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nergal · 2008 March 10th, 11:53 PM

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Econ and BS in Math, Double Major in top university in my country
Undergrad GPA: 3.77/4.00 (at the time of application)
Type of Grad: na
Grad GPA: na
GRE: 700V 800Q 5.0AW
Math Courses: Too many :P Highlights: Real Analysis I&II (BA&pending), Complex Analysis I (BB), Calculus of Variations (BA), Mathematics of Finance (graduate math course, AA), Number Theory (CC), Algebra I&II (CB&AA), Differential Equations (AA), Linear Algebra (AA)
Econ Courses: Graduate level Econometrics (AA), Advanced Micro (AA), Public Finance (AA), (Undergrad) Econometrics I&II (AA), Mathematical Statistics I&II (AA), Intermediate Micro and Macro (AA), Game Theory (AA) among other things ...
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Four LoRs, three from econ professors with whom I studied as RA, and one from a senior math professor. Two of the econ professors are senior and one of them is pretty famous. Submitted three LoRs in each application.
Research Experience: RA for two years in two different projects.
Teaching Experience: TA for Intermediate Micro for one term.
Research Interests: Micro Theory, Game Theory, Political Economy
statement of purpose: Delineated my research interests, talked about my motivation for a phd degree in economics, detailed my research experience

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Caltech ($$), Michigan-Ann Arbor (??), Northwestern ($$), UPenn ($$), Yale ($$)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Duke, MIT, Stanford
Pending: Princeton, Harvard (most likely rejected)
What would you have done differently?

I would not have taken the elective Number Theory

Maybe would have taken the graduate level Topology course.

One problem with our Math department is that the faculty is really stingy with grades! For instance, I was the second ranked student out of some 100+ people in the Complex Analysis I course and I still got BB. The first guy got BA. No AA to no one, no sirrie. The mean of the cumulative grades was 35 (out of 100). This is just one case among many. I hope one of my professors managed to communicate this issue.

2008 March 10th, 11:53 PM	#18 (permalink)
nergal the horror ... Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5	PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BA in Econ and BS in Math, Double Major in top university in my country Undergrad GPA: 3.77/4.00 (at the time of application) Type of Grad: na Grad GPA: na GRE: 700V 800Q 5.0AW Math Courses: Too many :P Highlights: Real Analysis I&II (BA&pending), Complex Analysis I (BB), Calculus of Variations (BA), Mathematics of Finance (graduate math course, AA), Number Theory (CC), Algebra I&II (CB&AA), Differential Equations (AA), Linear Algebra (AA) Econ Courses: Graduate level Econometrics (AA), Advanced Micro (AA), Public Finance (AA), (Undergrad) Econometrics I&II (AA), Mathematical Statistics I&II (AA), Intermediate Micro and Macro (AA), Game Theory (AA) among other things ... Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: Four LoRs, three from econ professors with whom I studied as RA, and one from a senior math professor. Two of the econ professors are senior and one of them is pretty famous. Submitted three LoRs in each application. Research Experience: RA for two years in two different projects. Teaching Experience: TA for Intermediate Micro for one term. Research Interests: Micro Theory, Game Theory, Political Economy statement of purpose: Delineated my research interests, talked about my motivation for a phd degree in economics, detailed my research experience RESULTS: Acceptances: Caltech ($$), Michigan-Ann Arbor (??), Northwestern ($$), UPenn ($$), Yale ($$) Waitlists: none Rejections: Duke, MIT, Stanford Pending: Princeton, Harvard (most likely rejected) What would you have done differently? I would not have taken the elective Number Theory Maybe would have taken the graduate level Topology course. One problem with our Math department is that the faculty is really stingy with grades! For instance, I was the second ranked student out of some 100+ people in the Complex Analysis I course and I still got BB. The first guy got BA. No AA to no one, no sirrie. The mean of the cumulative grades was 35 (out of 100). This is just one case among many. I hope one of my professors managed to communicate this issue.