UT - Austin vs. Boston U vs. U of Maryland

[YoungEconomist]

Originally Posted by darwinian

I should have been more specific; I did not intend to make you add extra safety schools. I was waitlisted at my safety school, but admitted to three schools I was unsure about (UT Austin, BU, and Wisconsin). So I just meant this process is somewhat hard to predict.

I actually think BU is a little thin with regards to IO. Maryland is very good. I am not really sure of the difference in Applied Econometrics.

If you are trying to keep it under 12--My personal picks would be BU, Maryland, and UT Austin. If you think you have a good shot at Maryland, you will most likely get into UT Austin (some may disagree with me).

Thanks a lot. I just get kinda worried sometimes. One reason for this is that I'll have to have an idea where I'm applying before I finish many important math classes. Since I'll be starting applications and asking for LORs this summer and fall, I'll have to have a pretty good idea of where I'm applying. However, during summer and fall quarter I will be taking some key math courses. The whole thing worries me sometimes because I am always thinking, what if I mess up in one of these key math courses? Oh well, life is full of uncertainty.

[AstralTraveller]

It's hard to choose. Yet this year, if I reapply, I will specifically ask my recommenders to try submitting their letters physically, and that way not getting them to fill countless online forms. The postage costs would be on me, obviously.

If they don't want to write as many, let's just simply ask them to choose the back-up school by themselves

Now, more seriously, this year, if I reapply, I will shortlist 20 programs, not less than that. Probably won't repeat any past rejections as well, as I will probably have very little new to offer with my application.

If I were you, I'd apply to WUSTL, UMD and BU.

Good luck!

[YoungEconomist]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

It's hard to choose. Yet this year, if I reapply, I will specifically ask my recommenders to try submitting their letters physically, and that way not getting them to fill countless online forms. The postage costs would be on me, obviously.

Is this a joke, or can you choose to send in LORs instead of filling out those special forms that some universities have? By the way, approximately what proportion of schools you applied to AstralTraveller required the traditional LOR and what proportion required some specific form?

[AstralTraveller]

Originally Posted by YoungEconomist

Is this a joke, or can you choose to send in LORs instead of filling out those special forms that some universities have? By the way, approximately what proportion of schools you applied to AstralTraveller required the traditional LOR and what proportion required some specific form?

Look....while most universities want you to send them an specific format, it seems most would allow you to send them hard copies sealed from your recommenders with some sort of standardized pro-forma chart. I did not do this, but a friend with whom I applied did this for every school he applied to, mainly because he did not want to disturb his recommenders, he just told them to add a Fulbright pro-forma chart (you know, those that everybody uses, ticking boxes to rank you alongside other students).

He did get admitted to 3 of the programs he applied to (all top 20), so I guess it is possible.