Wharton: Applied Econ

[Krabby]

I'm in the health econ program; according to my friends in applied econ, they don't do interviews. Which is too bad - I love going out to nice (and free!) dinners with the applicants on the department dime! (And I look forward to meeting SF Haole's girlfriend on Wednesday!)

Ah, rarely is there anything as wonderful as a free meal. I'm actually in a scholarship selection committee this weekend and I get three free meals!

[rogueeconomist]

Wharton Health Econ: Not sure why your friends in Applied Econ said there were no interviews for AE. I know for a fact that the admissions committee made many phone calls last year during admissions season to talk to candidates. There were no on-campus interviews, that is true. But there absolutely were some screening interviews made over the phone.

That said, it may be possible that those calls were only made to marginal candidates or people from the wait-list. Perhaps your friends are neither, or they simply didn't perceive the phone call as an interview! But any communication from the admissions committee over the phone is an interview in my book, even if it's just to say congratulations on being admitted... the deal ain't done till you get the offer letter and all!

[jaw17]

Whoops! Sorry for inadvertently spreading misinformation - my friends may have just meant that they (the current students) aren't involved in the applicant interview process....or it could be any of the reasons rogueeconomist listed.

[shubhamk]

hmmm...a general question...who has applied for Wharton : Applied Econ just because they received a promo mail from the department somewhere in november???... i did

Somehow now after the above discussions I feel if a department is sending promo mails then something is wrong? prospects are not good or what???...any views...

mail copied below:

We obtained your contact information through the Educational Testing Service (ETS) who helped us identified promising candidates interested in pursuing a PhD in economics or a related applied economics field. Toward that end, we would like to invite you to apply for our highly competitive Doctoral Program in Applied Economics at The Wharton School, located at The University of Pennsylvania.
Wharton's PhD program in Applied Economics gives students the tools and training to get jobs in applied-economics positions in economics departments, business schools, and public policy programs. Our program is designed to prepare students to conduct rigorous research. Students take core courses in microeconomic theory and quantitative methods. Students also take two major field concentrations designed to give them the tools necessary to conduct quality research in a core economic discipline.
Drawing on a large faculty of applied economists across multiple Wharton departments and the Law School, the Applied Economics program allows specialization in a number of areas, including:
* Behavioral Economics
* Economics of Risk Management
* Industrial Economics and Business Regulation
* Public Economics and Political Economy
* Urban Economics and Real Estate
Students can also form a second major using courses offered by the Penn Economics Department, including macroeconomics and international economics. Additional finance courses can be taken from the Finance Department.
Our Fellowship offers full tuition and fees along with a stipend of $23,000 per year to highly qualified candidates whose goal is to become a leading applied economics researcher. An undergraduate education in economics and mathematics provides an excellent foundation for doctoral studies in interested in Applied Economics.
Applications are due by December 15, 2008. Additional information on our program is available online at:
Wharton Doctoral Programs: Applied Economics
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

[Krabby]

hmmm...a general question...who has applied for Wharton : Applied Econ just because they received a promo mail from the department somewhere in november???... i did

Somehow now after the above discussions I feel if a department is sending promo mails then something is wrong? prospects are not good or what???...any views...

mail copied below:

We obtained your contact information through the Educational Testing Service (ETS) who helped us identified promising candidates interested in pursuing a PhD in economics or a related applied economics field. Toward that end, we would like to invite you to apply for our highly competitive Doctoral Program in Applied Economics at The Wharton School, located at The University of Pennsylvania.
Wharton's PhD program in Applied Economics gives students the tools and training to get jobs in applied-economics positions in economics departments, business schools, and public policy programs. Our program is designed to prepare students to conduct rigorous research. Students take core courses in microeconomic theory and quantitative methods. Students also take two major field concentrations designed to give them the tools necessary to conduct quality research in a core economic discipline.
Drawing on a large faculty of applied economists across multiple Wharton departments and the Law School, the Applied Economics program allows specialization in a number of areas, including:
* Behavioral Economics
* Economics of Risk Management
* Industrial Economics and Business Regulation
* Public Economics and Political Economy
* Urban Economics and Real Estate
Students can also form a second major using courses offered by the Penn Economics Department, including macroeconomics and international economics. Additional finance courses can be taken from the Finance Department.
Our Fellowship offers full tuition and fees along with a stipend of $23,000 per year to highly qualified candidates whose goal is to become a leading applied economics researcher. An undergraduate education in economics and mathematics provides an excellent foundation for doctoral studies in interested in Applied Economics.
Applications are due by December 15, 2008. Additional information on our program is available online at:
Wharton Doctoral Programs: Applied Economics
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

It is a relatively new program whose reputation is being built (though Wharton itself certainly has quite a reputation!), so I do not see them sending out promotional material as being a negative signal. Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding; the pudding available right now is the professors and their research. From that standard, it certainly attracts my attention.

[smart_ana]

I just spoke to someone in another department at Wharton who contacted me after seeing my Applied Econ application, and he said that they're still going through review, so no worries!.....(at least not yet =P)

[Obsi]

I got that ad too. But it's just ad, it doesn't mean they think you are fit for Wharton.

[Krabby]

I just spoke to someone in another department at Wharton who contacted me after seeing my Applied Econ application, and he said that they're still going through review, so no worries!.....(at least not yet =P)

That's good to hear! That's also good to hear that you've heard from someone else in the school. They must've been attracted by something in your application! Good luck!!

[rogueeconomist]

Regarding department quality:

One thing people should mentally prepare for is that a top 10 placement in economics is simply very, very, unlikely no matter where you are from. It is unlikely if you are at MIT, it is unlikely if you are at Harvard, etc. This is like the NFL or something, everyone thinks they will be a 1st round draft...

That said, a reasonable concern would be whether your research interests are coincident with faculty. In that regard you should indeed very carefully consider the faculty in any department you are admitted to, particularly when it is a small one like ours.

We have some upcoming possible faculty shifts in the next 1-2 years but I don't know more at the moment. You should check back later or poke around elsewhere for information if you are seriously considering us. For example we are trying to make a senior hire, which if it happened would obviously change what's possible substantively.

[Internationalstudent08]

Rogue Economist, we all appreciate the information you have posted here. I would like to ask some application-related questions (I understand if you don't want to reply). When do you expect to notify applicants? And.. if we haven't had an interview yet, is there any hope?

Thanks a lot!!!