nervouslywaiting

I agree with AsianEconomist. In some countries, getting the scholarships then reject it may also jeopardize the chance of future candidates from the same country or institution. Well, you've said it yourself: it's not significant and you want to stay in the US, so don't bother going to the interview. On the other hand, although the amount is not that much, there is a 'status' attached with being a Fulbright scholar. It may not directly affect your chance in getting in a grad program. But there may be some pay-offs in the distant future. But again, you've set your priorities -- means that you must have assigned a big discount rate for that possible future pay-offs.

According to UNC Grad admission office: Decisions are only sent out via snail mail. The majority of letters went out last week but continue to be sent out this week as well. Keep checking your mail in the upcoming weeks. Thank you. Of course, some people may hear by phone or email -- but certainly there is no decision status update on the web.

Anybody here are wait listed at UNC-CH? Have you received formal letter from the grad school? I am wait listed at the Health Econ program (it's in the School of Public Health, but will take econ classes at the Econ Dept.). Heard the news informally from the program director. I asked for a formal letter because I need it to apply to a scholarship program. The director told me that such letter will come from the Grad School. When I applied to the Grad School office, they told me they will send the letter only after the program sent the names of those wait listed. Will appreciate if you can share any news! Thanks...

I'm out from the AEM PhD race. Oh well.. And good luck for those of you who are going there!

William Easterly, Bono and Angelina Jolie

Any TM-ers applying to AEM PhD this year? Anyone has heard anything from them? I saw both an accept and a reject in thegradcafe. I emailed the grad secretary, she told me the committee has not yet finished reviewing all applicants, and I should hear in the next 2-3 weeks (the conversation was last week). Do they release the decision bit-by-bit?

And it's already past midnight here in Southeast Asia.. aaargh...!!

I'm applying to the Health Econ program at Harvard (under the Health Policy program). Since I didn't receive any confirmation about my application materials, while some gradcafe posters already heard something, I emailed GSAS and the program admin just to check if my materials are not missing. Well, here's the reply. I'm sure it has some hidden messages inside (like "you're out" or "please understand that you're rejected"). Do you think so? "I wish to let you know that all your application materials were received on time, and if you have not already heard from GSAS, you will be receiving a letter very soon..."

Anybody here is applying to Cornell AEM? Any news?

Thanks guys for your response. Actually I just want to do some reality check. You may be right, at this point even a small typo or grammatical error in my SOP may jeopardize everything. I know I tend to be sloppy especially when writing emails. But I always read through my SOP again and again, and try to minimize the errors. But there are things that has reached the limit. Obviously, I can not change my grade, and increasing my GRE score to ~800 is not an easy one. I can't tell what my profs wrote about me in the LOR. So the only chance is to shape my SOP (that includes fixing the English) or publish a spectacular research paper. Or, I should aim for much lower ranked schools, or even a different career path.

I was just rejected by a public, top 25-30 university. Have nothing to loose, I emailed the Grad Program director, asking what is the weakest point on my application. Here's my email: Dear Prof., ... if you don't mind, is there any way for me to know what is the weakest point in my admission credentials that in the end made me denied? If I can't get anywhere for my PhD this year, I am considering to reapply next week. But is there any way that I can improve my credentials? I am international student, with an econ degree, and a Master in Public Administration from a leading US Policy School. My GRE score is 780(Q), 530(V) and 4.0(AW). I understand that my undergrad GPA was not that excellent ... His response (a standard diplomatic one): There is no one reason for the rejection, competition is intense and its is a combination of factors that lead us to choose some candidates over others, your GRE scores are of course fine, but we look at lots of details on the transcript to make final decisions.

To be precise: I am a non-US citizen (a developing Asian country citizen), went for a master's degree in the US in 2004-06, returned to my home country and now is applying for a doctoral degree from my home country.

First Brown result at thegradcafe. Called by the prof, not the admission office or department.

Ah, nevermind my own question. Was just rejected... It was 6 am on my time, and the first time I saw was a 'DENY' status. Bugger...! It was my safe bet this year. Apparently, 780Q and 530V for an international student is not good enough. True, my undergrad GPA was so-so. But I have a US Master's degree and some working experiences. Ah well, if that doesn't mean I'm not good enough then I am not good enough. But, is there a chance that my profs don't think I'm that competitive hence they don't write me strong letters?

Looks like the thread will be on a brief hiatus now, waiting for the next round of results? Seriously, have they rejected anyone so far?

I talked to a prof at UVA before I submitted my apps. He said the dept was planning of hiring more faculties in development economics. That may be a good bet. The other option is to apply to apply to the Applied/Agriculture Econ Dept. UIUC has a good Applied Econ Dept (I know many people from my country -- a developing Asian country) went there. Some others: Cornell, Wisconsin, Minnesotta. Not sure if IUB is strong in this field.

I just feel like starting this thread. Couple of questions: 1. Usual one -- when should we expect to hear any news? 2. Anybody puts Brown as their top choice? I do -- especially after heard Duke rejection (I put both as my top choice). 3. Do you consider Brown Econ as 1st or 2nd tier program (or less)? I'm an international student; I always thought that Brown Econ, given its Ivy League status, is among the top tier program. But now I learned that it is not. Anyway, I applied to Brown not because of their ranking. Because it's among the best in Devt Econ, offers an Econ/Population track, one of my undergrad profs graduated from there and he still has a strong contact with some Brown profs, and now my former Master's thesis (I got a Master's degree from the US) moved to the Watson Institute.

Can't be the ordering of arrivals. I submitted my application way long ago (because my recommenders needed to finalize things early). To Sonikcsat -- when is the open house? Are you saying that there'll be no admission results between now an whenever the open house is?

Thanks for the info. But how come so far of those who have heard from UVA I haven't seen any rejections (or only 1)? Or maybe those who are rejected don't bother to post at thegradcafe?

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Econ major from a developing country (the leading econ school at the country). Plus a Master from a US public policy school. Undergrad GPA: overall GPA: 3.07; econ: 3.5. GRE: 780Q, 530V,AWA 4.0 Math Courses: 2 semester undergrad math econ plus math camp prior to starting my master's. Econ Courses: The basic sequence of things. Grad classes: Micro, macro, stat/econometric sequences, plus some graduate electives. Letters of Recommendation: thesis advisor, 2 grad econ prof I graded for, an Economist from work. Research Experience: Undergraduate thesis, master's final paper, 5 years working in policy research. Teaching Experience: part-time lecturer for the past 5 years. Research Interests: development, health, labor. SOP: standard why and what. Concerns: not-so-great GPA for both undergrad and grad. In: Reject: Duke (2/13), Virginia (2/18) Not yet: Brown, Umich, Wisconsin (AAE) ,Cornell (AEM), Harvard (Health Policy), UNC (Health Policy), Oxford (Devt. Studies).

8:56 Duke Standard Rejection Time.

Yes, the Duke rejection monster has just swallowed me. Aaaaarrgh...!!!

Institution: Duke Program: Econ PhD Decision: Reject Notification date: 2-13-2008 Notified through: Email to check website. Ouch!

I think the Democrat primaries and UVA admission process have one thing in common: we have to wait until the last minute to know who is finally nominated/admitted. :p

so... can we now conclude that Duke's notification sequence is a random stochastic process, and that the P(notified early) is basically equal for everyone?