Wooky

VU University Amsterdam has a large development group, UvA doesn't (they do have macro, educational, behavioral, finance and nonlinear groups).

As an insider I must say that Judith has been always nice and helpful. I had the same impression when I was applying, so I am surprised to see your comments. Anyway, don't base your choices on niceness - you won't interact too much afterwards ;) Good luck!

Tinbergen (including CREED, Center for Research in Experimental Economics and political Decision making ) is very good.

What economicus was mainly refering to was that I guess: "I know many students from both programs, Tinbergen students are usually more dedicated, Tilburg students are more cooperative guys." I would second economicus - environment is highly cooperative, although of course people are very dedicated. But you will always find a helpful hand and we always discuss and compare solutions to our homeworks - which is I think good. I am not sure how it works in Tilburg, hope you have the same. But what I know is that since you don't have a special office for MPhil (correct me if I am wrong) you don't know keep in touch that much with people from other years. We do have our office, and I do know everyone from year below and above, and at least half of people from 2 years above. Which is not only nice for social reasons, but also great regarding cooperativness - older mates advices are very usefull. To make it clear - this is not a post to trigger war TI-Tilburg or to prove we are better ;) I studies also for 5 months in Tilburg as an exchange and I know also from empiria that it's a great place. Though, this sentence needed clarification (that's my feeling). Btw, from what I heard Tilburg program will be now transformed to look more like TI (since your current DGS is the guy who used to be DGS at TI) - that is: guaranteed PhD position (if basic requirements are satisfied), more structure (especially during second year). I guess also more weeks of classes, since we have 35 weeks of classes and 5 weeks of exams (in 5 blocks), and as far as I've heard it's less in Tilburg. Also they will expect you to stay for PhD here, so transfers to US will not be that supported. But don't take all details for granted, I haven't talked to Abring. Hunecon - have you heard about that?

(1) Adding to what Cartman has said - there has been relatively few people trying to apply to US, one last year (who had highest average in his year) was rejected everywhere. Don't ask me why, I have no idea. But in general, TI is not a place to be for 2 years and go to US afterwards (2) Indeed, it was about macro II professor, now there is another one so no worries. But still, if you want to do macro afterwards you have to carefully check potential supervisors, there are not too many of them. (3) Now they are more strickt, I would have to count in my year, from 35 people 3 left (they wouldn't have scholarships), and from 32 that are left I would guess (and my guess is close to real value) 22-23 have scholarships. Indeed, if you take advance track they compensate for difficulty (4) I don't know about your background, but some people, especially from a bit less developed countries, studied a lot of macro at their uni, not much micro (like I did). And then you come to TI for example, and find that micro is even more cool than they thought (like I did). But btw, Barcelona has obviously better weather, better basketball team, better football team, mountains closeby, warm sea closeby, nicer language ;) I am not sure whether you can balance it all just with bikes and easier life here (since everything is organized and everyone speaks english). Anyway, good luck and feel free to ask more questions

Then TI is a great place to be. You can do empirical micro in many groups - educational at UvA, huge labor (including health as well) at VU, health at EUR - Tinbergen Institute - Seminar Series Labour, Region and the Environment this seminar is a good indicatior of what the group is interested in. Regarding development group (at VU) the focus is on micro issues (quite broad), although other things are also possible - I will do empirical macro, probably only at the beginning but still. I don't know Texas and Virginia Tex so cannot compare. BGSE is Bonn or Barcelona?

It's definitely not ultracompetetive in a sense that we don't compete between each others - atmosphere is really friendly. Regarding attrition - officially they cannot kick you out till you take retake, which means that they cannot kick you out till 2nd year. Sometimes they advice to leave the program, but according to rule of law you can stay and we have I person that failed many exams during first year and is still at TI (taking only first year courses). There is also one more person that failed to many exams and during the first block that person couldn't take 2nd year courses. Except for that, from my year 3 people left - one after 3rd block (they asked him since he failed almost everything), two after the first year (one due to financial situation). But the general answer is: if you work hard and if you have money to survive 2nd year (in case you fail sth or your average is below 7) then you will enter PhD for sure.So don't worry about attrition

Hey. As far as I know there is no wating list for funding (they would have told you otherwise I guess), but since so important I would kindly advice you to write to Judith to make sure. Indeed, with Belgian nationality you would have to pay around 1700 euros for fee a year. Good luck!

Lutkepoh's contract ends soons as far as I remeber, so he will leave EUI

UvA had serious financial problems last year and it was a problem for TI as well, since they accepted only 2 people from economics track and 2 from finance. The majority went to Rotterdam, some to VU. It was not nice, because final decisions were made in July or August, so pretty late - people had to look for new supervisors and sometimes start a new topic. But it was totally unexpected situation. This year situation is better, VU will accept as usual 4 or 5 people from economics, UvA (probably) 5 from economics and 3 from quantitative. For finance guys it's easier, beacuse half of their phd salary is financed by DSF. I guess the situation should improve (that is UvA accepting everyone who wants to do PhD there) in the next years, but we don't know of course. As far as I know it doesn't have any consequences for TI itself (regarding first 2 years), we just moved to new, big building and everything seems to be working fine. But I am not sure how much we, students, now what's really going on, so don't take my words for granted. Best

Indeed, macro is not the strongest part of TI, but there are some good groups. Check for example MINT at UvA. Regarding further PhD, it's not the thing with professors. TI board treats our program as a 5 year program, with 2 years of coursework and 3 years of PhD. But united. And they don't want people finishing after MPhil, they are also not very happy if someone leaves since they invest to have good PhD candidates at EUR, UvA or VU. Keep in mind also that it's relatively difficult to get a good grade and also we have 15 courses during first year, each lasts 7 weeks + one week of exam, so you don't interact with given professor too much - only 2 professors have more than 1 (that is 2) courses during the first year, often you have 2 professors for one course. So I am not sure whether you can get really good recommendation letter based just on short coursework during first year. Best

There is a big threat about TI here: http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/111469-tinbergen-institute.html Feel free to ask questions, I will try to answer them. But of course, read first - the majority (well, almost all) of information is still valid. As far as I know they haven't started reading your applications yet. 2 years ago results were around the beginning of March, last year it was end of February I guess. Tilburg used to have rolling admission, but I am not sure whether they still have it. Good luck

Hey, there is a huge thread on Tinbergen - http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/111469-tinbergen-institute.html so if you have any questions just ask there - I will try to answer. Haven't read this threat yet, but I may comment. Regarding last 2 posts, indeed, if you combine UvA+VU+EUR (only TI-affiliated professors) TI ends up in top 20.

Behavioral? CREED, Center for Experimental Economics in political Decision making , ESE - Behavioral Economics - I don't recall who is at VU, probably some people here: Staff - Econometrics and Operations Research - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration but they do rather game theory . But in general, one of the strongest points of TI. Few courses in that area (you can check in program pdf), also a weekly seminar (mainly here: Tinbergen Institute - Seminar Series Economics Colloquia on Friday)

@SlowLearner38 - it seems they are doing good, definitely it's a very nice group and already integrated. Regarding IO - you should check Hinloopen and his group at UvA. @Paoc85 - during the first year you have aroud 5-6 classes in Rotterdam (including 3 in the first block), the rest is in Amsterdam. So you travel once or twice to Rotterdam if you live in Amsterdam. During the second year around 25% of classes is in Rotterdam, rest in Amsterdam.