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FAQs about Graduate School in Economics and Links to Useful Threads


asquare

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This post is especially intended for new TM posters. Some questions about applying to or attending graduate programs in economics come up frequently on TM. You're welcome to ask questions even though they've been discussed in the past, but there is a lot of useful information in the old posts, and I'd urge you to read through some of those posts to see if they help you out. You can search using the search function in the menu at the top of your screen, just below and to the right of the box that says "Welcome [username]."

 

To get you started, here are some of the most commonly asked questions, and some threads that I think do a good job of addressing them. Please feel free to add more questions and links to other useful threads to this discussion! I'm only listing a few threads of the threads that come up when I search for these topics, and I'm sure there are other excellent threads that people can link to. I'm not trying to replace the search function, just trying to give new posters a sense of what information is already available on the forums :)

 

1) Here's my profile. Where should I apply?

Start with this year's Roll Call thread. Note that the Roll Call thread is for reference. Please post your profile there but save any discussion for separate threads.

Other useful threads include the "Profiles and Results" threads from previous years:

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/85985-profiles-results-2008-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/66608-profiles-results-2007-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/37272-profiles-results-2005-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/71470-profiles-results-part-2-non-top-50-programs.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/63510-post-complete-profile-admissions-decisions.html

 

2) Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation? Is it important to have LORs from famous professors? Should all of my letters be from economists?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/83133-true-about-recommendation-letters.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/77148-letters-recommendation-non-economists.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/76909-should-i-ask-professor-write-me-letter.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/76246-drafting-ones-own-letter-recommendation.html

 

3) What does a strong (or weak) LOR sound like?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/86397-gift-future-applicants.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/77092-what-does-lukewarm-letter-recom-usually-mean.html

 

4) How important is math to the application? Is real analysis necessary? What math classes are useful during first year?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/98305-how-important-real-analysis-admission.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/92883-yet-another-real-analysis-thread-sigh.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/73861-must-math-courses-phd.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/56198-how-much-actual-math-phd-programs-once-youre-there-not-get.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/56071-how-much-linear-algebra-do-you-need.html

 

5) Should I get an MA in economics (or math) before I apply to PhD programs?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/80843-why-exactly-m-economics-nyu-not-good-step-towards-top-phd.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/69641-fallback-options-well-qualified-applicant.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/56188-ms-math-econ-phd-prep.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/79874-why-us-econ-ma-not-good.html

 

6) How important are GRE scores? Do I need an 800 on the quant section? Does the verbal score matter?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/96462-gre-scores-required-schools.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/75003-verbal-300-ger.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/58924-whats-point-gre.html

 

7) What matters most in admissions? LOR? GPA? GRE scores?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/60877-weighing-different-factors-admittance.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/93806-degree-importance-among-admission-criteria.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/79348-how-applications-looked-analyzed-first-round-adcoms-any-idea.html

 

8) Can I transfer from a lower ranked school to a higher ranked school after my first year?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/77956-common-students-low-ranked-phd-program-transferring-high-ranked.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/66991-university-transfer.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65104-transferring-schools.html

 

9) What are placements like from different tiers of schools?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/81306-placements-place-class.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/71484-tenure-sure-after-getting-econ-phd.html

(there are tons of threads on this subject; search for "placement" and whatever school you are interested in, and you'll get lots of information)

 

10) What are attrition rates like? How common is it for students to fail prelims/quals?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/92125-attrition-rates.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/90437-preliminars.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/53478-competitive-culture-grad-school-why-do-econ-students-drop.html

 

11) How does funding work? What should I do if I'm not offered funding at my first choice school? How much does grad school cost?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/83542-faqs-about-funding.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/86272-help-meaning-april-15-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65990-attending-school-without-funding.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65378-current-phds-how-much-can-we-bargain.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65057-can-current-grad-students-give-cost-living-numbers.html

 

12) How should I choose between the schools that admit me?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/63673-questions-ask-current-graduate-students-prospective-schools.html

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I used the Testmagic forum all through my undergraduate years to plan for graduate school and will start a PhD program in environmental economics at UMD this fall.

 

I recently started a blog to offer advice and answer questions for students interested in pursuing graduate economics. I will also give regular updates on life as a graduate student. Feel free to ask any questions or voice any concerns and I will answer them to the best of my ability.

The Backyard Economist

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