sarebear328

I just wanted to emphasize again that this can vary GREATLY by section and economist who you work for in terms of: 1) availability of co-authorship opportunities, 2) # of work hours per week (I regularly work late hours and weekends), and 3) laid back environment (depends on who you work for). Last paragraph has great advice -- good luck!

Haha, no worries! I actually only knew about chimerical because we ran into each other on a campus visit! On each of my admit days, the ratio of women admitted to the programs was 2/3 at two of them, and 2/5 at the third so it looks like the gender balance might begin to shift in 5+ years!

Yes! both chimerical and I are female!

So I actually came from a LAC and did an RA at the Fed before re-applying to grad school. I turned down admission to a fully funded top 15 program to take the RA position, although I was able to get into writing that I would be offered the same package etc. if I reapplied within 3 years (so I basically had 0 risk). My undergraduate professors encouraged me highly to take the RA position and so I did even though I felt like I was ready to go straight to grad school. I certainly didn't get the research experience at the Fed that I was hoping to, basically due to the crisis making a lot more policy work than usual, but I took some grad. level Stats classes and by taking time off, my senior year grades and honors were on my transcript. I actually didn't get a rec from the Fed so I didn't even have that benefit, but I did decide to apply to B-school PhD programs instead of pure econ -- so narrowing down/changing interests is definitely another potential benefit. Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

Me: Applying to Phd Programs in Strategy, Marketing, and Bus Econ Undergrad GPA: 3.7 from top 3 LAC Grad GPA: 4.0 GMAT/GRE: 780Q, 660V, 5.0 W Age: 23 International/US: US Research Experience: undergrad thesis, 1 year research assistant at a Fed Accepts/Waits/Rejects: HBS Strategy, Kellogg MECS, Haas BPP / / Stanford Q. Marketing, MIT TIES, CMU SETChange, Stern Econ, Anderson Econ, Booth Econ, Wharton Econ Anything Else notable: I'm going to HBS and thrilled about it!! I think I likely got rejected from a number of places for lack of focus/concern over fit, so I suggest people spend a lot of time thinking about this! I also had very strong LORs which definitely helped...

I also do not have a masters, and in fact am only 1 year out of undergrad. I think especially in B-schools, each candidate is evaluated individually and there really aren't certain standards or qualifications that guarantee success in getting into these programs as they are so small and focus largely on fit.

I declined in a email saying the fit was better at the school I am attending but I was very impressed with the faculty etc. at the program (which is true). They have responded nicely thus far, which is good since I would love to get hired at the programs I'm declining in 5 years!

Just wanted to post and let everyone know I decided to attend HBS. I'm thrilled with my outcome and looking forward to seeing you all on the market in 5 years! Thanks for all the help and support along the way and best of luck in the future :)

bphder, thanks for the detailed response! I clearly know this that this is ultimately about what is the best program and fit for me -- but I also like to know everything I can about the programs before I make a decision! (I've e-mailed ~20 students in the 3 programs to get their take on their experience and what not, so I'm nearly done with the data gathering phase). Thanks everyone for all of the help and good luck to everyone with their decisions!! :)

I wish I could be as helpful as you have been with me! The only thing I know about Wharton management is that it is where the first two Strategy DBA candidates from HBS were placed this year... Haas does have great placements and is very reputable, but I feel like I would just get so much support at HBS and I got such a good gut feeling I might just go with it (very unlike me as I usually don't get gut feelings and I usually go with the decision that has the most factual support). Kellogg isn't totally out of the running, but I was nervous by the fact that the job market candidates from MECS go on the market with the Econ students and Haas placements are significantly better. HBS would be quite a departure from my relatively theoretical training, which makes me nervous, but I also think that perhaps it would be a departure that I would enjoy and thrive in. HBS also has a very flexible program so I could likely get the technical training I want in the econ. department... it's just a matter of whether that would be recognized on the job market.

I did my undergrad at a top LAC in economics and math and am working at a Fed now. This thread has been rather dormant for a while ... I just returned from my flyouts and now I'm totally bogged down with my decision. Do people have thoughts about Berkeley Haas BPP program and the HBS Strategy program? Do people also have an idea whether a DBA (which is what I would earn at HBS) is an impediment in the job market? Any help is appreciated!!

I've also visited one program and was happy with the visit -- I'm hoping I have a really stark reaction (either good or bad) to the other two to make the decision easier!!

Admit Day was on Monday so I'm guessing they aren't making further offers... (although I suppose it's possible if enough people turn it down they will make more, but I got the feeling they had already accepted a large class and would not admit more if a couple turned it down). Hope everything works out for you!

Anyone else going to flyout at HBS coming up? I'd love to meet any fellow TM-ers!

My guess would be that this year it runs from August 30th - September 17th (since it began on a Monday and finished on a Friday last year).