Is ECARES a good preparation for Top 30 PhD Program in U.S

**moralhazarder** · 03-17-2008, 03:47 AM

Hey, guys, how do you think about Ecares's master program in ULB? It seems to has a strong team both in Micro and Econometrics. Compared to IEDI in Toulouse, is ECARES a very competetive program with lots of students being washed out in core exam? Does its master program good enough to convince the committee in top 30 U.S PhD program, with the concern of my poor undergraduate GPA? I know the PhD in ECARES is also very excellent and has a good placement record, but if the core exam is as competetive as in IEDI, I do not think I have a large chance to stay.

**moralhazarder** · 03-17-2008, 10:12 AM

anybody give some opinion?

**fp3690** · 03-17-2008, 10:47 AM

To be fair, I've never heard of it, but it seems solid.

**Lantash** · 03-17-2008, 09:37 PM

hi, i am at Ecares right now and yes the ma is very tough. as for student being 'washed out', i have nothing to compare with but i d say that 30% will fail in the first year? this is just my own estimation.

As for getting into US doctoral programs, i think there are a lot of researchers at the center who are very well connected in the US. Most of them have PhD degrees from top ranking US econ depts, so i would say that yes, they can help IF you get them to like you

**moralhazarder** · 03-18-2008, 02:00 PM

Thanks for you valuable anwser, would you please introduce the living cost there, as I know, there is no tuition fee in M.A period.

**Lantash** · 03-19-2008, 02:42 AM

are you an EU student ? if you are i think you ll have to pay like 750 euros per year ... which is basically nothing compared to other programmes. As for living costs... well i d say that you can survive with 900 euros per month (including housing, food and other various expenses). However, if you wanna buy some books and eat anything else than pastas, you re gonna have to add some more €s ...

Typically, there is no funding available. You can get a TAship provided that you have a very good knowledge of french as undegrad courses at taught in french ! Some non french speaking students get a TAship for grad courses (in english), but that s not before the 3rd year and you need to be in the very top tier of the class.

**moralhazarder** · 03-22-2008, 02:56 PM

Thank you, actually I am a Chinese student

. Your program director told me the committee would make the decision in Tuesday, but I have not got the news yet. And my email also has no response. Are you a PhD student in Ecares?

**Lantash** · 03-24-2008, 12:12 PM

Hi,

I did my undergrad in Econ at ULB. I am now taking some doc classes at Ecares and working there as a TA#RA. however i am leaving in september !

how did u contact for admissions?

**moralhazarder** · 03-24-2008, 03:32 PM

Hey,I have not heared from the committee yet. The committee maybe doubt for the quality of advanced couses I learned in China, but it seems the director(David) has interest to recruit me as a MA student(I applied for PhD). BTW, I noticed there are nearly no Chinese students or more precisely, no asian students in your program,it is a little strange as Chinese students spread very widely in the Econ Dept. around the world.

**Lantash** · 03-25-2008, 04:29 PM

well i am chinese! Born in Belgium though. and i think there is a Japanese guy too. but indeed, i don t think there are any chinese from china.

i might have asked around for you but I am not in brussels right now ... i m in china ! haha (easter break)

maybe u can send me a private message with your msn contact and i can give you some additional insight on the program at ECARES