Low Ranked ARE programs

[zapodos]

I am wondering how competitive admissions are to lower ranked ARE programs? Is it as necessary to have as substantial of a math background as for other programs?

[tutonic]

It depends on what you consider to be 'low ranked'. Just to point out, however, than nearly all of the ranked USNEWS grad programmes receive significantly more applications than there are places, so even if a less substantial math background is sufficient requirement, more is usually desirable, in order to edge out the competition.

[zapodos]

I'm particularly interested in University of Rhode Island Environmental Econ and West Virginia University Natural Resource Economics.... I haven't found either ranked by USNews. I did see URI ranked as number 65 AG Econ here Rankings: Resource & Agricultural Econ.. WVU's program is not listed.

Just wondering how competitive, these more or less unknown programs would be.