PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 2 in China, then transferred to top 30 US
Undergrad GPA: 3.99/4 in US
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 165V/169Q/6.0AW
Math Courses:
Calculus I and II (95+), Linear Algebra 1 and 2 (95 , 85),
Probability, Real Analysis 1,2, Complex Variables, ODE, Algebra 1 , all A's
Econ Courses:
Principles of Economics 1,2 (75, 90);
Intermediate Microeconomics; Intermediate Macroeconomics ; Economic Development ; International Economics ; Econometrics ; Math for Economists (Phd) ; Statistics, all A's;
Microeconomics 1 (Phd) (B+)
Letters of Recommendation: Phd Math for Econ Professor, Complex Variable Professor, and two professors I've RA ed for; I'm sure the last two played a major role here.
Research Experience: Undergrad RA
Teaching Experience: grader for years
Research Interests: Development
SOP: nothing special
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Brown, UCSD, BU, Upenn, Northwestern, Columbia
Waitlists: Duke, Cornell (for first year fund), have withdrawn from both
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Berkeley,
Attending: most likely Yale, will decide after visit day
Comments: A little bit disappointed by the MIT rejection, but how can one not be happy with these results? I am still struggling a bit among stanford/princeton and yale, but I guess given my interest Yale would be a nice place.
What would you have done differently?
Really not much. I have been concerned about getting recommendation letters back when I was a sophomore, but everything worked out alright; you just need one professor who really appreciates your talent and willing to help you, then doors just open up one after another.. Bottom line is that hard work pays off, but you also need a bit of luck to meet the right person to give you a push.