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Most Recently Selected profile:

The data below comes from testmagic forums and shows accepted, waitlisted, and rejected applicants for 2007-2009 for economics graduate school. Clicking on the graph above will make the most recent profile appear to the right of the graph.

All profiles:

Acceptances:
sonicskat 2007:
PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: Small Liberal Arts...Not well known
Undergrad GPA: 3.76
GRE: 760/510/5.5
Math Courses: Calc 1-3, Proofs and Topology Class, Linear Algebra, Diff Eq
Econ Courses: Inter. Micro/Macro, Business, Math, Experimental, Forecasting, Econometrics, Statistics, Int'l trade and finance
Letters of Recommendation: Two Associate professors (Duke and MSU), and one Assistant Professor (FSU)
Research Experience: One paper published in undergraduate journal, research using dynamic programming with two professors ongoing, presented at professional conferences twice, associate editor for undergraduate journal for two years, presented at campus research forum twice.
Research Interests: Macro, Int'l
SOP: Wrote how I have adequate math skills, despite no real analysis. Briefly discussed extensive research experiences. Then honed in on a couple professor's who's work I enjoy.


RESULTS:
Acceptances: UVA, MSU, UC Davis, Vanderbilt, Rice,UCSB
Waitlists: Pitt (i guess), ASU (i guess)
Rejections: UT Austin, Iowa

What would you have done differently?
Taken more math and gotten an 800 on the gre
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
ptm 2007:
Profile:

Gre: 800 Q, 720 V, 4.0 W - I write like an engineer.

Type of Undergrad: Top 5 national university - physics + computer science double major. unmatriculated econ coursework at a 3rd-tier local university
GPA: Overall: 3.3, math ~ 3.0, majors ~ 3.3, econ 3.9
Classes:
Math: Calc, diff eq's, linear algebra, probability
Econ: junior/senior macro, micro, econometrics, resource + environmental, US income policy, history of thought; grad field course in resource + environmental
Physics + Computer Science: lots

Research Experience: Minimal - tech on various things, a couple REU's and similar programs, don't think that was in my application
Teaching Experience: TA'd and taught as an undergrad, don't think that was in my application
LORs: Three from the econ professors, all quite complimentary. One from a guy in my field, but in a different niche than me or my potential advisors.
SoP & Interests: Probably pretty mediocre - see my GRE Writing score. Discussed my professional background and academic interests.
Other: Five years of experience as a computational scientist, programmer, etc.



Admissions Decision Results

My list is a bit different as I'm just looking at environmental/resource programs.

Going to:
Duke (env program)

Admitted with funding:
Duke (env program
UCSB (env program)
Calgary
Withdrew applications:
Davis ARE
Oregon State ARE
Berkeley ARE

Rejected:
Wisconsin AAE


What I learned: At no point did I really feel comfortable that I understood the process.

While you can always do more research, I got into the programs that fit me best (Duke and UCSB env). I'm okay with that. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
sonicskat 2007:
Profile
Type of Undergrad: LAC in US, not Graduate program in Econ

GPA: 3.78
GRE: 760/510/5.5
Math: Calc 1 and II (A-), Calc III (A), Stats (A), Linear Algebra (A), Differential Equations (A), Math Reasoning [Intro to real analysis](A)
Econ: Inter Macro (A) and Micro (A), Math Econ (A), Int'l Trade (A), Econometrics (A-), Experimental (A), Bus. Econ (B+, stupid class)
, Econometric Forecasting (A)

Honors: Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Alpha Psi, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Pi Mu Epsilon, Magna Cum Laude
Letters of Recommendation: Three econ (MSU, Duke, FSU, and also a Vanderbilt econ Phd)
Research Experience: 1 published paper in undergrad econ journal, associate editor for undergrad journal for 2 years, multiple conference presentations, multiple grants for co-authored paper with professors
Teaching Experience: Writing center tutor and casual econ tutor
Research Interests: Computational economics (Macro, int'l)
SOP: Addressed my lack of Real analysis, my research experiences, passion to contribute to modern research, talked about the professors that made me apply to the school


Results:
Acceptances: UCSB ($15k), Rice ($20k), Vandy ($15k), MSU (no $), UC-Davis (no $), UVA ($12.5k)
Rejections: UT-Austin, ASU, Iowa, Pitt
What would I have done differently? Known that I wanted to do this earlier.I would have applied to less lower schools and more higher waited (20-50 range). I also wouldn't mind finding out about some of my rejects. UT was a reach, but I was pretty surprised about ASU given the interest I expressed in my SOP. Accepts: Rejects: 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)
LOR: 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: Rejects: Waitlists:
teflon_johnny 2009:
PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: UC Santa Cruz - Econ major, Earth Science minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.90
Type of Grad:
Grad GPA:
GRE: 800Q 610V 4.0A
Math Courses: At time of app, just the full vector calc sequence, plus two math for econ courses (not even LA!)

Econ Courses: standard core courses in intermediate theory
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Must have said great things to get me into UCSB with my profile (1 TA + class + advisor (Stanford), 1 research (Berkeley), 1 class + advisor (UW-Madison)
Research Experience: Just earth science and ecology research experience
Teaching Experience: One quarter TA for Intro Micro

Research Interests: Environmental Econ
SOP: Indicated VERY strong preference to attend UCSB, the others just described how I liked some of their profs, etc.
Other:

RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCSB

Waitlists:
Rejections: Cal-ARE, UCSD
Pending:

What would you have done differently? Nothing, I was appropriately placed. I doubt that research experience would have gotten me into Cal or UCSD, and I didnt' want to leave the west coast. More math at time of app probably would have been helpful, but look at where that got Jeeves0923. I would have probably chosen UCSB over UCSD anyway (if I had gotten in).
I am quite satisfied with this cycle. Good luck everybody. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
EnviroEcon 2009:
PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad: B.A. Mathematics and Economics; UCSD, Top20 Econ/Top10 Public University
Undergrad GPA: 3.73 Overall, 3.67 Major
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 770Q, 620V, 5.0AWA (5.5AWA the first time I took it, like they care)

Math Courses: Calc I,II (B+, A-) Mutil-Var Calc (A+), Diff Eqs (A-), Linear Alg (A), Real Analysis I,II (B,C), Math Stats I,II (A-,A), Probability (B), Adv Linear Alg (A+)
Econ Courses: Intro Econ (A), Inter. Macro I,II (A,A), Inter. Micro (A,A+), Game Theory (A-), Public Policy (A), Metrics III (A), Econ of Oceanic Resources (A)
Letters of Recommendation: Not "A" list profs, but I'm sure enthusiastic: Math prof (UCSD PhD) who I RAed for, History prof (Harvard PhD) from minor in Hebrew Lang and Lit, Senior Analyst from consulting firm
Research Interests: Environmental and Resource Economics

SOP: Relatively strong I'm told, then again, who's to judge but the adcoms.
Teaching Experience: None at the university level, but tutored for two years during BA at local elementary (math/reading/kickball).
Research Experience: Summer RA in Math dept studying mathematical transformations, Independent Research on Economic Sanctions
Work Experience: Research Analyst for 1+ year at consulting firm doing market/econometric research for the housing industry.


RESULTS:
Acceptances: Maryland AREc, UCSB, Oregon St. ARE, Ohio St. AED, UArizona, Colorado @ Boulder, Riverside, Cornell AEM MS, Davis ARE MS
Rejections: Berkeley ARE, UCLA, UCSD
Pending: USC (don't care)
What would you have done differently?
Applied to some Top15-20 pure Econ programs. Gotten close to Econ profs for LORs (had 0 among my 3). Relieved at the time, my C in RA II killed me. Taken PhD Micro/Metrics in undergrad. Analogous to the job market, two people concurrently aiming for PhDs in different disciplines while wishing to wind up at the same school is beyond sanity. On a brighter note, I believe my SOP was essential at the margin as many programs noted its strength and appeal to their adcoms. Only found this forum after I sent in most of my apps. Glad I obliviously chose Math/Econ major, otherwise I'd be screwed. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
cjw10 2009:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: LAC – Economics, BA (with honors) + English minor
Undergrad GPA: 3.65
Type of Grad: N/A

Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 760Q, 540V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: (3.73 average) Calc I-III, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, Stats, Differential Equations (Audit), Real Analysis (spring 09).
Econ Courses: (4.0 average) Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Public Finance, Environmental Econ, Market Experiments, International Econ, Money and Banking, Econometrics I, Senior Thesis
Other Courses: English minor, Env. Studies, Scuba Diving.

Letters of Recommendation: 4 Econ profs -- exceptional. 1 well known.
Research Experience: REU at top 50 econ Program. Research internship at consulting firm in London. Honors Thesis.
Teaching Experience: TA for Prin. Micro + Market Experiments; Academic Tutor (Micro + Macro)
Research Interests: Environmental/Resource, Experimental, Development, Applied Econometrics
SOP: Why I want a PhD + career goals + research experience + research interests matched with faculty. 2.25 pages, 1.5 spaced.

Other: 1 conference presentation + internship at investment bank
Post-doc goals: Academia.


RESULTS:
Acceptances:
NC State (RA 17k + 5k fellowship + tuition + health insurance)
UC Santa Barbara (TA 16.6k + 5k fellowship + tuition + health insurance)

Iowa State (TA 14.4k + 2.5k scholarship + in-state tuition + health insurance)
Oregon State AE (RA 12.6k + tuition + health insurance)
UC Davis ARE MS (readership)
Washington-Seattle (waitlisted for funding)
Colorado-Boulder (waitlisted for funding)
Oregon (no funding)
Rejections: Berkeley ARE, Maryland AREc, Wisconsin AAE


Will be attending: North Carolina State University

What would you have done differently? I’m satisfied. Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Rejections:
ptm 2007: Profile:

Gre: 800 Q, 720 V, 4.0 W - I write like an engineer.

Type of Undergrad: Top 5 national university - physics + computer science double major. unmatriculated econ coursework at a 3rd-tier local university
GPA: Overall: 3.3, math ~ 3.0, majors ~ 3.3, econ 3.9
Classes:
Math: Calc, diff eq's, linear algebra, probability
Econ: junior/senior macro, micro, econometrics, resource + environmental, US income policy, history of thought; grad field course in resource + environmental
Physics + Computer Science: lots

Research Experience: Minimal - tech on various things, a couple REU's and similar programs, don't think that was in my application
Teaching Experience: TA'd and taught as an undergrad, don't think that was in my application
LORs: Three from the econ professors, all quite complimentary. One from a guy in my field, but in a different niche than me or my potential advisors.
SoP & Interests: Probably pretty mediocre - see my GRE Writing score. Discussed my professional background and academic interests.
Other: Five years of experience as a computational scientist, programmer, etc.



Admissions Decision Results

My list is a bit different as I'm just looking at environmental/resource programs.

Going to:
Duke (env program)

Admitted with funding:
Duke (env program
UCSB (env program)
Calgary
Withdrew applications:
Davis ARE
Oregon State ARE
Berkeley ARE

Rejected:
Wisconsin AAE


What I learned: At no point did I really feel comfortable that I understood the process.

While you can always do more research, I got into the programs that fit me best (Duke and UCSB env). I'm okay with that.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
kanishka 2007: Type of Undergrad: International – India, Top in country (I mean the college, not my performance)
Undergrad GPA: 3.6 (using the WES conversion guide)

Type of Grad: International – India, Top in country (ditto qualification as above)

Grad GPA: 4.0 (using the WES conversion guide)

Note – most students perform better in the undergrad than the grad. I ran the other way.

GRE: Q800:grad: , V650, A4.5 :yuck:

Math(s) courses: Real analysis, concepts in linear algebra and calculus: linear independence; bases and dimension; subspaces and vector spaces; eigenvalues, continuity; differentiability; implicit function theorem, static optimization: unconstrained optimization; optimization with equality and inequality constraints; Envelope Theorem, dynamics and dynamic optimization: difference and differential equations, optimal control theory.
Econ Courses: My undergrad was wholly an economics course, as was my grad degree. Took the introductory micro, macro, econometrics (“trix”) courses in my grad. The material covered in these intro courses is pretty similar to what is done as introductory coursework in the US.

Significant electives: Game Theory, Law and Economics, Environmental Economics, Environment and Development. Also took an advanced macro course – Open Economy Macroeconomics, but I wont be doing any more macro. I enjoyed this course, though it was very hard.

Letter of Recommendations: 4 in total. One has a phd from an (arguably) Top 10 US school. The next two were PhD’s from LSE; the last is an Indian Phd, with loads of work experience and masters degree from a Top-20 to 25ish US school.


Research experience: One year as a Research Analyst with the Institute of Economic Growth, the leading research institute in environmental economics in India. Also wrote two papers during my masters, which were okay. Not really worth being published, but who knows? I never really tried. A couple of internships during previous summers also …one with ICICI Bank’s Social Initiatives Group (this involved significant field work) and the other with the National Council of Applied Economic Research.
Also worked a year in General Electric – Money, the consumer finance division. It taught me two things –(a) handling huge databases; and (b) the private sector is not for me.
Research interests: Environment and development; applied work in this area. Would love it if I could do something in India, somewhere in the Himalayas where the scenery is spectacular. If you’re going to be doing field work for months on end, might as well do it in a nice place.:D


SOP: Focused only on a very business-like description of the work I was doing in the Institute of Economic Growth and what I had done in GE; described my term papers and wrote a paragraph on what I would like to do. Did not claim to be touched by the hand of Adam Smith.:p

Results:
Accepted by: University of Maryland – AREC (20K$ first four years):) , University of Wyoming – Econ (15K$ five years) and University of Minnesota APEC (no funding). Received a note from the Nicholas School of Duke University saying there was “interest in my file but not enough funding”. Don’t know where to place this. Logically I got rejected but my vanity will not allow this.
Rejected by: UCSD, UCSB, Yale, ASU, Wisconsin Madison.
Ignored by: UIUC – ACES program.


What would I have done differently?
1. Yale and UCSD were poor fits to my profile + interests. Probably was an immediate reject at these schools, and their apps were expensive, so it was a waste of time and money, which RA’s have in limited amounts. Would apply to UC – Davis and maybe OSU. That said I got into the program I was aiming for, so it turned out well, which I didn’t think likely at the time of application. 2 of my reco’s were most likely weak to indifferent, but there’s nothing much I could do about that.

2. Would erase my last paragraph in my SOP describing in a shallow manner why I’m applying to that particular school. I would say, only if there are very strong reasons why you think you’d fit with the dept (such as a strong correlation with your research work and some prof’s main area of research), then include such a paragraph.

Advice:
1. Please get some research experience if you want to do applied work. It helps immensely, apart from adding to your application.


2. For any Indians who are reading this, since we tend to do this – when writing SOP, don’t describe your love of economics, just say what you have done so far in life in a very objective manner. No phrases like “I believe economics to be the true saviour of mankind”. I cannot stress this enough. I don’t know how much weight an SOP carries, but write it objectively please.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
crangeon8214 2009: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, large top 25 American research university
Undergrad GPA: 3.4
Type of Grad: none

Grad GPA: none
GRE: 760Q, 620V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A,A,B), Linear Algebra (C), Diff Eq's (C), Probability and Statistics (D,B (retaken... )), Real Analysis (C)
Econ Courses: Introductory Economics (A), Principles of Microeconomics (A), Principles of Macroeconomics (A), Intermediate Micro Theory (B), Intermediate Macro Theory (A), Game Theory (B), Econometrics I,II(B,A)
Other Courses: physics up to quantum mechanics

Letters of Recommendation: 3 full professors (2 very strong, 1 medium..strong?)
Research Experience: Honors economics thesis paper, not published (got one of very few scholarship awards at graduation), physics research fellowship
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Micro, behavioral, environmental

SOP: Primarily talking about my research experience
Other: Expert with SAS, worked at a notable consulting firm, not sure if that even helps
Concerns: Math grades suck. Econ grades are just ok. GRE nothing to write home about.

RESULTS:
Attending: UC Irvine($$)
Admitted, Declined: UVA, Boulder ($$), Washington, Oregon State ($)

Waitlists: none
Rejections: UMD-AREC, Davis-AREC, Penn State, GMU
Lost in space: JHU, UCSB

What would you have done differently?
As far as the application process goes - I wish I had exhaustively researched faculty interests before applying, I feel as though I might have let some potentially good schools (for me) like Iowa and Arizona slip through. On the whole, I am very pleased - my profile is all over the place, and Irvine matches me very, very well. As for undergrad, well, it is what it is.
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
LAEconGirl 2009: Undergrad: US Top 100
GPA: 3.93/4.0
Major: History and Economics, Italian minor. Post-bacc work in math at UCLA
GRE: 780Q, 650V, 4.5 A, planning to retak test for 800Q and 5.0+ A; did not study the first time round.
Math: Calc I (A+), Calc II (A+), Calc III (B-), Linear Algebra (B+), Intro to Stats (A). I also plan to take Stats and Probabilty I and II this spring. I would consider taking Real Analysis as well and would appreciate people's feedback on this. I took my math courses after graduation at UCLA as a post-bacc student.
Econ: All required plus major courses in topics such as monetary and fiscal policy, econometrics, public welfare, development and urban economics. A's in all courses except on B+ in monetary and fiscal policy
Research: Undergrad econometrics paper, very basic
Teaching: Private tutor in high school math and economics
Schools considering: NYU MA, LSE MsC, BYU MA, USC MA, Boston University MA, UCLA PhD, Rand Pardee School of Policy Analysis PhD
Other: Female, 24, American residing in Los Angeles
Accepts: Rejects: Waitlists:
Waitlists: