Roll Call Fall 2009

[FilleNouvelle]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top UK university
Undergrad GPA: First Class Honors...3.8 or 3.9
GRE: 800Q, 580V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, sitting in on Real Analysis this fall
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Lots...2 econometrics, IO, Capital and Growth Theory, Monetary Theory, etc.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors, 2 well-known
Research Experience: Lots of Econometrics projects, senior thesis
Teaching Experience: Econometrics TA, Tutor
Research Interests: Macro, international economics
Concerns: No idea how my academic experience compares to others'
Applying to: Everywhere, lol.

[Keyser-Soze]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Math, B.S. Econ from small whipping-boy of a state school
Undergrad GPA: 3.97/4.0, 4.0/4.0 in Econ, 4.0/4.0 in Math, Honors degree in Econ
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 790Q, 690V, haven't received my writing score yet because I just took the test a few days ago.
Math Courses: Calc I, II, multivariable calculus, diff eq, linear algebra, math modelling, proofs. Next semester I'll be taking real analysis, advanced probability and stats, advanced modelling
Econ Courses (PhD-level): n/a
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): All the standards, plus econometrics, public finance, international econ, econ of natural resources
Letters of Recommendation: I'll have excellent letters from two professors here, plus a good one from a very well known economist
Research Experience: n/a
Teaching Experience: tutor, supplemental instructor
Research Interests: Development
SOP: Need to get started on this!
Concerns: I come from a small school whose econ dept isn't great
Other: I had an internship working at an org that had 10 nobel laureates on its board, including 9 econ nobel winners. (Oscar Arias was on the board, but he won the peace prize.)
Applying to: LSE, UM, UPenn, New School, UT Autsin,

[Sonaar]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, minor in History from a Latin American University, that has constantly placed students in Econ PhDs in the US.
Undergrad GPA: 4.3/5.0.
Type of Grad: M.A. Economics, same Uni as undergrad
Grad GPA: 4.4/5.0
GRE: 770Q, 580V, not AWA yet. Should I retake?
Math Courses: Calculus I, II and multivariate, linear algebra, Math for economics, Math statistics I and II, Econometrics I and II
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro, Macro, Econometrics, Growth theory, International Economics, etc. for M.A.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro I, II and III; Macro I, II and III, Fiscal and Monetary theory, Public Economics... lots of them
Letters of Recommendation: one from a pre-tenured economics professor, one from the senior economist of a IFI, other from an economist of another IFI.
Research Experience: lots... almost 7 years between an Latin American think tank, now at IFI.
Teaching Experience: tutor of linear algebra and other econ courses, TA and later main professor.
Research Interests: Health economics, Development, Labor
SOP: Not yet, but I'll emphasize on research experience.
Concerns: some weak grades and econ and math courses (I was young and stupid then)
Other: M.A. thesis published at local refereed journal, will present (hopefully) at international conference.
Applying to: Duke, Michigan St, UT Autsin, Johns Hopkins, BU, UMaryland, U British Columbia, UNC Chapel Hill, Brown.

[Texcards]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Minor Economics at large state school (top 15 engineering, top 40 economics)
Undergrad GPA: 3.3/4.0 (3.65 Math, 4.0 Econ)
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 550V, 4.0AW
Math Courses: Calc I-III, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Probability and Statistics
Econ Courses (PhD-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro and Macro theory, Econometrics
Other Courses: Lots of engineering
Letters of Recommendation: 2 not well known econ professors but excelled in their classes (top 1 or 2 out of class size of 40), 1 engr professor that I went on study abroad trip with
Research Experience: None
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Macro, Econometrics, International Trade, Labor
SOP: Working on it
Concerns: Not enough math/econ/stat classes, low overall GPA, low analytical writing, no research/TA experience
Applying to: Toronto, UBC, Texas A&M, UT-Austin, Maryland, UC-SD, UC-Santa Barbara, Boston College, Boston U, Purdue, Colorado, Carnegie Mellon, Western Ontario, UC-Irvine

[wootfan]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 US, Math and Econ majors, graduated May
Undergrad GPA: 3.79
Grad: currently doing Masters in Financial Math
GRE: Q800, V740, Writing 4.5
Math Courses: Calc I-IV, Linear Algebra, Modern Algebra, Stats (2 semesters), Probability, Real Analysis (2 semesters), Topology (grad), Diff Eq`s (all A`s except for A- in linear algebra, A+ in second sem. of RealAnalysis and Stats, and DE)
Econ Courses: Inter Micro(A+),Inter Macro(A), 2 Econometrics courses(A,A+), IO(A), Game Theory(A+), Micro Theory (graduate) (A-), Game Theory (graduate)(A).
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors, did research with one
Research Experience: 1 year RA experience, undergrad thesis
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: Development, Financial
Concerns: I really don`t know if I can expect good LOR. Two of my profs seem to be eager to push me to apply to the top 10 schools plus safeties, but I didn`t really give the third one the chance to give me his feedback. My problems: Even though I do really well in courses, I never really talked to any of my econ profs or went to office hours. My math profs know me better bc I was basically forced to talk to them since the problem sets were so hard. And I did research, but I don`t think I really put in my best effort. The prof never complained, but I just can`t really imagine anyone being able to say that I am creative or dedicated to research. And my undergrad thesis was uninteresting and my thesis advisor (also the guy I previously did research with) was on leave that year so I didn`t really get to talk about it much.

I feel like my professors are overestimating my application standing...

[rajiscool]

Can u plz refer me some schools.....


PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.Sc Maths, Physics and Chemistry
Undergrad GPA: 80.9 % or 3.7/4
Type of Grad: MBA in International Business
Grad GPA: CGPA 7.14
GRE: 1210 - 760 Q, 450 V
Math Courses: UG and +2 i had real analysis, calculus, Diff Equations, Algebra, etc...Got good score in all maths courses
Econ Courses: Managerial Economics and International economics during my MBA
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 2 from my university economics professors
Research Experience: 2 month project experience on forex markets
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: international economics, public policy and finance
SOP: standard
Other: my Grad univ is Pondicherry University, India and UG univ is Acharya Nagarjuna University, India

[Woermazing]

Type of Undergrad: BS in Mechanical Engineering with a secondary major in Environmental Science and minors in French and Leadership Studies (I didn’t really like engineering after all, so I had to add some other stuff to keep myself from going crazy) from an average public university in the Midwest
Undergrad GPA: 3.84/4.0 (cum laude)
Type of Grad: MS in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics and a grad minor in Statistics at The Ohio State University (just starting my second year)
Grad GPA: 3.95/4.0
GRE: 800Q, 610V, 6.0AW
Math Courses: Calculus I-III, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Foundations of Higher Mathematics (all A’s); Real Analysis I-III this school year
Econ Courses: All at the MS level – Microeconomics I and II, Applied Econometrics, Applied Financial Economics, Computational Economics, Benefit-Cost Analysis, Development Economics, and International Economics (A’s); Resource Economics and International Trade (A-‘s)
Other Courses: Applied Regression Analysis and Climate Change Policy (A’s); Probability, Statistical Theory, Multivariate Stats, and a SAS course this year
Letters of Recommendation: I am not sure yet, depending on exactly who I work with this year, but I am thinking of two full professors in the department (one Yale and one Maryland ARE) and one emeritus professor (Cornell ARE). I have had classes with all three and will likely be working with them on my thesis this year.
Research Experience: Working on a thesis in energy and environmental economics and two years in an Agricultural Engineering research lab as an undergrad (not at all relevant, but still interesting)
Teaching Experience: Two years as an undergrad TA in an Engineering Physics lab (again, not exactly relevant)
Research Interests: Mostly energy/environmental/climate change policy, but I am also interested in development and international economics
SOP: Should be strong
Other: I won a pretty prestigious national scholarship as an undergrad for “environmental students” and both of my years at Ohio State are funded by university and college fellowships
Applying To: Maryland and Maryland ARE (I will be in DC for the next few years while my girlfriend finishes school, so that limits my choices a bit)

[valelee]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ from Peking University, top in China
Undergrad GPA: 84.6/100, Bachelor Thesis ranked 3rd out of 200+ and winned a "Top 3 Award"
Nationality: PRC
GRE: 780Q, 530V, 3.5AWA
internet Based TOEFL: Read29, Listen29, Write30, Speak20

Courses
Intermediate Economic Theories:
Microeconomics (Textbooks: by Nicholson and by Pindyck & Rubinfeld); Macroeconomics (Textbooks: by Gregory Mankiw and by Dornbusch); Econometrics (Textbook: by Wooldridge)
Mathematical Methods (by School of Mathematical Science in Peking University):
Advanced Mathematics - Calculus (two semesters); Linear Algebra; Probability Theories and Statistics
Other Econ Courses:
Agricultural Economics; Environmental Economics; Labor Economics; Real Estate Economics; Natural Resources Economics; Population and Health Economics; Environmental Accounting; Political Economics; Environmental Regulation and Legislation; Modernization: Theories and Processes
Courses of Master’s Level:
Theories of Dynamic Optimization; Modelling in Environmental Economics; Economic Geography

Letters of Recommendation:
All from econ professors :
Chairperson of my department - Ox PhD and one of top micro economists in China, student of Amatya Sen
Deputy Chair and my thesis advisor, also the Government's policy advisor, U of Tokyo PhD*
Deputy Chair and my macro teacher, Brandeis PhD
The first two should be very strong
* He would like me to go to Japan and study in UTokyo very much, so I don't know if he would mention something related to his own suggestions of my career...

Research Experience:
RA for Econ prof x2
Working in a research institute of my university as a research fellow
RA in a few projects in relation with WTO, UNDP, UNICEF and WHO, and PRC government - but not the author of the output papers
Teaching Experience: no
Research Interests: Agriculture, Labor, Environmental, Human Develop. and Health

SOP: Rewriting last year's but adding in my new academic working experiences.

Concerns: Low GRE AWA. Low iBT speaking. No publications. Mid-GPAs.

Other: 2nd time application, last year admitted by U Washington Seattle and Boston U, but rejected by Northwestern, UMich, Wisconsin, Rice and UMinn.

Applying to: U Washington, Boston U, U Minn, Northwestern, UMich, Wisconsin, Rice(for a second time), Ox, Toulouse I, Johns-Hopkins, Georgia S U, U Pitts, UT Austin, TAMU, AND YOUR SUGGESTION

[yayapants]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: First Class Honours from top Australian university
Undergrad GPA: 82/100 over Maths/Econ classes (essentially > 3.9)
GRE: 800Q 700V AWA? (2nd attempt)
Econ Courses: 4 semesters of Micro/Macro and 5 semesters of Econometrics and a whole lot of others
Maths Courses: Mathematical Economics, a first year intro course. Sounds pitiful but I have covered multivariate calc, linear algebra, differential equations, optimal control, etc but no proof based stuff. For instance, last 2 semesters of Econometrics was all linear algebra. I know a lot of specific Macro things like the Kalman Filter, Linear RE Solutions, how to derive IRFs, etc.
Letters of Recommendation: Yale, Princeton, and Oxford. 2 Profs, 1 Junior. Should be good.
Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis, currently working at the central bank in the research department and will publish a working paper or two.
Teaching Experience: TA'd final year undergraduate Macro
Research Interests: Macro/Monetary Economics
Applying to: Yale, Harvard, Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, MIT, Princeton, NYU, Columbia, NWU, Boston Uni, Minnesota and Michigan.
Concerns: Lack of Math although I feel as though I just lack the formal proof based courses. I am probably the person to test whether extensive research experience can substitute for proper formal Math.

I feel like I am a good fit for the New Keynesian schools or at least Macro schools so hopefully my research experience and fit overcome the lack of formal Math preparation. Regardless, if I fail, I'll get around to Real Analysis and reapply next year. Looks like a win-win. Although I will be down $1,200 or so but whatever.

[econ oh nine]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BS Econ from small LAC
Undergrad GPA: Overall 3.6 (upward trend); Econ 3.8; Math 3.6
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 800Q, 490V, no AWA yet
Math Courses: Calc 1-multi, stats, intro discrete, linear alg, real analysis
Econ Courses (PhD-level): n/a
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): All the usual for the major
Letters of Recommendation: Very enthusiastic, from my professors at my LAC
Research Experience: RA’ed twice; two conference presentations; senior thesis will be submitted for publication
Teaching Experience: TA’ed once, tutoring three years
Research Interests: Micro (probably applied rather than theory), but beyond that I’m not sure… I’ve always enjoyed game theory and decision/information topics
SOP: On my to-do list
Concerns: LAC; lack of math; low gpa’s
Other: I feel my verbal score is not an accurate depiction of my abilities, so I hope my SOP and LORS will quell any concerns admission committees may have. Also, American female, for what it’s worth…
Applying to: Two top 15’s just to say I did (not sure which yet), Maryland, Virginia, Penn State, U of Arizona, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Virginia Tech