crangeon8214

I agree with the research suggestion. Following through on a year long research project accomplishes two big things: shows adcoms you have the capability and drive to do research, and it shows your LOR writers that you have the capability and drive to do research. In my opinion, the effect on your LOR writers is the biggest part. You certainly don't have to take this route (as many successful people on this board have not) but for me, research was a huge help. Most importantly, I wanted to do economics research! It was fun : ). Provided you do reasonably well in the math courses you plan to take, I think Tiers 2-4 are within reach. Like you, I'm interested in some heterodoxish programs. This makes Irvine especially appealing, as in addition to some great political economy profs they have the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences, which includes economic profs, sociology profs, and others working on what could be called 'economic sociology'. Also for quibbling sake, I don't see Irvine and Boulder on different tiers, at least placement wise. And USnews, while not the ultimate ranking, moved Irvine up to 42. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Just for fun: Institution: U Washington - Seattle Program: Econ PhD Decision: Accepted, Rejected Funding: No Notification date: March 12, April 20 Notified through: Email Comments: On March 12th, UW sent: "I am writing to you to get more information about your admission plans. We are very impressed by your file, but since we are trying to assess a good match without full information, we have not been able to make you a funded offer yet. We presume that you have alternatives, so we thought we would verify with you if you would like to receive an offer of admission without funding at this point. We would like to keep in touch with you in anticipation that our situation will change and hoping that you would still be keen on us. We would be happy to send you an offer of admission (without funding). If you would like us to do so, please let us know. We would much appreciate it if you would kindly respond to this email as soon as possible." Then on April 20: "Unfortunately, the committee has decided not to recommend your admission and I have accepted that decision. The number and quality of graduate applicants to the University of Washington is extraordinary and these difficult decisions are reached through careful consideration of all applicants to a given program. In many cases, enrollment restrictions are also a factor, limiting our ability to accept all qualified applicants. I realize that this outcome is disappointing..." Hah! Institution: UC Santa Barbara Program: Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: who knows Notification date: April 21 Notified through: Email Comments: I contacted the department about the status of application three separate times, and get notified on the 21st...Irvine is better anyhow :)

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics, large top 25 American research university Undergrad GPA: 3.4 Type of Grad: none Grad GPA: none GRE: 760Q, 620V, 5.0AWA Math Courses: Calc I-III (A,A,B), Linear Algebra ©, Diff Eq's ©, Probability and Statistics (D,B (retaken... )), Real Analysis © Econ Courses: Introductory Economics (A), Principles of Microeconomics (A), Principles of Macroeconomics (A), Intermediate Micro Theory (B), Intermediate Macro Theory (A), Game Theory (B), Econometrics I,II(B,A) Other Courses: physics up to quantum mechanics Letters of Recommendation: 3 full professors (2 very strong, 1 medium..strong?) Research Experience: Honors economics thesis paper, not published (got one of very few scholarship awards at graduation), physics research fellowship Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: Micro, behavioral, environmental SOP: Primarily talking about my research experience Other: Expert with SAS, worked at a notable consulting firm, not sure if that even helps Concerns: Math grades suck. Econ grades are just ok. GRE nothing to write home about. RESULTS: Attending: UC Irvine($$) Admitted, Declined: UVA, Boulder ($$), Washington, Oregon State ($) Waitlists: none Rejections: UMD-AREC, Davis-AREC, Penn State, GMU Lost in space: JHU, UCSB What would you have done differently? As far as the application process goes - I wish I had exhaustively researched faculty interests before applying, I feel as though I might have let some potentially good schools (for me) like Iowa and Arizona slip through. On the whole, I am very pleased - my profile is all over the place, and Irvine matches me very, very well. As for undergrad, well, it is what it is.

Institution: UVA Program: Economics PhD Funding: None Date: Reasons: No funding, Irvine Comments: I liked the school but no funding + a more traditional dept for my tastes than Irvine Institution: UC Boulder Program: Economics PhD Funding: TA + fellowship Date: Reasons: Irvine Comments: Great school, amazing location, a tossup with Irvine. I felt Irvine has stronger stat/econometrics, as well as a very wide variety of research, especially into behavioral kinds of topics.

Congrats on WUSTL! And just because I want to keep this thread on track.. Institution: UC Davis Program: ARE PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 4/09 Notified through: Email Comments: Finally! After this and some additional funds from Irvine it looks like I'm headed west! Very excited, things are finally falling into place.

Though distraction is definitely an issue, getting funding is a strong signal from that school that they want you. The dept. feels that spending X amount of money on you is good for the school. While the schools can be wrong (and are! UMD...) overall, as many other people have said, the correlations between funding and success seem mostly due to the admission selection process. I completely agree with the use-someone's-else's-money sentiment. It doesn't seem worth the gamble nor the stress.

I'm still waiting on Davis, only word from them is: "maybe". Also no word from UCSB - strikes me as strange. As well... Institution: Maryland Program: Agricultural and Resource Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 03/27ish/2009 Comments: Meh.

At the expense of partially hijacking the OPs thread.. Irvine looks great to me partly because of the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences, as my research interests and intuition are more in the heterodox/multi-disciplinary camp. Plus I've heard good things about Irvine's econometrics, not to mention the weather.

This is similar to my own issues of UVA ($?) vs Irvine ($). Higher placements, possible debt and tough prelims, vs lower placements, no debt, and no prelims. Is placement worth it..

Elsewhere in this thread it was mentioned that ARE depts got hit particularly hard this year (low # of admits and low funding), at least when compared to straight econ depts. Anyone know the reason for this? Are they just getting screwed by their respective universities or are are (hah) econ depts tied to shakier private funds?

I've wondered about this too. Hard comps don't seem like the best way to prepare students for research. Writing supervised papers based on course material seems like a better route to go. Though I understand that research preparation isn't necessarily the point of the early graduate school years - shouldn't it be? While hard comps may keep the brightest in the program longer, it also keeps those who realize that research isn't for them longer as well.

Anyone have any news from Davis-ARE? I've been trying to reach the grad secretary with no luck. My track status is still empty, and hasn't been updated since feb 10th or so, its not leaving me with good thoughts.

Got a great offer from Boulder on friday - $15k TA + $5k fellowship. There's a paid flyout in early April. The email seemed to be a mass email, other than my first name, it was generic. I'd imagine they have barely started sending out admits.

Institution: UC Boulder Program: PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver, 15k TAship, 5k fellowship Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: Email Comments: :tup: Institution: Oregon State ARE Program: PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 3/6/09 Notified through: physical mail Comments: :)

I was admitted Feb. 10th as well.