subasa228

Test Scores (GMAT/GRE): GRE: V(148, 37%) Q(164, 88%) AW(3.0, 15%) Undegrad GPA:3.94/4.0 in Economics, Mathematics, Construction Management, Low rank Tier 1 US Public University Graduate GPA:3.49/4.0 MA in Econ at Top 70 US Econ Mathematics Coursework: Cal I, II, III & IV, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis I&II, Modern Algebra, Prob & Stat I&II Economics Coursework: 8 Econ undergrad courses, PhD 1st year sequels in Macro & Micro Theory, Econometrics I&II, Behavior Econ, Strategic Behavior, Busn Forecasting Others: Financial Management, Principles of Accounting I&II, Organizational Behavior Recommendations: 1 Stat Professor (Cornell), 1 Associate Chair for Civil Department (Virginia Tech), 1 Econ Professor (Iowa) Research Experience: 2 years RA for NC Department of Transportation (cost simulation & modelling), 1 Stat Thesis, 1 Econ Paper in International Econ, Upcoming Master Thesis in Microeconomics Teaching Experience: 1 year TA for Econometrics & Financial Econ Concentration Applying to: Finance (Investments & Asset Pricing) Number of programs planned to apply to: 7 - Texas A&M, UT Dallas, Drexel, Florida International University, Alabama, Houston, UT Arlington (Management) Dream Schools: Texas A&M University, UT Dallas Concerns you have about your profile: low GRE scores, mediocre Grad GPA, no Finance course Any additional specific questions you may have: Do I have shot to these programs especially my dream schools? Should I apply to other programs (Mississippi, New Orleans, etc...)? Any other suggestions? Thank you in advance!

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Public University rank 200s (US News) triple majors in Economics, Math & Construction Management Undergrad GPA: 3.94/4.0 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: V148,Q164, AW3 Math Courses: Cal I,II &III (A's), Matrices & Linear Algebra (A), Advanced Calc of One Variable (A), Elements of Stat I (A), Prob & Stat I (A), will take Advanced Calc of Several Variables, Differential Equations, Abstract Algebra, Vector Calculus, Pro & Stat II next spring Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro & Macro (A's), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Industrial Organization (A), International Economics (A), Managerial Economics (A), Busn & Econ Forecasting (A), Mathematical Economics (A) Other Courses: Engineering Economics (A), other engineering analysis courses Letters of Recommendation: 2 Associate Professor UIUC PhD (international economics)- excellent; 1 Professor Iowa PhD (macroeconomics) - good; 1 Associate Professor Havard PhD math (analysis)-good Research Experience: 1+ years research assistant for NC Department of Transportation research projects to improve their Pavement Management System using cost-benefit analysis, senior project in math (evaluate sensitivity of Central Limit Theorem to heavy-tailed distribution), do research to extend dynamic trade model under supervision of a letter of recommendation writer Teaching Experience: N/A Research Interests: International Trade & Development, Monetary Econ, Applied Econometrics SOP: mediocre, want to do research for development projects in third world countries Concerns: Low GRE verbal, low school rank, no graduate coursework Other: Applying to: Cornell, PennSt, UVA, UNC, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Kentucky, SMU, Clemson Results: Acceptances: Clemson (wl-$), Kentucky (?), SMU ($) Waitlists: Rejections: Cornell, PennSt, UVA, UNC, Georgetown, Notre Dame Pending: Attending: SMU (Southern Methodist University) Comment: I am quite disappointed with admission results. However, the results seem to be consistent to me. I think my GRE scores, SOP hurt my application the most. SMU is not well-known school, but their econ department has good connection with Dallas Fed. They have also placed students into World Bank, which is my dream workplace. I am glad to go SMU this fall. What would you have done differently? 1. If I could choose again, I would transfer to better school no matter what. Giving my high GPA first two years in college, I had opportunities to transfer to better schools such as UNC, Wake Forest, but I chose to stay because I didnt want to give up my construction major. I definitely see the opportunity cost now. In my case, construction degree in my current school vs econ degree from better reputation school. 2. Taking math courses early. I waited until class year to begin to take Calculus II. Although it only take me one full year to finish calculus, prob & stat, real analysis sequels, the lack of grades from these course (cal IV, prob & stat II, real analysis II) in this semester seems to hurt me. 3. Retake GRE. The new GRE option allows us to show only our most satisfied scores, so it is no harm to retake as many times as you can. I only took once because of my busy schedule last semester. I would retake it even in Christmas season. 4. Write SOP early. I waited until late November to start write SOP, so I did not have many chances to revise it. 5. Request one letter from a professor you know the best. I know exactly one professor that write the best letter for me. Unfortunately, he is Civil Professor from UIUC, so I did not ask him to write. If I reapplied again, I would ask him to write at least 1/3 of the programs I applied. Sometimes professors from different disciplines can show your strength in different points of view.

There is always a opportunity cost to attend the same school as undergraduate, however, you also have some advantages compare to students enter program from elsewhere. Giving our schools are out of top 50, I think the most important factor to get a tenure track in research universities is to have a outstanding job market paper (individual publication in good journal is also a big plus). It is a result of your knowledge, research skills, commitment and good advisor. You already have some connections with professors at your current school, so I believe you know who your potential advisor is (your recommendation writer?) I have no idea why your school does not participate in that econometric camp. You can ask your econometrics professor about that. They may plan to participate in the future. Regarding experimental econ, I dont know more than you about that field at your school. I took a look at UT Dallas job market candidates, and most of them have experimental econ as a field. Good business schools usually provide opportunities to conduct experimental econ research. In my opinion, econometrics and experimental is a good combination.

I forgot that you did undergraduate at UT Dallas. If you feel good about the department I dont see any problem for you to attend their PhD program. The department definitely has some top-notch professors. My only concern is that UT Dallas is not one of five universities (UT Austin, Rice, Houston, SMU, Texas A&M) that participate in Texas Econometrics Camp.(some potential connection problems?) Why dont you talk with your advisor or DGS about this situation? He/She may know much more than us about two programs. About funding, you can talk with SMU DGS. Given their small class size, I dont think you have any problems getting fund in 2nd year.

I am going to SMU this fall. I believe the department offers assistantships to all students who pass 1st-year qualifying exams, so you only need to pay 1st year expense at SMU. However, I am not sure if its worth to spend 50k to choose SMU over UT- Dallas. If your research interest is monetary econ, SMU may be much better choice for you. Otherwise, UT-Dallas is a good choice for financial econ and experimental econ. It has really strong business school, so I can see opportunities to do research with finance and marketing departments. I heard some SMU students have been taking classes in UT- Dallas business school.

Institution: Penn State Program: PhD Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 3/18/2014 Notified Through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: only 1 hope left

Institution: Notre Dame Program: Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/21/14 Notified through: Website. Posted on GC: No Comments: Disappointed. Only 4 schools to go.

Institution: University of Virginia Program: Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/20/14 Notified through: Website Posted on GC: No Comments: First bad news, more to come >"

Thank Catrina for your amazing job. I agree with the predictions that Cornell is overreached for me. However, I was surprised that I have nearly identical chances of acceptance to Penn State, UVA, UNC,Georgetown, and Notre Dame (unrealistic to me). Now my game is waiting results from these five schools. I hope my season ends early next month. Good luck everyone especially Catrina (Chicago) and moneyandcredit (UNC).

my school is nearly unranked state university (200s US News), dude.

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: National University rank 200ss (US News) triple majors in Economics, Math & Construction Management Undergrad GPA: 3.94 (4.0 last 110 credit hours) Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: V148,Q164,AWA3.0 Math Courses: Cal I,II &III (A's), Matrices & Linear Algebra (A), Advanced Cal of One Variable (A), Element of Stat I (A), Prob & Stat I (A), Advanced Cal of Several Variables (IP), Ordinary Differential Equation (IP), Abstract Algebra (IP), Vector Calculus , Prob & Stat II (IP) Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro & Macro (A's), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Industrial Organization (A), International Economics (A), Managerial Economics (A), Busn/Econ Forecasting (A), Mathematical Economics (A) Other Courses: Engineering Economics (A), other business and engineering courses Letters of Recommendation: 2 Associate Professor UIUC PhD (international economics)- excellent; 1 Professor Iowa PhD (macroeconomics) - good; 1 Associate Professor Havard PhD math (analysis)-excellent Research Experience: 1.5 years research assistant - NCDOT research project to improve efficiency of their cost allocation for maintenance budget using cost-benefit analysis and life-cycle cost analysis, statistical senior project -stimulating RVs with infinite series representation (IP) , individual directed study - extend Helpman's dynamic trade model to study the effect of asymmetric IPRs on North-South welfare under guidance of one LOR writer (IP) Teaching Experience: N/A Research Interests: Development, International Trade, Econometrics, Public Econ. SOP: mediocre, explain why choosing PhD in econ, mention scholarship, outstanding RA award, finalist for engineering senior design, want to do research for third world countries. Concerns: Low GRE verbal and AWA, low school rank, no graduate coursework Applying: Cornell, Penn State, UVA, UNC, Georegetown, Notre Dame, Clemson (admitted- fund TBA), Kentucky

I want to participate too, but I only apply 8 schools. I know the result of 1 school. Is it ok?

I think you can contact professors that teach field classes that you are interest in. Tell them your itent to do graduate work in econ. They will pay extra attention to your performance. If you do really good, you may also get RA opportunity as long as they want to help. They can offer you to work for them or recommend you to other professors.

Just received a replied email from the UVA Graduate Program Assistant regarding my application status. She mentioned that UVA received 540+ applications this year (seems to be high?), and plan to offer first round of students in mid-Fed. Good luck everyone. :luck2::luck2::luck2:

ETS sends electronic version to most of graduate schools in US today (not sure about Europe), so it only takes couple business days to do so. You should send it now and email the program coordinators to let them know about your situation. I think they are ok with that.