pdilly 2008:
Type of Undergrad: BA from a less prestigious liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.75
Type of Grad:

Grad GPA:
GRE: 770M/590V
Math Courses: Cal I-III (A's), Linear Algebra (A), Applied Stats (A), Probability Theory (B). Taking Differential Equations this semester.
Econ Courses: A's in Macro I, Intermediate Macro, Intermediate Micro, Urban Econ, Labor Econ, American Econ History, Law and Economics, B's in Micro I and Regional Econ.
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Very strong, but not from well-known professors. My best came from my statistics prof, who is also the dean of natural sciences.

Research Experience: None
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Urban, applied Micro
SOP: Not especially strong. I have only a vague Idea of what I want to do at this point.
Other:


RESULTS:
Acceptances: Syracuse ($$), UConn (MA only, at this point)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Texas, Boston College, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, UC Boulder
Pending:

What would you have done differently?

I probably shouldn't have aimed quite so high... I didn't have much of a shot at BC and Texas. I would have applied to more schools in the 40-60 range.

I'm actually putting off grad school for a little while. Syracuse agreed to hold my offer till next year, and I'm going to work on improving my resume. I'm taking advanced cal and complex analysis at my dinky liberal arts college in the fall, and I'm planning to transfer to UT-Austin in the spring to take real analysis and econometrics, among other things. Hopefully I'll be able to work some research experience in at some point too. Accepts:

• Acceptances: Syracuse ($$), UConn (MA only, at this point)

Rejects:

• Rejections: Texas, Boston College, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, UC Boulder

Waitlists:

• Waitlists:

semischolastic 2008: Type of Undergrad: Small-Medium state school, no econ grad program.
Undergrad GPA: 3.7 (Economics, Information Systems double major)

Type of Grad: Currently enrolled in a MA Econ. program, top 15 school.
Grad GPA: 3.5-ish with a semester to go.
GRE: 770Q, 760V, 6.0 AW
Math Courses: Undergrad: Calculus, Linear Alg., Set Theory. Grad:Taking Real Analysis at the time of admissions. Did not have perfect grades in these. Taking math econ probably helped make up for it.

Econ Courses: Undergrad: Micro/Macro/Metrics/Electives Grad: Stats, Game Theory, Adv. Micro, PhD Micro (this was probably crucial), Macro, Research Seminar, Econometrics, Math Econ.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from grad instructors, one of whom I did research for. The other has a reputation for writing strong letters. 3rd is from the dept chair in undergrad.
Research Experience: RA at the Fed for a year, two papers (one completed, one working). The working paper is relatively sophisticated.
Teaching Experience: Tutoring while an undergrad, TA for graduate Urban Econ.

Research Interests: Applied Micro, Public, Urban
SOP: Specialized for each school, naturally. Talked about my past experience, explained my transcript, talked about dissertation topics, faculty I wanted to work with.

Results: Admits: Chicago($$), Berkeley($$), Duke($$), Davis($)
Rejections: Brown

Ambiguous: UI Chicago (I withdrew my application), Syracuse (never heard back)
Attending: Berkeley :grad:

Done differently: It's hard to say. Some things are obvious in retrospect (I should have gone ahead and applied to Harvard and MIT, just for peace of mind; shouldn't have wasted money on Syracuse and UIC; more math). Others aren't so clear (I probably would have done physics and philosophy as an undergrad and just taken a couple of more advanced econ classes, but maybe that would have hurt my chances? And would I still have gotten the Econ MA?)

Most of that is useless navel-gazing, I think. I was fortunate to have been admitted into the schools which accepted me, and I couldn't be happier with the way things have gone. Onwards and upwards!
Accepts:

• Admits: Chicago($$), Berkeley($$), Duke($$), Davis($)

Rejects:

• Rejections: Brown Ambiguous: UI Chicago (I withdrew my application), Syracuse (never heard back)

Waitlists:

corolla09 2009: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Math/Econ Good Eastern LAC
Undergrad GPA: 3.28 (3.45ish for Econ & Math)

GRE: 720Q, 470V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus Sequence, Vector Calculus, Intro to Proofs, Linear Algebra, Ring Theory, Real Analysis, Applied Stats, Probability, Mathematical Statistics, Stochastic Processes
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro & Macro, Labor, IO, Econometrics, Environmental, Experimental, Behavioral, Econ of Conflict
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ, 1 math all senior faculty whom I knew very well

Research Experience: Senior thesis in Probability Theory/Stochastic Processes
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Public, Labor, Experimental/Behavioral
SOP: I think this was a 'good' deciding factor for some schools showing a fit/common research interest with their program and I believe it matters a lot more for smaller non top-30 programs.

Concerns: A lot, low GRE/GPA low grade in Analysis
Other: had to wait a year to apply for good senior grades, take GRE

RESULTS:
Attending: Florida State Univ ($$)
Admitted, Declined: Binghamton ($), Kentucky (WL$), Oregon (WL$), NC State (no$), Mississippi ($), UNH-masters

Waitlists: Va Tech
Rejections: Vanderbilt, Virginia, Syracuse (never heard back)
No Word: Louisiana State

What would you have done differently? A lot, actually study in undergrad for one. Had difficulty figuring out where to apply with my profiles and increase in apps, should've applied to places like Purdue, Pitt, Riverside and research schools with experimental more. Results almost identical to what I thought they would be. Had random safety's. Originally started with math major then added econ very glad I did both. Very happy with results considering my profile and for those similar to mine it is possible to get a decent funded offer without perfect transcript especially if you're looking for a LACish placement like me.
Accepts:

• Attending: Florida State Univ ($$) Admitted, Declined: Binghamton ($), Kentucky (WL$), Oregon (WL$), NC State (no$), Mississippi ($), UNH-masters

Rejects:

• Rejections: Vanderbilt, Virginia, Syracuse (never heard back) No Word: Louisiana State

Waitlists:

• Waitlists: Va Tech