parrhesia

Does anyone know any of the top names or programs in decision theory? Will that generally be a sub-specialization for professors with many different research interests?

Thanks for the responses, all. I'm feeling moderately more confident.

Thanks for the reply! I got some pretty bad advice the first time around and applied without success to 10 or 15 mostly top-30 programs. I threw in a couple of Master's programs at lesser-known schools as a hedge, which turned out to be a pretty good decision. All the letters of reference will be new ,from graduate school professors. I wish I could be more specific about a concentration, but going to graduate school changed my outlook a great deal. Suffice it to say that I'd like to concentrate on micro topics rather than macro, and that theory is more interesting to me than only empirical analysis -- particularly mathematical economics, though I don't feel very qualified for a career in mathematical economics just yet. Thanks again!

Hey everyone, I'm getting ready to finish up an MA in economics in December, and I'm trying to figure out my chances at PhD programs. My previous attempt at applying to a PhD was unsuccessful (which is why I'm in a master's now, incidentally), so I'm a bit nervous about this fall's application process. I think it was my undergraduate GPA that did me in last time, so hopefully the higher graduate GPA will help. However, graduate grades are usually higher than undergrad grades, so I'm afraid my undergrad will still weigh heavily on their decisions. Would you mind giving me a little feedback about which schools I should look at? Right now, I'm not sure where I want to concentrate (preferably theory -- maybe micro, could still be macro, not labor, maybe game theory, who knows), so bigger programs are probably better. Thanks for the feedback! PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BS Applied Math, BS Economics at a big state school, top 50 econ program for PhDs Undergrad GPA: 3.35 (cum laude for both) Type of Grad: MA Economics at a not-very-well-known program at a big private university. Teaching Assistantship (with $), if that helps. Grad GPA: 3.95 GRE: 790 Q, 600 V, 4.5 W Math Courses: The gamut: Calc I, II, III; Ordinary Differential Equations; Linear Algebra; Real Analysis; Discrete Math; Game Theory (in differential equations); Complex Variables (graduate); Partial Differential Equations (graduate) Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro I; Macro I; Econometrics I; Math/Stat; Micro Policy Analysis; Law/Regulation Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro; Micro I; Macro I; Econometrics; Evolution of American Economy; Financial Institutions; Labor; Money and Banking; International TradeLetters of Recommendation: Fairly well-known labor economist (PhD from MIT); Well-known transportation economist (PhD Berkeley); Macroeconomist (PhD Brown, professor for whom I'm a teaching assistant) Research Experience: Teaching assistantship includes research with professor; Research internship with well-known DC think tank; writing a Master's thesis on game theory and political economy Teaching Experience: Teaching assistant as a graduate for undergrad Macro, Financial econ classes; Teaching assistant as an undergrad for undergrad remedial math classes. Research Interests: Micro theory, game theory, political economy (though I know that sounds like a bit of a cop-out) SOP: Rewriting; hopefully this one won't make it sound like I am completely clueless. Concerns: Undergraduate GPA (!), and the fact that my Master's is from a pretty no-name university without much of a reputation for econ (though free tuition has been pretty fantastic). Thanks for the feedback, I really do appreciate it!