Hayekeynes

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Very atypical for Econ Ph.D. students. A long time ago: B.S. from a large state university in a major not related to math or econ. Recently: several math, economics, and statistics courses from a community college and a medium-size state university as a non-degree-seeking student, which I have taken for the purpose of preparing for Econ Ph.D. programs. Undergrad GPA: 4.0 (my second time around, in the math, econ, and stats courses) Type of Grad: Again, I have a degree not related to math or econ. But my second time around: just a few classes as mentioned above. Grad GPA: 3.9 GRE: 168Q, 170V, 5.5AW Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Intro to Proofs, Advanced Calculus (master's-level intro to analysis): All A's. Econ Courses: Introductory micro and macro, Intermediate micro: All A's. Master's-level Econometrics: AB. Other Courses: Undergraduate probability and inferential statistics, Master's-level Probability Theory, and Master's-level Inferential Statistics: A's. Letters of Recommendation: One from my Advanced Calculus professor (two semesters with him), one from my Linear Algebra professor (one semester with him), and one from my Probability Theory professor (one semester with her). I expect they were all positive, though probably not glowing, and they didn't know me from RAing or TAing or anything. Research Experience: none Teaching Experience: none Research Interests: micro theory, health, labor, education SOP: In my Personal Statement, I talked about how a decade or more in the wrong field will really focus your mind and soul on what you really want to do, and how I didn't just take all these college classes because that's what you do after high school; I chose this field after a lot of time and thought and trial and error, and I'm more sure than ever that it's what I want to do. In my Statement of Purpose, I was more vague but mentioned that I am much more attracted to micro than macro, that I'm interested in health, labor, and education, and mentioned many types of careers I could see myself in. Other: I'm firmly planted in middle/west Michigan with my family for the next several years, so I had limited options for grad programs. Luckily... --> RESULTS: Acceptances: Michigan State (after waitlist), Western Michigan University Waitlists: Michigan State Rejections: none Attending: Michigan State Comments: I'm very nervous but simultaneously excited about everything... I'm not sure how qualified and prepared I am compared to my classmates, or how I'll be able to handle the work load with two young children that I have to at least be present for nearly every day, but I'm used to having no leisure time and don't really want to spend my time on anything other than learning math and econ, so hopefully that will continue for the next couple years.... What would you have done differently? Tried to take Master's-level Linear Algebra and Linear Regression, though I paid for everything out of pocket (no scholarships for non-degree-seeking students!), so that would have necessitated waiting another year before starting my Ph.D. program. Maybe I would have tried to take more undergrad math and stats classes all at once and then gotten a M.S. in Statistics or Economics, which would have given me a stipend for two or more years, instead of not bothering with a degree and stretching my course work out over 5 years because I was paying for everything myself. That still probably would have taken just as long overall, though it might have saved me money. Or maybe not.

Yeah, the first two years, I plan to be there pretty much 5-6 days a week.

We are now heavily leaning towards giving her the shortest possible commute. And what I expect is not so much that my commute will induce me to stay on campus for any particular length of time (I mean, I don't plan on coming home in the middle of the day, but also not very late), but rather that I will use my commute to listen to my lectures and/or mentally review every bit of math and econ theory and journal articles that I can.

My commute will only be by car. No trains or buses available, except possibly a campus bus from where I'll park to the building where I'll be working/researching/taking classes. And based on what you two have said, it sounds like coming to the office at least 3 days a week is a good idea.

I will be applying to economics Ph.D. programs this fall, but before that, my wife and I are moving to one of a few cities that are part-way between her new job and my likely eventual grad school. (Yes, I will be putting all my application eggs in one or two baskets, but that's another matter.) We need to choose a house based partly on location and commute times. Based on the houses that are available in our price range, our options are basically for me to have a 30-minute commute and her a 40-45-minute commute, or for me to have a 50-60-minute commute and her a 20-25-minute commute. She will be working at an 8-to-5 job five days a week for the foreseeable future, whereas I might have a more flexible work/commute schedule because I'll be in school. My question is: in most major U.S. economics Ph.D. programs, what is the weekly on-campus class and research schedule like throughout the five or six years it takes to graduate? I figured the students are on campus five days a week during their first two years when they have a heavy class load, but then maybe they don't need to go to campus every day after they start their doctoral research project. In your experience, do students and/or their mentors think it's acceptable, desirable, or feasible for the student to meet with their mentor in person once every week or two and communicate over email/Skype/phone the rest of the days? It seems like the internet would make writing, researching, and data-crunching from home quite easy. The point being, if I only need to make a long commute every day for the first two years, we would be much better off choosing a city that gives my wife a short commute. Thanks for any advice you can give me.