metaleddie Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 This is actually my first thread here. I received econ phd offers from pitt and ucsb econ. And I have to make a decision where to go. I hope dear tmers could give me some suggestions:) My interests lie in exp econ, but more close to game theory and mechanism design.I know Pitt's exp econ is good, but it's more like a tradition in the dept.As I contacted a senior professor in the dept, he said exp is the strength of the dept, but as the economy recovers, they are going to input more in econometrics. A plus for pitt is the cross-registration program and close contact with cmu. My concern is whether pitt will decrease its efforts in exp econ. UCSB also gives me a big offer. The dept is young and booming very quickly. I found that ucsb is putting great efforts to boom their exp and behaviral econ from some tmers' thread on ucsb visit. Actually they want to make exp a recognizable brand of the dept. Does any tmer have opinions about the two schools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaleddie Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 no body interested?= = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael weston Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Did UCSB offer better money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael weston Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I like Pitt a lot more, but I would probably go to SB if the money is better; they sound like they're up coming and might end up being a better bet long run if you're into pure experimental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corolla09 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 don't underestimate the extreme differences in living at Santa Barbara versus Pittsburgh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FierceEconDR Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I say SB. The department is up an coming. Santa Barbara is great. They are putting a good effort towards Experimental. They have one of the best guy in experimental. If they give you money, you would be set. I also think that the training is really good there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjw10 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm 75% sure I'm headed to UCSB. My main research interests are in environment/resource econ, but I intend on picking up a second field of exp/behavioral--they seem to be pumping some money into that department and we would definitely be the benefactors of that. I do not know much about Pitt, but I know SB is beautiful with much better weather than Pittsburgh. The econ department has some heavy hitters in a broad range of fields (macro, labor, exp, public, environment) and is well known as a quality research university. Cost of living in SB is very high. Think $750-1000/mo for housing and discount your stipend accordingly. I've heard that the 16.6k TA stipend is manageable, though. I'm planning on getting a lot more information about the program from profs/students in the next week or so, and I'll be sure to share. If you hear anything more concrete about the exp/behavioral dept, let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjw10 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 To further what I said earlier: I spoke to UCSB's department chair on the phone earlier, and he said that they made offers to bring in three new faculty members for experimental/behavioral econ, but all three turned the offer down. They plan on making offers similar to those next year with the simple intent to bolster the exp/bhvrl field at UCSB. If you attend, there will be more faculty specializing in exp by the time you (and I) start doing research. Hope this helps. My vote is UCSB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peot Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I don't necessarily think experimental econ is on its way out here. The experimental econ lab is a great asset to the university, and I know of a lot of ongoing work by some notable professors. SB is tempting due to the location, but I can say firsthand that Pitt is an exciting place to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unitroot Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Pitt's past top placements look very good (Washington State, Virginia Tech, University of Toronto, University of Virginia, etc). Is there any specific pattern in those placements ? (that is by field, adviser, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael weston Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I agree, there is no doubting that Pitt is a great program. Personally it would be an easy choice, but I understand that SB has its attractions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICECOLDECON Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I looked at the placement of UCSB awhile back and remember thinking that there wasnt really a good academic placement??? I could be wrong, and the dept's placement may improve if it is up and coming, but that (along with high cost of living in CA) kept me from applying there. I didnt apply to Pitt mainly b/c they dont offer IO, but the city seemed pretty cool from the very brief time I visited Pittsburgh. On another note, I think the big experimental guy at Pitt does experimental macro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaleddie Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Thanks. Actually pitt gives me fellowship=18000 first year And ucsb gives me ta+stipend=21000 first year The following years require ta or ra both in pitt and ucsb. Actually I've contacted John Duffy who's doing exp econ in pitt. And we have nice communication. He encourages me to go to pitt,saying PEEL will continue to be developed. Another piece of information for ucsb is that they have Gary Charles this year who's successful in the field. I think one thing that may persuade myself into pitt is the fellowship without ta in the first year, which means I can focus on the grad study instead of performing other teaching task. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaleddie Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 I'm 75% sure I'm headed to UCSB. My main research interests are in environment/resource econ, but I intend on picking up a second field of exp/behavioral--they seem to be pumping some money into that department and we would definitely be the benefactors of that. I do not know much about Pitt, but I know SB is beautiful with much better weather than Pittsburgh. The econ department has some heavy hitters in a broad range of fields (macro, labor, exp, public, environment) and is well known as a quality research university. Cost of living in SB is very high. Think $750-1000/mo for housing and discount your stipend accordingly. I've heard that the 16.6k TA stipend is manageable, though. I'm planning on getting a lot more information about the program from profs/students in the next week or so, and I'll be sure to share. If you hear anything more concrete about the exp/behavioral dept, let me know! Surely I would be glad to hear that.sb's weather is gorgeous, may be I could go there during the summer and winter session because my sister's there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaleddie Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Did UCSB offer better money? Yes, the money is better in the first year. But what needs to be considered is the money/work...:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakz Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 The professor's name at UCSB is Gary Charness. He's very active in experimental, just got published in one of the new AEA journals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaleddie Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 The professor's name at UCSB is Gary Charness. He's very active in experimental, just got published in one of the new AEA journals. Thanks for the correction.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakz Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Thanks for the correction.:) No worries, just trying to help. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjw10 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 ] Actually pitt gives me fellowship=18000 first year And ucsb gives me ta+stipend=21000 first year The following years require ta or ra both in pitt and ucsb. Just keep in mind that 21k in SB is less than/equal to 18k in Pitt in real terms. Better placements, money and no first year work requirement make Pitt a little more attractive in my eyes. I'm considering location A LOT in my decision, and SB trumps many schools. Pittsburgh definitely has its perks as a city too--I know people who love it there, though I cannot personally testify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GymShorts Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Pitt's past top placements look very good (Washington State, Virginia Tech, University of Toronto, University of Virginia, etc). Don't forget Queen's U, Carnegie Mellon, and U Minnesota. I wouldn't count the Virginia Tech placement though, because that was visiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjw10 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Wow. Pitt has some great placements. To put in perspective, some of UCSB's recent academic placements: Eastern Conn State, U Copenhagen, Occidental College, Colo State-Fullerton, Pomona College, Johns Hopkins, U Hawaii, Montana State, UC Davis. I don't think UCSB can compete placement-wise with Pitt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GymShorts Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Johns Hopkins and UC Davis are good placements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjw10 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Johns Hopkins and UC Davis are good placements. To be fair, the Davis placement was in their Dept of Env. Science and Policy, not Econ or ARE. Still a solid placement, though. UCSB does have a pretty good record of non-academic placements too, if you're into that kinda thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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