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Alwaysthinking, thanks for your reply. Answering your questions: 1) I can count on three references: 2 are from teachers from my MSc course. One of them is very well known in Europe, dont know about the US. He has published a lot in top research journals that are highly valued in the US, dont know how much that helps. Another LoR, although it was not my professor, contributed with me when I worked as journalist. He is a very high ranked economist in the US. But then again he was not my professor, so I dont know if that helps. I could ask the institution where I do research now for a reference, but they are not interested in seeing me go, so I dont know if they will give me a good LoR. 2) I tried to broadly translate my british and french grades into the US system. For my Masters, I graduated with distinction, which is the highest grade in the british system. I think I graduated first or second in my class. I read somewhere that distinction is roughly equivalent to a GPA in the range of 3.75 to 4. That is why I wrote 3.75 - 4 /4. For my undergrad, I had 14/20, which is equivalent, roughly, to about 3.5 Thanks again for your advice. Have you been in Santa Cruz? I have family studying there and had the chance to visit, its a beautiful campus.

Hi, I want to ask people around here if I have the profile for getting into a top 30-100 PhD program in Economics with a scholarship. I thought about posting in the roll call section, but alll I see is profiles but no comments or replies. I dont understand how it is supposed to work. So, I am posting my profile here with the same format here. Thanks for your time and comments. There it goes: PROFILE: Type of Grad: MSc in Economics and Finance at The University of Kent (UK) Graduate GPA: 3.7- 4.0/4.0 (prize for excellence) Type of Undergrad: International Relations at a French university (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Internationales) Undergrad GPA: 3.5/4 GRE: Havent done it yet Math Courses: Mathematics for Economics undergaduate level (calculus, matrix algebra, optimization, financial mathematics, differential equations, etc) Econ Courses (grad-level): Financial Econometrics, Empirical Macroeconomics (Macroeconometrics), Advanced Macroeconomics, Financial Economics - Markets and Instruments, Asset Pricing, Advanced Econometrics, Research Methods, International Finance and MSc dissertation on applied econometrics for finance. Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Quantitative Methods, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Financial Analysis and Policy Analysis, Introduction to Economics, Geopolitics, Geopolitics of Raw Materials, International Law, Civil Law, Comparative Regime Analysis, Social Psychology, International Politics, Law of the Sea, International Organizations and Dissertation on the resource curse Other Courses: Extra courses on Dynamic Macroeconomics, Numerical Methods, summer course on DSGE models and Dynamic Programming Letters of Recommendation: Two professors from Kent and from the university I am currently at (prefer not to reveal, see below) (all referees figure as top 10% economists in world rankings and have published in both top European and American journals). Another reference from a top 30 US university. Research Experience: Have been working at a top 20 British university doing research (similar as doing a PhD) Teaching Experience: Teaching assistant - Have taught two undergraduate courses for a full semester (Statistics and Econ 101) Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and DSGE models Work experience: Worked selling options for corporate clients at a bank and worked as a financial journalist. Internship in real estate in the US SOP: Explain how my research interests have evolved but all tending towards research in macroeconomics and a life dedicated to research Concerns: Did not go to super famous schools, my undergrad was more politics so I had to do a 2 year MSc course to pump up my economics training. My age? (Im 28) Other: Very good at Matlab, Dynare, OxMetrics, GAUSS, Rats, R, Eviews, Stata and Excel. Speak English, French, Spanish and Italian Applying to: UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UCSB, North Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa, Boston University ... but to be honest dont know because I havent figured out where I have a higher chance of getting funding. If I could I would pick Princeton, NYU, Wisconsin, Chicago, etc... but we all know those ones are way to hard to get into with my background. I would be happy with any top 30-100 ish in macroeconomics. What do you think? Thanks

Thanks.. so this is it (I also revised the conversion of my grades to the US system): PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: International Relations at a French university (HEI) Undergrad GPA: 3.5/4 Type of Grad: MSc in Economics and Finance at Kent (UK) Grad GPA: 3.7- 4.0/4 (prize for excellence) GRE: Havent done it yet Math Courses: Mathematics for Economics undergaduate level Econ Courses (grad-level): Financial Econometrics, Empirical Macroeconomics (Macroeconometrics), Advanced Macroeconomics, Financial Economics - Markets and Instruments, Asset Pricing, Advanced Econometrics, Research Methods, International Finance and MSc dissertation on applied econometrics for finance. Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Quantitative Methods, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Financial Analysis and Policy Analysis, Introduction to Economics, Geopolitics, Geopolitics of Raw Materials, International Law, Civil Law, Comparative Regime Analysis, Social Psychology, International Politics, Law of the Sea, International Organizations and Dissertation on the resource curse Other Courses: Extra courses on Dynamic Macroeconomics, Numerical Methods, summer course on DSGE models and Dynamic Programming Letters of Recommendation: Two professors from Kent and from the university I am currently at (prefer not to reveal, see below) (all referees figure as top 10% economists in world rankings and have published in both top European and American journals) Research Experience: Have been working at a top 20 British university doing research (similar as doing a PhD) Teaching Experience: Teaching assistant - Have taught two undergraduate courses for a full semester (Statistics and Econ 101) Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and DSGE models Work experience: Worked selling options for corporate clients at a bank and worked as a financial journalist. Internship in real estate in the US SOP: Explain how my research interests have evolved but all tending towards research in macroeconomics and a life dedicated to research Concerns: Did not go to super famous schools, my undergrad was more politics so I had to do a 2 year MSc course to pump up my economics training. My age? (Im 28) Other: Very good at Matlab, Dynare, OxMetrics, GAUSS, Rats, R, Eviews, Stata and Excel. Speak English, French, Spanish and Italian Applying to: UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, North Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa, ... but to be honest dont know because I havent figured out where I could get funded. If I could I would pick Princeton, NYU, Wisconsin, Chicago, etc... but we all know those ones are way to hard to get into with my background. I would be happy with any top 100 ish in macroeconomics. What do you think? Thanks

Thanks.. so this is it (I also revised the conversion of my grades to the US system): PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: International Relations at a French university (HEI) Undergrad GPA: 3.5/4 Type of Grad: MSc in Economics and Finance at Kent (UK) Grad GPA: 3.7- 4.0/4 (prize for excellence) GRE: Havent done it yet Math Courses: Mathematics for Economics undergaduate level Econ Courses (grad-level): Financial Econometrics, Empirical Macroeconomics (Macroeconometrics), Advanced Macroeconomics, Financial Economics - Markets and Instruments, Asset Pricing, Advanced Econometrics, Research Methods, International Finance and MSc dissertation on applied econometrics for finance. Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Quantitative Methods, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Financial Analysis and Policy Analysis, Introduction to Economics, Geopolitics, Geopolitics of Raw Materials, International Law, Civil Law, Comparative Regime Analysis, Social Psychology, International Politics, Law of the Sea, International Organizations and Dissertation on the resource curse Other Courses: Extra courses on Dynamic Macroeconomics, Numerical Methods, summer course on DSGE models and Dynamic Programming Letters of Recommendation: Two professors from Kent and from the university I am currently at (prefer not to reveal, see below) (all referees figure as top 10% economists in world rankings and have published in both top European and American journals) Research Experience: Have been working at a top 20 British university doing research (similar as doing a PhD) Teaching Experience: Teaching assistant - Have taught two undergraduate courses for a full semester (Statistics and Econ 101) Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and DSGE models Work experience: Worked selling options for corporate clients at a bank and worked as a financial journalist. Internship in real estate in the US SOP: Explain how my research interests have evolved but all tending towards research in macroeconomics and a life dedicated to research Concerns: Did not go to super famous schools, my undergrad was more politics so I had to do a 2 year MSc course to pump up my economics training. My age? (Im 28) Other: Very good at Matlab, Dynare, OxMetrics, GAUSS, Rats, R, Eviews, Stata and Excel. Speak English, French, Spanish and Italian Applying to: UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, North Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa, ... but to be honest dont know because I havent figured out where I could get funded. If I could I would pick Princeton, NYU, Wisconsin, Chicago, etc., too... but we all know those ones are way to hard to get into with my background. I would be happy with any top 100 ish in macroeconomics. What do you think? Thanks

Hi, I am planning on applying for a PhD in Economics in the US. Since applications cost money, I am wondering if I stand a chance and which range of universities should I target (top 50-100? top 100-150?) given my profile. I did a two year MSc in Economics in a British university (that is amongts the top 20 in the UK and top 250 in world rankings). I graduated with distinction (over 70%) which is supposed to be equivalent to a GPA of 3.7-4.0 according to stuff I read online (this is my overall degree). I got firsts in almost all my courses except a couple that are 2:1 (62-69%) which I guess would be around a GPA of 3.5. I also obtained a price for excellence in my MSc. As for my undergrad, I did a bachelors in International Relations in an average school in France. My overall grade is 65% and got a first in my dissertation (the whole grade of the last year). Work experience... worked for a US bank in Europe, selling options for corporate clients and at financial newspaper interviewing people and writing articles. I also did an internship in the US in a real estate company. I have been working for the last year or so in my research proposal, reading some of the material for PhD courses in US universities. I am 28 years old and would be applying if not next fall, the following year. I applied for some scholarships in the UK and got them but deferred them because lots of people advised me to do my PhD in the US (and because I might move there to join my family). Oh yeah, and I still have to take the GRE. Assuming I get a good grade... What do you think? Do I stand a chance for getting funding for a PhD in the US? Thanks

Thanks for your replies. I did do an MSc before entering into the PhD but the topic Im dealing with was barely even mentioned during my masters.. so Im in a new field. I think that in the end I will work as hard as I can and keep applying to other schools to see if I can go somewhere better. I spoke with two new teachers at my school and they told me to consider changing because our school is amongst the last in the UK to have the "no structure or coursework" style of PhD in Economics.. and they say that I really am at a serious disadvantage and that it will be tough to find a position in academia. Especially for my case, because I will move back to the US once Im done (my home country). I really love research, so I dont care if I only get to do my PhD at a crappy university... but if I want to continue doing research, I have to secure a position in academia or any other research like position.. because if not, then I wont be able to continuing doing what I like! Anyways, thanks for your replies

I got accepted in a PhD program at a top 20 British university (top 5 in macroeconomics in the UK and top 100 in world rankings in macroeconomics, my field of research) with a very nice scholarship. Although I would have prefered to do the PhD in the US, many things that happened in my family made me move to the UK. So I applied to the program in the UK and in the end I got the opportunity to do a PhD with people that are very good in my field of research. So here goes my question: In the UK.. a master lasts for 12 months, and then you have 3 years for a PhD. I noticed that in the US, students usually have two years of graduate courses and then have 3 years for writing their dissertation. I even noticed that candidates from NYU have been doing their PhD in 6-7 years. So I have completed my masters, took a 6 month internship working at a bank and now am on the 1st year of my PhD. I notice that in most programs in the UK there are no courses for PhD students (my PhD program being one of them), and not only that, there seems to be a big gap between what you do in your masters and what tools you really need to learn in order to produce research for a PhD. Do you think there is hope for achieving a good PhD in three years? I know it depends mostly on me.. but do you think three years is enough... and that no training (as compared to US programs), is not a serious issue? Members of my faculty tell me to just calm down and that I will learn by myself most of the things that I would have learnt in PhD courses are other universities. I, on the other hand, think that I am at a disadvantage because I have to catch up with people that are trained better and especially because I will have less time to have good publications. Any advice? Anybody here that has heard both good or bad from PhD's in the UK.. US.. ? Should I change to another university?