. I should have taken more diverse econ courses, especially theory, but it was tough given time constraints. Should've done more reading outside the classroom on cutting edge research instead of the articles from the 1960's we read in class. I should have had at least one rec with a big Prof from the Econ department, that's my biggest regret. Happy to go to UMich fully funded as it's a great research fit. Hopefully future TM applicants will find this thread as useful as I've found previous versions.
Accepts:
    Attending: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$) Acceptances: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: everywhere else, only surprised about Berkeley and bummed about Wharton, dream school was Chicago
Waitlists:
    Waitlist: JHU, Wharton

helpzwouldbenice 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.79/4.00
Type of Grad:-
Grad GPA:-
GRE: 800Q 710V 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Multivariable Calc (A); Linear Algebra (P); DiffEq (A-); Intro Proofs (A-);
Econ Courses: Intro Econ (B+), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econ Stats (A), Econometrics (A), Trade (A-), Public Econ (A-)
Other Courses: Took a year of physics, lots of random courses. Lots of A's in courses an econ student typically wouldn't take, like Religion and Chinese.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Math Dept. Prof, 1 Econ Dept. Prof, 1 External Prof who I RA'd for
Research Experience: Fair amount in health services research. Have a paper up for submission, and another one that my supervisor and I are working on.
Teaching Experience:None
Research Interests: Health, Labor
SOP: Very tailored to my interests. Definitely proved to be hit or miss with regard to schools.
Other: Rejected from NSF
RESULTS:
Acceptances: University of Virginia ($$), Rice University ($$), UNC ($$), Michigan ($$)
Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Texas, WUSTL, Duke, Caltech, Berkeley, Northwestern, Wharton Applied Econ, Maryland
Never heard from: Wharton Healthcare (interviewed, then never heard back)
Atttending: Michigan
What would you have done differently? Taken more math classes and pushed harder for A's instead of A-'s. My school doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to elite grad schools but the teachers are really supportive. I did pretty well here and there's no telling what would have happened if I had gone to a different school.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: University of Virginia ($$), Rice University ($$), UNC ($$), Michigan ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Texas, WUSTL, Duke, Caltech, Berkeley, Northwestern, Wharton Applied Econ, Maryland
Waitlists:

keano 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ, top 5 UK university
Undergrad GPA: First (not sure how this translates)
Type of Grad: MSc in Competition Economics, part-time UK university
Grad GPA: On course for distinction
GRE: 800Q, 790V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Maths for economists courses: calculus, linear algebra etc
Econ Courses (Ma-level): A lot of micro-based + econometrics: mostly As
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Lots
Letters of Recommendation: 2/3 econ professors (not well known) Current Employer (Economic consultant with Econ PhD). Hopefully v.positive but names probably won't be known in US.
Research Experience: 3.5 years in economic consultancy
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Micro theory, IO
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Caltech (from waitlist), EUI, LSE (MSc), Oxford (MPhil), BGSE (MSc), Toulouse (M2)
Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Stanford GSB, Kellogg, Wharton (Applied Econ), MIT, UCSD, Berkeley, Wisconsin-M, PSU, Chicago, NYU
What would you have done differently? At the time of the applications process not sure I could done have lot a lot more. Looking at my results, I was a lot more successful in Europe which I would speculate is due to a lack of formal maths courses. So going back a few years, I would have tried to address that somehow.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Caltech (from
  • Institution: LSE Economics (MSc (Res)) Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 19th January Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: Lack of funding may be an issue
  • Institution: BGSE MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waver + TA-ship Notified through: Email Date: Jan-21 Comment: Really exciting!
  • Institution: Toulouse M2 Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notified through: Post Date: Early feb Comment: Not sure of funding options
  • Institution: EUI (Florence) Economics Decision: Admit Funding: No information Notification date: 03/12/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: No interview required
  • Institution: Oxford MPhil Economics Decision: Admit Funding: No information Notification date: 03/17/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Really pleased
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Decision: Accepted from the wait list Notification date: 4/09/10 Notified through: E-mail from faculty followed by official email Comment: Really surprised and really happy.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Stanford GSB, Kellogg, Wharton (Applied Econ), MIT, UCSD, Berkeley, Wisconsin-M, PSU, Chicago, NYU
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Email to check site Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: oh dear
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economics Analysis and Policy PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments: another one goes down
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: Not a surprise by now
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: Not a surprise by now
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Email to check website Date: Feb-19 Comment: Sad news
  • Institution: Kellogg MECS Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Checked website Date: Feb-26 Comment: Another
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Email Date: Mar-2 Comment: Sad news
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding:NA Notification date: Mar-9 Notified through: Emailed admissions coordinator Posted on GF: No Comment:
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: None Notification date: 3/23/10 Notified through: e-mail Comments:
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/29/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Think I was on an implicit waitlist before this, so not a surprise.
Waitlists:
    waitlist), EUI, LSE (MSc), Oxford (MPhil), BGSE (MSc), Toulouse (M2)
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Decision: Waitlist Funding: NA Notified through: Email Date: Mar-5 Comment: Assumed I'd been rejected

Fantiki 2010:
Type of undergrad:
1. B.Sc. Finance from the best business school in a mid-size European country. In terms of financial research output the school is usually ranked as Top 10 European/Top 100 worldwide
2. (concurrently) B.Sc. Systems Science from the best university in the same European country
Undergrad GPA: not obvious to translate, somewhere between 3.6 and 3.9, Top 5%
Type of Grad:
1. M.Sc. Finance, same business school as above
2. (concurrently) M.Sc. Computer Science, same university as above
Grad GPA: again hard to translate, I would say between 3.8-4.0, Top 5%
GRE: 800Q, 570V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses (undergrad): Introductory mathematics I (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Analytical Geometry) (B+/A-), Introductory mathematics II (Theory of continuity, Measures and Integrals) (A), Introductory mathematics III (Functional analysis, DE) (A), Introductory mathematics IV (PDE, IE), Introduction to optimization (A), Introduction to statistical inference (A), Time series analysis (B+/A-)
Math Courses (grad): stochastic processes (A), optimization theory (B), mathematical investment theory (B+/A-), game theory (A), decision making (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad): Introductory, Intermediate micro, Intermediate macro, International economics and finance, Money & Banking - A:s
Other Courses: Finance & Computer Science (theory courses may be relevant), LSE summer school (A)
Letters of Recommendation:
1. Finance full professor, thesis advisor, many A publications
2. Computer science full professor, thesis advisor, many A publications (in comp science)
3. Circulating weakly positive letters from semi-famous full professors in finance and economics
Research Experience:
1. B.Sc. thesis in finance
2. B.Sc. thesis in systems science
3. M.Sc. thesis in finance - on decision making under information asymmetries in finacial markets (game-theoretical model+empirical evidence)
4. M.Sc. thesis in computer science - empirical part (as a chapter in an article) accepted in a top general interest journal, but the publication is not related to economics/finance (biology), I am a coauthor, but there are many others
5. RA for the computer science professor
6. Research internship at an internationally well-known company, also 1 paper from there, but published in a professional journal
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Interests: Information economics, financial economics (theory + empirical)
Statement of purpose: http://www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/119180-post-your-statement-purpose-sop-here.html#post789723
Other: graduated in advance, some good awards (placed third nationwide in math competition, scholarship for publishing thesis etc.), strong technical skills (Assembler and similar hardcore stuff)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Columbia finance ($) -> accepted this offer, LBS finance ($), UNC-CH finance ($), UBC finance ($), LSE finance (external EU funding)
Rejections: Stanford finance, UCLA finance, Stern finance, Wharton finance, Haas finance, Kellogg finance, CMU finance, INSEAD finance, MIT economics, Penn economics (out of the waitlist)
What would you have done differently?
Probably not much, may be would establish better relationships with a couple of professors at my school. The application process to US universities is difficult for European applicants because information asymmetries are pretty large. I would recommend to establish good relationships with professors who have strong ties to schools you are applying (e.g. coauthoring, previous academic positions etc.). Also if you are coming from a less known educational system/school try to get short but informative course descriptions for the key courses as an attachment to your transcripts (e.g. course names like Math I-IV are not very helpful for admissions commiteas). I have received the feedback from some schools that these two things helped my case.
Overall I did much better than I expected.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Columbia finance ($) -> accepted this offer, LBS finance ($), UNC-CH finance ($), UBC finance ($), LSE finance (external EU funding)
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Stipend + Research scholarship (26k) + optional TA (4.5k) Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Well, me in a top 10 finance program... I just was jumping around my flat for probably 2 hours this morning.
  • Institution: Columbia Business School Finance and Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Stipend + Research scholarship (26k) + optional TA (4.5k) Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Well, me in a top 10 finance program... I just was jumping around my flat for probably 2 hours this morning.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford finance, UCLA finance, Stern finance, Wharton finance, Haas finance, Kellogg finance, CMU finance, INSEAD finance, MIT economics, Penn economics (out of the
Waitlists:
    waitlist)

walt526 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Political Science from UC Davis (started at a well-regarded LAC in the Midwest)
Undergrad GPA: 3.50/4.00 (combined)
Type of Grad: MA in Economics from lower-tier public university
Grad GPA: 3.92
GRE: 800Q, 600V, 6.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (high school with AP, plus C from Fall 1998), Linear Algebra (A), Intro to Statistics (A), Math for Economists (A), Intro to Formal Math (A-), Numerical Analysis (A), Axiomatic Set Theory (B+), Real Analysis (in process), Mathematical Statistics MA-Level (in process), Operations Research (Spring 2010), Applied Linear Algebra (Spring 2010)
Econ Courses (MA-level): Advanced Micro Theory (A-), Advanced Macro Theory (A), US Economic History (A), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A), Applied Econometric Analysis (in process), Econometric Theory (in process)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Economics (B+ from spring 2000), Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (D), Public Microeconomic Theory (A+), Economics of Development (A-), US Economic History (A-), World Economic History (A), Economics of Education (A), Econometrics (A), History of Economic Thought (Spring 2010)
Political Science Courses:
- High School: AP American Government, AP Comparative Government
- LAC: International Relations (A-), American Political Thought (B+), Central European Politics (A), Russian Politics (A-), Soviet and Russian Foreign Policy (A)
- UC Davis: Systematic Political Science (A-), The Legislative Process (A-), The Politics of Interdependence (A-), National Security Policy (A), Intro to Judicial Politics (A), Judicial Politics: First Amendment (A), Judicial Politics: Equality (A-), Seminar in American Political Behavior (A+)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 WUSTL, 1 UC Davis ARE, 1 Stanford)
Research Experience:
- Research assistant to LAC political science professor (developing new course in environmental international politics)
- Research assistant to UC Davis political science professor (judicial politics--read a sample Supreme Court decisions and classified the argument type of each paragraph)
- Masters Thesis: Does State Support for Public Four-Year Universities Decrease as Minority Enrollment Increases?
Teaching Experience: TA to Intermediate Micro
Research Interests: My research interests lie along the intersection of political science and economics. I am interested in Public Choice (Law and Economics and Institutional Factors), Industrial Organization, and Miscellaneous Applied Microecomics
Statement of Purpose: Should be strong
Concerns: The D in Intermediate Macro came in a semester wherein I received incompletes in my other courses (personal issues) in winter quarter of 2004). I completed the two lower-division courses that I needed to fulfill the BA in Political Science at community college (statistics and history of western civilization). No topology, possibly weak advanced math grades.
Other: Have a career certificate in Accounting from a community college, worked for 2 years as an accounting administrator and 3 years as a purchasing agent for an electrical contractor.
Applying to: UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Stanford, Michigan, UPenn Wharton (Applied Econ), WUSTL, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Texas, UIUC, Maryland, Virginia, UC Davis, George Mason, Vanderbilt, Rochester, Michigan State, Georgetown, UC Irvine, UMass-Amherst, Arizona, Colorado, Syracuse, Kentucky (might whittle down the list some)
Accepts:
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics/Economics of Education Decision: Accepted ($$$) Notification date: 2/21/10 Notified through: Personal email from co-directors of the Economics of Education program (have not heard officially from Economics Department yet) Posted on GF: No. Comments: I am beyond delighted. MSU is a perfect fit for my interests and the funding (mostly coming from a US Department of Education grant) is unrivaled by pretty much any place other than Yale. Hoping to attend a flyout sometime in March.
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics-Public Choice Decision: Acceptance ($$) Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I'll probably decline in favor of the Michigan State offer. But UC Irvine is a great place for public choice (and Southern CA is a nicer place to spend 4-5 years than Central MI).
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics/Economics of Education Decision: Accepted ($$$) Notification date: 2/21/10 Notified through: Personal email from co-directors of the Economics of Education program (have not heard officially from Economics Department yet) Posted on GF: No. Comments: I am beyond delighted. MSU is a perfect fit for my interests and the funding (mostly coming from a US Department of Education grant) is unrivaled by pretty much any place other than Yale. Hoping to attend a flyout sometime in March.
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics-Public Choice Decision: Acceptance ($$) Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I'll probably decline in favor of the Michigan State offer. But UC Irvine is a great place for public choice (and Southern CA is a nicer place to spend 4-5 years than Central MI).
  • Institution: University of Colorado-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted ($$) Notification date: 3/10/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comments: One of my safeties, I will most likely decline in favor of MSU.
  • Institution: U Arizona Economics Decision: Admit Funding: No first year funding Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I don't see an unfunded offer from U Arizona as worth considering. And I'd probably prefer MSU or UCI to U Arizona even if it the latter were funded.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/16 Notified Through: Email Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: First official response, so I'm a little disappointed--not exactly surprising, as I figured that I was a long-shot. My wife really didn't want to live in North Carolina, so she'll be relieved.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/16/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised. I knew if was a reach.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/25/10 Notified through: Website (did not receive an email to check) Posted on GF: No. Comments: Not surprised, but disappointed.
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I am aware that this may sound like sour grapes, but I only applied there because the application was free. My interest in the school was pretty minimal (I prefer MSU to Rochester).
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: This one stings a little, but not entirely unexpected.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Of all the rejects so far, this was the toughest--even though it was anticipated.
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: If it weren't for geography, then I probably wouldn't have even applied to UC Davis. But I'm still a little surprised and annoyed, considering it was my alma mater.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/16/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised. I knew if was a reach.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/25/10 Notified through: Website (did not receive an email to check) Posted on GF: No. Comments: Not surprised, but disappointed.
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I am aware that this may sound like sour grapes, but I only applied there because the application was free. My interest in the school was pretty minimal (I prefer MSU to Rochester).
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: This one stings a little, but not entirely unexpected.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Of all the rejects so far, this was the toughest--even though it was anticipated.
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: If it weren't for geography, then I probably wouldn't have even applied to UC Davis. But I'm still a little surprised and annoyed, considering it was my alma mater.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/10 Notified through: Postal Mail Posted on GC: No Comment: As expected.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email Comments: As expected. Only surprised that it took them this long.
  • Institution: George Mason Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/15/10 Notified through: Postal letter. Comments: A little surprised that I didn't get at least a non-funded offer, but oh well. This was a school that I was on the fence about applying to. I prefer all three of my other offers to GMU anyway.
  • Institution: U Illinois-Urbana Phd Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/17/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised. MSU is looking more and more likely.
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Assumed rejection about a month ago.
  • Institution: Wharton (U Pennsylvania) Applied Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Not surprised, pretty much knew that this was a non-starter. Only applied because it looked interesting and thought that a business school might look at my application a little differently than traditional Economics departments.
  • Institution: U Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: E-mail to Check Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Assumed as much over a week ago.
  • Institution: U Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/22/10 Notified through: Randomly checked the website Posted on GC: No Comments: Not really surprised given that I hadn't heard anything for so long.
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/25/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Only surprised that it took them this long...
  • Institution: U Texas-Austin Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/25/10 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/29/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This was one of the schools that I was considering withdrawing my application from. Like Rochester, I might not have applied had there been an application fee (also their L&E made them a better fit). But alas, unfortunately they didn't receive my UCD transcripts, so I had to resend them rush back in early February for ~$50 (a few days before I had heard from MSU), so it's almost like I did have to pay a fee... but I digress.
  • 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: Glad to finally know definitively that my choices are between MSU and UCI, but still a little disappointed. When I went back to earn my MA two years ago, I did so in the hopes of winding up at WUSTL. But I think how my interests have evolved over the past two years as well as a better sense of what type of environment I need to be successful, MSU is probably a better fit even if WUSTL's placements are better.
Waitlists:

yougotaparabola 2010: PROFILE:
type of undergrad: B.A. Econ top 10 public university, no grad econ
undergrad GPA: 3.69/4, econ 3.95, math 3.74
type of grad: NA
grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 650V, 5.0AWA
math courses: Calc 3 (A-), ODE (A), Linear Algebra (A-), Probability Theory (B+), Real Analysis I (A), Game Theory (A-)(through the math department)
econ courses (undergrad-level): intermediate micro, advanced micro (economics of incentives), intermediate macro, advanced macro (international finance), econometrics, time series econometrics, mathematical economics (all A)
econ courses (grad-level): sadly, none.
other courses: Irrelevant.
letters of recommendation: 3 econ professors
research experience: Minimal.
teaching experience: None
research interests: The role of micro incentives in development.
statement of purpose: Pretty standard, nothing substantial.
other: on the bright side you really only need one admit.
concerns: Potentially weak recommendations, no idea how I stack up against the competition, no idea how my undergrad will be perceived,
applying to: Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, WUSTL, Rochester, UCLA, UVA, Duke, Wisconsin, BU, BC, etc....
Accepts:
  • Institution: BC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16k Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: Yep Comments: Relieved
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship? Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: A solid admit for me, I'm excited.
  • Institution: BC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16k Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: Yep Comments: Relieved
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship? Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: A solid admit for me, I'm excited.
  • Institution: Texas (Austin) Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Waitlisted for TAship Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: Unofficial Email Posted on GC: Nope Comments: Pretty jazzed, curious what the likelihood of getting a TAship is.
  • Institution: UVA Economics PhD Decision: Admit Funding: No information on the letter Notification date: 03/24 Notified through: randomly checked website Comments: Nice to have another option
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: rejected Funding: no Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: website Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: forget Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: They really made me wait this one out.
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Nope Comments: Mass email.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/10 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Expected
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: They really made me wait this one out.
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Nope Comments: Mass email.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/10 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Expected
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email. Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments: a little sad
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website)
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Email Notification date: 3/16/10 Comments: Response to email for an update.
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: Was doubtful after the interview.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

lycinsg 2010: well, since everyone is doing this. here goes. kinda embarrassing
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ B.S from Top 30ish Econ department
Undergrad GPA: cum 3.78/4 Econ 3.78/4 Math 3.58/4 >.<
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 780Q, 500V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I,II,III, Multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, math reasoning, real analysis I, probability
Econ Courses (PhD-level): N/A undergrad equivalent
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): International trade, international macro, advanced micro, advanced macro, 2 econometrics, money. in progress: game theory, public finance
Other Courses: Not worth mentioning
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors all fairly well know i guess
Research Experience: Nada. Term papers and honors thesis in progress
Teaching Experience: Nada.
Research Interests: International economics, trade
statement of purpose: The usual
Concerns: Weird grades. It oscillates a lot. I didn't bother to explain in my statement. bad decisions, got destroyed by flu or just plain evil teacher etc.
Other: Why so much supply so little demand for econ applicants? Makes me pale in comparison to others. Most schools turn to reach schools after seeing this forum
Applying to: Stanford (just for fun), Wharton applied economics (praying real real hard), Columbia, U Minn, NYU, Michigan, UCSD, Brown, Maryland, Penn State, UW
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 02/26 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: oh noes! losing hope 1 down 10 more to go
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: Expected... Sigh
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 02/26 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: oh noes! losing hope 1 down 10 more to go
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: Expected... Sigh
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: Game over this year. sigh
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Wasn't expecting anything good anyways
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: e-mail to check website Notification date: 3/16/10 Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/18/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: meh
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: No interview, of course
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

narinka11 2010:
Institution: ASU
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: No word yet
Notification date: 2-26-2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments: Excited though still worried about the funding. Without funding I won't be able to make it!
Accepts:
  • Institution: ASU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 2-26-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Excited though still worried about the funding. Without funding I won't be able to make it!
  • Institution: ASU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: No word yet Notification date: 2-26-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Excited though still worried about the funding. Without funding I won't be able to make it!
  • Institution: ASU Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: 19k + tuition fee waivered + 1,5k summer stipend; conditional on good standing funding for the next 4 years Notified through: e-mail Date: Accepted on Feb 26, funding info on March 5 Comment: Phew....Seems like I am moving to the US this summer!
  • Institution: Goethe University Frankfurt Economics Decision: Accept Funding: None Notification date: 3/15 Notified through: Email Comments: Don't really care, anyways I am not going there
Rejects:
  • Institution: Northwestern Kellogg Finance Decision: Rejected Funding: Aha Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: yes Comments: Oh well, was expecting that..
  • Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Finance Decision: Reject Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through: email Comments: "We received applications from many highly qualified individuals. However, financial and other constraints have resulted in our accepting only a small number of applicants. While your qualifications are excellent, we are not able to admit you to our program. I hope that with your fine record you will obtain admission to another university." I wonder whether they really meant it or not (regarding the excellent qualifications stuff). And if they are so excellent, why won't you give me admission? Oh man, this is not good...
  • Institution: Northwestern Kellogg Finance Decision: Rejected Funding: Aha Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: yes Comments: Oh well, was expecting that..
  • Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Finance Decision: Reject Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through: email Comments: "We received applications from many highly qualified individuals. However, financial and other constraints have resulted in our accepting only a small number of applicants. While your qualifications are excellent, we are not able to admit you to our program. I hope that with your fine record you will obtain admission to another university." I wonder whether they really meant it or not (regarding the excellent qualifications stuff). And if they are so excellent, why won't you give me admission? Oh man, this is not good...
  • Institution: Indiana University Finance Decision: Reject Funding: Not really Notified through: e-mail Date: March 5 Comment: Oh well
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email to check Website Comments: I still wonder why it took them so long to reject me...
  • Institution: CMU Tepper Financial Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/18/10 Notified through: Email Comments: They are certain that "I will find a productive setting in which to continue my studies among the many other good graduate schools"...
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: Whatever...
  • Institution: CalTech Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: It took them a while....just like everybody else I am gonna say FINALLY!
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/24 - Marjorie replied to my email asking about an update. Official notification coming very soon Notified through: E-mail Comments: Great expectations didn't pay off...oh well, life goes on...
  • Institution: UCI Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Do not care for this one at all, I have much better offers...
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/6/10 Notified through: Mass e-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Still 3 more to go...
  • Institution: Purdue University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/19 Notified through: Email Comments: Don't care
  • Institution: UNC-CH Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 05/10 Notified through: E-Mail Comments: I sent an e-mail asking to update my application status well after I have accepted another offer (just for the sake of fairness,eventually I have spent money on their application!), and guess what? they even answered me...on May 10...
Waitlists:

econgirl19 2010:
Institution: Rutgers
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None
Notification date: 1/27/2010
Notified through: Email
Comments: Not going without funding.
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:N/A
Notification date: 2/18/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: Oh well.
Institution: Penn State
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $24k stipend
Notification date: 2/22/2010
Notified through: Email
Comments: :-)
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend + $2k stipend for the summer
Notification date: 2/22/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: Definitely high up on my list.
Institution: Johns Hopkins
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $17k stipend
Notification date: 2/26/2010
Notified through: Email with attachment
Comments: Another good option.
Institution: University of Maryland
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend
Notification date: 3/3/2010
Notified through: Email
Comments: Excited!
Institution: Columbia
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/4/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: I wasn't really planning on going there anyway….
Accepts:
  • Institution: Rutgers Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 1/27/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: Not going without funding.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $24k stipend Notification date: 2/22/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: :-)
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend + $2k stipend for the summer Notification date: 2/22/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Definitely high up on my list.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $17k stipend Notification date: 2/26/2010 Notified through: Email with attachment Comments: Another good option.
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend Notification date: 3/3/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: Excited!
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Sage Fellowship (Tuition + $21.8k stipend + $4.6k stipend for the summer) for all 5 years Notification date: 3/8/2010 Notified through: Email with attachment Comments: Definitely in the running
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding:N/A Notification date: 2/18/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I wasn't really planning on going there anyway….
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I wasn't really planning on going there anyway….
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: "We chose to advise you of our decision via email on the assumption that a timely response would outweigh the informality of this means of communication. I would be happy to provide a formal letter upon request." Now can someone please tell me why I would want a formal rejection letter? Oh well, this was expected anyway.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Postal Comments: I 100 0.000000e+000xpected this.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I expected this one also. I wasn't planning on going there anyway =P
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Can't say I didn't expect this one either….
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/17/2010 Notified through: E-mail in my response to my e-mail Comments: Not surprised.
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: I wanted to get into this one, but oh well. Probably for the best.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Waitlisted (high on waitlist) Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/18/2010 Notified through: E-mail with attachment Comments: Very excited! I hope I get in (with funding).

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

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

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

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

pestivendeglo 2011:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college. B.A Economics. B.A. Mathematics
Undergrad GPA: 3.92/4.00
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 720V, ?AWA
Math Courses (undergrad/level): Real Analysis I (A), Topology (A), Stochastic Processes (A), Abstract Algebra I (A), Intro to Stats Inference (A-), Probability Theory (not measure-based, A), ODE (A), Number Theory (A), Linear Algebra (A)
Econ Courses (masters-level):N/A
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to micro (A), intro to macro (A), intermediate micro (A), intermediate macro(A), econometrics(will get it soon), behavioral econ (A), labor econ (A), game theory (A-), IO (B+)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (2 both from my college) 1 math professor. All three graduated from top phD in their fields.
Research Experience: RAed for an econ prof till now// independent study- senior thesis on labor economics
Research Interests: Labor economics, Behavioral economics, health economics.
SOP: Writing now.
Concerns: Not much significant research experience.
Other: N/A
Applying to: UCLA, Duke, Berkeley ARE, U MN, NWU, U Chicago, CMU, Caltech, NYU
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics (PhD) Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email to check website
  • Institution: UPenn Phd in Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/24/2011 Notified through: Email to check website
  • Institution: Duke [/B] PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/28/2011 Notified through: website (saw above and checked)
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Minnesota Phd in Economics Decision: Wait list Notification date: 02/22/2011 Notified through: Email

blueser 2011:
Type of Undergrad: One of the Lower Ranking Big 10
Undergrad GPA: Cumulative 3.84 Econ 4 Math 3.81 (PhD course grades not counted)
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q800 V720 AW4.5
Math Courses: Cal 1,2,3 (all A's) ODE (A+) Linear Algebra (A) Linear Algebra-Proof (A) Honors Real Analysis (B)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro 1 (B+) Micro 2 (B) Math for Economists (B)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Standard basic courses + IO + Game Theory + International Finance + Econometrics + Honors Thesis (All A's and A+'s)
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 1 professor- MIT PhD (strong), 1 assit prof - Stanford PhD (strong), 1 assit prof - Stanford PhD (not strong), 1 associate prof - Northwestern PhD (not strong)
Research Experience: Honors Thesis in IO, 1 independent research in labor econ - paper just submitted to a journal, 1st author
Teaching Experience: UTA for 1 semester in the department of English (probably not gonna help...)
Research Interests: IO, Game Theory, Labor
SOP: Nothing special
Concerns: I really shouldn't have taken soooo many PhD Econ courses this past fall... bombed all of them... I was simply too busy too keep up with everything...
Other:
Applying to: 18 schools ranging from Harvard to UC Davis with a very significant emphasis on schools ranking in the 10th to the 30th, which I think is more realistic for me.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Toulouse School of Economics M2 EMO Decision: Accepted Funding: Chances low since there are 70+ students competing for 5-6 scholarships Notification date: April 11 Snail Mail, April 6 email Notified through: Emailed inquiry last week; received snail mail this Monday Posted on GC: No Comments: Will definitely go if awarded scholarship; will seriously consider going even if without funding. I don't have many choices...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GF: will do Comments: Thought I might get a chance of interview when I didn't get rejection in the first round... But more or less kinda expected... 3 rejections and no ad does make me kinda sad...
  • Institution: MIT Sloan Economic Sociology PhD Decision: rejected Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: 4th rejection... No ad so far... Just saw a very good job posting on my schools career services website... Hope it's not too late to have a backup plan to apply for a JOB...
  • Institution: Duke PHD economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/2011 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: no Comment: ......
Waitlists:

applied 2011:
Type of Undergrad: Small liberal arts college (Economics major, math minor)
Undergrad GPA: 3.51/4.00 (3.75 in major)
Type of Grad:n/a
Grad GPA:n/a
GRE: 710 Quant. 580 Ver. 5.5 Writing
Math Courses: Applied Calc (B), Calc 1-2 (B+), Differential Equations (B+), Math Structures(A), Linear Algebra (A), Statistics 1-2 (A), Topology (current)
Econ Courses (grad-level):n/a
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro and Macro (A), Intermediate micro and macro (A), Economic Development (A), Managerial Econ (current), International Econ (current)
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Three great letters, one very young econ, one penn state phd, and one upenn math phd.
Research Experience: summer research position at tech start-up, independent study/thesis
Teaching Experience: three years as tutor for econ and statistics
Research Interests: Development, Industrial organization, lots of random stuff
Concerns: Very low GRE quant score. I took the GRE having only taken calc I and II, and with only about a week to study.
Applying to: Wharton AE PhD, Penn State PhD, BU MS, UC Irvine PhD, Harvard BE PhD, BC PhD, Northeastern PhD, UMass Amherst PhD
Accepts:
  • Institution: Boston University M.A. in Economics and M.A. in Global Development Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: none Notification date: 3/21/11 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Already have my decision made, this was a backup.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 10 Notified through:Email Posted on GC: no Comments: "Our applicant pool is outstanding and unfortunately we cannot offer admission to all good candidates."
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/08/11 Notified through: E-Mail Posted on GF: No Comments: meh
Waitlists:

econophd 2011:
Institution: Wharton
Program: Applied Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: Feb 10
Notified through: Web
Posted on GC: yes
Accepts:
  • Institution: U of Michigan Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA 2+ Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Y Comments: Very happy
  • Institution: John Hopkins Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 3/2/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Y Comments: I was expecting funding
Rejects:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb 10 Notified through: Web Posted on GC: yes
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: Feb. 16 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics (PhD) Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: 2 wait list same day
  • Institution: University of Rochester Economics (PhD) Decision: Wait List Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/22/2011 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: 2 wait list same day
  • Institution: U of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: no info Notification date: 2/28/2011 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Y Comments: Very high in the waitlist

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

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

Econfan 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics from a top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.53 (3.1 freshman year, 3.8 sophomore-senior years)
Type of Grad: Non-degree math coursework at a top 10 math department
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 790 Q, 670 V, 4.5 AW (New Scoring: 164 Q, 164 V)
Math Courses: Undergrad: Calc II electives (C+/B), Linear Algebra (B), Calc III (A), Diff Eq (A), Analysis (B), Bridge to Advanced Math (A-), Probability (B+) Grad: Probability (A-), Linear Algebra (B)
Econ Courses: Econ Principals (A-), Intro Macro (A), Intermediate Macro (A-), Econ Stats (A-), Intermediate Micro (A), Intro Econometrics (A), International Econ (A), Advanced Macro (A), Thesis (A-/A), Advanced Econometrics (A), Advanced Micro (W)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 economics professors from undergrad, one of whom I was very close with (RAed, TAed, thesis adviser); economics professor at a top 50 econ department who's active in research (top 50r something on IDEAS)
Research Experience: RA for two summers for a professor in college doing labor research; senior thesis; worked for 3 years at a top econ consulting firm after graduation
Teaching Experience: TAed for Intro Macro and Intro Econometrics during undergrad
Research Interests: IO, ???
SOP: Pretty standard; I didn't personalize it by department.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Wisconsin ($), UT-Austin ($)
Waitlists: UVA (withdrew)
Rejections: Penn, Northwestern, Duke, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, Brown, Michigan, Wharton (after interview), Cornell
Attending: Wisconsin!!
There were plenty of things I would have done differently (not withdrawing from advanced micro, not taking analysis while taking 5 classes, working 2 jobs, and interviewing for jobs senior year), but there is one thing I definitely wouldn't have done differently. I made the decision to take a consulting job over a job at the Fed after college, knowing that it wouldn't be as good for my application, because it felt like a better fit. It turned out to in fact be a great fit for me, and I've grown from the experience in a lot of ways that have made me better prepared for grad school. My advice from this is that you should definitely make sure you have everything you need to get into grad school (math, research, etc.), but you shouldn't base all of your decisions on getting into grad school, because it may be the thing you do that doesn't help your resume that may indirectly make you better a better student in grad school or a better researcher later in life.
Despite the painfulness of the process, I'm very happy with the end result. I can't say there weren't times when I wished I'd never heard of this forum (for example, when I was neurotically checking posts at 2 am), but I'm glad this great group of people was hear to take away some of the pain from the horror that is economics phd applications.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Wisconsin ($), UT-Austin ($)
  • Institution: UT Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: website, checked after saw reddavies post Posted on GC: Yes Comments: MY FIRST ADMISSION!!! THIS BETTER BE REAL
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship Notification: 2/26/12 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Extremely excited and surprised. I didn't even apply by the funding deadline!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Penn, Northwestern, Duke, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, Brown, Michigan, Wharton (after interview), Cornell
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: e-mail to check website Posted on GC: yes Comments: At least it's finally official, still 12 more to come...
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/29/12 Notified Through: Application website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/5/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: FINALLY!! Oh well, I'm not too disappointed, I wouldn't have gone there anyway.
  • Institution: Cornell Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/4/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: In the words of microtheory1227: Took long enough. Already accepted an offer elsewhere.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UVA (withdrew)
  • 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: Sounds like I'm in if I want to go

chatlunatique 2012:
Type of undergrad: BA in Econ, minor in Math, from large public school in the midwest (top 60 econ)
Undergrad GPA: 3.85/4.00
GRE: 170 Q /160 V /6.0 AWA
Math courses: Multivariate calc (A), Vector calc (A), Diff EQ (A), Linear Algebra (A), Real Analysis (A+; taken at Ivy)
Econ courses: Econometrics I-II (A,A), Honors thesis (A), Financial econ (A), Trade (A), Development (A), Seminar in Monetary econ (A), Seminar in trade/devo (A), Statistical analysis (A), Intermediate Macro/Micro (A,C+), Intro Macro/Micro (A,A+)
Other courses: Some African studies, some French, others from across the humanities/social science spectrum
Letters of recommendation: 2 from professors who I have managed field research projects for in the past 2 years (I am co-authoring a paper with one; both are junior but fairly well known in their sub-fields and earned their PhDs from top programs). 1 from undergrad professor who I took two classes with and excelled.
Research experience: UG thesis; 6 months RA at a regional Fed; 2 years RA managing research projects in an African country; co-authoring paper with one of my current bosses.
Teaching experience: 2 semesters TA for Intro to Micro
Research interest: Development, IO, Personnel, Micro
SOP: Talked about my research interests and how they developed, and explained my grade trajectory.
Other: Phi Beta Kappa, Summa cum laude, econ departmental honors
RESULTS:
Acceptances: NSF ($$$$), HBS Bus-Ec ($$$$), Stanford ($$$$), LSE ($$$), Northwestern ($$$), UCSD ($$$), UCLA ($$$), Duke ($$), Michigan ($$), Maryland ($$)
Rejections: Harvard econ, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford GSB, Chicago, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Columbia GSB, NYU, NYU Stern, Penn, Penn Wharton, UCL, Berkeley, Brown
Attending: HBS!
What would you have done differently?
Nothing? I’m thrilled with my acceptances, and managed to get into my top 2 choices, even with such high variance in outcomes. Above all else my results show that even with a shaky and unfocused first couple years of undergrad, it is possible to get into good programs. I did not take any math or serious econ courses until my fourth year of university, and ended up overcoming some poor early grades (including a C+ in intermediate micro) to finish strong in my last two years, and then go on to earn RA positions where I was able to work with top economists on research that fascinated me. Should be a fun few years ahead!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: NSF ($$$$), HBS Bus-Ec ($$$$), Stanford ($$$$), LSE ($$$), Northwestern ($$$), UCSD ($$$), UCLA ($$$), Duke ($$), Michigan ($$), Maryland ($$)
  • Institution: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Decision: Accepted Funding: Standard NSF package Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Pretty awesome.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard econ, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford GSB, Chicago, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Columbia GSB, NYU, NYU Stern, Penn, Penn Wharton, UCL, Berkeley, Brown
Waitlists:

roadvirusss 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 5 Liberal Arts College
Majors: BA Math, BA Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.94/4
GRE: 800Q, 610 V, 6.0 AW
Math Courses: Linear Algebra (A-), Vector Calculus (A), Cryptography (A-), Combinatorics (A), Intro to Analysis (A), Differential Equations (A), Real Analysis I (A-), Real Analysis II (A), Probability Theory (A), Statistical Theory (A), Complex Analysis (A), Abstract Algebra I (A), Operations Research (A), Topology (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Macro (A-), Intro Micro (A), Empirical Methods (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), International (A), Energy Economics (A), Econometrics (A), Game Theory (A), Advanced Micro (A)
Econ Courses (grad-level): Econometrics I (A-)
Research Experience: Departmental honors for theses in both majors; Math thesis will be published. Did econ and math research during undergrad summers.
Research Interests: Applied Micro, IO
SOP: Spent no time on fluff; focused on a particular project.
Letters of recommendation: Four active Harvard PhD economists.
Concerns: Did poorly when I applied two years ago (Profiles and Results 2010).
Work Experience: Two years working as an RA at a top 5.
Results:
Accepted: Princeton, Northwestern, Chicago Booth, Columbia, UCLA, UCSD, Wisconsin, Duke
Waitlists (all declined): Penn (vh), NYU, Michigan
Rejected: Wharton (Interviewed), Yale, Berkeley, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, GSB, Chicago, Stern, HBS, Cornell
Never Heard from: UW
Attending: Princeton
What would you have done differently?
Nothing. I was very well informed about the process this time around. I'm definitely happy with my results, and in the end the decision between Princeton and Northwestern was a tough one. It was odd that the only Top 7 I got into was the one worst in IO even though my SOP was spent entirely on an IO topic. My decision to take two years off was in the end vindicated, even though I largely slacked off during this time and at one point almost gave up on the PhD route. I can't help but be an advocate of the liberal arts college -> RA -> PhD route, as the improvement in rec letters alone earned me a jump from the top 25 to the top 5.
Accepts:
    Accepted: Princeton, Northwestern, Chicago Booth, Columbia, UCLA, UCSD, Wisconsin, Duke
  • Institution: Booth Econ Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 35k Notification Date: 2/23/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Shocked!
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 19k Notification Date: 2/28/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 26.5k Notification Date: 3/2/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: I need to ask for it? Notification Date: 3/2/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Withdrawn
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 22k Notification Date: 3/5/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Wow!
  • Institution: Princeton Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 30k Notification Date: 3/8/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Absolutely stunned.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 19k Notification Date: 3/14/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Declined
Rejects:
    Rejected: Wharton (Interviewed), Yale, Berkeley, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, GSB, Chicago, Stern, HBS, Cornell
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/17/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/23/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Disappointed...
  • Institution: MIT Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/29/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Stanford Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/2/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/5/2012 Notified Through: Mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution:NYU Stern - Econ Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notified: 3/12 Notified through: email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Rejected (Interviewed) Funding: NA Notification Date: 3/16/2012 Notified Through: E-mail to check website. Posted to GC: No Comments: Didn't take it as a good sign that my interviewer never got back to me with the follow-up emails he promised. My results have had a pretty high variance so far.
  • Institution: Cornell Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/4/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: NSF waiting list?
Waitlists:
    Waitlists (all declined): Penn (vh), NYU, Michigan
  • Institution: Penn Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification Date: 2/24/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: NYU Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/6/2012 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Waitlist size is "in the tens."
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notified: 3/13/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments:

strugglin 2012:
Good post? |
Accepts:
  • Institution: BU Economics Phd Decision: Accepted Funding: Years 2-5 Notification date: 03.14.2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: aww hell nah! Comments: about time! email not personalized outside of funding
Rejects:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification Date: 3/16/2012 Notified Through: E-mail to check website. Posted to GC: Absolutely not. Comments: Expected, no interview
Waitlists:


Waitlists:

Internationalstudent08 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top-5
Undergrad GPA: 3.7
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: Q800, V670, A4.5
Math Courses: Real Analysis, Optimization (As)
Econ Courses: Typical undergrad courses, intro+field courses
Letters of Recommendation: 3 good ones
Research Experience: 1 year RA (+2 summers as an undergrad)
Teaching Experience: Some tutoring
Research Interests: Mostly applied micro
SOP: Must have been good
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UChicago (waiting to hear about funding), UMaryland (18k), Penn State (25k)
Waitlists: Wharton AE
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, Brown
Total Score: 10-1-3
Pending: None
What would you have done differently?
I really didn't take advantage of my undergrad school as I should have. I should have started RAing earlier, and I should have taken graduate-level courses as an undergrad, instead of being a chicken. Also, I made some bad thesis-related choices hehe
However, since last year's admission cycle, I did everything that I could to improve my profile, and ended up working with some great people. I learned a lot- perhaps more than what I'm going to learn in grad school.
The only significant econ-phd-related mistake I made was to apply to all top-10 schools and almost none of the schools between 10 and 20 (except for UMaryland). I rejected most of the schools in that range based on location preferences. Since my profile was not clear-cut top10, I should have been more careful.
Anyway, I'm glad I made it!!!!!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UChicago (waiting to hear about funding), UMaryland (18k), Penn State (25k)
  • Institution: Penn State Decision: Accepted Funding: 25k Notification date: Today Notified through: Email Comments: Very happy
  • Institution: UMaryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted, 18k Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Third admit!
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, Brown Total Score: 10-1-3
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 2/25/09 Notified through: Website Comments:The battle rages on
  • Institution: Yale Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: a few days ago Notified through: E-mail to check website. (Kinda worried that not only top-5 is impossible, but top-10 is a stretch too)
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02 Notified through: E-mail Comments: They should never complain that I didn't give them a second chance . These days I celebrate the anniversary of the last rejection they sent me!!!
  • Institution: MIT Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Another donation to support the top 10 schools
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Columbia Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/5 Notified through: E-mail directing me to website. Comments: Same sweet letter
  • Institution: Harvard Business School Business Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: -100 Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: Letter Comments: Not a surprise...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Wharton AE

ctown2009 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Psuedo-Econ at Cornell
Undergrad GPA: 3.87
Type of Grad: Master's Applied Statistics Cornell
Grad GPA: N/A at admission time; a couple of schools saw a low 3's GPA because of one bizarre grade
GRE: 800Q, 680V, 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-II (HS), Multivar Calc (B), Linear Alg (A), Analysis (A), Linear Optimization (B), Stochastic Calc (spring semester)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): A bunch all in micro and applied micro, econometrics, stats, all A's
Econ Courses (PhD): Econometrics I & II (B+'s), Cross-Sectional Econometrics (A-), Micro I (B), Micro II (spring semester)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 which I think were all strong
Research Experience: A lot: summer intern at a think tank, RA for well-known behavioral economist and a well-known public finance prof, senior thesis, co-authored paper submitted to a good journal
Teaching Experience: TA 1 class, not too demanding
Research Interests: Empirical micro, IO, law & econ, regulation, a little public finance
Statement of Purpose: Does it really matter
Work Experience: Good Econ consulting firm for about a year
Applying to: Chicago, Columbia, Wharton Applied Econ, Michigan Business Econ, NYU, Berkeley Haas BPP, Harvard Kennedy, Yale, Duke, Maryland, Brown, JHU...not Cornell
Other: Very uncertain given my hybrid degree from a top school and mixed grades in the toughest classes, but I challenged myself and took the hardest ones
RESULTS:
Attending: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$)
Acceptances: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$)
Waitlist: JHU, Wharton
Rejections: everywhere else, only surprised about Berkeley and bummed about Wharton, dream school was Chicago
What would you have done differently?
Hmm, not too much, I did well in my undergrad classes and put myself thru the grinder once I realized I wanted to try for the PhD. I should have taken more diverse econ courses, especially theory, but it was tough given time constraints. Should've done more reading outside the classroom on cutting edge research instead of the articles from the 1960's we read in class. I should have had at least one rec with a big Prof from the Econ department, that's my biggest regret. Happy to go to UMich fully funded as it's a great research fit. Hopefully future TM applicants will find this thread as useful as I've found previous versions.
Accepts:
    Attending: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$) Acceptances: Michigan Business Econ PhD ($$$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: everywhere else, only surprised about Berkeley and bummed about Wharton, dream school was Chicago
Waitlists:
    Waitlist: JHU, Wharton

asdfjkl 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics from a Public University, top 10 Economics Department
Undergrad GPA: 3.77 overall, 3.94 Economics GPA
Type of Grad: 1 second-year field sequence in the Economics Department
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: Q: 800, V:640, AWA:4.5
Math Courses: Analysis (B), Linear Algebra (Pass), Multivariable Calculus (A-)
Econ Courses: Advanced Micro (A), Advanced Macro (A+), Game Theory (A), Auction Theory (A-), Advanced Econometrics (A-), along with Econ History, International Monetary Economics, Research Economics (all As), also Psych and Econ, Behavioral Corporate Finance
Letters of Recommendation: 2 very strong letters from Professors from the Economics Department at my undergraduate university (with a history of sending undergraduates to top Economics departments), 1 from the Business School, 1 from the Federal Reserve Board
Research Experience: Summer RA/Intern at the Federal Reserve Board, RA for a Professor at the Business School and RA to another professor in the Economics Department at my university, also worked for a graduate student in the Economics Department
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Applied Micro - beyond that Labor? IO? Development? Psych and Econ?
SOP: nothing special and I did not bother making it specific to the schools I applied to
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UMichigan (attending! no funding initially, $$$$$ at the end), Northwestern (waitlist for funding, ultimately would've received a tuition waiver), UCSD ($$), UCLA ($$)
Waitlists: UPenn Wharton - Applied Economics (would've been accepted to the program off the waitlist with $$)
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, UPenn, NYU, Columbia, Yale, ChicagoWhat would you have done differently? A LOT more math. My letter writers had told me I had sufficient math to competitive at all schools; however I think that my lack of strong math background really hurt me on the margin. I think I may have gotten into better schools if I'd taken more math and done better, but I preferred to work on research projects for professors and graduate students throughout my undergrad - so I can't say I regret my decision for get more research experience at the expense of a stronger math background.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UMichigan (attending! no funding initially, $$$$$ at the end), Northwestern (
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, UPenn, NYU, Columbia, Yale, Chicago
Waitlists:
    waitlist for funding, ultimately would've received a tuition waiver), UCSD ($$), UCLA ($$) Waitlists: UPenn Wharton - Applied Economics (would've been

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

OutOfGame 2012:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.96
Type of Grad: Part-time student at a top 5
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: Q800/ V580/ AWA 5.5
Math Courses: Calc, Modeling, Linear Algebra, Intro to Proofs, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Measure Theory, Functional Analysis, Topology, Abstract Algebra, Combinatorics, Number Theory, Probability, Stats, Stochastic Processes, Math Problem Solving
Econ Courses: Principles, Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Finance, Game Theory, Accounting, Econometrics, PhD Econometrics
Other Courses: Intro to CS, Data Structure, Algorithms, Data Mining
Letters of Recommendation: 3 research supervisor (top young professors in econ / finance), 1 PhD Metrics professor (department chair at top 5), 1 undergrad professor (took 3 classes with, and TAed for).
Research Experience: ~2 years full time RA at top 5
Teaching Experience: TA for intermediate macro
Research Interests: using empirical methods to answer macro / finance questions; IO
SOP: professors say it's very good
Other: rejected by all top 10 schools two years ago
RESULTS:
Attending: MIT
Acceptances: MIT, Harvard, Stanford GSB, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Berkeley, Chicago, NWU, Columbia, NYU, Booth (finance / joint), Sloan (finance)
Waitlists: Penn, Wharton (finance), Michigan
Rejections: None
Never heard back after interview: Stern (finance)
Accepts:
    Attending: MIT Acceptances: MIT, Harvard, Stanford GSB, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Berkeley, Chicago, NWU, Columbia, NYU, Booth (finance / joint), Sloan (finance)
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Analysis and Policy Decision: Accepted Funding: Standard package Notification Date: 2/17/12 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Yale Decision: Accepted Funding: Will come in by mail Notification date: 02/22 Notified through: Email to check online status change Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Booth Finance PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 35K Notification date: 02/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: coming by mail Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: phone Comments: Happy
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: ?? Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: phone call Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: MIT Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship Notification date: 2/27/2012 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 34k Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Will come by email soon Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + stipend + summer funding etc Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Email
  • Institution: Sloan Finance Decision: Accepted Funding: 32k Notification Date: March 2 Notified Through: Email
  • Institution: Princeton Econ Decision: Admit Funding: ~30k Notified: 3/7 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no
Rejects:
    Rejections: None
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Penn, Wharton (finance), Michigan
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification 2/24/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: NA Notification date: 2/29/2012 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: "In a normal year, I would be offering you admission and financial aid at this time. Due to the economic realities of the current year, however, we must place you on a short wait list."
  • Institution: Wharton Ph.D. Finance Decision: Wait listed Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/5/2012 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notified: 3/13/12 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments:
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 6 accepted out of 47 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.77, average GREQ was 800.0.
No link to department posted statistics has been added, please let me know if these exist and I will add them.

Links:
Test Magic Econ Forums
econphd.econwiki.com
Last Updated: 14:58:27, Fri May 11, 2012