Schools to Apply To

**edstevens** · 10-12-2006, 08:47 PM

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?

**Antichron** · 10-13-2006, 12:48 AM

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).

**OneMoreEcon** · 10-13-2006, 05:53 AM

Mikey, I tend to disagree, unless he's kept in touch with the Stanford profs and has them writing his letter of recommendation'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).

**Antichron** · 10-13-2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by OneMoreEcon

Mikey, I tend to disagree, unless he's kept in touch with the Stanford profs and has them writing his letter of recommendation'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!)

**edstevens** · 10-16-2006, 03:32 PM

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?

**payal_mehrabi** · 10-20-2006, 06:54 AM

i hink you have awesome profile ,check the admission prediction tool at missiongre.com

**zeira** · 10-20-2006, 12:08 PM

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!

**OneMoreEcon** · 10-20-2006, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by zeira

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.