AstralTraveller

Just to let you all know....the waitlists didn't work out :doh: :(

Well, I can tell you that the counter-intuitive theory I read was nice enough to make me feel I didn't waste my time reading the paper. I am thinking about doing something similar for another industrial setting, so the paper was nice. Sure, I don't quite buy the tools, but I haven't come with something better, so it's OK so far. Besides, I like its econ rationale.

Because they told you now. Leaves on trees are green because they are. The whole admissions process stinks, we all know that for better or worse. But they admitted you. Now go to BU and get really happy. How much can the universe change in three days? If it was money paid to LSE, it's a sunken cost, unless you can get a reimbursement. But optimize with the info available TODAY, not with could have happened. Make the best decision looking forward. Congrats![clap]

Well, it's not April 15th yet. Go to BU. Be happy. Maybe you already made a deposit for LSE. Try a reimbursement. Otherwise, it'd be a sunken cost. Go to BU. Don't let them stop you. Go.

Just don't give up hope. You might actually end up finding out a professorial career is exactly your ideal career move. You have to try and test the waters to find out. 30 years old wouldn't be that bad. It would be perfect age for US citizens (you are one, right? I am not, and have no States experience, so it is more a factor in my case than yours). Don't dismiss the pre-doc program at Stern. It can open many opportunities. And it is taught at a world class business school.

I really hope Henry won't betray the gunners. I've been a gunner fan since my early childhood (Bergkamp being one of my fav. players ever), and I was somewhat happy to learn Henry was going to Barcelona because of his professional perspective. But playing for the Old Trafford guys, that would be really sad for me. And, back about our economist of the funny jackets...I don't understand his exact current association to Barcelona. Is he the president? President of the board? President of a special board?

Congrats. Olin has a superb faculty, and a great program. [clap]

That indeed changes things. Go for your NWU or Yale (Yale really offers a ton of $$$) and be the best friggin' economist you can :D Besides, not studying at MIT or Chicago might give you a chance to work there afterwards:hmm:.

May I ask why you discarded Chicago? It seems more macro than NWU....I don't know. If I liked macro (I don't) and had your options I'd probably have gone to either Chicago or Yale, or even UMN instead of NWU, but anyway. You'll be at home anywhere, I'm sure.[clap]

It's interesting. This might apply not to MIT only, but to several other schools (I did not apply to Harvard). I have an ISI publication at a minor blindly-refereed US journal and one book chapter. And two more papers in the pre-pipeline (I'm deciding where to send them), one in applied econometrics and another in economics of demography. Given my current outcome, I thought that I might have had it against me, for I am not a "blank book" where my future advisor can write on. Besides, give me any topic to do research on, and if you insist, probably you'll end up convincing me how fascinating it is, and that we could write a fantastic paper about it. That might have given the adcoms the impression of "lack of research focus". :(

That is because I have a browser window open with TM as long as the PC is running. At work, there are three windows always open: 1) My email, 2) Stata, and 3) TM. At home I don't have Stata :p

I went from less than 1 hour daily to many many more hours (esp. after and before going to the office). Lunchtime is spent at TM daily, adn I have been sleeping bad and too little. I need a life, or an admit, whatever comes first. ;) I know that as soon as applications are over I will get my life back.:blush:

Hello, Naijaman. Welcome to the forum. This might seem irrelevant, but would you mind telling us how old are you? I might be considered almost old for some admissions standards, and I'm just 25. About doctoral studies, the most important thing is research inclination. Don't do a PhD unless you want to do research. Even if it's a third master's degree, an MBA is not a bad idea if you want to work in real business settings. Your GMAT is very good, your GRE-Q not so much. Secure good letters of recommendation from academics who know you well and can speak wonders about you, and who can tell you're serious about academia, and about research, despite your long tenure away from university. Surely I'm forgetting other details, but I'm really sleepy now. Somebody else will help with what I have forgotten, I'm sure. Ah, two things: - Admissions are quite competitive, even for programs outside the first tiers. - Application is one of the most misarable periods of your life. I can't believe it is not over yet. I have prepared my applications for over two years, and can't believe it could still take me another extra year if my waitlists don't roll :(

Don't worry. Quite simply, I am waitlisted at a top-10 business school program and at another ranked 10-15. Was admitted via Fulbright to an econ PhD program ranked 40-60 (repending on the ranking) that I didn't want to apply to, and where I don't have research fit with faculty, so it's highly likely I won't attend there even if it's all I can get. I'm praying really hard to get any of my waitlists turned into admits. Hence my signature and avatar. ;)

I can understand somebody having a "it's Harvard or bust" logic. What I just don't get (just like Legatus said) is why on heaven the OP even cared to apply to the other schools if there was no willingness to go there. The only explanation I can come up with is that this person has access now to a set of information unavailable to him/her during the application process. Otherwise, I couldn't understand the rationale behind this behavior. Even if you were "really close" to get a Harvard admit this year. I agree this doesn't have to be true for everybody, but for me your admits would be almost perfect substitutes for Harvard. Preferences are different for everybody, I know. One of my recommenders told me back in September: "just be sure to pick up universities you don't have to give explanations about why are you going there." I just don't think anybody would even think about asking you why did you attend Columbia, Chicago or Berkeley instead of Harvard. If you were admitted there, you are top-class, end of story.

And who says they shouldn't? :p

I fully agree. The point is, dare I say it, isn't it possible that the same problem is not exclusive to MIT?

We can argue if we economists are evil or not...what's sure: we economists are nerdish, freaky and/or geeky. :p

Thank you, halcyon_daze :)

Come on, buddy! It's not like you've been left in the dark this season! You have to decide between NWU and Yale (and where else? Chicago?). NWU and Yale, for God's sake! You have even had the chance to decline UPenn and Minnesota![clap] If I were in your shoes I'd kick myself in the head if I caught myself sniffing about anything. Except, maybe I'd be sobbing and sniffing in joy! ;) I'm still rooting for you at MIT and Harvard, you know! And I still believe I'll get something myself in the end, so we can cyber-celebrate. :)

Right....I was just building up my illusions...again...:whistle:

Hmm, I'm interested. How come a finance applicant refusing his/her spot might affect a candidate waitlisted in another concentration? In which way? Inquiring minds want to know......:hmm:

See? They like you, Filroz! They really really want you! ;)

1) Lagos does not seem to be an angel. I don't know him, anyway. 2) I agree it's just one pata point for anything. 3) if our degree of "evilness" is to be measured by popular opinion, yes, we economists ARE evil. 4) I hope I am not evil, but again, I'm not sure. I'm working on it, though ;) All I know is I'm having a good laugh for lunch :p