echoing2016

I think it's generally a good idea if you think it's beneficial to delay your entry into a Ph.D. program and boost your profile/get some more research experience. Not all of these positions sponsor visas but many do. When I worked as an RA at a top 5 institution, almost all of my peers are international, and many are from Europe.

I am surprised that you ask Stanford specifically but for what it's worth, I am in the program right now and I submitted 4.

Better funding is the obvious one. Smaller class sizes lead to higher faculty to student ratios, but also potentially a smaller peer group to interact with.

Bus Ec = Half Econ (~IO) + Half Finance. Generally viewed as weakly better than Harvard Econ. Booth Econ and Wharton AE are focused on applied micro in general. Have pros and cons compared with the corresponding Econ programs. Not super familiar with Stern Econ and Haas BPP - heard that BPP has great placements into b-schools though.

Could you elaborate? I am finishing up my RA-ship and have found auditing field courses pretty useful. Actually taking them is definitely more demanding, though.

It's more like something weird is going on on the demand side if they increasingly give offers to those nobody else is giving an offer to. Caveat: discussion based on limited data and speculations, not meant to be taken seriously :D

Interesting. I actually know 3 departments in the top 10 that take a lot of students (~30) this year.

This year seems to be quite competitive, especially for certain demographic groups.

Thanks a lot for your detailed response! About funding: Neither Berkeley nor Stanford mentions anything in the 6th year. Stipends are different by more than 20% (but I think I can still make do with what Berkeley gives me, it is just the work that is a bit annoying). I am not 100% sure about labor + behavioral, but I am pretty certain about going into applied (vs. theory) micro (vs. macro). Or applied econometrics. I am not quite a public person though. Also I am international (if that matters). Definitely visiting both schools!

Bump. The Berkeley offer has some tutorship/readership (~10h/w) in the first year and TAship in the 2-4th year. How much of a nuisance could these be?

Bump - any other advice is greatly appreciated!

Thank you, soundchaser! Some of your waitlists will definitely turn into acceptances. I am absolutely going to the visit days.

I think I am fine with both styles. I guess I would still focus on the research/faculty/training aspects in guiding my choice.

Thank you kayl for your insights and congrats on your Berkeley offer! Maybe we will be classmates :D Could you elaborate a bit on the cultures of Palo Alto and Berkeley? Although I have friends in both schools, I have only been to each of them once (and as a tourist). Also, does anyone know exactly how bad the funding prospects of Berkeley are? This year their package is not that bad (30k/y with TA duties).

Dear all, I am choosing between Stanford and Berkeley. My current interests are mainly behavioral and labor (not sure whether they will change in the future, but probably won't change to pure theory or macro). Stanford is maybe a bit stronger overall but Berkeley is great in those two fields. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading!