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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:

eigenman 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BS Economics/Biochemistry from US R1 school, Top 10 economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.59
Type of Grad: Non-degree math/stats coursework
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800V/800Q/5.0W
Math Courses: Undergrad-level: calc 1-2; multivariable calc; linear algebra; "applied" linear algebra; differential equations; series, sequences, and foundations (proofs intro). Grad level: stat theory I-II, applied linear regression, analysis II, time series analysis I, advanced linear algebra. Even mix of As and Bs.
Econ Courses: Intermediate macro/micro, econometrics, Latin American economics, + honors in: macro policy, quantitative macro, international trade, game theory, urban economics, money and banking. As and Bs.
Other Courses: lots of biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology, intro physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry. As and Bs throughout.
Letters of Recommendation: Varied. Two from regional Fed economists, one from Analysis professor were generally used. For more behavioral places had letter from coauthor; for programs requiring a letter from an undergraduate instructor, tapped my quantitative macro graduate instructor. I'm sure they had nice things to say about me but perhaps they were not so influential.
Research Experience: First author on an experimental animal behavior paper published in medium-tier journal. Unpublished undergraduate thesis in behavioral neuroscience. 1.5 years (as of now) RAing at a regional Fed, one publication (another pending) in our in-house journal. Two semeters in a biochemistry lab.
Teaching Experience: Nil
Research Interests: At the time I submitted my applications, behavioral economics and evolutionary game theory, but I'm leaning toward econometrics and computational economics lately
SOP: Mostly addressed my background and suitability for graduate study
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT-Austin (wl-$), OSU(wl-$), UW-Seattle(wl-$), Duke (MA), NYU (MA)
Waitlists: UMN, UW-Madison (bad waitlists in both cases)
Rejections: UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, UPenn, U-Michigan, Caltech, PSU, LSE(MRes/PhD Track 1), CMU-Tepper
Pending: LSE(MSc-Research)
What would you have done differently? I probably should have bothered another Fed economist rather than asking my math prof, but I was worried about my mediocre math GPA. I also ought've interacted more with professors as an undergraduate, but nearly all of my economics courses were taught by graduates, and I made a decision to go to econ school fairly close to graduation. All of this considered I'm perfectly satisficed and looking forward to relaxing over the summer before putting my shoulder to the wheel in September.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UT-Austin (wl-$), OSU(wl-$), UW-Seattle(wl-$), Duke (MA), NYU (MA)
  • Institution: Ohio State University Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Nominated for fellowship Notification date: 2/04 Notified through: web site; confirmed by USPS on 12/13 Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 12/13 Comments: Delighted! profile
  • Institution: University of Texas - Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/16/10 Posted on GC: No Comments: Have to think about this.
  • Institution: UW-Seattle Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Unfunded Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This calls for a celebratory evening of working until midnight No really I'm very pleased
  • Institution: NYU MA Economics Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: None Comments: Applied as part of a JD/MA application. Received notification an hour or so after asking for my application to be withdrawn. Not sure whether the two events were connected.
  • Institution: London School of Economics Economics MSc (Research) Decision: Admitted Notification date: 4/1 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: Nada Comments: They really took their time. Submitted my application in late November.
Rejects:
    Rejections: UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, UPenn, U-Michigan, Caltech, PSU, LSE(MRes/PhD Track 1), CMU-Tepper
  • Institution: LSE MRes+PhD (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2 February Notified through: Site Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) n/a Comments: No sweat... five years in London would have been hard. Still waiting on my second choice.
  • Institution: Northwestern University JD/PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: yes Comments: Unsurprised
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 1:05pm ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Domestic student. First?
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: crunch
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 1:05pm ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Domestic student. First?
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: crunch
  • Institution: Penn State University (PSU) Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: This was a safety. Back to the girl scout cookies.
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: surprise! no not really
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: My odds of ever living in Rhode Island have diminished further. My wildest dreams are coming true.
  • Institution: CalTech Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: assumed
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Was unaware California still attached to US mainland
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: Mass (or at least wholly impersonal!) email Comments: no sweat, pretty happy with my situation
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UMN, UW-Madison (bad waitlists in both cases)
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: SNAP, my own alma mater. :doh: Not told I was high on the waitlist.
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: SNAP, my own alma mater. Not told I was high on the waitlist.

mifx 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top Brazilian University
Undergrad GPA: 9.0/10 (highest honor)
Type of Grad: -
Grad GPA: -
GRE: 790Q, 500V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I, II, III , Operational Research, Mathematical Economics, Real Analysis, Linear Algebra
Econ Courses: Macro, Micro, Estatistics I and II, Econometrics I and advanced, International Econ, Environmental Econ, Public Econ, Game theory, Agrobusiness, Development Economics, Latin America Economics.
Other Courses: Management, International Business, Finance, Adv. Finance
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Harvard, 1 Stanford, 1 University of Illinois, 1 LSE (pos-doc)
Research Experience: Award for my undergrad thesis on health economics, Joint Research for an international non-profit organization (published), Individual Research (orientated by a Harvard PhD econ professor)
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Development, International Economics, International Finance, Macroeconomics, Public Policy
Statement of purpose: Standard
Concern: GRE AWA
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Stanford, LSE, University of Illinois
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale
Pending: none
What would you have done differently? I would have studied more for GRE verbal. But, unfortunatly, I didnt have time enough.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Stanford, LSE, University of Illinois
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: none

backtotheUS 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.Sc. Economics and Mathematics, non-Oxbridge/LSE UK university; exchange year at top-20 US university
Undergrad GPA: 18.2/20.0 (top 1%), GPA 3.87 during exchange year
GRE: 800Q, 490V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Mathematical Methods & Calculus (20.0, 19.0), Statistics (18.0, 16.6), Algebra (19.0, 19.0, A+), Real Analysis (16.9, A at graduate level), Game Theory (A), Elementary School Teaching (P), Linear Algebra (A), Topology (B+), ODEs & PDEs (16.3), Number Theory (17.2), FORTRAN Programming (17.5), Dissertation (?)
Econ Courses: Microeconomics (16.9, 18.8, 19.0), Macroeconomics (19.6, 16.7, ?), Mathematical Finance (A), Probabilistic Models (A+), Rationality (A+), Game Theory (B+ at graduate level), Econometrics (A+), Econometrics Seminar (A+)
Other Courses: 2 Management, 1 Political Science
Letters of Recommendation: 1x junior UK professor and co-author, 1x senior UK RA-supervisor, 1x junior US professor and independent research supervisor, 1x senior US professor
Research Experience: 1.5 years RA at the LSE, independent research project, co-authoring journal article (work in progress), mathematics dissertation
Teaching Experience: 1 year (Mathematical Methods for Economists)
Research Interests: Contract theory, auctions, rationality
SOP: focused on research experience
Other: assisted in editing an article for the Royal Economic Society, co-founded and organized national economic forum
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Princeton ($), LSE MRes/PhD ($), Oxford ($?), Munich University ($)
Rejections: NYU, Northwestern, Berkeley, Chicago, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, MIT
What would you have done differently?
Ex-post: not much, since I am extremely happy with this outcome. I was warmly welcome at Europe's top places. Princeton appears to be a lucky outlier. I am not sure if I would trade the amazing experience I have had as an undergraduate for the more rigorous education offered at Oxbridge/LSE.
I should have placed more emphasis on grad coursework during my exchange year and secured a stellar reference from that.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Princeton ($), LSE MRes/PhD ($), Oxford ($?), Munich University ($)
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: likely ESRC Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Very nice, partly personalized email. Posted on GF: Yes. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: Soooo happy! Now everything else does not matter to me anymore. I am very happy and proud of my achievement. :)
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: likely ESRC Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Very nice, partly personalized email. Posted on GF: Yes. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: Soooo happy! Now everything else does not matter to me anymore. I am very happy and proud of my achievement.
Rejects:
    Rejections: NYU, Northwestern, Berkeley, Chicago, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, MIT
Waitlists:

blablabla 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A in Economics, top South American University
Undergrad GPA: 7.9/10.0
Type of Grad: M.A in Economics, same University
Grad GPA: 3.95 (converted). 8 A's and 1 B
GRE: 800Q 490V 3.5 AWA
TOEFL: 103
Math Courses: Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Math Economics I and II, Math Economics (grad level: sort of a real analysis course)
Econ Courses (undergrad level): A lot.
Econ Courses (grad level): Micro I and II, Macro I, Econometrics I and II, Microdevelopment I and II, Contract Theory
Other Courses: NA
Letters of Recommendation: 1 PhD UCLA and 1 PhD BU (probably very good ones), 1 PhD Yale and 1 PhD Chicago (probably not so good ones)
Research Experience: Nothing special. 1 year in a research foundation
Teaching Experience: 1 semester as TA for grad Econometrics I, 1 semester as TA for undergrad Econometrics II
Research Interests: Development Economics, Microeconometrics
SoP: Standard, I think.
Other: NA
RESULTS:
Acceptances: A few. Wisconsin-Madison (no $ 1yr), Maryland ($), Brown ($), LSE MRes/Track 1 (no $)
Waitlists: None
Rejections: A lot. MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Berkeley, NYU, Duke, Michigan, BU, UCL, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell
Pending: None
Attending: Brown
What would you have done differently?
1. Get higher grades as an undergrad.
2. Lack of math. I would have taken real analysis/measure theory
3. One of the probably-not-so-good letter of recommendation is my currently advisor. HUGE mistake.
Anyway, I am happy with my outcome! Good luck to all future applicants!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: A few. Wisconsin-Madison (no $ 1yr), Maryland ($), Brown ($), LSE MRes/Track 1 (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejections: A lot. MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Berkeley, NYU, Duke, Michigan, BU, UCL, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

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

hotfuss 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: 4 year Honours degree in economics at a major Australian university
Undergrad GPA: First Class Honours (ranked first in Honours class)
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q
Math Courses: First and second year advanced maths courses, differential calculus, integral calculus, discrete mathematics, first and second year linear algebra, vector calculus, PDEs
Econ Courses: Game Theory, Advanced Microeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, International Trade, Applied Economics, Industrial Organisation, Mathematical Economics
Other Courses: First year psychology
Letters of Recommendation: One Fellow of the Econometric Society and two other economics professors with US PhDs (these LORs knew me very well; two of these had marked my thesis, including one who was my adviser, and I had taken one course with one letter of recommendation and two courses with another letter of recommendation (coming first in everything (including thesis), except one course))
Research Experience: Honours thesis and one other game theory paper
Teaching Experience: TA for undergrad economics courses, including intermediate microeconomics
Research Interests: Microeconomic theory and its applications, behavioural economics
SOP: Standard
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Northwestern ($$), Wisconsin Madison ($$), Penn State ($$), Maryland (?), Oxford (MPhil in Economics), LSE (MSc in Economics (Research))
Waitlists: Boston
Rejections: Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UCSD and many other places
Attending: Northwestern
What would you have done differently? Not much. I think I should have applied earlier (I worked for a few years after my undergraduate degree) or done more maths courses at university. I would have also applied for a few business schools and a couple more top 10 places.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Northwestern ($$), Wisconsin Madison ($$), Penn State ($$), Maryland (?), Oxford (MPhil in Economics), LSE (MSc in Economics (Research))
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: admitted Funding: TA, $24k for five years if good academic progress Notification Date: Feb 12 (but this is really Feb 13 Australian time) Notified: email from a faculty Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments: A referee suggested I apply to PSU as a safety.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $24k for five years (TA) Notification date: 2/12 (2/13 Aust time) Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Always good to get the first offer under your belt. This is a safety school though so I'm waiting on other results.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $20.9k for first 4 years, $15.7k in 5th, but this includes summer Notification date: 2/22 (2/23 Australian time) Notified through: I checked the website. I received an email with funding details etc a couple of days later. Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Yay, top 10!!!!!!!
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: I didn't apply for any yet, so this is unfunded. Notification date: 2/26 Australian time Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: I didn't apply for funding yet because I was waiting to see if I could get offers from better universities in the US.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not right now, but not all funding decisions have been made Notification date: 03/03/2010 (03/04 Aust time) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: This was in the email: "We have not, however, made all of our final decisions on financial aid. We have reviewed your record carefully and believe that there is some probability that we will eventually be able to offer you financial aid. We will be making decisions on financial aid on an ongoing basis throughout the next six weeks, but hope to contact you before the end of that period."
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: I didn't apply for any yet, so this is unfunded. Notification date: 2/26 Australian time Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: I didn't apply for funding yet because I was waiting to see if I could get offers from better universities in the US.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not right now, but not all funding decisions have been made Notification date: 03/03/2010 (03/04 Aust time) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: This was in the email: "We have not, however, made all of our final decisions on financial aid. We have reviewed your record carefully and believe that there is some probability that we will eventually be able to offer you financial aid. We will be making decisions on financial aid on an ongoing basis throughout the next six weeks, but hope to contact you before the end of that period."
Rejects:
    Rejections: Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UCSD and many other places
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: I checked on 02/10/2010 Notified through: I just checked LSE for you Posted on Gradcafe: No Comment: My first result; even though it was a fallback and my research interests don't match up well with LSE, it still hurts. Waiting on the decision on my second choice at LSE still.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 (i.e. 2/19 Australian time) Notified Through: Email to check website Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: I wasn't going to post this, but I decided to so it can be used for reference. Despite some good early results, a few rejections has made me start to worry.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 (2/19 Australian time) Notified through: email to check website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Damn. Started to get worried.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 (3/4 here in Aust) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: My status says my transcripts haven't been received, so that may have contributed. But it's good having other offers because shields you emotionally from rejections. Edit: they mis-spelt my name so these emails are definitely personalised.
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comment: Columbia mustn't like Australian students.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 (3/4 here in Aust) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: My status says my transcripts haven't been received, so that may have contributed. But it's good having other offers because shields you emotionally from rejections. Edit: they mis-spelt my name so these emails are definitely personalised.
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comment: Columbia mustn't like Australian students.
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: I have a love-hate relationship with Illinois. I am also beginning to doubt whether UW-M's predictions will come true.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: A few rejections in a row. This is really an emotional rollercoaster!
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Boston

Mr. Stochastic 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BSc Econonomics and Business Administration at best institution in small European country. Exchange at top 10 european b-school.
Undergrad GPA: Top 5 percent.
GRE/TOEFL: 800Q/410V/5.0 AWA.TOEFL: 113
Math Courses: Math for Econ, A. Analysis and Diff. eq, B. Statistics for economists A.
Econ Courses (u/g): Intro and intermediate micro, macro, As and Bs. International econ, econ geography, european econ, labour econ. Mostly As.
Grad courses: None.
Other Courses: Four finance, all As. Managment, Bs.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 good from well-published, well-connected mit phd, former dean of school and minister in my country. 1 unknown from semi-well-published professor who gave me an a in advanced micro. 1 very good from unknown AP at b-school I was on exchange.
Research Experience: None.
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Micro theory, public econ.
Statement of Purpose: Pretty standard. Focused on how my interests got developed through a diverse set of experiences (journalism, army service).
Other: Fulbright fellowship. Won math competitions.
Concerns: No research experiences. Poor math credentials, although I can document ability. Unknown school. Unknown recommenders and unknown quality of one of them. No MA-level experience.
Applying to:Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Berkeley, Upenn, Northwestern (likely rejected), Maryland, Michigan, Duke (rejected), Cornell (rejected), Caltech. Yale IDE and LSE EME (accepted).
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Randomly checked lseforyou, got mail confirming three hours later. Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Relieved
  • Institution: LSE Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Randomly checked lseforyou, got mail confirming three hours later. Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Relieved
Rejects:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/8 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
Waitlists:

Gecko 2010: Roll Call Fall 2010 
For all applicants gunning for the 2010 Fall admissions :D
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ from university in Southeast Asia
Undergrad GPA: 3.75/4
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 790Q, 500V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis I and II, III (in progress) , Linear Algebra Math for Economists, Measure Theory (in progress), Mixture of A and B
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (B+)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): IO, Development, Econometrics, Monetary, Labour, Information Economics Game Theory, Micro and Macro Theory- All A's and A+
Other Courses: Irrelevant.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 Princeton PhD, 1 Columbia PhD) 3rd one pending
Research Experience: Except for term papers and thesis, none.
Teaching Experience: Intermediate Micro, Introduction to statistical theory, developmental economics
Research Interests: Institutional economics and decisions making under uncertainty.
SOP: Standard format - refer to a thread by Italos.
Concerns: My math sucks.
Other: Praying awfully hard.
Applying to: MIT, Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, WUSTL, and others.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) Economics M2 Decision: Accepted Funding: waiting for Eiffel Scholarships - March 22 Notification date: December 18 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) NO Comments: Why does it take so long for the Eiffel committee to decide~
  • Institution: LSE Economics, MSc (Res). Decision: Accepted Funding: Zilch Notification date: February 5, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on Gradcafe: no Date of Gradcafe post: N/A Comments: not gonna accept unfunded offers.
  • Institution:Kellogg MEDS Decision: Acceptance Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: 30K
Rejects:
  • Institution: LSE MRes+PhD (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4 February Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) n/a Comments: haha, should have tried oxbridge too.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: N.A. Notificationn date: 02/17 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: Still buzzing after my interview with Kellogg.
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution:Minnesota Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Kellogg sets my mind at ease~
  • Institution: Rochester Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03-01-2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: Que Sera Sera
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Well :) Its a weird season~
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Haha, its a weird season I'd say.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Thank god for Kellogg ~ phew.
  • Institution: Rochester Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03-01-2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: Que Sera Sera
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Well Its a weird season~
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Haha, its a weird season I'd say.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Thank god for Kellogg ~ phew.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N.A. Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: Long shot. Oh well.
  • Institution: Stanford, MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Its time to be a Wildcat D:
  • Institution:UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments: Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Emailed Marjorie Lesser Posted on GC: No Comments: Hope I can teach at Stern next time
  • 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: No need to choose between Kellogg and Wustl.
Waitlists:

penndryve 2010: Type of Undergrad: Bachelors in Computer Engineering (India - not IIT or REC, but fairly good)
Undergrad GPA: 84% (we don't have GPA. This is called Distinction, and would fall in the top 3-4 0n the class)
Type of Grad: MSc Development Studies (London School of Economics)
Grad GPA: Distinction (Prize for Best Performance in the Department )
Further Grad: EXTERNAL Diploma for Graduates ( Economics) - London School of Economics - ONGOING - Exams in May/June 2010
GRE: Not taken yet. Expect to score 790-800Q and high-700s in verbal
Math Courses: Lots of calculus, probability and statistical courses in under-grad, basically Engineering Mathematics ( nearly 90% (A+) in all of them). Taking modules on Mathematics again in my current diploma from LSE - refreshing all the Math required for Econ ( but it does not cover Real Analysis)
Econ Courses: Managerial Economics ( undergrad, A+), Development Economics (A), Intermediate Micro, Macro and Econometrics ( currently taking in my Diploma), Some international economics as part of Intl. Political Economy of Development at LSE ( A+)
Other Courses: Lots of Political Economy/Development courses; MIT Randomization Course
Letters of Recommendation: Three Profs from LSE: Two of them are Political Economy Profs (One is Princeton-Harvard-LSE, the other is Leontif Prize Winner, but considered heterodox); Third one is not economics, but very well regarded.
Research Experience: Working as Senior Research Analyst at a premier think tank in Delhi, policy research on governance and institutional development; currently doing a qualitative research study involving field work - will publish paper soon
Publications: Grad thesis published by LSE as LSE Working Paper; Two WPs at my current job plus one coming up soon.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics; Institutional Economics; Political Economy
SOP: Not written yet; thinking of talking about the progression in my intellectual/career interests and why I want to do PhD from an Econ dept at this stage etc
Concerns: BIG one: Not enough Econ? My Intermediate Economics grades will not be available at the time of application ( won't be available till July/August 2010, actually!!). Although I am sure I will do well in them, I have only my word + previous academic performance to show for it!
Other: Work experience in the development sector for about 5 years doing part time volunteering with grass roots NGOs + nearly 2 years working as consultant in an IT multinational. And I simply cannot do without funding! :(
Applying to: Berkeley, Yale, MIT, Harvard, Chicago, Cornell, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Duke, Brown, NW, Maryland, Michigan, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, LSE, Cambridge
Suggestions please on if I stand any reasonable chance of being accepted WITH funding! :)
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE Economics (MSc (Res)) Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 19th January Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Comments: Scraping around funding!
Rejects:
  • Institution:Cornell Econ Decision:Reject Funding: N/A Notification date:4th Feb 2010 Notified through:email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 4th feb
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 18 February, 2010 Notified through: email to check website Comments:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18 Notified Through: E-mail to check website
Waitlists:

Econ.Aprentice 2010: Type of Undergrad: Bachelor in Economics in a well-known Brazilian University
Undergrad GPA: brazilian grading system: 9.0/10.0 (from zero to ten)
Type of Grad: Masters in Economics
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 790Q, 500V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses: Linear Algebra, Calculus I, Calculus II, Operational Research, Mathematical Economics.
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Game Theory (taken at a top US university)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro, Macro, Economic History, Development Economics, Public Economics, Statistics I, Statistics II, Principle of Econometrics, Advanced Econometrics.
Other Courses: Finance, Sociology, Philosophy, Agribusiness.
Letters of Recommendation: 5 econ professors (1 PhD Harvard, 1 PhD University of Illinois, 1PhD LSE, 1 PhD Stanford, 1PhD UofChigago )
Research Experience: Individual Research tutored by a famous professor, Final Thesis tutored by the head of the Econ department of my Brazilian College.
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Contract and incentives economics, Public Economics, Macroeconomics, Development Economics.
statement of purpose: Standard format
Concerns: GRE AWA is not so high.
Other: none
Applying to: LSE, Cambridge, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Chicago.
Accepted: LSE (one of my top options), waiting for replies from other programs to make my final decision.
Rejected: none
Accepts:
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc in Economics Decision: admitted Funding: Brazilian Scholarship Notification Date: January 6th Notified: email and LSE4you Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments: A dream come true! :D Anyone that has been admitted for this program lets contact each other to create an exciting LSE network!
Rejects:
Waitlists:

MicroIOGuy 2010: Type of Undergrad: Honours B.A. Economics, minor concentration in Mathematics, #1 univeristy in Canada for undergrad, consistenly top 25 in the world, mediocre economics department, but small and rigorous honours undergrad program
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 680V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: calculus 1 and 2 (exempt), calculus 3 (A), intro linear algebra (A), linear algebra (A-), ordinary differential equations (A), discrete structures (A), real analysis 1 (A), probability theory (A), advanced calculus (Spring), real analysis 2 (Spring)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Honours intermediate micro (2 semesters A), honours intemediate macro (2 semesters, B), honours economic statistics (2 semesters, A), behavioural economics (A), honours advaced theory (2 semesters, A for first semester, Spring), honours econometrics 1 (A), economics research project (on IO and price theory, A), honours econometrics 2 (Spring)
Econ courses (grad-level): game theory (A), experimental economics (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (Northwestern, U Montreal, Pittsburgh; not famous)
Research Experience: Experimental economics paper, some IO independent study
Teaching Experience: Just some game theory tutoring
Concerns: Recommenders are not famous. Not too many acceptances in top PhD programs in econ from my school. That damn B in intermediate macro.
Research Interests: Micro theory, IO, game theory, experimental econ
Applying to: Harvard, MIT, Yale (Rejected), Columbia, NYU, Berkeley, Stanford, Chicago, Northwestern, Penn, Princeton, Toronto (MA), UBC (MA), Oxford (MPhil), LSE (MSc (Research) (Accepted; scholarship), UCL (MSc)
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics (Research) Decision:Admit Funding: £9,600 scholarship Notification date: 6 January 2010 Notified through: LSE for You Posted on Gradcafe: No Comment: London is mad expensive. Better cough up some more.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -- Notification date: 18 February 2010 Notified Through: E-mail --> online status Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: Hopefully not a sign of things to come.
Waitlists:

keano 2010: keano<
Accepts:
  • 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:
  • 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:
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Decision: Waitlist Funding: NA Notified through: Email Date: Mar-5 Comment: Assumed I'd been rejected


Rejections:

DerPumuckl 2010:
Undergrad: Top 3 in Germany, BA in Economics
Undergrad GPA: 1.45/5.00 (the nearer to 1, the better)
Exchange: UW, Seattle
Exchange GPA: 3.86/4.00
GRE: 800Q/560V/4.5AWA
Math Courses: 2 Math courses for Economists, 2 Statistics Classes, Game Theory
Econ Courses: A lot including Micro I & II, Macro I & II as well as Econometrics I & II.
Grad courses: None - even though advanced German courses are well above Econ 400 level.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 from Profs with PhDs from Columbia, Chicago and Harvard. All should be strong.
Research Experience: RA for one Semester (for one of my letter of recommendation writers).
Teaching Experience: TA for one Semester.
Research Interests: International Macroeconomics, Finance.
Statement of Purpose: Good.
Other: Applying for Masters.
Concerns: Maybe not good enough grades.
RESULTS (Masters only):
Acceptances: Cambridge, UCL, Tinbergen ($$$) and Warwick
Still waiting for response: SSE, UBC
Rejections: LSE, Oxford
What would you have done differently? I'm attending Cambridge for my MPhil - very happy!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Cambridge, UCL, Tinbergen ($$$) and Warwick Still
  • Institution: UWarwick MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None mentioned Notification date: January 6th 2010 Notified through: Phone Call Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: Safety, hoping for better admits.
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: Funded ($$).
  • Institution: The University of Warwick MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 01/04/2010 Notified through: Phone then email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Unfunded.
Rejects:
    Rejections: LSE, Oxford
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Rejected. Notification date: 22/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Pissed off.
  • Institution: LSE MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Rejected. Notification date: 22/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Pissed off.
Waitlists:
    waiting for response: SSE, UBC

eigenman 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BS Economics/Biochemistry from US R1 school, Top 10 economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.59
Type of Grad: Non-degree math/stats coursework
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 800V/800Q/5.0W
Math Courses: Undergrad-level: calc 1-2; multivariable calc; linear algebra; "applied" linear algebra; differential equations; series, sequences, and foundations (proofs intro). Grad level: stat theory I-II, applied linear regression, analysis II, time series analysis I, advanced linear algebra. Even mix of As and Bs.
Econ Courses: Intermediate macro/micro, econometrics, Latin American economics, + honors in: macro policy, quantitative macro, international trade, game theory, urban economics, money and banking. As and Bs.
Other Courses: lots of biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology, intro physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry. As and Bs throughout.
Letters of Recommendation: Varied. Two from regional Fed economists, one from Analysis professor were generally used. For more behavioral places had letter from coauthor; for programs requiring a letter from an undergraduate instructor, tapped my quantitative macro graduate instructor. I'm sure they had nice things to say about me but perhaps they were not so influential.
Research Experience: First author on an experimental animal behavior paper published in medium-tier journal. Unpublished undergraduate thesis in behavioral neuroscience. 1.5 years (as of now) RAing at a regional Fed, one publication (another pending) in our in-house journal. Two semeters in a biochemistry lab.
Teaching Experience: Nil
Research Interests: At the time I submitted my applications, behavioral economics and evolutionary game theory, but I'm leaning toward econometrics and computational economics lately
SOP: Mostly addressed my background and suitability for graduate study
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT-Austin (wl-$), OSU(wl-$), UW-Seattle(wl-$), Duke (MA), NYU (MA)
Waitlists: UMN, UW-Madison (bad waitlists in both cases)
Rejections: UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, UPenn, U-Michigan, Caltech, PSU, LSE(MRes/PhD Track 1), CMU-Tepper
Pending: LSE(MSc-Research)
What would you have done differently? I probably should have bothered another Fed economist rather than asking my math prof, but I was worried about my mediocre math GPA. I also ought've interacted more with professors as an undergraduate, but nearly all of my economics courses were taught by graduates, and I made a decision to go to econ school fairly close to graduation. All of this considered I'm perfectly satisficed and looking forward to relaxing over the summer before putting my shoulder to the wheel in September.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UT-Austin (wl-$), OSU(wl-$), UW-Seattle(wl-$), Duke (MA), NYU (MA)
  • Institution: Ohio State University Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Nominated for fellowship Notification date: 2/04 Notified through: web site; confirmed by USPS on 12/13 Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 12/13 Comments: Delighted! profile
  • Institution: University of Texas - Austin Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: E-mail Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 3/16/10 Posted on GC: No Comments: Have to think about this.
  • Institution: UW-Seattle Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Unfunded Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This calls for a celebratory evening of working until midnight No really I'm very pleased
  • Institution: NYU MA Economics Decision: Admitted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: None Comments: Applied as part of a JD/MA application. Received notification an hour or so after asking for my application to be withdrawn. Not sure whether the two events were connected.
  • Institution: London School of Economics Economics MSc (Research) Decision: Admitted Notification date: 4/1 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: Nada Comments: They really took their time. Submitted my application in late November.
Rejects:
    Rejections: UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, UPenn, U-Michigan, Caltech, PSU, LSE(MRes/PhD Track 1), CMU-Tepper
  • Institution: LSE MRes+PhD (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2 February Notified through: Site Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) n/a Comments: No sweat... five years in London would have been hard. Still waiting on my second choice.
  • Institution: Northwestern University JD/PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: yes Comments: Unsurprised
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 1:05pm ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Domestic student. First?
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: crunch
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 1:05pm ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Domestic student. First?
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: crunch
  • Institution: Penn State University (PSU) Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: This was a safety. Back to the girl scout cookies.
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: surprise! no not really
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: My odds of ever living in Rhode Island have diminished further. My wildest dreams are coming true.
  • Institution: CalTech Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: assumed
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Was unaware California still attached to US mainland
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: Mass (or at least wholly impersonal!) email Comments: no sweat, pretty happy with my situation
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UMN, UW-Madison (bad waitlists in both cases)
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: SNAP, my own alma mater. :doh: Not told I was high on the waitlist.
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments: SNAP, my own alma mater. Not told I was high on the waitlist.

in_limbo 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ and Math from a top U.S public with a good Econ PhD program
Undergrad GPA: 3.7
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 640V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses(undergrad): Calculus(I-III), Linear Algebra, Diff eq, Discrete, Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Chaotic Dynamical systems, Probability, Topology
Math Courses(grad): Analysis, Measure Theory
Econ Courses(undergrad): standard, including Econometrics and Advanced Macro
Econ Courses (grad): Quant Methods, Macro I and II.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ, 1 Math. Did some good RA work for one of them
Research Experience: RA for about a year and currently doing an honors thesis
Teaching Experience: Principles, Intermediate Micro
Research Interests: Macro theory and public finance
statement of purpose: pretty standard
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Minnesota($$), LSE-EME(no$)
Waitlists: UCLA (Withdrawn)
Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, NYU, Northwestern
Attending: Minnesota
What would you have done differently?
I am extremely happy with my outcome. Minnesota was always a top choice for me given my research interests and I probably would have chosen to go there over most of the other schools I applied to. That being said, in retrospect it was probably a good idea to apply to some safeties given the tough admissions season. Also, my grades in some classes weren't stellar which is probably why I was rejected at many of the other top places. My advice to those applying in the future is to really concentrate on getting As in important math classes. The margin for error is minimal and the difference between a B+ and an A is larger than you might think. I think its also extremely helpful to have a good idea of what you might want to study as you can then apply to schools that may not be top 5 overall by have fantastic programs in your chosen field. However, the most important part of your application are your recommendation letters and these can very often make up for other parts that are lacking.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Minnesota($$), LSE-EME(no$)
  • Institution: LSE EME(Research) Decision: Admitted Funding: None Notification date: 3/23/10 Notified through: website Comments:
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, NYU, Northwestern
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Economics Track 1 Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/9/10 Notified through: website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Checked Online Status Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: damn..
  • Institution: Northwestern Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: still no admit :(
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: still no acceptance, this is depressing
  • Institution: Northwestern Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: still no admit
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: still no acceptance, this is depressing
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCLA (Withdrawn)
  • Institution: Minnesota Decision: Waitlisted Funding: 20K, if accepted Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Waitlist Notification date: 3/17/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: hmm..

Springsteen 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.Sc. Management, European university
Undergrad GPA: 17/20 - ranked 2nd out of 116
Type of Grad: M.Sc. Economics, same university
Undergrad GPA: 17/20
GRE: 800Q, 410V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses(undergrad): Mathematics I, Mathematics II, Mathematics III, Statistics I, Statistics II (covers linear algebra, calculus, ODE, probability theory, etc...)
Econ Courses(undergrad): Microeconomics I, Macroeconomics I, Microeconomics II, Econometrics
Math Courses(grad): Advanced Mathematics (covers topology and optimization theory)
Econ Courses(grad): Microeconomic Theory, Advanced Macroeconomics, Advanced Econometrics, IO, Regulation, International Money and Finance, Game Theory, Information and Uncertainty, Microeconometrics
Other Courses: Some Management courses that I hated
Letters of Recommendation: 1 senior econ (phd MIT), 1 senior econ (phd Chicago), 1 junior econ (phd MIT)
Research Experience: graduate thesis (completing)
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Micro theory: Game Theory, Contract theory, Mechanism Design, Auctions
SOP: standard
Concerns: Low AWA,
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: NW (waitlisted for first year funding), UPenn (waitlisted for first year funding)
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, UW-M, UMichigan, LSE, Cornell
Comments: I am extremely happy with this outcome!! But, since I have been rejected at 13 universities out of 15, and many universities ranked lower than NW rejected me, I guess I was lucky to ge in NW!
What would you have done differently? Take real analysis (although it was not offered at my university...), RA to get stronger LORs
Attending: Northwestern University!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: NW (waitlisted for first year funding), UPenn (waitlisted for first year funding)
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist for first year Notification date: Feb 24, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: [dance]
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "very high on the wait list for first year" Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: :)
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist for first year Notification date: Feb 24, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "very high on the wait list for first year" Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Comment:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, UW-M, UMichigan, LSE, Cornell Comments: I am extremely happy with this outcome!! But, since I have been rejected at 13 universities out of 15, and many universities ranked lower than NW rejected me, I guess I was lucky to ge in NW!
  • Institution:Cornell Econ Decision:Reject Funding: N/A Notification date:8th Feb 2010 Notified through:email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 8th feb 1st rejection (feels preetty bad)
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Yeah Right Notification date: 18 feb Notified Through: email to check online status Posted on Grad Cafe: no Comment: Who will be the next to reject me?
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Yeah right Notification date: Feb 08, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: :smack: So early in the game...
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Yeah right Notification date: Feb 18, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: :doh:
  • Institution: LSE Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: Feb 23, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: :eek:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: No Comments: Couldn't care less:)
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: lol Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: ---
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: ...
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Yeah right Notification date: Feb 08, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: So early in the game...
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Yeah right Notification date: Feb 18, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: LSE Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: Feb 23, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: No Comments: Couldn't care less
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: lol Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: ---
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: Yeah right Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Oh Crap
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Expected
  • Institution: MIT Economics Phd. Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Notification date: 03/16 Posted on GC: No Comments: Northwestern, here I come
Waitlists:

48chec 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics Latin American University
Undergrad GPA: 3.5
Type of Grad: M.A. Economics Latin American University
Grad GPA: 3.5
GRE: 800Q 570V 3.0 AWA
Math Courses: Multivariate Calculus, Mathematical Statistics
Econ Courses: Game Theory, Grad Micro, Grad Micro, Grad Econometrics
Other Courses: Lots of History Courses
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Berkeley who teaches at my Uni, 1 Michigan who teaches at my Uni, 1 MIT who teaches at an Ivy League Uni.
Research Experience: R.A. since I was a third year undergrad. Last two years I was a full time instructor working on three papers.
Teaching Experience: I have been a full time instructor for the last two years. I have been teaching Probability and Econometrics.
Research Interests: Labor, information, applied econometrics.
SOP: Made emphasis on my love for academia and my teaching and research experience.
Other: Highest national grade on an economics exam.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCLA($), British Columbia
Waitlists: UPenn, Brown
Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, NorthWestern, Columbia, LSE, Michigan, Texas Austin.
Pending: None
What would you have done differently?
I would have taken more math courses. I would also have taken more care of my GPA. I wish I had realized that I wanted to be an academic earlier in my undergraduate studies.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UCLA($), British Columbia
Rejects:
    Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, NorthWestern, Columbia, LSE, Michigan, Texas Austin.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UPenn, Brown

hotfuss 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: 4 year Honours degree in economics at a major Australian university
Undergrad GPA: First Class Honours (ranked first in Honours class)
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q
Math Courses: First and second year advanced maths courses, differential calculus, integral calculus, discrete mathematics, first and second year linear algebra, vector calculus, PDEs
Econ Courses: Game Theory, Advanced Microeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, International Trade, Applied Economics, Industrial Organisation, Mathematical Economics
Other Courses: First year psychology
Letters of Recommendation: One Fellow of the Econometric Society and two other economics professors with US PhDs (these LORs knew me very well; two of these had marked my thesis, including one who was my adviser, and I had taken one course with one letter of recommendation and two courses with another letter of recommendation (coming first in everything (including thesis), except one course))
Research Experience: Honours thesis and one other game theory paper
Teaching Experience: TA for undergrad economics courses, including intermediate microeconomics
Research Interests: Microeconomic theory and its applications, behavioural economics
SOP: Standard
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Northwestern ($$), Wisconsin Madison ($$), Penn State ($$), Maryland (?), Oxford (MPhil in Economics), LSE (MSc in Economics (Research))
Waitlists: Boston
Rejections: Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UCSD and many other places
Attending: Northwestern
What would you have done differently? Not much. I think I should have applied earlier (I worked for a few years after my undergraduate degree) or done more maths courses at university. I would have also applied for a few business schools and a couple more top 10 places.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Northwestern ($$), Wisconsin Madison ($$), Penn State ($$), Maryland (?), Oxford (MPhil in Economics), LSE (MSc in Economics (Research))
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: admitted Funding: TA, $24k for five years if good academic progress Notification Date: Feb 12 (but this is really Feb 13 Australian time) Notified: email from a faculty Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments: A referee suggested I apply to PSU as a safety.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $24k for five years (TA) Notification date: 2/12 (2/13 Aust time) Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Always good to get the first offer under your belt. This is a safety school though so I'm waiting on other results.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $20.9k for first 4 years, $15.7k in 5th, but this includes summer Notification date: 2/22 (2/23 Australian time) Notified through: I checked the website. I received an email with funding details etc a couple of days later. Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Yay, top 10!!!!!!!
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: I didn't apply for any yet, so this is unfunded. Notification date: 2/26 Australian time Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: I didn't apply for funding yet because I was waiting to see if I could get offers from better universities in the US.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not right now, but not all funding decisions have been made Notification date: 03/03/2010 (03/04 Aust time) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: This was in the email: "We have not, however, made all of our final decisions on financial aid. We have reviewed your record carefully and believe that there is some probability that we will eventually be able to offer you financial aid. We will be making decisions on financial aid on an ongoing basis throughout the next six weeks, but hope to contact you before the end of that period."
  • Institution: London School of Economics MSc Economics (Research) Decision: Accepted Funding: I didn't apply for any yet, so this is unfunded. Notification date: 2/26 Australian time Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: I didn't apply for funding yet because I was waiting to see if I could get offers from better universities in the US.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not right now, but not all funding decisions have been made Notification date: 03/03/2010 (03/04 Aust time) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: This was in the email: "We have not, however, made all of our final decisions on financial aid. We have reviewed your record carefully and believe that there is some probability that we will eventually be able to offer you financial aid. We will be making decisions on financial aid on an ongoing basis throughout the next six weeks, but hope to contact you before the end of that period."
Rejects:
    Rejections: Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UCSD and many other places
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: I checked on 02/10/2010 Notified through: I just checked LSE for you Posted on Gradcafe: No Comment: My first result; even though it was a fallback and my research interests don't match up well with LSE, it still hurts. Waiting on the decision on my second choice at LSE still.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 (i.e. 2/19 Australian time) Notified Through: Email to check website Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: I wasn't going to post this, but I decided to so it can be used for reference. Despite some good early results, a few rejections has made me start to worry.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 (2/19 Australian time) Notified through: email to check website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Damn. Started to get worried.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 (3/4 here in Aust) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: My status says my transcripts haven't been received, so that may have contributed. But it's good having other offers because shields you emotionally from rejections. Edit: they mis-spelt my name so these emails are definitely personalised.
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comment: Columbia mustn't like Australian students.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 (3/4 here in Aust) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: My status says my transcripts haven't been received, so that may have contributed. But it's good having other offers because shields you emotionally from rejections. Edit: they mis-spelt my name so these emails are definitely personalised.
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comment: Columbia mustn't like Australian students.
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: I have a love-hate relationship with Illinois. I am also beginning to doubt whether UW-M's predictions will come true.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comment: A few rejections in a row. This is really an emotional rollercoaster!
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Boston

epinefrin 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Mathematics, one of the best in my country
Undergrad GPA: 3.35 (it is hard to get it: the graduation average is 2.78)
Type of Grad: M.A Economics (one of the other best
Grad GPA: 3.87
GRE: 800Q / 400V / 3.5AWA. TOEFL: 101 (R:27 L:27 S:22 W:25 )
Math Courses: Undergrad: Calculus I-II-III (BA), Real Analysis I-II (CB-DC!!!), Linear Algebra (AA), Algebra I-II (AA-BA), Statistics (BA), Probability (BA), Differential Eqns (AA), Calculus of Variations (AA), Matrix Theory(The GRE Big Book), other courses like Numerical Analysis-Mathematical Logic-Discrete Math I,II-Coding Theory are ranging between AA and The GRE Big Book.
Grad: Math for Econ (A-)
Econ Courses: Undergrad: Intro-Intermediate Micro (AA-BA), Intro-Inter-Advanced Macro (AA-BA-BA), Mathematical Statistics I-II(AA), Econometrics I-II (AA-BA)
Grad: Macro I-II (A), Econometrics I-II (A), Micro I-II(A-, B+), Time Series (A), Independent Study about econometrics and Time series (A)
Other Courses: U/G: Lots of German and French Courses, lots of Physics and Chemistry, and Seminar Course where I presented my (some kind of) undergrad thesis (or graduation project)
Grad: Financial Markets and Institutions (A), from the Industrial Eng. department Stochastic Processes and their Applic. (Intro and Adv) (non-credit)
Letters of Recommendation: 4 professors. A good reference (I hope!) from my thesis advisor but he is from Europe, thus not known much in US. Others are moderate ref. letters.
Research Experience: Master thesis and undergrad thesis.
Teaching Experience: Undergrad & Grad Econometrics I-II TA (4 semesters), instructor in the math camp for the 1st year master students.
Research Interests: (both theoretical and applied) Econometrics, Time Series, Macroeconometrics and Monetary Economics.
SOP: How my math undergrad contributed my career, explained my theoretical master thesis
Concerns: Not much research experience, bad Real Analysis grades (!), and not much known ref. letters.
Applying to: Yale, LSE, UCSD, Northwestern, UPenn, Columbia, Duke, Cornell, Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State, Boston U, Boston College, UNC Chapel Hill, Michigan State, Washington Uni St.Louis, UNC State Raleigh, Pompeu Fabra, Tinbergen, Carlos III
In: Ohio State (waitlisted for funding)
Waitlist: Boston College
Out: Yale, LSE, Northwestern, UPenn(implicit), Columbia, Duke, Cornell, Wisconsin-Madison
Accepts:
  • Institution: Ohio State University Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Later Notification date: 02/09/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: Yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 02/09/2010
  • Institution: UNC-Chapel Hill Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: $19,000 for the 1st year; min $15,000 for the remaining years Notification date: 03/19 (03/14 asked me if I am still interested in) Notified through: E-mail
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $13,400 Assistantship + $2,000 fellowship + tuition + health insurance Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: yes Comments: happy, but also confused between UNC and MSU
  • Institution: North Carolina State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ? (Assistantship: None Available) Notification date: 3/25 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: will decline soon.
Rejects:
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Economics Track 1 Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/09/2010 Notified through: website Posted on Gradcafe: yes
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/08/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on Gradcafe: yes
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/24 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This dream is over as the others...
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/31 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Funding: - Comments:
Waitlists:

Gecko 2010: Roll Call Fall 2010 
For all applicants gunning for the 2010 Fall admissions :D
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ from university in Southeast Asia
Undergrad GPA: 3.75/4
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 790Q, 500V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis I and II, III (in progress) , Linear Algebra Math for Economists, Measure Theory (in progress), Mixture of A and B
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (B+)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): IO, Development, Econometrics, Monetary, Labour, Information Economics Game Theory, Micro and Macro Theory- All A's and A+
Other Courses: Irrelevant.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 Princeton PhD, 1 Columbia PhD) 3rd one pending
Research Experience: Except for term papers and thesis, none.
Teaching Experience: Intermediate Micro, Introduction to statistical theory, developmental economics
Research Interests: Institutional economics and decisions making under uncertainty.
SOP: Standard format - refer to a thread by Italos.
Concerns: My math sucks.
Other: Praying awfully hard.
Applying to: MIT, Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, WUSTL, and others.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) Economics M2 Decision: Accepted Funding: waiting for Eiffel Scholarships - March 22 Notification date: December 18 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) NO Comments: Why does it take so long for the Eiffel committee to decide~
  • Institution: LSE Economics, MSc (Res). Decision: Accepted Funding: Zilch Notification date: February 5, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on Gradcafe: no Date of Gradcafe post: N/A Comments: not gonna accept unfunded offers.
  • Institution:Kellogg MEDS Decision: Acceptance Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: 30K
Rejects:
  • Institution: LSE MRes+PhD (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4 February Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) n/a Comments: haha, should have tried oxbridge too.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: N.A. Notificationn date: 02/17 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: Still buzzing after my interview with Kellogg.
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution:Minnesota Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Kellogg sets my mind at ease~
  • Institution: Rochester Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03-01-2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: Que Sera Sera
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Well :) Its a weird season~
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Haha, its a weird season I'd say.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Thank god for Kellogg ~ phew.
  • Institution: Rochester Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03-01-2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: Que Sera Sera
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Well Its a weird season~
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Haha, its a weird season I'd say.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Thank god for Kellogg ~ phew.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N.A. Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: Long shot. Oh well.
  • Institution: Stanford, MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Its time to be a Wildcat D:
  • Institution:UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments: Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Emailed Marjorie Lesser Posted on GC: No Comments: Hope I can teach at Stern next time
  • 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: No need to choose between Kellogg and Wustl.
Waitlists:

kniwor 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Bachelor of Statistics and Master of Statistics from top Indian university
Major: Statistics
Undergrad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 560V, 4.0AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis I-III, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra I&II, Probability I-III, Stochatic Processes I&II, Graph Theory, Multivariate Analysis, Abstract Algebra ... a lot of Statistics.
Econ Courses: Game Theory I&II, Macroeconomics I
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ PhDs working in Game Theory, two of them recommend students to grad schools regularly.
Research Experience: 6 months in Game theory, a thesis (incomplete).
Teaching Experience: none
Work Experience: part-time over 1 year, Market Research.
Research Interests: Game Theory, Econometrics.
statement of purpose: Standard
Concerns: No Economics Background.
Applying to: Princeton, Yale, NYU, Wisconsin, Rochester, Penn-State, Kellogs, LSE
Accepts:
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: $$$
  • Institution: Kellogg Managerial Economics and Strategy Decision: Accepted Notification date: 23 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-Mail Posted on GF: Yes Comment: $$$
  • Institution: University of Rochester Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 26 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-Mail Posted on GF: No Comment: $$
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin - Madison Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 28 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-Mail Posted on GF: No Comment: $$
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin - Madison Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 28 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-Mail Posted on GF: No Comment: $$
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 19 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-Mail to check website. Posted on GF: No Comment: N/A
  • Institution: London School of Economics Economics Decision: Rejected (Mres/PhD); Accepted (MSc) Notification date: 19 Feb 2010 Notified through: E-Mail Posted on GF: Comment: Unfunded
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
Waitlists:

confusedgrad 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Economics (one of the best universities in the country but not known extremely all over the world. still, it is recognized at some schools).
Undergrad GPA: 3.98/4 - 1st rank among 145 students.
Type of Grad: M.S. in Economics from the same university.
Grad GPA: 3.95/4.0 - 2nd rank
GRE: Took it three times: Q:800, 800, 800, V:430, 350, 390, AWA: 5.5, 3.5, 4.5,
TOEFL: IBT:110 (R:29, L:29, S:24, W:28)
Math Courses: allmost no math. Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Mathematics for Economists, Mathematical Statistics I and II, Econometrics I and II, Econometric Theory I an II, Time Series Econometrics and only auditing RG Real Analysis this semester. All AAs (no grade for real anal.)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Microeconomic Theory I and II, Macroeconomic Theory I and II,, International Macroconomics. All AA except for one BA.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): A lot of courses with straight AAs.
Letters of Recommendation: 4 econ professors (mostly 3 or only 2 of them were used). All from my university. They tried to write strong letters but none of them are knon actually.
Research Experience: Several years in Research department of the Central Bank. However, nothing published in good journals. Only some empirical work.
Teaching Experience: TAship at my ug university for the Statistics courses.
Research Interests: Macro including Int'l macro, monetary economics...
Statement of purpose: Not well tailored for each university. A standard one for all.
Concerns: 1. Almost no math. No advanced calculus, no differential equations, no real analysis. 2. letters from unknown profs and no special efforts from the referees, 3. not enough research experience, 4. age (i'll be 29) 5. that stupid visa issue.
Other: One positive concern: My employee might support 1st year expenditures so I can go with an unfonded offer for the first year.
Applying to: 3 types in US: 1) The ones I got accepted before: UMN, BC, BU, UCLA, UMD. 2) The ones I got rejected last year: Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, UCSD, 3) The ones I am applying for the first time (mostly dream school, just a fantasy): MIT, Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, Brown. Also some European schools in case the visa becomes a problem again: LSE, LBS, Oxford, TI, UPF, CEMFI, EUI. Seems like I am a professional applicant. I made 51 applications so far. (6 in 2003, 23 in 2009, 22 in 2010). God, so much money, so much effort. Best luck, everyone...
Accepts:
  • Institution: University of Maryland, CP Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Not now, maybe later.. Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail. Comments: At least they accepted me again. Thanks. This year I have only one acceptance. Hope there ill also be some funding later.
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + 1000 euro per month Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: Given that all the schools I declined last year rejected me or made unfunded offers, this is surprising now. Thanks!
  • Institution: Tinbergen Institute MPhil Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + 1000 euro per month Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: Given that all the schools I declined last year rejected me or made unfunded offers, this is surprising now. Thanks!
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Tuition+fees only for the 1st year. Notified through: e-mail Notification date: 3/16/10 Comment:they just renewed the offer from the last year. i was waiting stupidly instead of asking them poreviously, despite their commitments. now, i am relaxed. and i am sure that if i applied this year for the first time, i would not get this offer as this year is really a hard one!
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Does no funding mean no funding forever? and why they ask you to confirm acceptance till May 15th? Is it because of the offer being unfunded?
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 16K RA'ship+possible 4K in summer Notification date: 03/29/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Off the waitlist...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: - Notified through: Website. They never bothered for sending an e-mail. Posted on GF: No, but who cares this any more? Comments: Rejected last year as well and applying again, which was a last minute decision, was completely nonsense. No surprise!
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 02/26/2010 Notified through: e-mail. Comments: I knew this was coming as they implicitly asked me whether i will accept this year or not. I could not make a commitment of course and two days later they announced the fellowship offers. I was not at that list. Still, I was expecting some offer with no funding or assitantship. However, they are completely right! They cannot tie their resources to someone who is unlikley to attend once more. It was a mistake to re-apply to a school that you had rejected and give them a second chance to reject you.
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Ok I knew it for days. But still this is the one that really hurts me. My dream school at my dream city. Perfect combination! But it does not want me...
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: This year everything is much tougher than last year...
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Ok I knew it for days. But still this is the one that really hurts me. My dream school at my dream city. Perfect combination! But it does not want me...
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: This year everything is much tougher than last year...
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: no surprise, i never expected an acceptance indeed. and this year everything just sucks...
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website) Comments: At this point it was totally expected. However, at the very beginning I was considering it as a sfatey. Who would know that this year will be a complete failure for me with so many rejections?
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Postal Mail Notification date: Mail dated 3/8/2010 Comments: God, I am surprised
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail (same above, no inquiry) Comment: I hope I will not have to apply to NYU for a fourth time in the future... My second dream school and my dream city does not want me. Ok! I got it!
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: e-mail Comments: It would not make any difference anyways...
  • Institution: European University Institute Economics Decision: Rejected (i guess?) Funding: NA Notification date: 03/30/10 Notified through: Email Comments: The most awkward letter I received during the whole process. First, I thought I was rejected, then it sounded like I am accepted and then wait listed... In the end, I really did not understand whether I am waitlisted or rejected. Still, the word "regretfully" makes me think that yes I am rejected....
  • Institution: LSE MRes/PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 4/11/10 Notified through: E-mail Comments: A rejection letter on late sunday? Interesting... BTW, I always find LSE rejection letters quite straightforward, direct and a bit rude...
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 4/12/10 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Finally I know where I'll be going. It was an honor to get even waitlisted and I was not expecting anything more...
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Boston College Economics Decision: Wait listed Funding: NA Notification date: 01/01/2010 Notified through: A personal e-mail. Comments: An e-mail stating "we totally remember you from last year.. we have limited resources and many excellent candidates from your country so we cannot offer you admission at this time". I can understand their point. They are totally right.
  • Institution: London Business School Economics Decision: Wait listed Funding: NA Notification date: 3/11/10 Notified through: Email Comment: "very high on waitlist". even though i don't think it is likely to get off the waitlist, i would definitely like to go this school. i love london, school is great and funding is generous. i hope i can make it...
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: NA Notification date: 03/17/10 Notified through: e-mail Comments: Now this is a real surprise after so many rejections. I think my first year external funding has played a role. Seems like a long-list.


Waitlists:
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 12 accepted out of 22 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.75, average GREQ was 796.0.
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: 14:57:55, Fri May 11, 2012