Go Back   TestMagic Forums > Admissions > Graduate Admissions
Register FAQForum Rules Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 10-12-2006, 09:47 PM   #1 (permalink)
edstevens
Trying to make mom and pop proud
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
edstevens just joined TestMagic.
Schools to Apply To

Hi,

I'd like to get the advice of people on the forum for schools that I should apply to if I decide to get a Ph.D. in Economics. I'm interested in studying international development economics.

I went to undergrad at Stanford, majoring in economics with a minor in chemistry. I got a 3.7 GPA, but took only one math class, and got a lowly B-.

I worked for 3 years at a technology startup, and 1 year at a consulting company.

I then decided I wanted to apply to Ph.D. programs, so went back to get a Master's degree in economics and to take more math classes. I went to UC Santa Barbara, and did well, getting a 4.2 GPA, including A and A+ grades in differential equations, intermediate linear algebra, and real analysis.

Finally, I've worked for the past year at a top think tank. I got something like a 1450 on my GRE 650V, 800M

What do you guys think? What schools should be in my range?
edstevens is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2006, 01:48 AM   #2 (permalink)
Antichron
TestMagic Guru-in-Training
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 605
Antichron is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!Antichron is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!
Looking pretty solid. Do you have any research experience? How do your letters of recommendation look? I think you've got a solid shot at a top 5 (or least a top 10).
_ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _
MIT Economics, class of 2011
Antichron is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2006, 06:53 AM   #3 (permalink)
OneMoreEcon
TestMagic Guru-in-Training
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
OneMoreEcon is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!OneMoreEcon is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!
Mikey, I tend to disagree, unless he's kept in touch with the Stanford profs and has them writing his LOR's. If that's the case, top 5's are possible. If he's mostly relying on the UCSB recs, then there's not a chance in hell (and I don't mean that in a bad way, just being realistic). Profile is good, not great. I see top 20/25 as almost a given; a likely top 10 (thanks mostly to Stanford). Top 5... not unless some people at Stanford really like you.

@Antichron... are you really on the 4-year plan, and is what you posted on your site your real schedule. That's insane! Good luck, and it's nice to have some familiarity with a future JBC Medal winner... maybe Daron can give you some advice for your acceptance speech, since he has some experience (hint: thank the wife... I thought that was a nice touch).
OneMoreEcon is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2006, 01:48 PM   #4 (permalink)
Antichron
TestMagic Guru-in-Training
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 605
Antichron is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!Antichron is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneMoreEcon View Post
Mikey, I tend to disagree, unless he's kept in touch with the Stanford profs and has them writing his LOR's. If that's the case, top 5's are possible. If he's mostly relying on the UCSB recs, then there's not a chance in hell (and I don't mean that in a bad way, just being realistic). Profile is good, not great. I see top 20/25 as almost a given; a likely top 10 (thanks mostly to Stanford). Top 5... not unless some people at Stanford really like you.

@Antichron... are you really on the 4-year plan, and is what you posted on your site your real schedule. That's insane! Good luck, and it's nice to have some familiarity with a future JBC Medal winner... maybe Daron can give you some advice for your acceptance speech, since he has some experience (hint: thank the wife... I thought that was a nice touch).
I agree. I was assuming that he was going to get some solid letters from his Stanford professors. (I also implicitly attributed his 3.7 Stanford GPA to his chemistry grades, which should bear no importance to an economics admissions committee.)

If all goes well, I am on the 4-year plan. I plan on taking my general exams at the end of this year instead of my second year, in which case my only required courses next year will be macro in the Fall. I ended up not taking topology, since I found myself spending as much time on topology problem sets as on the rest of my classes combined, so my schedule is not as crazy as it was. (I suppose I ought to update it!)
_ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _
MIT Economics, class of 2011
Antichron is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2006, 04:32 PM   #5 (permalink)
edstevens
Trying to make mom and pop proud
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
edstevens just joined TestMagic.
Thanks for your advice. My recommendation letters will probably come from a diverse set of recommenders. One from Stanford, one from UCSB, and one from the think tank. (All professors or former professors.)

How do you think this affects my chances?
edstevens is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 07:54 AM   #6 (permalink)
payal_mehrabi
Trying to make mom and pop proud
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
payal_mehrabi just joined TestMagic.
i hink you have awesome profile ,check the admission prediction tool at missiongre.com
payal_mehrabi is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 01:08 PM   #7 (permalink)
zeira
Within my grasp!
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 121
zeira just joined TestMagic.
Sorry for the off-topic, but I have a question about the previous answer. Do econ programs hold interviews for admission? How does that work? Thanks!
zeira is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 05:17 PM   #8 (permalink)
OneMoreEcon
TestMagic Guru-in-Training
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
OneMoreEcon is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!OneMoreEcon is a TestMagic guru. Show your respect!
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeira View Post
Sorry for the off-topic, but I have a question about the previous answer. Do econ programs hold interviews for admission? How does that work? Thanks!
No, they don't. Econ programs do open houses in the spring to invite students who have already been offered admission. There's no interview for econ phd admissions.
OneMoreEcon is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Reddit!
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

What you can do
You cannot post new threads
You cannot post replies
You cannot post attachments
You cannot edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT. The time now is 07:04 AM.

Contact TestMagic   TestMagic Forums      Archive   

Link to TestMagic   TestMagic Locations   Legal   Privacy

Partner Sites: GMAT Sentence Correction   SAT 2400

Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.0.0
Copyright © 1998-2008 TestMagic
Ad Management by RedTyger

Scroll Up