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#61 (permalink) |
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Within my grasp!
![]() ![]() Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 303
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Math, B.A. Econ from large state University top 50ish in general, top 25 in math, decent econ dept Undergrad GPA: 3.90/4.0, Summa Cum Laude, In Honors Type of Grad: M.S. Math (to finish Dec. 08) Grad GPA: 3.8/4 GRE: 800Q, 610V, 4.5AWA Math Courses: All required courses for math degree + Real Analysis I and II, Math for Economists(graduate), Abstract Algebra (graduate), Measure Theory (graduate) Econ Courses (PhD-level): PhD Micro, PhD Labor Econ Courses (undergrad-level): IO, Public, Econ of China, Environmental and Natural Resource Econ, Game Theory, Micro and Macro Theory Other Courses: History minor, about half of an engineering degree Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 Chicago PhD, 1 UMN PhD, 1 UCSD PhD), 1 math prof (Princeton PhD, NSF winner), all extremely solid, though they are all quite old. Research Experience: RA for Econ prof, Theoretical math thesis on Bond Percolation, Economics thesis, one paper submitted to journal Teaching Experience: GTA for University Writing Coaching Center, GTA for Vector Geometry, Intermediate Micro, and an Honors Colloquium on Game Theory Research Interests: Public Finance, Law & Econ, Education, Labor, Theory SOP: It was ok, but it will be better for the next round Other: Spending next spring in New Zealand hopefully to study education policy RESULTS: Acceptances: none Waitlists: Rejections: Princeton, Harvard, MIT What would you have done differently? Nothing too big. I would have probably asked for advice from more profs on my NSF proposal. I feel like I was so close. MIT gave me the whole, wait a little while longer note and rejected me about an hour after I got only Honorable Mention on NSF. I'll be happy to spend another year at VT and pick up a master's in math, some grad stats, more PhD econ and write a thesis. Next year, I will definitely increase the number of schools I apply to(probably around 15). I think Berkeley could be a better fit for me than Princeton which I didn't figure out this year until too late. I also think that my NSF evals will give me some good guidance to hopefully improve for next year! Also, will take LSAT and apply to J.D. and Ph.D. next year. To Apply next year: J.D. and ECON Ph.D.: Harvard, Berkeley, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, maybe Duke Only ECON Ph.D.: MIT, UCSD |
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#62 (permalink) |
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Trying to make mom and pop proud
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 11
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Civil Engineering major, economics minor. One of the top engineering school in Canada Undergrad GPA: 80% Overall, 75% in Econ, 83% final year GRE: 790Q, 320V, 3.5 AWA... me no good wif words... Math Courses: Typical engineering package. Calc I, II, III, "Advanced Math for Engineers", Linear Algebra, Differential Eq'n, Prob & Stat, Operation Research Econ Courses: None worth mentioning, really. All undergrads. Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a finance prof, 2 from engineering. Nothing stellar, but pretty sure it was solid and above average. Research Experience: Two research/term project as part of the engineering deal SOP: Basically story telling that why I want to do economics, although I did a civil eng undergrad RESULTS: Acceptances: Toronto MA (no $) Waitlists: Rejections: Queens (MS Finance), UBC (MS Finance) Pending: Toronto MFE What would you have done differently? I had a job lined up if I didn't get in, so that was my reason of applying to the few number of schools. If time and money wasn't a factor, perhaps doing my GRE again and bump the verbal part up.. (320 was just ridiculous...) |
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#63 (permalink) |
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slinky race anyone?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 10
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small, mid-ranked LAC Undergrad GPA: 3.99 Business admin major, Econ minor Grad GPA: 4.0 as non-degree math grad student GRE: 780q, 620v, 5.0w Math Courses: multivariable calculus, linear algebra, diff eq, real analysis (2 sem.), math stats (2 sem. w/ Casella&Berger) Econ Courses: intro micro/macro, intermediate micro/macro, IO, statistical analysis for econ Letters of Recommendation: 2 fed economists, 1 undergrad finance prof. Research Experience: 3 yrs as a Fed RA, a couple undergrad publications in weak journals Teaching Experience: TA for a couple semesters in UG Research Interests: macro, int'l trade and finance SOP: pretty standard...try to explain away the weaknesses and accentuate the positive. emphasized my fed research experience, recent math classes, programming abilities, teaching experience. RESULTS: Attending: Arizona State University Acceptances: UVA ($$), Boston College ($$), Boston University ($$$), UNC ($$), Arizona State ($$$), Vanderbilt ($$$), Tufts MA ($) Waitlists: UT Austin Rejections: Maryland, Duke, Brown, Georgetown Pending: Never heard from WUSTL What would you have done differently? I don't think I would have done much, if anything, differently. I think I targeted the range of schools pretty well given the outcome, and I'm happy with the results. ASU is a small but growing program, and I'm stoked about the opportunity to work closely with guys like Prescott and Rogerson. I am really glad that I took a few years after undergrad to build up my resume before applying though...getting good research experience, working with well-known economists, and taking higher math classes made all the difference in the quality of programs for which I was a competitive applicant. |
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#64 (permalink) |
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Trying to make mom and pop proud
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 10
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: 3yrs, unfinished first degree in Europe, Business/Econ, at shit school. Undergrad GPA: good Type of Grad: Top 5 UK Master in Econ Grad GPA: high GRE: 800q, 670v, 4.5w (two years before that: 780q, 630,v, 4.5w) Math Courses: one term of math for soc science in 1st year undergrad, one term of math for econ during masters. Econ Courses: Enough though not too extensive either. Letters of Recommendation: grad prof, thesis supervisor, undergrad prof. Research Experience: 1 year part-time RA during UG, 6 month RA in research institution in Washington DC, one working paper (=master thesis) Teaching Experience: TA micro & econometrics one semester each in UG Research Interests: dev econ, applied micro, microeconometrics SOP: Ok RESULTS: Attending: UMich Acceptances: Duke ($ but no 1st year stipend), Brown ($$), Cornell (no $), UMich ($$), LSE (no $), UCL ($$), Oxford ($?) Rejections: Yale, MIT, Stanford, UCLA Other: Never heard from Boston U What would you have done differently? Dunno. Work harder. Make connections to get good recomm from more well-known people. More math before surely wouldn't have hurt. But when? Given the little I had, the marginal benefit should have been high. Think about location harder before applying. Spend more time (>> 3 days of reading plus 1 night of writing) on Res Proposal at LSE to get funding. Alternatively: Relax. Not try to get into good schools. Be happy with less. |
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#65 (permalink) |
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Trying to make mom and pop proud
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 11
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Engineering-best university in my country Undergrad GPA: 3.31/4.00 Grad GPA: 3.7/4.00 same university economics department GRE: 800q, 400v, 3.5w Math Courses: Calculus I,II linear algebra, differential eq. real analysis Econ Courses: master courses and many micro courses Letters of Recommendation: from economics department/ applied to some without master thesis advisors LOR Research Experience: 2 years, a published article in native language and 2 ongoing Teaching Experience: TA for a couple semesters in UG and G Research Interests: micro,io SOP: standard RESULTS: Attending: Austin Acceptances: Austin ($$), Boston College ($$), Duke ($$), Rochester ($$), Rutgers ($$), UIUC ($$),Pompeu Fabra($$), Tinbergen ($$), Tilburg($$), Wisconsin Madison Rejects: Upenn,Nyu,Columbia,NW What would you have done differently? have chose another university for master |
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#66 (permalink) |
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Rochester Class of 2013
![]() Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 28
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Public University BA Undergrad GPA: 3.94/ 4.0 Math/ Economics Type of Grad: Public University MA Grad GPA: 4.0/ 4.0 Economics GRE: 670 V 800 M 5.0 Writing (I took it when I was 19 to get a job at Kaplan and it worked!) Math Courses: Topology, Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Calculus 1-3, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Analysis, Econ Courses: International Economics I and II (MA), Math for Economists (MA and PhD), Microeconomics (MA and PhD), Urban Economics (MA), Econometrics (MA and PhD), Health Economics (MA), Macroeconomics (MA), Intro. to Econometrics, Statistical Methods, Intermediate Micro and Macro, Industrial Organization (Best Class ever), Seminar in economics, Money and Banking, several independent studies, Other Courses: Physics 1 and 2 (I seriously considered majoring in it). Computer science 1.Letters of Recommendation: Math and Economics professors. I did research with the economics professors. Research Experience: A lot. Washington, DC think tank work for almost a year now, mainly immigration and trade issues. However, I am currently doing research on state policies that effect economic growth and presented at the CATO Institute on microcredit. I also have done research on child abuse, social capital, fed policy and housing prices, a senior thesis on NAFTA's effects on Mexico, municipal government efficiency (Global Perspective), and the fed challenge (Rutgers won our district). Teaching Experience: Tutor for my University 2 years and tutor/teacher for Kaplan test and prep. Research Interests: Probably Microeconomics, most likely something very game theoretical. This is subject to change given that I have yet to take a PhD level economics course in Macroeconomics. SOP: General but adapted to each university I applied to. Other: I think being affiliated with the CATO Institute (libertarian think tank) hurt me. Also, Rutgers has a tendency of sending students to programs and watching them promptly fail the qualifier. This couldn’t have helped me.[/font] RESULTS: Acceptances: Rochester (24k Fellowship), Duke (17k fellowship), Washington University, St. Louis (TA/ RA 20k), Rutgers (30k Presidential Fellowship), Michigan (Nada), UCLA (Nada), Wisconsin (Nada), Georgetown (Wait-list for funding), UCSD (TA and after a complicated formula 7k), Cornell (Nada) Waitlists: Minnesota, NYU (High whatever that means), MIT (later rejected) Rejections: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Chicago, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Stanford, Berkeley, Northwestern, Pending: Nothing Concerns: My letter writers are not very well-known What would you have done differently? Maybe take more math? I really don’t know what else I could have done. I think I will regret not taking more computer science courses. Last edited by Chess is life : 04-15-2008 at 07:41 PM. Reason: I forgot research interests and font = verdana is everwhere |
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#67 (permalink) |
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Eager!
![]() Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: East Coast
Posts: 67
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ major at a US state university with top 200 Econ grad program (ie not very strong). Undergrad GPA: overall GPA: 3.6; econ: 3.9 ; math:3.7. GRE: 800Q, 520V,AWA 5.5 Math Courses: Calc sequence (A), Differential equations (B+), Linear Algebra (B+), Probability Theory (B), MathEcon w/ S&B (A) Econ Courses: The basic sequence of things. Grad classes: MathStats w/ Casella (A), Econometrics sequence (A) Letters of Recommendation: thesis advisor, econ prof I graded for, 2 Economists from work. Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis, 2 years RA at the Fed. Teaching Experience: Grader Research Interests: IO, public, applied micro. SOP: didn’t really spend much time on it. Concerns: Not stellar pedigree. Not great grades. No Analysis. RESULTS: Attending: Virginia($$) Acceptances: Virginia($$), Boston U.(no $$) Rejects: Berkeley, Yale, Chicago, NWU, UMD, UMich, Brown, Duke What would you have done differently? Went to a better undergrad? Taken more math. Better grades in Math. I am very happy with my Virginia($$) admit though. |
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#68 (permalink) |
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??
![]() Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 76
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PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ Major, Private not well known University (US) Undergrad GPA: overall GPA: 3.9; econ: 4.0 ; math:4.0. GRE: 800Q, 510V,AWA 5.0 Math Courses: Calc sequence (A), Differential equations (A), Linear Algebra (A), Probability & Stats (A), Adv. Stats (A), Discrete Math (A) Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ, 1 math; all were strong (but not MIT, Harvard, etc.) Research Experience: Very little. Teaching Experience: Graded and have taught occasional undergrad classes. Research Interests: IO, micro. SOP: I thought it was good. Concerns: No grad level classes. No analysis. No research. Not from well known school. RESULTS: Attending: Arizona ($$$) Acceptances: Wisconsin (none 1st year), Virginia($$), UNC ($$), Kentucky ($$), Arizona ($$), Texas A&M ($$), Clemson ($$), Rejects: Yale, Brown, BC, Caltech Pending: WUSTL (waitlist), Vanderbilt (waitlist) What would you have done differently? Nothing really. I am happy with arizona. I will be a good fit there. If I was shooting for a top 10 school then I should have done a masters program in stats first and/or finished my math major. I shouldn't have applied to so many lower ranked schools. I wish I would have applied to UIUC. |
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#69 (permalink) |
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cool as ice
![]() Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 82
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Type of Undergrad: Small-Medium state school, no econ grad program.
Undergrad GPA: 3.7 (Economics, Information Systems double major) Type of Grad: Currently enrolled in a MA Econ. program, top 15 school. Grad GPA: 3.5-ish with a semester to go. GRE: 770Q, 760V, 6.0 AW Math Courses: Undergrad: Calculus, Linear Alg., Set Theory. Grad:Taking Real Analysis at the time of admissions. Did not have perfect grades in these. Taking math econ probably helped make up for it. Econ Courses: Undergrad: Micro/Macro/Metrics/Electives Grad: Stats, Game Theory, Adv. Micro, PhD Micro (this was probably crucial), Macro, Research Seminar, Econometrics, Math Econ. Letters of Recommendation: 2 from grad instructors, one of whom I did research for. The other has a reputation for writing strong letters. 3rd is from the dept chair in undergrad. Research Experience: RA at the Fed for a year, two papers (one completed, one working). The working paper is relatively sophisticated. Teaching Experience: Tutoring while an undergrad, TA for graduate Urban Econ. Research Interests: Applied Micro, Public, Urban SOP: Specialized for each school, naturally. Talked about my past experience, explained my transcript, talked about dissertation topics, faculty I wanted to work with. Admits: Chicago($$), Berkeley($$), Duke($$), Davis($) Rejections: Brown Ambiguous: UI Chicago (I withdrew my application), Syracuse (never heard back) Attending: Berkeley ![]() Done differently: It's hard to say. Some things are obvious in retrospect (I should have gone ahead and applied to Harvard and MIT, just for peace of mind; shouldn't have wasted money on Syracuse and UIC; more math). Others aren't so clear (I probably would have done physics and philosophy as an undergrad and just taken a couple of more advanced econ classes, but maybe that would have hurt my chances? And would I still have gotten the Econ MA?) Most of that is useless navel-gazing, I think. I was fortunate to have been admitted into the schools which accepted me, and I couldn't be happier with the way things have gone. Onwards and upwards! |
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#70 (permalink) |
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Within my grasp!
![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 128
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Type of Undergrad: Business Major, Economics Minor
Undergrad GPA: overall GPA: 3.33 (bad freshman year, excluding freshman it is 3.55) GRE: 800Q, 330V,AWA 4.0 Math Courses: Math for Econ I-II (AA)Calculus I-II (CB), Differential equations (CB), Linear Algebra (BB), Operations Research (AA), Decision Support Systems( AA) Econ Courses: Int. Micro-Macro, Econometric, Financial Markets Institutions etc.. Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ prof and 1 math prof Research Experience: RA for 3 months. Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: Financial Economics, Financial Econometrics, Econometrics. SOP: ok. Concerns: Not having great grades and math courses RESULTS: Attending: CEMFI Master in Economics and Finance ($$) Acceptances: CEMFI Master in Economics and Finance ($$), University of Houston Economics Phd, North Carolina State University Econ Phd, Washington State University Econ Phd($$), UPF Msc Finance, Vanderbilt GPED, Central Michigan MA Economics Rejects: University of Virginia Econ Phd, Boston College Econ Phd, Purdue Econ Phd, Carlos III MA What would you have done differently? Studied in freshman year, applied only masters programs...
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Yes : CEMFI Master in Economics and Finance($$$), University of Houston Econ Phd ($??), North Carolina State Econ Phd ($??), Washington State University Econ Phd ($$), UPF Msc Finance, Vanderbilt GPED, Humbolt Masters in Economics and ManagementNo : University of Virginia Econ Phd, Boston College Econ Phd, Purdue Econ Phd, Carlos III MANo News : nope... I finished all of them...
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