PhD Stanford GSB...any tips?

[dontwannaworkomo]

I am in the process of putting together my application for a PhD at Stanford GSB in Economic Analysis and Policy and would greatly appreciate any feedback as I formulate my personal statement.

Details:
Undergrad: Berkeley, Economics and Mathematics, GPA 3.4 (not stellar)
Graduate: MSc Econometrics, Cambridge University, UK
GRE: 630V, 730Q
Research Experience: Federal Reserve (2 year) and top east coast economic think tank (1 years)
Publications and presentations: 2 co-authored policy reports, one presentation at AEA, research assistant credit mentioned in multiple academic publications (not authored)
Interests: macroeconomics, development economics, applied microeconomic theory
Misc: Female, US Citizen (if that matters at all)

Any suggestions on what I should focus on in my SOP? Should I even mention my less than stellar undergrad performance or just focus on my research at the Fed and think tank? How detailed should I be when describing my research interests? Should I approach professors and introduce myself and interests as a prospective applicant? Do I have a decent chance at being accepted? Thanks for your help!

[user_name]

What other schools are you applying to? IMHO, although the Stanford GSB faculty is not bad at anything, it doesn't seem to be spectacularly good at macro and development. These are definitely not its comparative advantages.

[dontwannaworkomo]

I would like to be in the bay area for family/other obligations. So I am looking at berkeley and stanford. thanks for your comments.

[PCG]

I know this is harsh, but it is only meant to be helpful. Don't bother applying to the GSB. You won't get in. The GRE would surely automatically disqualify you, and your undergraduate grades will do the same. Personally, I think Stanford GSB is more competative to admit to than the Econ dept. I agree that GSB isn't the best for macro, though I think it has a very good rep for applied micro.

Similarly, I don't think you really have a shot at Berkeley, either. The GRE is a big problem for you. Were you by any chance a top student at Cambridge?

[Lombardo]

This may not be the best place to ask this but I am also considering Stanford GSB for PhD in Finance (keeping in mind that it's too difficult to get in( ). I am just copy/pasting my profile below - from another post. Could you comment on my chances for Stanford GSB, as well? Thanks in advance !!

>>
Undergraduate:
-BA in Economics from top institution in Turkey
-GPA: 3.83/4.00, 2nd highest of my class

-Math Courses: 2 Calculus, 1 Matrix Theory
-Econ Courses: 2 Mathematical Statistics, 1 Advanced Macro (dynamic growth models), 3 Econometrics (both estimation theory and time series using linear algebra)

-Teaching assistant (solving problem sets in classes), 4 times

Masters:
-MSc in Finance and Economics at the LSE
-Graduated with merit.

-Courses: Financial Economics (arbitrage/martingale pricing, term structure, interest rates, discrete-time finance etc.), Financial Econometrics, Micro, Time-Series Forecasting, Financial Risk Analysis
-Dissertation: Time-Series Forecasting, distinction grade given - I believe this corresponds to an honors thesis in US system?

References: 3 from masters, 1 from undergraduate. I believe my dissertation supervisor and undergrad teacher will write good letters; diss. supervisor mentioned that my dissertation was among the best of my class.

TOEFL: 119 iBT
GRE: 790 Q, 650 V, 6.0 A

Computer skills: Gauss, EViews, Matlab - used Matlab for my dissertation and empirical analysis.