econgal93

Type of Undergrad: Math/Econ double major from a small, relatively unknown, top 100 liberal arts college Undergrad GPA: 3.96 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 167 Q, 160 V, 4.5 AWA Math/Stats Courses: Calculus I (AP), Calculus II (A+), Multivariate Calculus (A), Linear Algebra (A), Discrete Mathematics (A+), Probability (A), Mathematical Statistics (A-), Real Analysis (A+), Abstract Algebra (A), Statistics II (A) Econ Courses: Principles of Macro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A+), Managerial Economics (A+), Econometrics (A+), Health Economics (A), International Finance (A) Other Courses: Intro. Computer Science (A+), Mathematical Methods for Business & Economics (A+) Letters of Recommendation: Two Econ professors, one Stat professor. None are particularly well-known but I have fantastic, close relationships with all of them and believe that they were all very strong. Research Experience: Summer research project with two professors; honors thesis in my area of interest Teaching Experience: Tutor for both Econ and Math Research Interests: Applied Micro - mostly labor, but also interested in public and health SOP: Pretty good I think - talked about what drew me to economics, my research experience and areas of interest, and a bit about why I think attending a liberal arts college has prepared me well for graduate school and a career as an economist Other: NCAA athlete; Phi Beta Kappa as a junior (not sure either of these actually mattered in admissions) RESULTS: Acceptances: Michigan State ($$$), Cornell ($$), UVA ($$), Pittsburgh ($$), UNC ($$), Notre Dame ($$) Waitlists: Michigan Economics & Public Policy Rejections: Duke, CMU, Boston College Pending: Attending: Michigan State University (MSU)! Comments: Very excited! I am getting a fantastic funding offer, will get to work with some great applied micro & metrics people, and really liked everyone I met when I visited. Go Spartans! What would you have done differently? Honestly, not much. Coming from a small school that hasn't sent anyone to a Ph.D. programs in years, I was very happy with the offers I recieved. Just goes to show that school name and prestige aren't everything... good grades, GRE scores, LORs, lots of math, and a passion for economics can get you a very long way!

I will be! Looking forward to it.

Institution: University of Virginia Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full tuition + $20,000 stipend Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Visit Day, April 3rd Institution: University of Michigan Program: PhD Economics & Public Policy Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Apparently they only accepted 2 people! Institution: University of Pittsburgh Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full tuition + $21,000 stipend Notification date: 2/20 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Nice offer, but will likely decline

Institution: Michigan State (MSU) Program: PhD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Full tuition + $27,000 stipend Notification date: 2/17/2015 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Great offer! Definitely considering it

Institution: Notre Dame Program: PhD Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Full tuition + $19,000 stipend (9 months) Notification date: 2/12/2015 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: My safety school, but nice to be in!

Institution: UNC Program: Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Not yet Notification date: 1/25 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Not yet Comments: My first acceptance! Good luck all!

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Math/Econ double major at small LAC Undergrad GPA: 3.96 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 167 Q, 160 V, 4.5 AWA Math Courses: Calculus I (AP), Calculus II (A+), Multivariate Calculus (A), Linear Algebra (A), Discrete Mathematics (A+), Probability (A), Mathematical Statistics (A-), Real Analysis (A+), Abstract Algebra (A), Statistics II (A) Econ Courses (grad-level): N/A Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Principles of Macro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A+), Managerial Economics (A+), Econometrics (A+), Health Economics (A), International Finance (A), Labor Economics (currently taking) Other Courses: Two computer science courses (A+ in both) Letters of Recommendation: One from my advisor who I have taken three classes with and is my research advisor; one from a statistics professor who I worked on a summer research project with; one from an econ professor who I have taken two classes with and supervised my Fed Challenge team. All should be excellent. Research Experience: Summer research project with two professors (one econ, one stat); honors thesis Teaching Experience: Tutoring for both econ and math Research Interests: Applied micro - primarily labor (especially education), but also public and health SOP: Included reasons for pursuing a PhD, research experience and interests, and touched on a few other academic/extracurricular experiences and accomplishments Concerns: Small school, not well known letter writers Other: Two summer internships in consulting; NCAA athlete Applying to: Michigan (Econ & Public Policy), Cornell, Duke, CMU (Econ & Public Policy), MSU, UVA, UNC, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame

Thanks, chtliu! Glad to know there are some other people out there with similar backgrounds. At the moment, I am planning on targeting programs in the 20-40 range with a few below and a few above. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the advice, econphd14! And congrats on Northwestern - that's fantastic! Any other advice for someone coming from a liberal arts background? Not many students from my department have applied to Ph.D. programs recently so it's been hard to get a good measure of where I stand. Hoping some more users will chime in as well!

Here's my profile! Hoping to get some thoughts on where I stand from all of you... Type of Undergrad: Math/Econ double major from a small, top 100 LAC Undergrad GPA: 3.95 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 167 Q, 160 V, 4.5 AWA Math/Stats Courses: Calculus I (AP), Calculus II (A+), Multivariate Calculus (A), Linear Algebra (A), Discrete Mathematics (A+), Probability (A), Mathematical Statistics (A-), Real Analysis (A+), Abstract Algebra (A), Statistics II (A) Econ Courses: Principles of Macro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A+), Managerial Economics (A+), Econometrics (A+), Health Economics (A) *Taking International Econ in the fall and Labor in the spring* Other Courses: Intro. Computer Science (A+), Mathematical Methods for Business & Economics (A+) Letters of Recommendation: Two Econ professors, one Stat professor. None are particularly well-known but I have been assured by all that they will write excellent letters on my behalf. Research Experience: Summer research project with two professors (one Stat, one Econ) that will turn into my honors thesis Teaching Experience: Tutor for both Econ and Math Research Interests: Applied Micro – mostly labor, but also interested in public and health SOP: Not yet written, should be fine Concerns: Unknown school and letter writers Other: NCAA athlete; Phi Beta Kappa as a junior (not sure either of these matter for admissions) Applying to: Targeting schools in the 20-50 range. Is that reasonable? Do I have a chance at Top 20? Should I also apply to Master's programs? Thanks!