EPV

I know the application deadline has past, but I wrote down my thoughts after one semester at Minnesota. If anyone is interested, it is a great place to be. My whole post is here.

Did anyone apply? Has anyone heard anything?

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BA in physics from top 20 liberal arts in US Undergrad GPA: 3.44 Type of Grad: M.Sc. in Economics of Public Policy Grad GPA: 8.4/10 GRE: 161V, 164Q, 4.0AW Math Courses: Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro, Macro, Econometrics, Information Economics, Game Theory Econ Courses (undergrad-level): History of Thought, Japanese Economic History, Money and Banking Thesis Seminar Letters of Recommendation: should be good, my two undergraduate advisors, one in political science, one in physics, and my graduate director who is fairly well known. Research Experience: None Teaching Experience: 2 semesters as teaching assistant for physics courses Research Interests: Price Theory, IO, Market Process Theory, Political Economy SOP: Tried to highlight how my odd background and discovery of interest in economics will prepare me for PhD. Emphasized my year of programming experience in the private sector, but mostly focused on my interests. Concerns: Most things, but mostly my GPA. My physics program was quite difficult and I was in the top view, but I attended a small college that many people don't know. Hope my letter of recommendation can convey this. Other: I would absolutely love going to George Mason and felt safe with my chances so I took some other huge gambles. Probably not advised for other people who aren't as happy with their "safety" school (I would never consider getting to go to George Mason as going to a safety school). RESULTS: Acceptances: Minnesota ($$), Davis (0), George Mason ($), Boulder (0) Waitlists: Rejections: Berkeley, CalTech, Chicago, Duke, Harvard, Harvard Political Economy, Maryland, Michigan, MIT, Northwestern, NYU, Princeton, Rochester, Stanford, Stanford GSB, UCLA, Yale Attending: Minnesota Comments: I applied to a bunch of schools that were long shots. However, I only needed one. What would you have done differently? I knew I wanted to study economics only after my undergrad, so it is hard to say I would have done anything their differently. Of course, I would have taken more math and econ courses. Since I've known what I wanted to do I wouldn't change much. I went to Barcelona GSE to get a better placement and I got one. It worked out as I hoped. If anything, I would have maybe taken the GRE again.

I might be the last one to post this year :) but I accepted an offer from Minnesota. It might be their last offer, but I'm not sure.

Institution: University of Colorado - Boulder Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Potential funding years 2-5. Notification date: 3/11/2014 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Vaguely worded possibility of funding after enrolling. Doesn't sound good.

Yes I did.

If anyone is interested, Boulder should be out this week.

I emailed Maryland. A full round of acceptances and waitlists have been sent out, which we knew from GC. They also said that the next round will probably not be mailed out until April 1st. Use that information as you see fit.

It would definitely help to wait a year in order to get better recommendations from faculty. There are great professors here and you could get to know them much better in a whole year than in a few months, like I tried to. I have classmates that are using that strategy of waiting a year and doing research. I'm sure it will help, but you are right. You can wait forever trying to improve your profile. I chose to move on and start actually trying to contribute to economics and teaching instead of getting into the "right" program. Of course, I do not have the proper counterfactual to make the right choices.

That really stinks. I hope that doesn't change the decision. If you get rejected either way, ok. If you get accepted either way, great. If that simple mixup changes things, that really is awful- and you won't know....

I tried to do that last year. I was not content with my placement so I enrolled in the BGSE. I love it here. It is a great city and the programs are good- challenging enough and with generally good faculty. However, as of now, I have not seen an increase in my acceptances, but that just may be my profile.

How many people are still waiting to hear from Minnesota? The first acceptances and rejections were over a month ago...

I'm debating emailing Harvard and saying I don't want to wait 2 weeks for mail to arrive to Spain. Just tell me no so I can move on.

Oh boo hoo. Tough life. Just kidding, congrats and good luck choosing.

Of all the drama that has bothered me, Minnesota is the most troublesome. What the heck is going on? It messes with me and confuses me more than all the other delays combined.