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Mathman · 09-23-2006, 04:33 PM

Hello All!

It's just about time for me to start preparing letters, etc. for Econ Phd apps. This year will be my last attempt, so I'd like some advice from those who can spare it.

Im thinking of applying to:

UVA, Ohio State, U-Mich, UNC, U-Ariz, MAYBE Duke, JHU, and ?????

Are these schools within my reach, or should I re-eval? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My specs:

B.S. Math 4.0/4.0
M.S. Math 3.9/4.0 Both from small state univ.
Math -everything that could be taken.
Econ - up through intermediate Micro/Macro, international econ. (not much)
T.A. - 2 years
Math Instructor - currently teaching calc I /calc II
GRE 790/640/4.5

My interests are micro/macro equilibrium theory, and financial econ.

Thank you,

Roger

EconChump · 09-23-2006, 05:21 PM

roger,

you mention that you have applied before. what happened in the past? your profile looks very strong and i am surprised that you weren't successful last time around.

were you very selective, unlucky, etc?

cheers,

Mathman · 09-24-2006, 03:37 PM

I think I just didn't apply to enough schools.

I was rejected by Duke, Cornell, JHU, and accepted to UVA (no funding) and Arizona. I didn't go to AZ because I didn't want to start the semester just before my wife has a baby (our first, the pic is of my nephew).

Really, I must admit that I feel my University is partially to blame. Flame away, but small schools don't command much respect in the realm of competitive applicants. A friend of mine recently completed a masters at the same institution, has a thesis in algebraic topology, great grades, etc. He was rejected by every school for a math PhD (many state schools and safeties). He is now trying the back door at UW.....very sad.

Roger

EconChump · 09-24-2006, 10:02 PM

it does seem to be a very competitive game. i guess the best thing to do is apply to as many schools as possible and keep your fingers crossed.

have you done anything special this year that may improve your chances? did you have your MS grades when applying last year? the teaching (done this year?) is great and will definitely be useful.

duke have a great financial econometrics team, if that interests you.

PCG · 09-25-2006, 03:17 AM

roger...

I think you should apply to UCLA. I know you think it is out of reach, but you never know. You look like you have a good profile. This years class at UCLA is in no way dominated by "exclusive" colleges. There is a big range, actually, so they don't seem to be afraid to admit outside of the top schools. Also, your stated interests seem like a good match.

You also might consider Caltech, which seems like it would be a good match for your interests.

Also, I agree more would be better. MAybe places like Texas, CMU, or Davis would be worthwhile. Also, maybe you should also try wisconsin -- they seem to give out a lot more offers than other schools in their cohort.

Good luck.

ramlau · 09-25-2006, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathman

Hello All!

It's just about time for me to start preparing letters, etc. for Econ Phd apps. This year will be my last attempt, so I'd like some advice from those who can spare it.

Im thinking of applying to:

UVA, Ohio State, U-Mich, UNC, U-Ariz, MAYBE Duke, JHU, and ?

Are these schools within my reach, or should I re-eval? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Roger,

You are well-qualified for the schools on the list, which should be complete if you can pick a couple from the top 20 and a couple of safeties (like A&M and Rutgers?).

Ram
P.S. Why Arizona anyway?

snappythecrab · 09-25-2006, 05:34 AM

Roger,

Good to see you around, still giving things another go. You know the deal, you simply didn't apply to enough schools.

Why this year, if I may ask, are you hesitant to simply apply to a good number of schools? Costly I realize, but your stats are great, and assuming good LOR's, a top 15 admit is hardly out of the question. Last year I applied to 12 and got into 2. Honestly, I think you need to set aside over $1k, or as much as possible, for everything and just submit a bunch of apps. I don't think five schools will cut it.

Mathman · 09-25-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramlau

P.S. Why Arizona anyway?

I'm already in the state, and the program is not too bad in micro. I'd much rather move east. I hope to apply to at least ten schools this semester (maybe add Northwestern, Chicago, etc.) I'm confident that AZ will take me again so this is my safety, maybe I'll add another.

Roger

09-23-2006, 04:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mathman Eager! Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 36	Almost that time again... Hello All! It's just about time for me to start preparing letters, etc. for Econ Phd apps. This year will be my last attempt, so I'd like some advice from those who can spare it. Im thinking of applying to: UVA, Ohio State, U-Mich, UNC, U-Ariz, MAYBE Duke, JHU, and ????? Are these schools within my reach, or should I re-eval? Any suggestions would be appreciated. My specs: B.S. Math 4.0/4.0 M.S. Math 3.9/4.0 Both from small state univ. Math -everything that could be taken. Econ - up through intermediate Micro/Macro, international econ. (not much) T.A. - 2 years Math Instructor - currently teaching calc I /calc II GRE 790/640/4.5 My interests are micro/macro equilibrium theory, and financial econ. Thank you, Roger _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last edited by Mathman : 09-23-2006 at 04:56 PM.

09-24-2006, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mathman Eager! Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 36	I think I just didn't apply to enough schools. I was rejected by Duke, Cornell, JHU, and accepted to UVA (no funding) and Arizona. I didn't go to AZ because I didn't want to start the semester just before my wife has a baby (our first, the pic is of my nephew). Really, I must admit that I feel my University is partially to blame. Flame away, but small schools don't command much respect in the realm of competitive applicants. A friend of mine recently completed a masters at the same institution, has a thesis in algebraic topology, great grades, etc. He was rejected by every school for a math PhD (many state schools and safeties). He is now trying the back door at UW.....very sad. Roger _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

09-25-2006, 05:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
snappythecrab TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 689	Roger, Good to see you around, still giving things another go. You know the deal, you simply didn't apply to enough schools. Why this year, if I may ask, are you hesitant to simply apply to a good number of schools? Costly I realize, but your stats are great, and assuming good LOR's, a top 15 admit is hardly out of the question. Last year I applied to 12 and got into 2. Honestly, I think you need to set aside over $1k, or as much as possible, for everything and just submit a bunch of apps. I don't think five schools will cut it. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ University of Wisconsin - Madison: Took my Masters and ran.

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09-23-2006, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
EconChump i am NOT a motard Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 225	roger, you mention that you have applied before. what happened in the past? your profile looks very strong and i am surprised that you weren't successful last time around. were you very selective, unlucky, etc? cheers,

09-24-2006, 10:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
EconChump i am NOT a motard Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 225	it does seem to be a very competitive game. i guess the best thing to do is apply to as many schools as possible and keep your fingers crossed. have you done anything special this year that may improve your chances? did you have your MS grades when applying last year? the teaching (done this year?) is great and will definitely be useful. duke have a great financial econometrics team, if that interests you.

09-25-2006, 03:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
PCG Within my grasp! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UCLA Posts: 369	roger... I think you should apply to UCLA. I know you think it is out of reach, but you never know. You look like you have a good profile. This years class at UCLA is in no way dominated by "exclusive" colleges. There is a big range, actually, so they don't seem to be afraid to admit outside of the top schools. Also, your stated interests seem like a good match. You also might consider Caltech, which seems like it would be a good match for your interests. Also, I agree more would be better. MAybe places like Texas, CMU, or Davis would be worthwhile. Also, maybe you should also try wisconsin -- they seem to give out a lot more offers than other schools in their cohort. Good luck.

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