Roll Call Fall 2010

[penndryve]

Type of Undergrad: Bachelors in Computer Engineering (India - not IIT or REC, but fairly good)
Undergrad GPA: 84% (we don't have GPA. This is called Distinction, and would fall in the top 3-4% in the class)
Type of Grad: MSc Development Studies (London School of Economics)
Grad GPA: Distinction (Prize for Best Performance in the Department )
Further Grad: EXTERNAL Diploma for Graduates ( Economics) - London School of Economics - ONGOING - Exams in May/June 2010
GRE: Not taken yet. Expect to score 790-800Q and high-700s in verbal
Math Courses: Lots of calculus, probability and statistical courses in under-grad, basically Engineering Mathematics ( nearly 90% (A+) in all of them). Taking modules on Mathematics again in my current diploma from LSE - refreshing all the Math required for Econ ( but it does not cover Real Analysis)
Econ Courses: Managerial Economics ( undergrad, A+), Development Economics (A), Intermediate Micro, Macro and Econometrics ( currently taking in my Diploma), Some international economics as part of Intl. Political Economy of Development at LSE ( A+)
Other Courses: Lots of Political Economy/Development courses; MIT Randomization Course
Letters of Recommendation: Three Profs from LSE: Two of them are Political Economy Profs (One is Princeton-Harvard-LSE, the other is Leontif Prize Winner, but considered heterodox); Third one is not economics, but very well regarded.
Research Experience: Working as Senior Research Analyst at a premier think tank in Delhi, policy research on governance and institutional development; currently doing a qualitative research study involving field work - will publish paper soon
Publications: Grad thesis published by LSE as LSE Working Paper; Two WPs at my current job plus one coming up soon.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics; Institutional Economics; Political Economy
statement of purpose: Not written yet; thinking of talking about the progression in my intellectual/career interests and why I want to do PhD from an Econ dept at this stage etc
Concerns: BIG one: Not enough Econ? My Intermediate Economics grades will not be available at the time of application ( won't be available till July/August 2010, actually!!). Although I am sure I will do well in them, I have only my word + previous academic performance to show for it!

Other: Work experience in the development sector for about 5 years doing part time volunteering with grass roots NGOs + nearly 2 years working as consultant in an IT multinational. And I simply cannot do without funding!

Applying to: Berkeley, Yale, MIT, Harvard, Chicago, Cornell, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Duke, Brown, NW, Maryland, Michigan, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, LSE, Cambridge

Suggestions please on if I stand any reasonable chance of being accepted WITH funding!

[PaperTherapy]

PROFILE:

Interested in applying to a PhD in:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Economics w/Math, Finance Minors - Mid-Atlantic Liberal Arts School (no PhD)
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0 Economics; 3.4/4.0 Math
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 780Q, 630V, waiting on Analytical
Math Courses: Calculus I (A), Calculus II (B+), Calculus III (B+), Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations (B), Statistics I (A-) Complex Variables (Fall), Topology (Spring), Linear Algebra (Spring)
Econ Courses: Principles of Micro (A), Intermediate Micro (B), Intermediate Macro (A), Advanced Macro (A), Game Theory (A), Econometrics, (A), Public Finance (A), International Finance (B+), Experimental Economics (Fall), International Trade (Fall), Advanced Micro (Spring)
Other Courses: None worthwhile
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Undergrad Econ Professors, 1 From Economics Dept. Dean, should all be solid, but not necesarilly well-known professors
Research Experience: Econometric Regression Analysis, Senior Thesis work
Teaching Experience: Economics Tutor
Other work experience: NA
Research Interests: Game Theory, International Economics and Development
statement of purpose: working on it; research interests and professional goals, qualifying math background
Concerns: Not enough math, need more research experience (undergrad school is a teaching, not a research institution)
Applying to: Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State, Georgetown, Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Some Safeties

[naturalnumbas]

PROFILE:

Interested in applying to a PhD in:
Type of Undergrad: Hons.B.A in econ from relatively unknown Canadian school.
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0 Economics & Math, 3.3 Cumulative
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: NA (unless I decide to apply in US)
Math Courses: Calculus I (A), Calculus II (A), Intro Stats (A+), Intermediate Stats (A+), Differential Equations (Spring), Real Analysis (A), Math Analysis (Spring), Linear Algebra (fall)
Econ Courses: Intro Macro & Micro (A+), Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A), Intermediate Macro II (A+), Intermediate Micro II (A), Econometrics (A), Advanced Econometrics (spring), International Trade (A), Monetary Econ (A), IO (B+), Advanced Micro (fall), Advanced Macro (fall), Health Econ (spring), Housing Econ (spring)
Other Courses: Used to be a bio major, so lots of useless bio courses.
Letters of Recommendation: Not sure yet, Hoping to get some profs from my fall courses. Probably one of my intermediate micro profs. However the faculty I'm in isn't well known so my letters likely won't be anything too special.
Research Experience: A couple writing classes. Worked as a biology RA.
Teaching Experience: I help people that ask, but maybe I should try for a position in the dept this year.
Other work experience: Biology RA, probably not too helpful.
Research Interests: Either a combination of Econometrics and Applied Micro, or a combination of history of thought and Monetary/Macro.
statement of purpose: I don't think I need to write one for Canadian schools.
Concerns: Relatively low CGPA, unknown letter of reference writers, some important courses won't be completed by the application deadline.
Applying to: Will apply to Toronto, UBC, Queens, Western, plus a few safety choices. If I don't get in at the big 4, I'll finish an MA wherever and apply again.

[tgp511]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ Major Math Minor from UVA/UNC/UMICH type school.
Undergrad GPA: 3.53
Math/Econ GPA: Same
GRE: TBD (SAT Math 780 w/o studying, assume similar score for GRE)
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A- in III (multi), AP cred for other 2), Intro Proofs (B+), Intro Diff EQ (pass on pass /fail basis), Linear Algebra (A-),, Probability Theory (Calc Based C+), Intro Stats (AP cred), Math Stat (Fall '09) Stochastic Processes (Fall '09)
Econ Courses: Intro (ap cred), Intermediate Mic/Mac (A-,A) Labor (A-), Int'nl (B), Health (B-), Advanced Mac (B+),Game Theory (A)Metrics (Fall '09)
Other Courses: Physics Mechanics (B), Matlab based programming course (A) Accounting courses? (A's)
Letters of Recommendation: UNC asst prof, Vanderbilt asst prof, Yale (stat full prof, well published)
Research Experience: N/A , Work as a Research Assistant for an economic consulting firm.
Teaching Experience: TA for undergrad recitation section
Research Interests: Financial, Econometrics
Concerns: Hah.
Applying to: MA Programs: Tufts, Miami-Ohio, UNCG, UNCC M.Fin... others tbd
Phud: maybe a few of these if I can get my app out in time for funding.

Good luck everyone, thanks for all the advice.

[Luxor42]

Type of Undergrad: Large state school, BS Physics, BS Math, BA Economics (Triple Degrees)
Undergrad GPA: ~3.7
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
Further Grad: 1 Math, 1 Econ course in undergrad; Grad Micro Theory in progress at respected MA program
GRE: 760 Q / 740 V / 4.5 W (will retake soon for 800Q)
Math Courses: Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Vector Calc, Linear Alg., Theoretical Stats, Abstract Alg., Diff Eq, Dynamical Systems, PDE (Grad), Numerical Analysis
Econ Courses: Micro & Macro Theory, Adv. Macro, Game Theory, Labor, Development (Grad), Econometrics,
Other Courses: B.S. Physics - basically applied PDEs over and over again (E&M, Mechanics, Quantum, Intro Stat Mech, Lab courses, etc.)
Letters of Recommendation: Probably 2 undergrad profs (PhD Harvard, PhD Chicago) and 1 grad prof (PhD Chicago)
Research Experience: N/A in Econ. Extensive Solid State physics experience.
Publications: N/A
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Interests: International Economics, Industrial Organization, Climate Change & Long Term Growth

Other: 2 years work experience at Quant. Energy Trading firm.

Applying to: Basically all top 10-15. If I don't get into a top program then I'll just keep working and taking masters courses.

Any comments & advice are appreciated. Good luck to all.

[SubEffect]

Profile:
Type of Undergrad: Top 3 US liberal arts college, known for low grade inflation
Undergrad GPA: overall, 3.85; excluding freshman year, 3.92
Type of Grad: -
Grad GPA: -
GRE: 800 Q, 720 V, 5.5 writing
Math Courses: Modeling (A), Math Stats (A), Differential Equations (A), Data Analysis (A), Real Analysis (B+), Topics in Analysis: Dynamical Systems (A+)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A), Int. Econometrics (B+), Adv Econometrics (A), Political Econ of Africa (A), Economic Development seminar (A+), Public Policy Evaluation (A), Experimental Economics (A+)
Freshman year grades: Int. Macro (A-), International Polit Econ. (A-), Honors Linear Algebra (P, school mandates P/F), Honors Multivariable Calc (B)
Other Courses: 4.0 outside of Econ and Math, but nothing very useful
Letters of Recommendation: Chair of dept., MIT PhD; Assistant prof with Berkeley PhD; Assistant prof at a top 5 econ grad uni, Harvard PhD. All have good publications records, should be in the strong to extremely strong range, and they all know my research well
Research Experience: Am working with a professor this fall on research, should get a co-authorship on a pretty good journal article if it works out. RA for a prof at a top 5 econ grad university this summer. Did original research for two classes last semester, one of which won an award and the other that I'm still developing.
Teaching Experience: TA for Intermediate Micro last fall, TA for intermediate econometrics in the fall
Research Interests: Auction design and theory, Development, Experimental, Behavioral...
Statement of purpose: Will try to explain my low real analysis grade and give some of my research ideas.
Other Concerns: Eh, mostly the low grade in Analysis.
Other: Won award for best economics paper from my department
Applying to: Harvard, MIT, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton. Will try again next year if I don't get an admit.

[EconDev137]

Type of Undergrad: B.S. in Quantitative Economics and B.A. in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from midsized public with no phd
Undergrad GPA: 3.36
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 770Q, 570V 4.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I and II (AP), Calc III (A), Linear Algebra (A), Real Analysis (in progress should be A), Probability (B+)- It was regression based statistics
Econ Courses: intro micro (C), intro macro (C), Intermediate micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A+), Econometrics (A-), Honors Advanced Econometrics (A), Economic Growth (A), International Monetary Relations (A), Environmental Economics (B+), Economic Development (B+)
Other Courses: Took econometrics at Ohio State (A)
Econ Courses: (Masters Level) Advanced Macro and Advanced Micro (both in progress should be A's)
Letters of Recommendation: One should be great, but he’s a visiting prof now. Another will be good from a dept head and another will be pretty good.
Research Experience: Nothing really related to econ, I worked at a public policy think tank doing research.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics, Applied Micro, international .economics. I would really like to do a lot of field work as well .
statement of purpose: Have not written yet
Concerns: I had a bad first three semesters at school (3.0, 3.0, 2.6), since then ive had over a 3.7 each semester. I went abroad one semester as well and that semester isn’t included in my GPA. I realized I wanted to do a phd a little later in my undergrad career so I decided to stay an extra semester to take the master’s level micro and macro.
Other:

Applying to: Maryland, Duke, Penn State, Boston College, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Indiana, NC State, Colorado-Bldr, and Kentucky-

I also might apply to OSU AEDE, MSU ARE and Maryland AREC, but im a little afraid of ARE job prospects.

[alc725]

Class level: Senior year, undergrad.
Undergrad: BA in Econ at a so-called public Ivie in California
GPA: overall GPA is 3.8/4; I think my econ GPA is a little higher than this and no idea what my class ranking is.
GRE: gonna take in a few days (argh)...expecting 750 or higher on quantitative and around 700 in the verbal section.
Relevant coursework: bunch of upper division econ classes, 4 econometrics/regression related classes, 3 quarters of calculus with proofs, multivariate calculus, mathematical stats, advanced calculus, applied linear algebra, perhaps differential equations in my last quarter
Research experience: wrote a senior thesis last year, RAing for a labor econ professor right now.
Teaching experience: tutored intermediate macro for this big shot financial econ professor who teaches at NYU now....I only talked to him once in person and communicated with him several times via e-mail...I don't think he'll remember me -_-
Research interests: applied micro, labor economics
Letters of Rec: aiming for numero tres during fall quarter; let the brown nosing begin, which is definitely not a specialty of mine :/
Statement of purpose: just started working on it
Concerns: I'm really worried about not taking enough math and stats and not being strong enough in abstract math and proof work in general. Also, I transferred to another university in my junior year and a bunch of my previous econ coursework fell through so I had to retake them. Not only that but my new school required 8 additional general education type courses I had to take in order to get receive a degree (which was lousy because I spent my first 2 college years fulfilling essentially the same requirements at my old school). I was pretty bogged down by those classes and had to stay an extra quarter in order to take more math.

Applying to: UC Davis, Irvine, SD, LA, and Berkeley, Uni Mich, Chicago (I wish!), Boston Uni, Maryland, some additional state schools to be safe for an MA or PhD in econ. Realistically, I think I should aim for a MA because my math isn't strong enough. And after looking at everyone else's stellar profiles, I think maybe I should just stick with my original post-college plans and go for an MBA arghhhhsdjfdajf;

[moneyandcredit]

Class Level: First-year MA student in a state school, not well-known.
Type of Undergrad: Dropped out of a well-regarded Physics program years ago, ended up going to Community College and transferring to a B.A. in Economics from a local state teaching university with no M.A. or Ph.D. programs in Economics. Nobody outside of a 20-mile radius of this school is aware of its existence.
Undergrad GPA: 3.27 Total Overall / 3.77 Last 66 Units (I have an unauthorized withdrawal from improperly dropping an unnecessary GE class... otherwise my last 63 units would be 3.95) / 4.00 Econ
Type of Grad: I'm in the first year of an MA Economics program at another campus in the same system as my undergrad, but which won't allow me to enroll in math classes thanks to budget cuts.
Grad GPA: 4.00 so far, but I've only had "Math Econ" over the summer.
GRE: 790Q, 720V 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I and II (AP Calc BC, score 5/5), Calc III (A-), Intro Linear Algebra (B+, drugs are bad), Intro Differential Equations (A-), Ordinary Differential Equations I (A), Introduction to Statistics (A), Intermediate Probability (C+ summer before I finally dropped out, drugs are bad... trying to retake elsewhere if I can), Foundations of Higher Mathematics (A, intro to proofs), Mathematics for Economists (A, very basic analysis, mathematical optimization).
Econ Courses: Principles of Micro/Macro (A/A), Intermediate Micro/Macro (A/A), Money and Banking (A), Use and Interpretation of Economic Data (A), Basic Econometrics (A), International Trade+Finance (A), Industrial Organization (A), Public Economics (A), Health Economics (A)
Other Courses: Financial Accounting (A), Financial Management (A), Investment Analysis (A), Risk Management (A)
Econ Courses In Progress: "Advanced" Micro, Intermediate Econometrics I, Economic Development - I wouldn't call any of these classes "advanced."
Math Courses In Progress: Barred from taking Math classes due to the budget cuts, so I may take Real Analysis through Stanford EPGY Online. Update 7 September: Got into Introduction to Mathematical Analysis I... persistence pays off. Still waiting on Probability.
Econ Courses Planned: Spring 2010: "Advanced" Macro, Intermediate Econometrics II, Research Seminar in Economic Development. Possibly Transportation Economics.
Math Courses Planned: Unsure: The CSU budget cuts are making it difficult for a lot of people, even Math majors, to access the classes they want. This is why I'm considering applications to MA programs at better-funded universities more sympathetic to Economics students who want to take math courses.
Awards: Outstanding Economics Student of the Class of 2009 (only in-major 4.0 in my graduating Economics class), Certificate of Excellence in Economics (awarded to anyone with a 3.5 or better after ~15 units in the department), dean's list in 4 semesters and one quarter.
Letters of Recommendation: There are at least 5 professors who would be willing to give me a letter of recommendation. PhDs from UCLA, Ivies and Wisconsin, but none of them are famous researchers. One of them is a lecturer at UCLA, and repeatedly asked me "WTF are you doing at this school?" The chair of the department seemed very impressed with me despite my A-grade but imperfect term-papers, and I got to know this semester's incoming chair pretty well at "Economics Happy Hours."
Research Experience: Nothing major: Mid-length term papers in Micro, Macro, Metrics, and Health Econ, as well as a 20-minute presentation on uses of the monopolistic competition model for explaining conflicts in the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization negotiations (part of a one-hour group presentation).
Teaching Experience: Led a section of 11 students in Principles of Microeconomics. Developed lesson plans and worksheets, gave unsupervised lectures. 8/11 students passed, 7 with B's or better.
Research Interests: Industrial Organization, Game Theory, Monetary Policy, International Macroeconomics and Finance
Statement of purpose: Not started, but it will cover my research interests and explain how Economics is what I'm actually interested in doing, unlike my abysmal experience in Physics. I'm considering which research proposals I should include.
Concerns: I would apply directly to the PhD programs that interest me, but my first experience with college was downright abysmal. A four-year drug and alcohol bender took me from being a straight-A dean's-list student to a has-been dropout with more F's and W's on my record than I can remember (10+). I dropped out with a cumulative GPA in the B-minus range. I rejoined the academic world after two years of working the kinds of jobs that don't require a degree. Despite my stellar performance since resuming my education, it's at an unknown institution with unknown professors and I worry constantly about how my past will prevent me from attending any PhD program, much less one of the caliber I wish to attend (Top-15). Just a reminder to the kids out there that you reap what you sow.

Considering Applying to: (All MA/MSc programs) Boston, Duke, Miami of Ohio, British Columbia, Queen's, Toronto, NYU, USC, LSE, Toulouse, Tilburg, Tinbergen, Pompeu Fabra (UPF), CEMFI, Carlos III Madrid, Cal Lutheran, San Francisco (USF), Oxford, Cambridge, Oregon. Please let me know of any others I should consider (via PM; non-profile replies are not cool in this thread)

If you think I'm overly concerned with my chequered (checkered?) past and want to make me feel all warm and fuzzy, feel free to send me a PM with consoling comments.

[Gravy924]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: UCSB, Top 100 overall, higher in certain subdisciplines according to Econphd
Undergrad GPA:3.55 ish, 3.65 in Economics which was top 3 in the major (around 40 students) Dont know if I was 1, 2, or 3 because it was a certificate with generic title, but lets just say 3rd.
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: None
GRE: Have not taken yet, but I believe I can get 750 or above Q, 600 or above Verbal
Math Courses: At UCSB, Calc 3C (Intro Diff Equations/Linear Algebra) D+, Retook for B-. PSTAT 5E, A+, PSTAT 120A, B-.
As Post Bac: Intro to Proofs, A, Calc III (Multivariable, Vector Calc, etc) A, Probability and Statistics (Basically the same as 120A at SB) A, In Fall will take Analysis I, Linear Algebra (proof based) and Diff Equations.
Econ Courses: All the basics, Intermediate Micro (A, A-, B), Intermediate Macro, A, Monetary, A, Econometrics (A, B). More electives as B+'s or A's,
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a Math Prof, did well in his class (Phd from UCSD) 1 from a Econ Prof (Phd from MIT) I am doing research for, and Poli Sci Prof who knows me well (2 quarter class with just another student and myself), Cited often in Poli Sci journals. (not sure if that matters)
Research Experience: None really, did a paper on Market Failure while studying abroad in the Netherlands, was much more anecdotal than theoretical or statistical. Also, have been an RA for Econ Prof mentioned above. More just gathering data.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: International Finance, Monetary, Macro etc.
s. Do not plan on entering academia right away, thinking of World Bank, IMF, Bank International Settlements jobs etc.

As of right now I am applying to the following programs:
MA: USanFran, UBC, Queens, UWO, Toronto, Bocconi, UPF,

PhD: Georgetown, UCSC, UCLA (maybe my name will get put on someone elses app =)), UCI, Maryland, UVA, Wisconson, USC
Starting to think about George Washington (prob no funding), NYU, Columbia (prob no admit)

UCSC is by far my top choice.

Good luck everyone.