GRE: 800Q 610V 6.0AWA
GPA: BSc Econ (1st Class), MPhil Econ (Pass, but near-miss on distinction)
Classes:
Math: 2 years of calc, linear algebra, stats; pure math - all ug.
Econ: usual ug courses & electives; grad micro, macro, metrics, adv theory, IO.
Type of Institution: LSE bsc econ; Oxford mphil econ.
Research Experience: distinction-class mphil thesis in theoretical IO; 2x6-month long RAs (financial econometrics & environmental science); macroeconomic forecasting in research division of top-tier investment bank (recently published in top think-tank journal).
Teaching Experience: 1 year leading ug micro theory tutorials during mphil.
LORs: 3 econ profs, all fairly well published.
Interests: international, macro, industrial org, applied econometrics; pretty much anything other than micro theory.
Other: 23 yo international male; currently working as research associate in economics for i-bank, directly under former economics professor (now uk chief economist).
Admissions Decisions
In (and attending): NYU Stern (Econ PhD)
Out: Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, Stanford, MIT, Penn, Duke, Columbia, Northwestern, Chicago, Princeton, UCLA
Moral of the story: Be careful who writes your recs. I got a rec from a very famous mathematical economist professor that did (and probably could) not say I was outstanding. i did so in order to make up for a somewhat deficient math background (i.e. no analysis). i confirmed this with Stern who said that my recs (they only needed the other two) were outstanding. A mediocre rec is a real problem if you are only applying to top schools. (Note that I didnt apply to any more safeties as my outside option was a fully-funded dphil at oxford). If I could do it all again I would get a rec from someone that was ridiculously positive even if this person was unknown/junior. that said, i am very happy with the Stern admit and the ball is very much in my court now. in addition, i probably wouldnt waste so much time on this blog worrying that i dont have topographanalysis on my transcript.