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2014 ARE Thread


bandersnatch

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Signing in to the 2014 ARE Thread. I'm in a ARE MS right now, so I can probably give some answers for those interested in what goes on at this level.

 

I have a question, to start: What is the track record of applying with a applied master's to pure econ PhD's? Any record of this working out favorably?

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From the people I know, I've seen some success for pure econ PhDs outside of the top 20 - it largely depends on the school you were at, the strength of the econ department at that program, and your area of specialization.

 

That said I've also heard of people who have gone on to Stanford and Chicago after the MA in ARE - although these are both places that have had a stronger connection to the ARE field in the past.

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Signing in to the 2014 ARE Thread. I'm in a ARE MS right now, so I can probably give some answers for those interested in what goes on at this level.

 

I have a question, to start: What is the track record of applying with a applied master's to pure econ PhD's? Any record of this working out favorably?

 

Hi

i'm currently applying to ARE MS programs for fall 2014 and looking to specialise in development economics/ international dev.

programs currently considered: UWM, MSU, UM, UIUC and Purdue. Any other good programs? Would be great if you could share your thoughts. Thanks

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Signing in to the 2014 ARE Thread. I'm in a ARE MS right now, so I can probably give some answers for those interested in what goes on at this level.

 

I have a question, to start: What is the track record of applying with a applied master's to pure econ PhD's? Any record of this working out favorably?

 

Hi

I'm applying for several ARE MS programs and I'm looking to specialise in international development - currently applying to UWM, MSU, UM, UIUC and Purdue - getting into a good program just in case I I decide to pursue a PhD after that - any suggestions? As I mentioned in a different post, I would have liked to apply to UC Davis too but I dont think that their 1-year MS program will be a good fit for me.

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Hi

i'm currently applying to ARE MS programs for fall 2014 and looking to specialise in development economics/ international dev.

programs currently considered: UWM, MSU, UM, UIUC and Purdue. Any other good programs? Would be great if you could share your thoughts. Thanks

 

I applied to and visited Madison, MSU, Purdue for development a few years back. I could have happily attended any of them. I would definitely add Davis and Cornell to that list but I think that about rounds out the strongest development people in the field. I found the total funding packages were most competitive (after COLA) at MSU and Purdue.

 

I love Purdue's program and think they're a great group of people. That said, I generally get the feeling from some professors that Purdue only offers a development specialization because they feel like they have to. MSU has a ton of development focused people in the field that have great connections. Wisconsin has a small but high quality development faculty (anyone know if they're hiring?). Davis has Carter and one of the better MA programs and Cornell has Barrett who is one of my academic heroes. Also didn't UM just pick up Bellemare from Duke? I've heard really good things about him as an advisor (especially for MA students).

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Hi

I'm applying for several ARE MS programs and I'm looking to specialise in international development - currently applying to UWM, MSU, UM, UIUC and Purdue - getting into a good program just in case I I decide to pursue a PhD after that - any suggestions? As I mentioned in a different post, I would have liked to apply to UC Davis too but I dont think that their 1-year MS program will be a good fit for me.

 

Have you looked at Minnesota and Cornell. A possible safety could be Missouri, they do have people doing development.

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So I have a question. How does your dissertation topic affect your job market at ARE schools and research institutes like IFPRI.

 

So for instance if my dissertation focuses on estimating barriers to entry or something in the fossil fuel industry in a country, let's say Angola. Will I be limited to only schools and companies looking for people who know about oil and gas, or will I be limited to African development.

 

I guess, I'm concerned of becoming too specific and narrow that if the oil industry or whatever I'm doing changes, I'll be doomed.

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So I have a question. How does your dissertation topic affect your job market at ARE schools and research institutes like IFPRI.

 

So for instance if my dissertation focuses on estimating barriers to entry or something in the fossil fuel industry in a country, let's say Angola. Will I be limited to only schools and companies looking for people who know about oil and gas, or will I be limited to African development.

 

I guess, I'm concerned of becoming too specific and narrow that if the oil industry or whatever I'm doing changes, I'll be doomed.

 

Good question. I'm also interested in knowing the answer!

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ARE (and environmental economics programs) applicant right here.

 

So I have a question. How does your dissertation topic affect your job market at ARE schools and research institutes like IFPRI.

 

If you really wanted to know the answer to this question, you could look at programs' alumni (eg: Agricultural and Resource Economics - Past Job Placements), google their CV's, and then compare their dissertation topics with the positions they currently hold and the type of research they currently do. Let us know if you find anything interesting!

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ARE (and environmental economics programs) applicant right here.

 

 

 

If you really wanted to know the answer to this question, you could look at programs' alumni (eg: Agricultural and Resource Economics - Past Job Placements), google their CV's, and then compare their dissertation topics with the positions they currently hold and the type of research they currently do. Let us know if you find anything interesting!

 

That was helpful. It's Berkeley ARE though, so I assume they can basically do anything a top 20 PhD economics can do. I did use your idea and looked at the other ARE programs, here's MSU AFRE placements here Job Placements | Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics and here's a snapshot of Missouri's http://dass.missouri.edu/agecon/grad/overview-past-grads.pdf

 

Just a heads up, the Missouri's placement is old, some of them are doing different things now.

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Sule, I don't think that your future research is completely dependent on your job market paper. Check out a lot of people in the ARE route and you'll see that the job market paper/dissertation topic does not necessarily dictate their entire career. However, I know that a lot of ARE programs have you do three essays as your dissertation. You can write essays about a variety of topics if you are worried about pigeonholing yourself. For example you could write about fossil fuels in Angola, and a methods paper, and a third paper based on some other interests. People are hired in basic subfields. If you are doing development, you will be hired only by departments that are interested in development, as opposed to say environmental work.

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  • 5 weeks later...
Hi ms484, I read that you are in Wisconsin AAE. I want to ask some questions. I am applying there for the Ph.D program. My main research interest is development economics, and I have written that I want to work with Schechter and Coxhead. Solely based on my interest, do I have a good chance to get admission? I know this is stupid question. I am just a bit concerned since I read in the forum that admission to an ARE program is heavily based on an applicant's fit to the program. What is the current focus of the AAE program? Thanks.
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Hi ms484, I read that you are in Wisconsin AAE. I want to ask some questions. I am applying there for the Ph.D program. My main research interest is development economics, and I have written that I want to work with Schechter and Coxhead. Solely based on my interest, do I have a good chance to get admission? I know this is stupid question. I am just a bit concerned since I read in the forum that admission to an ARE program is heavily based on an applicant's fit to the program. What is the current focus of the AAE program? Thanks.

 

i don't think you need to have the exact same goals as anyone in the program. I think an overall interest in development is important, but your main interest doesn't need to be in sanitation to work with Laura, for example. I think more than anything they try to admit an even mix of students that fits the main mix of the faculty fields. I got into the program even though I don't work with anyone I wrote in my sop. If you have more specific questions, feel free to pm me.

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i don't think you need to have the exact same goals as anyone in the program. I think an overall interest in development is important, but your main interest doesn't need to be in sanitation to work with Laura, for example. I think more than anything they try to admit an even mix of students that fits the main mix of the faculty fields. I got into the program even though I don't work with anyone I wrote in my sop. If you have more specific questions, feel free to pm me.

 

Thanks, ms484! Of course, I don't force my main interest, at least in my SOP, to be exactly the same with Laura. In fact, it is a bit different.

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Mandcrut -- I'll pipe in too since I think I can offer some input.

 

As you know ARE (AAE AREc.. whatever they call themselves) focus primarily on applied topics... so I think that is where 'fit' matters. They are going to give you a heavy dose of therotical training from day one, but they will tailor the program to highlight applied methods. The goal of the ARE program is to make you understand theory and master empirics. Because of this, fit is insanely important - because some folks who think they are interested in empirical may end up becoming theorists. This is likely much more difficult at an ARE program because (i) that isn't the focus on the program and (ii) the professors there will likely be applied econometricans, by and large.

 

So -- the fit is more important in that the professors who will be teaching/advising you will be able to provide excellent mentorship and guidance, conditional on your interests, as opposed to tailoring your research interests to matching those of the faculty.

 

This isn't to say that there is no crossover between ARE and theory, it is just that it isn't the main focus. Thus changing from a empirical field to a more theoretical field will be quite difficult in the confines of the ARE program. The good news is -- there is always an economics program just down the road that would surely be accessible with enough gumption on the side of the student.

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Mandcrut -- I'll pipe in too since I think I can offer some input.

 

As you know ARE (AAE AREc.. whatever they call themselves) focus primarily on applied topics... so I think that is where 'fit' matters. They are going to give you a heavy dose of therotical training from day one, but they will tailor the program to highlight applied methods. The goal of the ARE program is to make you understand theory and master empirics. Because of this, fit is insanely important - because some folks who think they are interested in empirical may end up becoming theorists. This is likely much more difficult at an ARE program because (i) that isn't the focus on the program and (ii) the professors there will likely be applied econometricans, by and large.

 

So -- the fit is more important in that the professors who will be teaching/advising you will be able to provide excellent mentorship and guidance, conditional on your interests, as opposed to tailoring your research interests to matching those of the faculty.

 

This isn't to say that there is no crossover between ARE and theory, it is just that it isn't the main focus. Thus changing from a empirical field to a more theoretical field will be quite difficult in the confines of the ARE program. The good news is -- there is always an economics program just down the road that would surely be accessible with enough gumption on the side of the student.

 

Thanks, Icculus! Nice information. My main interest is in applied development economics. My plan is to get a good grasp of micro theory and master applied econometrics.

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