My Admissions Dilemma

[Gecko]

Originally Posted by ilikefreefood

I should add: what are people's thoughts on Masters programs like LSE that offer rolling admissions? Is there any chance at all of me getting funding to a program like that this late in the game? Is it likely to strengthen my profile significantly if I do well?

LSE funding is mainly self-funding the european programs like tinbergen actually fund better

[ilikefreefood]

FYI, I have decided not to attend this year. Minnesota's Applied Econ. program has agreed to defer my admission, and they have given some indication that they are willing to try to get me funding again next year. In that sense, I'm out a year of my post-Ph.D. career (probably NPV-positive anyway), but otherwise there's really only upside potential at this point.

The thing that made the biggest difference for me actually was my girlfriend. She's planning to apply to graduate school in the fall, and I didn't think it made sense to commit to a specific location for five years (and to limit her school options substantially) if I wasn't absolutely confident that it's the best option for me. I liked the program, and I think I'd be happy if I do end up there, but I still decided that waiting made the most sense.

I've spent a lot of time talking to my recs and supervisors in the last couple of weeks, and I think that I should have some significant opportunities to improve my profile. My bosses have indicated a willingness to have me work more closely with some of the professors we work with, and it appears likely that I'll be able to take a Ph.D.-level course in the fall.

I'm sure I'll have questions to ask over the next few months--I guess this board hasn't seen the last of me yet.

[wind up bird]

Plan to spend some time finding 'safeties' which are a good fit for you. Most of the programs you applied to will still be a crapshoot even if you improve your profile; they are still crapshoots for some people with seemingly perfect credentials. Especially if you're hoping to end up at the same program as your girlfriend, you want to have as many options as possible in March and April. Apply broadly in the fall and be picky later.

[piffle_dragon]

Originally Posted by wind up bird

Plan to spend some time finding 'safeties' which are a good fit for you. Most of the programs you applied to will still be a crapshoot even if you improve your profile; they are still crapshoots for some people with seemingly perfect credentials. Especially if you're hoping to end up at the same program as your girlfriend, you want to have as many options as possible in March and April. Apply broadly in the fall and be picky later.

Brilliant advice.

[Internationalstudent08]

I think that wind-up-bird's advise is really good. It seems that your profile will be exactly the same next year, so apply to many schools in the 20-50 range, plus some higher-ranked and maybe some lower-ranked if you want more geographical flexibility.

Did you report the B in real analysis this year? Expect this to have a moderate negative effect. You should also take into account the effect the economy will have on the next admissions cycle. I'm curious to see if it will be easier or harder.

[ilikefreefood]

Originally Posted by Internationalstudent08

I think that wind-up-bird's advise is really good. It seems that your profile will be exactly the same next year, so apply to many schools in the 20-50 range, plus some higher-ranked and maybe some lower-ranked if you want more geographical flexibility.

Did you report the B in real analysis this year? Expect this to have a moderate negative effect. You should also take into account the effect the economy will have on the next admissions cycle. I'm curious to see if it will be easier or harder.

I did report the B in real analysis this year because I had submitted my statement of purpose to almost all schools by the time I received the grade, and I had indicated that I was taking the course. I don't realistically envision retaking the course, nor do I envision not reporting it. I'm trying to let my bosses know well in advance (i.e. now) about my planned coursework so that I can push them to accommodate my schedule more in the fall. Realistically, I think that doing well in a Ph.D.-level course is one of the only things that will get me seriously considered at a Top 20 school at this point.

I will definitely apply to a wider range of schools next time around. In addition to applying to a bunch of the lower-ranked straight Econ programs I had considered but took off my list, I intend to apply to some of the higher-ranked applied programs. The decision not to apply to Berkeley ARE this year was a last-minute one that I'm regretting right about now.

I went on the advice of multiple people in selecting my schools, but I think that sometimes consultants and liberal arts college professors can be a little out of the loop with regard to short-run admissions trends. Their sample sizes are just too small and they don't deal with graduate education on a day-to-day basis. My school has a very good reputation with grad schools, but I think that in a year like this there's just no way that a person with my profile would have gotten into most of these places.

I guess we all live and learn.

[ilikefreefood]

On a related note, how much do y'all think it matters if I take a Ph.D level micro course at Georgetown vs. Maryland? Maryland is obviously the better school (and the one that's more interesting to me), but Georgetown's schedule is much easier to work with, and it lists micro theory as one of its strengths.

There's no guarantee that I can take a course at either of these places. I'm hoping that I can swing some local connections to allow me to take it as a non-degree student.

Also, do you think I'll be required to take the full math camp at one of these schools in order to take one class?

[Mankins]

Originally Posted by ilikefreefood

On a related note, how much do y'all think it matters if I take a Ph.D level micro course at Georgetown vs. Maryland? Maryland is obviously the better school (and the one that's more interesting to me), but Georgetown's schedule is much easier to work with, and it lists micro theory as one of its strengths.

There's no guarantee that I can take a course at either of these places. I'm hoping that I can swing some local connections to allow me to take it as a non-degree student.

Also, do you think I'll be required to take the full math camp at one of these schools in order to take one class?

You should have no trouble enrolling in PhD Micro. You should ask around the department and see what you have to do to get permission. You won't have to attend math camp, and I think taking it at Georgetown would be fine.

[piffle_dragon]

Originally Posted by ilikefreefood

I went on the advice of multiple people in selecting my schools, but I think that sometimes consultants and liberal arts college professors can be a little out of the loop with regard to short-run admissions trends. Their sample sizes are just too small and they don't deal with graduate education on a day-to-day basis. My school has a very good reputation with grad schools, but I think that in a year like this there's just no way that a person with my profile would have gotten into most of these places.

I guess we all live and learn.

I wouldn't put too much blame on LAC and consulting. I met a number of people at the Berkeley and Stanford flyouts who were coming from an unknown LAC, had worked in consulting/finance, or done both. Maybe your advisors gave you some bad advice or something else was fishy. Some people have had some success in contacting schools and getting reasons for their rejection, this might be a good idea.

[ilikefreefood]

Originally Posted by piffle_dragon

I wouldn't put too much blame on LAC and consulting. I met a number of people at the Berkeley and Stanford flyouts who were coming from an unknown LAC, had worked in consulting/finance, or done both. Maybe your advisors gave you some bad advice or something else was fishy. Some people have had some success in contacting schools and getting reasons for their rejection, this might be a good idea.

I definitely don't blame my school or my job for harming my chances (in fact, I think that I pinned too much hope on them). Rather, my point is that not everyone in a position of authority (i.e. Ph.D. economists) is equally informed, and that one should always consider the likely limitations and potential biases of the advice one's given. Liberal arts college professors and consultants--even good ones from good schools--don't see a lot of grad school applications, and their sample is small and self-selective.

I'm just hoping others can also learn from my mistakes in that regard.