myrrh

Search for jlist's posts on this subject. There might be a link to them in the FAQs. ARE programs tend to be easier to get into if for no other reason they get far fewer applicants than regular economics programs. At least from what I gathered speaking with people this year (so perhaps this isn't historical), it seems like getting into Berkeley ARE is on the same level of competition as getting into a top 10-15 econ; getting into UMD AREC or Davis ARE is like getting into a top 20-25. I don't know about other programs though but if you're applying in the upcoming cycle competetiveness of admissions might depend a lot on how bad department budgets are. Also, rigor's fine; you're taking core theory classes with econ anyway. However, UMD and Davis substitute an applied micro course for macro. After that its just field courses.

My Google ads tell me that Strayer University has a top 10 department. How about that for forward looking?

Just randomly lurking again and saw this... Of course, I'd like to convince you to come to my new school but just on the cost differential alone it would hardly be advisable. One, neither would be a sure-fire leapfrog into Berkeley, even remotely. Standard TM admissions advice doesn't really apply to this program. They are likely emphasizing something more and not obvious not connections. Two, a UBC MS will get you into Davis for the PhD. My guess, you have the same chance of matriculating into the Davis PhD program from the Davis MS (contingent on top performance) as you do being admitted coming from UBC.

To steal from the other thread, what did Laura Taylor say about her research agenda wrt behavioral/exp? I briefly scanned her CV and it looks like her strength is in land market/hedonic valuation stuff...a really impressive publication record in that, though I've never read any of her work. I say if you're interested in working on what's she doing with experimental then go for NCSU, considering everything else. That said, UCSB's experimental research looks AWESOME and its my superficial feeling that this kind of stuff is the brightest beacon for env. econ research. If nothing else, all the cool kids are doing it. I guess if I had to submit a vote...I'd say a weak NCSU

I've pretty much resigned to lurking in this thread to look for happy kittens.

A few anecdotes, perhaps useful 1.) The market heavily influenced my decision to go to grad school straight out of undergrad rather than work for a couple of years. Also, grad school has been in my plans since sophomore year. 2.) UC Davis ARE said that my entering class will be of the best ones they've had in decades. So another check mark for the original claim. 3.) All things considered, I think the pay of academic economists tends to be very good. It may not be doctor/lawyer/ibanker money but given that you're an academic its really good. Coupled with what you can make in the private sector I think more and more people see becoming economists as a lucrative career. Interestingly enough, though, a private industry economist told me that he speculates that the starting income for all types of economists will fall substantially sometime in the next few years.

I agree with this 100%. Beyond paying for pedigree, reputable professors and programs are so for a reason. Having an adviser who is an expert in your field of interest can really be a huge determinant of dissertation quality. I was actually speaking with a professor today and they mentioned something about how so-and-so never would gotten (insert remarkable idea) to work in their dissertation if (insert expert) hadn't been around. Advanced grad students are still students, too. Get the best teachers.

Congrats on UMD! Its an awesome place to study, you'll love it. Also, this a terp: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/specgal/image/photos/terrapin.jpg fear it

Ditto. Four admits...that's pretty outrageous. Just standard budget reasons I guess?

^winner

Just glancing at the department pages, it looks like Perdue is probably a better fit. I believe they have a reputation for strength in trade and they let you focus in IO, too. However, it looks like some does an international ag policy dissertation every year at UF if that's what you are interested in. It seems like they're development stuff is very much limited to that, but I could be wrong.

I've heard Paul Erdos had a penchant for amphetamine.

The Greenbelt bus stop is also the Greenbelt metro station. The trains are right there. For location (and bus timetables) I would check out Metro - Home page

I'm not sure if I understand what you're asking. If you want to go straight from Greenbelt to UMD then definitely take a taxi. There's pretty much always a queue of them outside the station. You can also just ride one stop to CP and take the shuttle bus to campus. Is this what you are asking? Edit: Also, the UMD shuttle bus stops about 300 feet from the AREC dept.

I think I might have given the impression that I was more interested in environmental research over economic research in my SOP. This isn't really true, I'm equally interested in both. But I think the conventional wisdom given by environmental economists is that serious candidates should be pursuing a PhD for the "economics" part of the job title and this might have hurt me a lot, especially at places not looking for a ton of people interested in it. Also, I wouldn't have let Harvard and Yale be 1/2 of the regular Econ programs I applied to when I didn't have a top 10 profile.