SeanNJ22

Does anyone know if the Simon and Blume Mathematics for Economists Student International Edition is the same (content-wise) as the regular US version version? I'm trying to decide how cheap I can be.

Profile: (Note~I'm too lazy to update this with Fall 2013 grades, but about half the programs I applied to only saw these grades so take it as you will) Type of Undergrad: Economics and Statistics with Math Minor from Unranked Econ Dept at Large Flagship University in Southeast Undergrad GPA: 4.00 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 162V, 162Q, 4.5W Math Courses: Calculus III (A), Diff Eq (Current), Matrix Algebra (A), Intro to Abstract Math (A), Probability and Statistics (A), Analysis (Current), Probability (Current) Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Economics (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Econometrics (A), Issues in Micro Policy (Study Abroad so no grade on transcript), Managerial Economics (Study Abroad), Industrial Organization (A), Intro to Math Econ (A), Independent Study in Transportation Economics (Current), Public Finance: Taxation (Next Semester), Elements of Forecasting (Next Semester) Other Courses: Regression Modeling (A), Statistical Methods (A), Time Series Forecasting (A), Process Improvement (Next Semester) Letters of Recommendation: A research professor in transportation economics (PhD from my university) who I have worked with for a couple years on some regulatory issues as well as a local planning project; a Statistics professor (Texas A&M) whom I took the Stat Methods and Forecasting classes from as well as serving as a TA for his Stat Methods course currently; Economics professor (PhD from WashU) at Top 50 program in DC whom I spent last summer doing research with Research Experience: I worked with aforementioned economics professor on transport regulatory issues and I spent last summer in DC primarily writing a case study on a telecommunications firm for an economics professor at another university’s public policy center Teaching Experience: I am currently TA-ing for a senior level statistics course, but it’s really an office hours and grading gig Research Interests: Applied Micro (Particularly transportation), empirical IO, possibly public economics SOP: I haven’t started writing yet… Concerns: GRE scores; no LoRs from prestigious programs; GPA might not be as stellar after analysis this semester Other: I feel a little late in making the decision that I want to apply to graduate school in economics as I spent the last year mixed between urban planning, statistics, and economics. Applying to: Michigan, Maryland, Boston U, Boston College, Toronto, Michigan State, Virginia, Colorado-Boulder, UC Irvine, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Brown, Vanderbilt Results: Acceptances: Texas A&M (no $), UC Boulder ($), UC Irvine ($), Virginia (from waitlist) ($), Michigan State (from waitlist) ($), Syracuse ($) Waitlist: Vanderbilt (Withdrew), Boston U Rejections: Michigan, Brown, Toronto, Maryland (from waitlist), Boston College (from waitlist) Attending: Virginia!!! Comments: 1. This process is terrible, but it worked out rather nicely at the 11th hour. 2. In retrospect, I think I did a good job with target programs. 3. Vandy apparently doesn't sound out rejections or waitlists even if you call / email ask for an update a few days before the deadline. What would I have done differently? 1. Probably not applied to Brown, Syracuse; should have applied to UNC Chapel Hill 2. Used a 4th rec. writer for some better LOR targeting.

Institution: Vanderbilt University Program: Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/15 Notified through: Email / Phone Posted on GC: Nein Comments: ​Asked if I was still interested in an offer, and I declined. Institution: University of Toronto Program: Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 4/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Nyet Comments: ​No surprise here. Institution: Michigan State University Program: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted off waitlist Funding: Full Funding for 5 years Notification date: 4/14 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Non Comments: ​A very nice offer, but I wish I had known earlier so I could have visited. Declined this offer late this afternoon. Institution: University of Virginia Program: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted off waitlist Funding: Full Notification date: 4/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Nope. Comments: ​Accepted this offer and quite excited about it. Glad it's over.

Is anyone else still waiting on Vanderbilt or Toronto? I know Vanderbilt might just be slow, but Toronto definitely has sent out acceptances, waitlists, and rejections at this point.

Institution: Boston University Program: Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2014 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Expecting a no, but another "wait and see" is vexing (but I'll take it). Institution: University of Colorado - Boulder Program: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes, money included. Notification date: 3/11/2014 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: And of course the visitation day is the same as UVA (waitlisted). Good day though.

Institution: Michigan State University Program: Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/a Notification Date: March 7, 2014 Notified through: E-mail Posted on CG: No Comments: I'm quite disappointed with this one. I'm getting tired of all these waitlist decisions.

Institution: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Program: Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/5/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Nein. Comments: ​Not a surprise but disappointing nonetheless.

Institution: University of Maryland - College Park Program: Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification Date: 3/5/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Nope. Comments: ​Shocked to even be waitlisted, but I'm guessing it's a long list.

Institution: Brown University Program: Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification Date: March 3, 2014 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: My dreams of getting back up to New England aren't looking too likely...

Institution: Boston College Program: Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/25/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Rather disappointing news.

Institution: Syracuse University Program: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: "Graduate Assistantship" Notification date: 02/19/14 Notified through: Electronic Mail Posted on GC: No Comments: ​More good news is always nice. Funding details to come in a follow-up e-mail.

Institution: UC Irvine Program: Economics PhD Decision: Admission Funding: TA and Fellowship Notification date: 2/17/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Nyet. Comments: This was a nice surprise to wake up to this morning.

Institution: University of Virginia Program: Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/15/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Not yet Comments: Not surprised, but still...

Thank you!! I am still shocked to hear from them so quickly. I'm not sure yet about the visit day. I don't know if I can get there until Thursday night so I'm going to send them an e-mail tomorrow to see what they say. I would like to go even if it's just for Friday. Are you planning on going? How did your interview with UVA go? I had an interview with them on Wednesday, and I think it went decently enough. Do you know if they were interviewing people on the acceptance border or for funding?

Institution: Texas A&M Program: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 1/15/14 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Should I know what this means? Comments: Excited to hear back so quickly, but I thought I'd have a little breathing room between January 15 and acceptance decisions.

I hadn't really thought about looking under energy/environmental economists for work in transportation so that helped find a few more people. Thanks for the advice!

In general, do you think the Personal Statement is a good place to mention relevant classes you are taking currently (in my case Real Analysis, ODE, and a second course in Probability) that won't appear on your transcript by the application deadline (December 15)? I don't want to let those classes go to "waste". How about relevant classes you are taking in the Spring? I am planning on taking a Forecasting and Public Econ. course in the Spring but more as a way to just explore interests. I'm not sure if they would be interested in that and thus if its worth the space.

So after talking with pretty much every Economics professor I know and a month of researching programs, I've "narrowed" down a list that still needs to be narrowed down more. I know that the distribution is too top heavy, but I'm working on it. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated. Michigan, Maryland, Illinois-Urbana, Brown, Boston U, Boston College, Michigan State, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Colorado-Boulder, Syracuse, UC-Irvine, Clemson, and maybe Toronto (I'm not sure of my chances as an International Student...). After typing this out, it feels more unrealistic than I originally thought.

My school's math programs is only Top 80 according to US World News so that probably doesn't help. As I'm not too interested in going to a Top 20 program (or rather I probably gave up that chance a while ago), I don't plan on applying to many top programs except for kicks. Assuming I don't retake the GRE, do you think my target ranges are too high? I'd have to agree that it is a low cost way to improve my profile, but I would probably have to cut back on the number of schools I can apply to. I'll definitely consider it carefully.

I didn't look outrageously long as the Cornell AEM department, but I didn't see anything on automobiles. It seemed like mostly agricultural / resource research within the program. Do you know who there does transport economics?

Strangely enough, the professor I work for now has worked with Wes Wilson before so he's arranging a phone call for me next week. I've briefly looked into Applied Econ. programs before, but I didn't really have a good idea of the differences in terms of the students they accept and the jobs graduate in these programs go on to.

I had hope not to have to retake it, but one professor said I should consider retaking it. My only concern about retaking it is if I don't get a better score (that's what happened when I took the SAT/ACT). Would my time be better spent on preparing SOP, studying for classes, and preparing application or trying to get a few points higher on the GRE? Unfortunately, I feel like I'm a few points away on quantitative from it being a "weakness." How much would a few points higher help?

I've been browsing threads on this forum since I started seriously considering the Econ. PhD over the summer, and I'd appreciate any advice anyone has as I feel a little behind in getting this process rolling. PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Economics and Statistics with Math Minor from Unranked Econ Dept at Large Flagship University in Southeast Undergrad GPA: 4.00 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 162V, 162Q, 4.5W Math Courses: Calculus III (A), Diff Eq (Current), Matrix Algebra (A), Intro to Abstract Math (A), Probability and Statistics (A), Analysis (Current), Probability (Current) Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Economics (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Econometrics (A), Issues in Micro Policy (Study Abroad so no grade on transcript), Managerial Economics (Study Abroad), Industrial Organization (A), Intro to Math Econ (A), Independent Study in Transportation Economics (Current), Public Finance (Next Semester) Other Courses: Regression Modeling (A), Statistical Methods (A), Time Series Forecasting (A), Process Improvement (Next Semester) Letters of Recommendation: A research professor in transportation economics (PhD from my university) who I have worked with for a couple years on some regulatory issues as well as a local planning project; a Statistics professor (Texas A&M) whom I took the Stat Methods and Forecasting classes from as well as serving as a TA for his Stat Methods course currently; Economics professor (PhD from WashU) at Top 50 program in DC whom I spent last summer doing research with Research Experience: I worked with aforementioned economics professor on transport regulatory issues and I spent last summer in DC primarily writing a case study on a telecommunications firm for an economics professor at another university’s public policy center Teaching Experience: I am currently TA-ing for a senior level statistics course, but it’s really an office hours and grading gig Research Interests: Applied Micro (Particularly transportation), empirical IO, possibly public economics SOP: I haven’t started writing yet… Concerns: GRE scores; no LoRs from prestigious programs; GPA might not be as stellar after analysis this semester Other: I feel a little late in making the decision that I want to apply to graduate school in economics as I spent the last year mixed between urban planning, statistics, and economics. Applying to: Maybe 1-2 in top 20 (Michigan perhaps?), 4-6 in Top 40-50, 4-6 in Top 70 range My interest in transportation economics has gotten some mixed reactions from economics professors I've talked to recently, and I admit that it is somewhat obscure. Besides UC-Irvine and Oregon, I haven’t found any economics programs that really have anyone doing research in transportation. I stress that I’m not wedded to transportation econ, but I think network industries in general are interesting. If anyone can suggest specific programs or even help provide some guidance if I’m targeting a good range of programs.

It's on the list as "Rank Not Published" for what it's worth. When I spoke with the professor about it in Spring, he was encouraging of my taking it and he said he might switch the books he uses (I'm going from an old syllabus he sent me). What's been making it difficult for me is that some professors have been highly encouraging while others don't believe the risk and its associated potential costs are worth the benefits (of at least getting into Grad school). I've also been told that I should focus on what will prepare me best for Grad. School now and just take Micro as well prepared as possible (i.e. take Analysis and Diff Eq, not the Micro course).

I'm not sure what the standard ranking system is, but I would say Unranked Large State flapship school. According to Rankings: All Economics, it's bottom 300. The syllabus says Mas-Colell, Whinston, and Green as well as Varian's Micro Analysis.