Negotiator1225

No, they do not care if your AW is that high. They have much better signals of writing ability.

Your profile is very close to mine. You should get in top 5-10. Consider applying to the Fed/RAships also because if you do not get in this round you probably will after a year or two. Also, apply to Northwestern and if your interests lie towards micro theory consider applying to the MECS program instead of econ.

I am starting in MECS in the fall so I can give a little advice with some bias but no experience actually attending the school. MECS (Managerial Economics and Strategy) combines the MEDS and M&S (Management and Strategy) departments in Kellogg. MEDS is micro theory and M&S is applied micro. The M&S department is also really good. Dranove and Dafny are two of the best health economists around. Ben Jones does really good work on the knowledge production function. Urch's own antichron also teaches in M&S. Looking at the web page, 8 of the current students do theory and 9 of the current students do applied, so there is no real emphasis to either side. Also, with a small cohort there are more faculty than students. Every student in MECS takes micro with econ and the other Kellogg departments. Instead of macro, we take a sequence in optimization and game theory. For econometrics, you either take Econ econometrics for two quarters then Kellogg for the last, Kellogg for all three quarters, or Kellogg for the first two then a course in decision theory. The Kellogg sequence is supposedly easier with an emphasis on application and a much easier prelim. The second year is basically whatever three sequences you want and you can choose any courses from Kellogg or econ. One big difference to consider is that the MECS stipend is 33k. From what I understand, the econ stipend is about 10k less. For reference, I chose MECS over Chicago, Penn, and a bunch of lower ranked programs. I think you would probably be accepted to both Northwestern programs but probably not a program that is clearly better (Harvard or MIT).

If you're interested in micro and game theory at Northwestern, I would consider applying to MECS. Its stipend is 10k larger :).

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 40 undergrad, >80 grad Econ, Double degree in Math and Economics and minor in Comp. Sci. Undergrad GPA: 3.9 in both majors and Overall Type of Grad: Grad GPA: GRE: 170 Q, 167 V, ?AWA Math Courses: Grad Real Analysis I and II (As), Grad Probability (B+), Grad Stochastic Calculus, (Undergrad) Topology, Combinatorics (A), Random Processes (A), Complex Analysis (A-), Probability Theory (A), Number Theory (A), ODE (A), Graph Theory (A), Algorithms (A), Discrete Math (A), Linear Algebra (A), Abstract Algebra (A), Honors Calculus III (A-), Problem Solving (A), Introductory Seminar (A) Econ Courses (grad-level): Game Theory (A), Micro Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro (A), Money and Banking (A), Readings in the History of Debt (A), Intermediate Macro (A-), Stat II (A), Econometrics (A), Fed Challenge (A), Experimental and Behavior Econ (A), Economic Development Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: T-20 thesis advisor, RA work, and Intermediate Micro T-40 Grad micro and experimental econ Probably a math professor (T-3 grad) who taught Discrete Math and Combinatorics and I graded Discrete Math for Research Experience: I will have a working health economics paper from two summers of RA work I also published a paper on education but it is more of a survey/policy paper Teaching Experience: Research Interests: Game theory, market design, micro, etc. SOP: Concerns: B+ in a grad course, lack of connections to top schools, using a recommendation from a math professor Other: Top math major award and Division I swimmer Applying to: I am looking for advice on where to apply to, probably around 10 schools. I want to apply to Northwestern (MEDS), UPenn, Stanford.