desperatetodoeconomics

Guys thanks for all your comments. Here are some of my reflection after a lot of research. 1) True, UPF has had a recent placement at Stanford but most of their graduates go to private sector, policy institute and european programs. To be honest, I cant see a big difference in the placement of these 3 schools in general. UCSC has also sent its students at places like U.S. Treasury, the Bank of Canada, the Swiss National Bank, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the World Bank and unis like University of Georgia, Portland State University, the Brandeis University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Alberta, Indiana University, the University of London and i hear it is getting better because their program is young. Looking at placements of Warwick I cant see how better Warwick has done. I take into account the fact that perhaps from what I have heard many people at UCSC come from their home CBs and have to go back there after graduation. 2) UPF and Warwick have more people working on theoratical stuff. I was only interested in the works of Walsh, Kletzer and Friedman at UCSC. but UCSC is smaller program. I hear it would be possible to take courses at other UCs and Stanford and perhaps it would be possible to get a supervisor at other UCs ???? I dunno just guessing??? 3) Barcelona GSE and UPF are awesome in Macro but having lived in Barcelona for a year, it is a hard environment to get integrated in and living there for 4 -5 years without my wife having a job could make our stay there a hell for both of us. I am assuming that there would be better job prospects in US. She is an Architect. She has studies at UCL and London could be good for her but I am not sure if I could travel between Warwick and London continuously. 4) I grew up in the States and I dont know whether this making me biased towards UCSC and living in the States? I see US as a land of opportunity. Easier to find job and easier to progress compared to EU countries - I say this because I have lived in France, UK and Spain. One of my profs -Who is in top 5%- has told me that I would have a better training in the states and in US people dont know where even Warwick is. Would appreciate your advices...

Hello I have received offers from Warwick and UCSC for their PhD program and from BGSE for their MSc Econ program which is UPF's first year PhD program although progress to their 2nd year would be conditional. I am more interested in Monetary Econ, Macrofinance, Int. Finance and Game Theory. I would appreciate if you could help me with choosing between one of these programs. Also having worked in London during the past few years I am 100% sure that I would eventually like to work in the U.S either in academia or a policy making institution and I hear that it would be easier to find a job in the US if I attend a US program . Also I know Warwick is a depressing place to live but could anyone tell me how the quality of life is in San Jose? I am married and I think if I am to attend UCSC we would have to live in a big city. Thanks in advance.

Undergrad: University College London (UCL), Economics Undergrad GPA: 2:2, Lower Second Honors Grad 1: U of Essex, Economics and Econometrics Grad 1 GPA: 66% Grad 1 Courses: Dissertation: (70% , A), Inference and Estimation in Econometrics (A), Empirical Methods (73%, A), Game Theory (85%, A), Micro (70 %, A), Int Finance (58%, C), Macro (56%, C), Time Series © Grad 2: Barcelona GSE, Macro Policy and Financial Markets program Grad 2 GPA: 7.7/10 Grad 2 Courses: Dissertation: (8.0/10 , A-), Bayesian Macroeconometrics (7.8/10, B+), Macroeconomics (8.3/10, A-), Fiscal Policy (8.5/10, A-), Monetary Policy (8.5/10, A-), Computational Methods (7.5/10, B+), Time Series (7.5/10, B+), Financial Economics (7/10, B), Empirical Macro (7/10, B), Micro (7.5/10, B+), Econometrics (7/10, B), Research discussion (9/10, A), Empirical Finance (6/10, B-), GRE: Q: 800, V: 560, AWA: 5.0 Letters of Recommendation: From 3 Full Professors from UPF, European Uni Institute and Essex. Research Experience: 2 Masters dissertation Research Interests: Macrofinace, Bayesian Macro, Monetary Policy etc Other: Used Matlab for 2nd Masters dissertation and for simulating and Matching model, and used State for first Masters dissertation. I am working now and have no limitations in the number of schools I am applying. Would apply to Top 30 US schools and Top 10 European schools and top 5 Canadian Schools.

Hello.... I am aiming to apply to schools that have their deadlines on Dec 15 or later. I am taking my GRE at the first half of Nov. for which according to the ETS website the Approximate Score Report Mailing Dates and View Scores Online Date is 1 Dec (October 16, 2011 – November 18, 2011 is the associated time interval for 1 Dec score report date). Based on your experiences would you say I would meet the Dec 15 deadline? Am I safe? cheers......

I have spoken with two distinguished Profs from LSE and UCL very recently - both of which are in their admissions committee and they told me that getting a distinction or near to distinction grade in a masters from UPF would give an excellent chance of getting into a top PhD program. As far as I see it many of the courses that are taught in this program are much more advanced that what is taught in the economics masters taught at LSE, UCL, Cambridge. Those latter mentioned masters are also terminal masters programs and their difference with the MSc Econ of UPF according to one of the UPF professors is that the UPF MSc Econ program is really the first year of a PhD program rather than a Masters program which lies between Bachelors and PhD. But if I am wrong please correct me MicroMacro. As I said my first choice ws to do the MSc Econ program but I was not accepted. But I dont understand why location should be such a problem as long as you interact with the professors inside and outside the classroom for example during their office hours. Besides its true that some of the teachers like Jordi Gali are in the downtown campus but some of them are in the UAB campus where they teach. Coud you explain more icebear?

Hi, Thanks for your reply - you made me very excited. Thats why I have thought of doing another Masters. Initially I applied for the MSc Econ but I was rejected and then considered and accepted for my second choice of MSc Macro policy. However I have heard that the MSc Econ is really a first year PhD program but the MSc Macro policy is a Masters, a bridge between undergrad and PhD. But could you tell me really what do you think about the content of the program how advanced they are? and also do you have any particular advice for me? I have been told by the BGSE that I could take additional courses from the MSc Econ program but they said that it could be very difficult as the work load would be impossible - Is that manageable do you think?

Hello Guys! I have been accepted into the MSc Macroeconomic Policy and Financial Markets program of the Barcelona GSE with a partial tuition waiver. I was wondering whether anyone has been through this program or has any information as to its quality and how rigorous it is? I have heard that its a solid and strong program but I am keen to get some more advice and information. Its really very difficult judging by just looking at syllabuses. I eventually love to get into a top 20 PhD program but I dont know how much this could help me. Thanks.

Can Some one please advise me on wether I have chance of getting in a top 10 US economics PHD program??? I have a bachelors from UCL but unfortunately I ended up with a lower second honors. I am doing a masters in "economics and econometrics" at Essex Uni and given my mid-term grades (which are quite high) and the amount of effort that I am exhibiting, I am pretty sure I could get a distinction for my masters. If I get a distinction with very good LOR, clear and very good research proposal and very high GRE scores, can I be hopeful of securing a place at a top 10 US PHD program given my low undergrad grades??? I am taking Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Game theory, International Finance, Time Series Econometrics, Estimation and Inference in Econometrics and Empirical Methods in Economics and Finance this year in my masters. I also have a good deal of work experience and internships (which I assume wont matter much).

Can Some one please give advise me wether I have chance of getting in a top 10 US economics PHD program. I have a bachelors from UCL but unfortunately I ended up with a lower second honors. I am doing a masters in "economics and econometrics" and given my mid-term grades are being released and the amount of effort that I am exhibiting, I am pretty sure I could get a distinction. If I get a distinction with very good LOR, clear research proposal, very high GRE scores can I be hopeful of securing a place at a top 10 US PHD program given my low undergrad grades??? I am taking Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Game theory, International Finance, Time Series, Estimation and Inference in Econometrics and Empirical Methods in Economics and Finance. I also have a good deal of work experience and internships (which I assume wont matter much).