FamiliarTopic

Well guys, this bottom tier rank negative one million math grad ended up getting admitted to Wisconsin, Penn, and I Michigan with funding. Heading to Michigan in the fall!!!! Thank you RA gig, you're the bomb. To anyone else in a terrible undergrad with econ PhD aspirations, major in math do undergrad research you can talk intelligently about and apply to RA gigs, from there do well and you can overcome your **** tier school to a degree. Good luck!!!!

Anyone have any idea what "admitted as a regular student" to Penn means? I have no idea if this is unfunded or funded or what. Worst written and least informative acceptance letter ever. .

Friday, sorry m8

Into Michigan with funding! Score another for satellite rank one million school student! Fingers crossed though for NYU or berkeley though.... ^_~

You seem like such a sweetheart I'm really happy for you and wish you the best. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful economist, even at top places these people aren't that smart, you'll kick *** ^_~

lol, I noticed that in the rejection too; it cracked me up. at least now i wont convince myself to live in ****ing middle of nowhere new jersey. Wisconsin's still my only acceptance. aaaaaah!!

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Non-Flagship State University (Unranked Econ Program) Undergrad GPA: 3.6 Type of Grad: Grad GPA: GRE: [169V 165Q 4.5W] Math Courses: Calc I (B) Calc II (B-) Calc III (A-) Discrete Math (A-) Diff-EQ (B) Linear Algebra (A) Real Analysis I (A) Real Analysis II (A-) Topology (A) Probability (A) Financial Math (B+) Statistical Theory (A) Abstract Algebra (A-) Differential Geometry (A) Galois Theory (A-) Econ Courses (grad-level): Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro (A) Intro Macro (A) Stats for Econ (A-) Intermediate Macro (B+) Intermediate Micro (A) Intro Math Econ (A) Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: 3 Letters none from undergrad, all from RA gigs. Writers on the level of those tenured top 15 universities. All very strong, one in particular is extremely, extremely strong. Research Experience: Undergrad pure math research, 3 years as an RA Teaching Experience: High school math tutor (employed by the school) all through college Research Interests: Macro theory, macro finance, heterogeneous agent models SOP: Does this matter? I spent a decent amount of time trying to write it well. Concerns: I went to a bottom tier university and have no letters from my undergraduate experience. It's intimidating competing against kids who went to IVY league schools and it's intimidating being classmates with them. Other: Applying to: 10 out of the top 15 universities.

Wooooo! I'm one of the accepted at Wisconsin!! I'm from a bottom tier non flagship state university. Take that bourgeoisie!!

Well I retook and got 169 V 165 Q. Lol, I should have studied more, but I did better on the practice tests. Anyway, fingers crossed. I have very low expectations for my dream schools, but I'm positive I'll crack the top 20.

Well I retook and got 169 V 165 Q. Lol, I should have studied more, but I did better on the practice tests. Anyway, fingers crossed. I have very low expectations for my dream schools, but I'm positive I'll crack the top 20.

Actually, it is pretty difficult. The GRE is basically like 90 tricky high school questions and a couple dumb errors and you're screwed. I'm also very, very poor,and paying for the GRE means I apply to two less schools. I've saved 700$. 200 to take a bunch of high school math problems with the hope that don't do something stupid on 2-3 less of them than before seems like a gigantic waste money. I'm not a superstar in every regard, though I was a math major. My school wasn't great, my GPA was around an A- average.. My only good point is that I have extremely strong letters from well known people at or with connections to top universities. I met them through a mixture of a couple RA stints, conferences, and traveling.None are from undergrad. I'm counting on my profile lasting long enough for the adcoms to read my letters. If I get admission it will be because of them, not anything else.

Hey all, I took the GRE without studying a few years ago and got 167V 164Q. I really don't want to study for this exam because it's a huge waste of time and there's nothing to learn from it. I'm wondering if 164Q is high enough for MIT, Harvard, ect to examine my profile. I have a lot of math and a good GPA from a totally unknown non flagship state university. On the other hand, I have incredible letters from well known economists. Is the GRE score too low for the adcoms to read my letters? thanks

Great! That's a huge weight off my chest about the suit. That's also great! I only took one introductory course in econometrics, but I suppose that's on my transcript, so they can't expect me to know that much. Was there anything specific that you can remember? I think my course ended at autocorrelation or heteroskedasticity. Whichever comes second. I also mentioned various programs I've written, but I've never taken a formal programming course (though I'm enrolled in one now), so I do worry about specific technical questions with that, but it's not like I was like "expert programmer extraordinaire" on my resume, so hopefully it will be a-ok. Anyway, thanks for the heads up! Can't wait!

Note I could probably answer technical questions, I'd just need to review a lot, so I guess I'm also looking for direction. I guess I'm wondering if I should try and focus on my programming knowledge or my econometric knowledge. Oh, and I only know really, really basic stuff about time series. I don't really have any idea what they'll want to know!

Hi econphd forums, I have an interview with a branch of the federal reserve next week. I'm really, really excited and incredibly nervous. I didn't have any economics letter-writers, all mathematicians, so this would be a great opportunity. I would also be able to pay off all of the crippling student debt I've accumulated. I've wanted this job for years, I can barely believe I'm getting the opportunity to interview. Two things I want to ask anyone who interviewed (especially if you got the job) 1. I don't own a suit and I don't have money for one. If necessary, I could probably borrow money from my parents to get one, but obviously since this isn't a sure thing, that's a lot of money to spend. Also, my parents are very poor, and I'd hate to do that to them. It probably doesn't need to be added that I'd be purchasing a cheap suit. I've noticed there aren't many slim-cut suits either in this price range, and I'm a really skinny guy. Do you think a suit would be necessary, or would a shirt, slacks, belt tie combination be ok? 2. I've forgotten most of econometrics. Are there a lot of technical questions that I should be prepared to answer? The same goes for programming, all I've done in the past year for programming has been for personal research. Also, I know there's a topic about RA interviews, but I didn't post it there because I thought I would get a more tailored response with a new topic. I guess that was selfish of me and kind of clogs up the board, but I really can't contain myself I'm so incredibly excited.