Roll Call Fall 2009

[jeeves0923]

I think it's about time that this thread could be useful. I've seen a lot of new names on here recently of people that have mentioned that they would be applying Fall 2009. So, let's post profiles and see how we can help each other out over the next several months!

So here's mine. Other's following suit is appreciated!

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Math, B.A. Econ from large public university in Southeast US
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4, Summa Cum Laude, In Honors
Type of Grad: M.S. Math
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, Abstract Algebra (graduate), Measure Theory (graduate), Matrix Theory (graduate), Stochastic Processes (graduate, fall), Probability Theory(graduate, fall)- All A's but a B in Measure Theory
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (A-), Macro(fall), Metrics(fall), Labor (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): IO, Public, Econ of China, Environmental and Natural Resource Econ, Game Theory, Micro and Macro Theory- All A's
Other Courses: History minor, about half of an engineering degree
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 Chicago PhD, 1 UMN PhD, 1 Stanford PhD), 1 math prof (Princeton PhD, NSF winner), all should be solid
Research Experience: RA for Econ prof, Theoretical math thesis, master's thesis to be submitted, econ paper submitted and under revision
Teaching Experience: GTA for University Writing Center, Vector Geometry, Intermediate Micro, and an Honors Colloquium on Game Theory
Research Interests: Public Finance, Education, Law & Econ, Labor, Theory
statement of purpose: In the Process of Rewriting last year's
Concerns: I got a B in a PhD math course, though it is a tough program with amazing students all seeking PhDs in math. My undergrad is good, but not elite. Low GRE AWA.
Other: NSF Honorable mention last year, rejected by MIT, Harvard and Princeton.
Applying to: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Chicago, UPenn, Stanford, Berkeley, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, NYU, Columbia, insert your suggestion

[treblekicker]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Math and Econ (double major) from ~top 30 Overall US private university by US News (not known for econ at all, but it is PhD granting)
Undergrad GPA: 3.65/4.0, strong upward trend ~ 3.9 over the past two years
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: have not sat for them yet, will probably do so sometime this summer. i see no reason why i cannot get 790+ Q
Math Courses: Calc I-III (B+, A, A), Linear Algebra (A), Probability Theory (A), Math Stats (A), ODE (A), Real Analysis (A-), Complex Variables (A), Grad Analysis (Fall), General Topology (Fall); Cum GPA of Math: 3.9x
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (Fall)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A-), Money and Banking (A-), Econ Stats I & II (B, A), Labor (B+), Econometrics (A), I/O (A), Trade (A-); Cum GPA of Econ: 3.7x
Other Courses: Intro to Fin (A), Independent Study on Business Cycle nonparametric analysis (A), Federal Reserve Challenge (A)
Letters of Recommendation: Have not formally asked anyone yet but I intend to ask: Two Full Prof (UNC, Penn State), One Associate Prof (Duke). Of the Two full profs, the UNC one is my major advisor and thesis advisor. I have also graded and done independent study with him. The other full prof (PSU) is the dept. chair. I am and have been working as an RA for the associate prof (NBER fellow, director of grad studies in the dept.). I expect all of these to range from good to outstanding.
Research Experience: RA in Health Econ, Currently working on Sr. Thesis on Monetary Policy rules
Teaching Experience: Tutoring statistics this summer
Research Interests: who knows, but probably leaning towards Micro Theory and I/O theory
statement of purpose: haven't written yet. I guess I should start working on this?
Concerns: Not a spectacular Overall GPA and I come from a lessor known econ dept.
Applying to: Don't really know exactly where yet. I was considering a few from the top ten, ten or so from 10-30, then a few outside the top 30.

[C152dude]

I remember when I joined this forum, I could not wait for the day to make this post. Not sure why my perspective has changed so much. But, for the sake of completeness, here goes it.

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad:
Where energy goes to supercomputing.
B.A. Econ. B.S. Math. Minor: Stats.
Undergrad GPA:
Trying to get up to magna for graduation.
GRE:
Will take in August.
Math Courses:
Standard. Less than what most have (I think). Real analysis in the fall. GPA is fine.
Econ Courses (PhD-level):
Taking two in the fall.
Econ Courses (undergrad-level):
A few electives. Currently have high honors.
Letters of Recommendation:
Depends on success/failure of this fall. Will either be two econ and one stat or math. Or possibly, all three econ. Maybe three econ and one math?
Research Experience:
Independent study this past spring.
Currently at another university practicing my Stata commands. Project and professor are stellar.
Teaching Experience:
I teach people to fly, does that help? ... thought not.
Research Interests:
Development. Trade. Policy.
Also, Alberto Alesina's work makes me drool.
statement of purpose:
Working on this today.
Concerns:
Apathy concerning social justice issues. Ignorance on issues I deem important.
Applying to:
I am aiming for some top 20's. We'll see....

[Canuckonomist]

The profile feels a bit better this time around. Hopefully that will turn into good things! With this thread, the hunt begins...(again)

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A (Hons.) Economics, Math Minor with Distinction, Queen's University
Undergrad GPA: Overall: 3.75/4.0, Econ: 4.0/4.0, Math: 3.65/4.0
Type of Grad: M.A Economics, Queen's University
Grad GPA: 4.0/4.0 Currently
GRE: 790Q 530V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (A+/A+/B), Linear Algebra (B), Differential Equations (B), Probability (C), Abstract Algebra (B), Statistics (A+), Analysis I & II (B+/B), Stochastic Models in Operations Research (A+)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (fall), Metrics (fall), Money and the Macroeconomy (Fall), Mathematical Economics (A+), Finance Theory (A+) Continuous-Time Finance (A+), Risk Management (Audit), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro (A), Macro (A+), Metrics I & II (A/B+), Finance (A+), History (B+), Corporate Finance (A),
Letters of Recommendation: 1 ANU, 1 JHU, 1 Harvard
Research Experience: R.A for three semesters. Co-authoured paper to be published in REE, Early 2009.
Teaching Experience: UG Finance (fall), Tutor for department in mathematics for economists, Micro and stats.
Research Interests: Financial Economics, Micro
statement of purpose: Working on it all summer
Concerns: B+ average math student, though these are generally marked harder at Queen's. My Math-econ @ Ph.D level circumvents that pretty good, I figure. We'll see. At least I'll have a good shot at U of T and UWO (and, as always, Queen's).

Applying to: UChicago, NWU, NYU, Columbia, UCSD, Cornell, BU, Minnesota, UWO, Toronto.

[agarwaen.mormegil]

Here we go again.

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad:
B.Sc. Econ. (Honors), with maths and Political Science as minors. Large South Asian university. Has long history of placing students at decent U.S. universities. Used to be very reputed. Not so nowadays. Still fairly well known.

Undergrad GPA:
Waiting on that. Should be high second class, in the 3.2 to 3.7 range roughly after conversion. I know. I shouldn't convert percentages into gpa.

GRE:
1440. Quant: 790. verbal: 650. AWA: 4.5

TOEFL:
111. Got 24 in the speaking.

Econ courses:
Micro, Macro, Statistics and Econometrics, Development, International Trade, Public Finance, mathematical Economics, Indian Economic History and Economic Policy Analysis.

Math Courses:
Everything. Modern Algebra, Linear Algebra, Calculus, Linear programming, 2D and 3D geometry, vector analysis, numerical analysis, Stats.
Maths grades should be average.

Other Courses:
Political science: Indian constitution and politics, World constitutions (US, UK, China, Switzerland, France) and politics, Political Theories.

Research Experience:
Published papers in 2 national level conferences and at one prestigious international conference. Working papers in 2 more national conferences and one international conference.

Teaching Experience: none.

Research Interests:
Primary: political economy.
Secondary: development econ.

statement of purpose: Will start work in August.

Concerns: Endless. To be pithy,
1. Reputation of undergrad university.
2. (Potential) average GPA. International students especially from my country apply with much better GPAs.
3. Unknown letter of reference writers.
4. And most importantly, I will be applying with only an undergrad degree. Almost all applicants from my country and I believe most international applicants apply with a graduate degree or they are already enrolled in a graduate program. But I will be in my final year of my undergrad program. I think this will be the biggest handicap to my profile and will heavily affect my chances.

Applying to: Haven't made final yet. Got a shortlist. Will be applying to several Canadian MA programs and few decent US ones to bolster my chances to get into a Top 40 program. Besides that, will be applying to places with strong Political Economy concentrations, rankings being all over the place. Will not apply to Top 10 schools as I have zero change of getting in.

I am also considering applying to Political Science departments as they offer Political Economy as research concentration as well.

Please give me suggestions on this matter.

[Zmoney]

I too have awaited this thread with anticipation.

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large U.S. Public University ranked 40-55 (best in state) typically known for Football not Economics
Undergrad GPA: 3.92 overall 4.0 in Econ 3.62 in Math
GRE: 800 Q 540 V 5.0 AWA
Math Courses: Calc 1-3 1,2 tested out 3(B+), Differential Equations(B), Stat 1(A), Probability(A) [my school does not have minus grading or A+], Taking Linear Alg in Fall and Math Stats 2, Real Analysis in Spring
Econ Courses: Intros, Intermediates, Public Econ, Sports Econ, Empirical Research, Independent Study (for research) and taking Labor Econ in the Fall
Other Courses: Minors in Food and Resource Economics, and History
Letters of Recommendation: 3 LORS 2 excellent letters from pretty well known Econ faculty in their concentrations (one Phd Chicago the other Wisconsin) and 1 very good letter from a senior member of the Ag Econ Department (Purdue well known in Ag econ)
Research Experience: 2 written empirical papers one for the class in research and the other (to be my thesis) I want to get published. Database work and research at Fed
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Interests: Varied, Public Choice, Taxation Policy, Applied Macro Policy (I am not a theorist for the most part), Political Economy
statement of purpose: Will end up emphasizing my research and closeness with my faculty. Will bring up job at Fed
Other: Internship at the Federal Reserve, Strong Undergraduate leadership positions
Concerns: My B in Diffy Q, Coming from a big public school, Won't have analysis on my transcript.
Applying to: Chicago, Northwestern, NYU, Penn, Cornell, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan State and Probably countless others

[Internationalstudent08]

guys... do you mean 'roll call fall 2008'?

So, here I go again:

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 5 private U.S. university
Undergrad GPA: 3.7 (missed magna for .01 arghhh)
GRE: 800q, 670v, 4.5w
Math Courses: real analysis, optimization, Intro Proof, Probability, Linear Algebra, Multivariable calculus. Average in all those classes is A- and I got an A in my r.a. class
Econ Courses: many, but only undergrad level. If possible, I will enroll in a grad course this fall.
Letters of Recommendation: Unclear yet, but definitely better than last year. I have for sure a very enthousiastic letter from a well-known professor.
Research Experience: 2 summers, thesis (didn't go well), 1-year RA job (I'm excited!!!)
Research Interests: I really don't have refined research interests. I could do everything from monetary to applied micro.

Applying to: Given that last year my applications didn't go well (I got rejected by many top-10 schools and my only offer was from UCSD), I feel obliged to try a bigger range of schools, to make sure that I get somewhere with funding. However, because my profile is better this time, I will apply again to the top ones, including some of those that rejected me.

Goal: Happiness and good funding.

Concerns. My math record is much better than last year. My recommendation letters are going to be better as well. My only worry is that my thesis didn't go well.

[mariobross]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BSc in Civil Engineering (in Latin America) , graduated top 10%
Undergrad GPA: 8.76/10.0, after convertions they told me I got 3.6/4.00
Type of Grad: MA in International Development (concentration in Economics)
Grad GPA: general: 3.6/4; concentration course 3.9/4
GRE: not taken yet
Math/Statistics Courses:
Undergrad: Algebra I (B+), Linear Algebra (A-), Numeric Analysis (A-), Real Analysis (A-), Calculus I (B+), Calculus II (A-), Differential Equations (A-), Probability and Statistics (A).
Grad: Applied regression analysis (A), Introduction to Econometrics (A-), Econometrics (A); Advanced Econometric (A).
Econ Courses (PhD-level):
Economic theory (A), Household Eocnomics (A-), DevelopmentEconomics (A), Microeconomics (B+), Macroeconomics (A-)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 professors (1 Chicago PhD, 1 Harvard PhD, 1 Brown PhD)
Research Experience: After undergraduate, 4 years of research experience (2 during my master's degree and 2 working for an International Development Bank) in economics doing data and policy analysis. Wrote 3 papers; one published in a small journal, one as chapter of a book (Inter-American Development Bank) and currently working on a proposal and finishing anothe rworking paper to publish at the end of the year (hopefully)
Teaching Experience: NONE
Research Interests: Development Economics and Public Policy
Concerns: Very few courses in economic theory and undergraduate degree that is not Economics (Civil Engineering)
Applying to: Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, NYU, Columbia, Georgetown, Duke, U. Maryland, U. Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, LSE, Carlos III, and Pompeu Fabra.

[averageaverage]

PROFILE:

Type of Undergrad:
B.A. (Economics + General Math + Sociology)
150th-ish ranked Econ PhD Program.

Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4.0
GRE: not taken yet (worried so much)

Undergrad Courses:
Calc I - III, Linear Algebra, and Math Reasoning (All As)
Diff Eq (In Prog); Real Analysis, and Probability Theory (this Fall)
Intermediate Mico and Macro (Both As)

Grad Courses:
Master's Micro + Econometrics (this Fall)

Letters of Recommendation: 3 professors (Not well known...)
Research Experience: Summer Research (Not going well...)
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics and Public Policy

Concerns: Academic background is too poor to hit top 20... Want to get into top 50 at least...

Applying to: U. Maryland, Johns Hopkins, U. of Washington, and Lower Ranked Schools...

[elcapitano]

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BSc in Economics 2nd in Class, Sussex University UK
Undergrad GPA: 1st Class (78.3 average) - not directly comparable but probably equivalent to 3.8 or higher.
Type of Grad: MA Economics @ UBC starting this fall
Grad GPA: Not yet
GRE: 800Q 720V 4.5A
Courses: We have a different system in the UK but all the Maths I could take; eight quantitive courses all 1sts. Ten 1sts and two 2:1s in Economics.
Letters of Recommendation: Will be good from undergrad.
Research Experience: Two years working as government economist. undergradute and postgraduate (evenyually) theses.
Teaching Experience: Will have TA'd at UBC
Research Interests: Growth, Economic History, Conflict, Trade, Political Economy.
Concerns: Not from a famous university. Will need some letters from Profs @ UBC which I won't know that well. 4.5 AWA. Took the GRE twice (first time was 730/600/5.0.
Applying to: Yale, Harvard, Brown, Berkeley, Oxford, UBC. Maybe Stanford, UCLA, MIT, Princeton, NYU, Columbia, UCSD. I expect to get into UBC and Oxford so not putting any other safeties. Would love suggestions/reality checks!