UPenn v.s. UCSD, both fully funded.

[us2012]

Hi,

I have narrowed my choice to these two schools. Funding is no problem. My general interest is in micro theory, including game theory, information economics and behavioral economics.

I know UCSD is decent in micro. Actually they place a theory guy this year to Penn, and Penn' s placement is no good recently. Yet I am very attracted by the diversification of penn, as well as their more resources (Ivy school) and talented students. Upenn is strong in social science generally, and I am interested in such disciplines other than econ (listening to seminars and talking with students outside econ). How do you think about Upenn in micro theory? And any comments on my choice? More focus on my major and so academic future, or satisfying my general interest (including sth outside academics) ?

Thank you very much.

[Zeno]

Congratulations!

Both are excellent departments for micro theory. If you have the ability, I would strongly recommend visiting both before making your decision.

I would personally be drawn a bit more to Penn, but it's idiosyncratic. Definitely look up current faculty's research interests. Not just titles either... At least browse some abstracts. Also, be careful about the trap of only focusing on senior/famous professors. See which school has a better, larger group of people doing stuff you find cool.

[godlesschum]

For quality of life, UCSD by far

[kipfilet]

Unless you are sure you want to do econometrics, I believe UPenn would be a safer choice...

[CorcoranCadet]

If I had the choice I would probably go to UCSD. Worth a visit first though.

[OneArmedEcon]

For quality of life, UCSD by far

Depends on the relative size of the stipends conditional on cost-of-living. The year that I applied, UCSD's TAship stipends were exceptionally paltry (like $12.5k). Living in a beautiful, high cost of living area with very little money makes one more miserable than being a less beautiful place, but with some degree of disposable income. Size of stipend shouldn't solely determine a decision, but be sure that you adjust for cost-of-living in Philadelphia vs San Diego. Even if the stipends are comparable in nominal terms, a dollar goes a lot further in Philly (which isn't exactly cheap either, but it's lower cost-of-living than San Diego).

I agree that they are close enough that you should try to visit both and see which feels better. But to the extent that "quality of life" is entering your calculation, realize that it might actually be higher in Philly than San Diego.

[untitled]

... and Penn' s placement is no good recently.

Is this true? It looks good to me. My choice would be Penn by a good deal, it has much better research output, I think (outside of econometrics, I suppose, but even there...). UCSD is nice, but I get most of my sun going to meetings and conferences in different places, not going for walks on the beach in my freetime during the first couple years of grad school (hint: you'll have no free time either way).

[godlesschum]

Depends on the relative size of the stipends conditional on cost-of-living. The year that I applied, UCSD's TAship stipends were exceptionally paltry (like $12.5k). Living in a beautiful, high cost of living area with very little money makes one more miserable than being a less beautiful place, but with some degree of disposable income. Size of stipend shouldn't solely determine a decision, but be sure that you adjust for cost-of-living in Philadelphia vs San Diego. Even if the stipends are comparable in nominal terms, a dollar goes a lot further in Philly (which isn't exactly cheap either, but it's lower cost-of-living than San Diego).

I agree that they are close enough that you should try to visit both and see which feels better. But to the extent that "quality of life" is entering your calculation, realize that it might actually be higher in Philly than San Diego.

I wasn't referring to quality of life as it's related to income. But...if that is a HUGE factor for you (your MU of an extra unit of consumption at your current level is SO high) then you should go to Penn. But if other factors consider (like length of how long it will take you to complete the program, quality of offices for students, student happiness), then I would go UCSD.

[mar412]

As others have said, I would also use the visit days to make your decision. I think you get a feel for things you wouldn't without visiting (ie, how happy/miserable are the students, is a professor you want to work with already over burdened). But, hey, these are both great programs. You can't really lose.

[mathemagician]

As an upper year grad student, I will tell you that UPenn is the better choice unless you are sure you want to do time-series econometrics.