Profiles and Results 2008

[Fermat]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 25 per USNews (UVirginia), Math and Econ double
Undergrad GPA: 3.3, 3.4 in Econ, 3.0 in Math
Type of Grad: Master's in (applied) Mathematics, Clemson Univesity (Not sure of the ranking, top 100?)
Grad GPA: 4.0 through first year, summer courses, and fall semester
GRE: 800Q, 450V, 3.5 AW
Math Courses: All the standard as an undergrad math major. I had a lot of B's in those classes, nothing worse than a B-. As a graduate student:Discrete Math (A), Matrix Algebra (A), Statistical Inference (A, Casella and Berger), Functional Analysis (A), Statistical Models (Regression, etc., A), Operations Research (Linear Programming, A), Probability (A), Stochastic Processes(A), (Network flows(A), Computation (A), more stochastics (A) finished in fall semester...sent grades to places where I applied)
Econ Courses: The highlights are Intermediate Micro (A-), Intermediate Macro (B+), Game Theory (A-), Stat and Prob for Econ (A), Econometrics (B), Economics of Taxation (B+), Econ and Gender (A-), Money and Banking (B)

Letters of Recommendation: Not from economists. Statistician (pretty well-known), Operation Research professor (had best grade in her class), and Anaylsis Professor. All were pretty good I believe
Research Experience: None at the time of applications
Teaching Experience: Worked as TA last year and teaching two sections of a business calculus class in the previous fall and one in the spring (currently) of this year.
Research Interests: Micro Theory and IO, perhaps econometrics, but also applied to engineering programs and OR programs.
statement of purpose: Ok, had a typo or two. Had to rush to get it done. Don't think it mattered much.
Other: American Male.


RESULTS:
Acceptances: ECON: UTaustin(no $), UVA ($$ eventually), UCIrvine ($$), Georgetown ($$)...NON-ECON: UVA Systems Engineering ($$)
Waitlists: none
Rejections: Cornell Operation Research,
Pending: Haven't heard from Ohio State econ or UNC econ...don't care anymore
What would you have done differently? Nothing really...I decided to take the UVa systems engineering offer as I now feel I would make a better engineer than economist given my background. I am really happy to be going back to UVA, my undergraduate institution and being closer to my family. Since this is an econ board, there really is nothing different that I would have done with the econ applications. I would have been really happy taking the georgetown, uva, or UTAustin offer. I hope this helps, let me know if you have questions on my profile.

[EMEQU]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Good Latin American university
Undergrad GPA: 15.4/20
Type of Grad: Good Latin American university
Ggrad GPA: 8/10
GRE: 800Q 500V 4.0AWA
TOEFL: 260/300
Math Courses (undergrad and grad): Calculus, Probability, Statistics, Real Analysis, Mathematical Economics (optimization and optimal control)
Econ Courses(grad): Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Aplied Econometrics.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 strong letter of reference from one very well-known senior professor, 2 strong LORS from two assistant professors.
Research Experience: Master's thesis, few working papers.
Teaching Experience: TA (undergraduate), Lecturer (undergraduate)
Research Interests: Macroeconomics.
statement of purpose: Explained why I wanted to pursue a PhD in economics.

RESULTS:
Acceptances: University College London (no $), Texas A&M ($$), UC Davis ($$), University of Virginia ($$), Arizona State University ($$$), UIUC ($$$, 1st year fellowship), Carnegie Mellon ($$$, 1st year fellowship).
Rejections: UC San Diego, Brown University, UC Santa Cruz, JHU.
Pending: Queen's University.
What would you have done differently?
I think LORs matter a lot, specially for international students (since one professor may recommend 4 or 5 students at the same time to the same university). I wish I applied to fewer safety schools.

[Luckykid]

Undergrad Institution: UW-Milwaukee
Major: Economics/Math Minor
GPA: 3.4 (3.6 Econ) (3.6 Math)(3.6, 3.75, 3.8 The last 3 semesters)
GRE: 770q 460v 4AWA
Tofel: I am an American but my verbal suggests otherwise...
Courses:
301 Int. Micro B
302 Int. Macro A
325 Money B
353 Devlop A
413 Stats B
351 Intro Int A
447 Labor A
513 Econometrics B
454 Trade A
404 Game Theory B
506 Math Econ I A-
Spring: Math Econ II

Math:
Business Calc A
Calc I B
Calc II A
Intro to Proofs B+
Spring: Calc III, Linear Algebra

Research: Working on undergrad research two semesters...nothing special.
letter of reference: 1 should be stellar Associate prof(U-Mich)., 2 others pretty good-good one assoc. one tenured.

Interests: Experimental, Applied Micro, Labor

Admissions:
Michigan State University ($0)
University of Arizona ($0)
University of Kentucky ($12+3)
Florida State University ($16+3)
University of Georgia ($pending)
University of Houston ($9.5+6)
University of Tennessee ($14)
University of Connecticut (MA)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (MA-spring)

Rejections:
University of Michigan Ann-Arbor
University of Virginia
University of Iowa
Pennsylvania State University
University of Indiana-Bloomington
Vanderbilt
Arizona State University
Iowa State University
North Carolina State University
Rice University
University of Oregon
University of Massachusetts

Waiting:
Ohio State University (Long Shot)
Texas A&M University (Perhaps)
Purdue University (Probable)
Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Probable)

Goals: Tenure track at a Ph.D. Granting research institution. To live comfortably(upper middle), like my job, and be able to spend ample time with my family.

What I Learned: Applying to all of these school was worth it by far; if I was not getting married I would go to MSU in a heart beat. I think my profile is weak for that institution but the probability jump of many applications has paid off in the upper level schools. Almost all if not all of the schools I got accepted to are top in the areas I mentioned in my statement of purpose. I strongly believe that your statement of purpose is a YES OR NO qualifier in the admissions process. It is hard to gauge what schools are good in what field so I think I should have asked my professors before I applied to better position my statement of purpose and eliminate schools that are not fits and add schools that are.

[txecon]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Medium State University, Econ Major/Math Minor

Undergrad GPA: 3.91 (4.0 Econ/3.8 Math)

Type of Grad: This coming Summer in the AEA Summer Program at UCSB

Grad GPA: N/A

GRE: 750Q / 560V / 4.5A

Math Courses: Calculus I-III, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics Theory I-II, Intro to Real Analysis, a few business analysis courses, and self-guided through Diff. Eq.

Econ Courses: Principles, Intermediates, Labor, Managerial (Game Theory, Applied Micro, etc.), Development, Monetary, Econometrics (UCSB), Master's Level Micro/Macro (UCSB), Economics Research Methods (UCSB)

Other Courses: A few programming courses

Letters of Recommendation: Mostly professor at my undergraduate. All know me very well, and some are well known for research.

Research Experience: Two years as an undergraduate research assistant

Teaching Experience: 2 years tutoring and teaching recitation courses

Research Interests: Financial Econometrics, Labor, Applied Micro, dabbled in Development

statement of purpose:I think it shows my writing ability and explains some of my weak points. I think simplicity is desirable in an statement of purpose. They want to know you can write concisely and well as clearly.

Other: I spent a summer taking courses at UChicago (unfortunately I didn't know at the time that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and didn't build a memorable relationship with my professor. DOH!)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Texas A&M ($$$)(attending),Texas (no$), UNC (no$), SMU($$), Claremont ($), UIC ($)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Rochester, Georgetown, UVA, Colorado
Pending: None

What would you have done differently? To be honest I was a bit behind the curve in learning the process and the method for applying for an Econ. Ph.D. I learned I needed a strong math background late, so I had to settle for a minor. I learned about the importance of LORs, so my time at UChicago didn't help much. Saying this, though, I am very happy about my outcome. TAMU will be an excellent place to receive sound training.

I should note that it is said on here a lot that the two most important things about your application is GRE scores and LORs, and I just simply want to reiterate that. GRE will get you through the door, and letter writers who are known (either because they are famous or just simply have a contact in the AdCom) will get you a place at the dinner table and possibly nominations for fellowships.

Good Luck to all those still waiting to hear this year, and beginning the process next year! If you are reading this in the Fall and have a question about TAMU, please don't hesitate to PM me.

[hawk30]

For the research purposes of future generations:

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Midwestern Private Liberal Arts
Undergrad GPA: 3.65 (3.9 - Econ, 3.7 - Political Science)
GRE: 720Q/630V/5.5A
LSAT: 161
Math Courses: Calculus I, II and Probability and Statistics
Econ Courses: The basics, Econometrics, Industrial Organization, International, Money and Banking, etc.
Other Courses: POLS double major, PHIL minor
Letters of Recommendation: Wish I knew. Two, one from MIT grad, I suspect were good. The two others I've since wondered about.
Research Experience: Researching senior thesis
Teaching Experience: Department tutor and teaching assistant
Research Interests: history of economic thought, money and banking, natural resource economics, law and economics
statement of purpose: Nothing I'm proud of
Other: Also applied to law schools. Only looked in Colorado area.

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Colorado School of Mines PhD Mineral Econ ($), Colorado State University PhD ($), Denver University MA ($), University of New Mexico PhD ($), Denver University law JD
Waitlists:
Rejections: University of Colorado PhD
Pending: University of Colorado law JD, University of New Mexico law JD

What would you have done differently? I wish I would've decided to apply to grad schools earlier than January so I could've retaken the GRE. Wish I would've decided if I wanted to be an economist - still haven't decided that - a few years ago so I could've taken some more math classes. Also, would've liked to have found this website and forums before, not after, I submitted my applications. Overall, though, I'm pleased. I have a difficult career decision to make.

[bertthepuppy]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 50 private university by US News
Undergrad GPA: 3.61
Type of Grad: a couple semesters of non-degree courses, medium-sized, well-ranked state school
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 790/500/5.5
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Lin Alg, Real Analysis, 3 semesters of Stats
Econ Courses: Int Micro & Macro, Money and Banking, Public Finance, Int'l Trade, Int'l Finance, Thesis Course, Econometrics...
Other Courses: many policy-related analytical courses
Letters of Recommendation: solid, all knew me very well one Yale, one Johns Hopkins, one Berkeley, and one Northeastern (but ironically, probably the most well-known)
Research Experience: RA in undergrad and currently RA for one of my letter writers
Teaching Experience: TA for Econ for Public Affairs and Macro
Research Interests: Labor, Applied micro
statement of purpose: well-tailored to each school, and given emphasis on my drive, with comparisons to running the two marathons I did

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Wisconsin (short list for $), Texas (wait list for $), UNC-CH($), Ohio State (no $), Iowa ($), Colorado (?), Illinois ($), Cornell (no $), Vanderbilt ($), Kentucky ($)
Waitlists: Georgetown (then given fellowship)
Rejections: Duke, Michigan, MarylandWhat would you have done differently? I wish I would have realized that April 15th seems like this magical day when everything will be done. However, this is not always the case, especially if you are near the middle of the pack at some good programs. Even though I've been formulating preferences for months, I feel like they have all changed within the past week. I'll probably go to Wisconsin if I get off the wait list for $, otherwise I think I will go to Texas, perhaps unfunded. Ask me tomorrow and I will change my mind again.

[pdilly]

Type of Undergrad: BA from a less prestigious liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.75
Type of Grad:
Grad GPA:
GRE: 770M/590V
Math Courses: Cal I-III (A's), Linear Algebra (A), Applied Stats (A), Probability Theory (B). Taking Differential Equations this semester.
Econ Courses: A's in Macro I, Intermediate Macro, Intermediate Micro, Urban Econ, Labor Econ, American Econ History, Law and Economics, B's in Micro I and Regional Econ.
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: Very strong, but not from well-known professors. My best came from my statistics prof, who is also the dean of natural sciences.
Research Experience: None
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Urban, applied Micro
statement of purpose: Not especially strong. I have only a vague Idea of what I want to do at this point.
Other:

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Syracuse ($$), UConn (MA only, at this point)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Texas, Boston College, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, UC Boulder
Pending:

What would you have done differently?
I probably shouldn't have aimed quite so high... I didn't have much of a shot at BC and Texas. I would have applied to more schools in the 40-60 range.

I'm actually putting off grad school for a little while. Syracuse agreed to hold my offer till next year, and I'm going to work on improving my resume. I'm taking advanced cal and complex analysis at my dinky liberal arts college in the fall, and I'm planning to transfer to UT-Austin in the spring to take real analysis and econometrics, among other things. Hopefully I'll be able to work some research experience in at some point too.

[touchwood08]

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad: Good European university (Political Science)
Undergrad GPA: 4.00/4.00
Type of Grad (3 years program): Good European University (Economics)
Ggrad GPA: 4.00/4.00
GRE: 780Q 610V 4.5AWA
TOEFL: 102/100
Math Courses (grad): Probability, Statistics, Mathematical Economics (calculus and static optimization), Dynamic Optimization
Econ Courses (grad): Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Various Fields.
Letters of Recommendation: 4 strong letters. One letter from a very well known professor.
Research Experience: Undergraduate honor thesis (applied econometrics. awarded a national price) + working paper on more theoretical stuff (not so polished at the time of applications). Research assistant for the very well known professor.
Teaching Experience: TA in Introduction to Economics (undergraduate) and in Econometrics I (graduate)
Research Interests: Macro-Finance; Corporate Finance; Applied Econometrics.
statement of purpose: ...not enough time to write a good one.
Other info: male, 25 y/o

RESULTS:
Acceptances (waitlist): UPenn ($$ attending), Northwestern ($$, declined), LSE Mrs./track 2 ($$, declined), BU (no $$, declined), NYU (waitlisted, declined).
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Yale, UCLA, LBS,
What would you have done differently?
My greatest regret is to not have applied to Princeton. I was informed I ended up at the border at Chicago so I could have taken a chance there. Maybe I would have spent more time polishing my research paper and writing a good statement of purpose. Anyway, I am very pleased with my outcomes and I believe Penn is a very good match with my interests.

[wcd123]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 25 American research University
Undergrad GPA: 3.97
Type of Grad: none
Grad GPA: none
GRE: 800/510/6.0
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A's), Linear Algebra (A), Probability and Statistics (A), Introduction to Math Reasoning (A)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Game Theory (A), Math for Economists (A--graduate course), Public Economics (A), Health Economics (A), and a bunch more
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 1 assistant prof that I RA for, 2 senior faculty that I was in class with. All 3 are actively publishing, and both senior faculty are well established in their fields
Research Experience: 1 year RA, Honors essay
Teaching Experience: Tutoring
Research Interests: Applied micro--more towards public/labor/health than IO, but I generally like empirical research and applied econometrics.
statement of purpose: I thought it was pretty good. Don't know if it helped or not. Talked about why I like empirical work, some current research I'm working on, and tried to signal that I know what I'm getting into.
Other:

RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale (going there), Michigan, Columbia, Duke, Brown, Maryland, Wisconsin
Waitlists: Chicago
Rejections: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley
Pending: none

What would you have done differently? Not much. I would have liked to have gotten in to Princeton or MIT, but I am extremely happy with my outcomes.

[ephyou]

Type of Undergrad: top 10 liberal arts
Undergrad GPA: 3.5
Type of Grad: none
GRE: 790/630/6.0
Math Courses: multi, linear alg, real & complex analysis, diff-e-q, stat+prob
Econ Courses: metrics, math-econ, history of thought
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ profs, 1 math prof from top 10 uni's
Research Experience: RA at university, govt agency, private sector
Teaching Experience: TA, math/stats/econ/stata&sas tutor
Research Interests: "inequality," metrics
statement of purpose: spent 5 min on it

RESULTS:
Acceptances: osu, virginia, jhu, ucsd (attending), boston uni, brown
Rejections: chicago, berkeley, mich, columbia

What would you have done differently? i graduated in '07 and took a year off. would have tried to do one of those full-time academic research assistanships