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I think with 159 Q, it is really hard for you to get into a top 20. I'm not sure if top 30 would also have hard cutoffs on GRE quant, but I would imagine that it would cause you problem. If you can get a 166+ quant, you have a chance for top 30, maybe top 20. If you are determined to break the top 10, it might be a good idea to do a RA work in a top department. But again, I think you should retake the GRE.

By saying that algebra plays a minimal role in Economics, I mean group theory and field theory kind of algebra, which is usually called "abstract algebra". Linear algebra is extremely important as everyone in this forum should know..

Regarding Abstract Algebra, I would say it does not matter. In my own opinion, algebra plays a very minimal role in Economics. Even if that's not true, I am pretty sure it plays quite a small role in the admission process as long as your past math record is good. It is a very legit argument to take classes that you will not be able to take after leaving college, so if I were you, assuming you have good grades in the math courses you have already taken, I would go with Latin. Regarding Stochastic Processes, you are correct that anything that happens after the application deadline does not matter. Therefore, I don't think it would cause you problem to drop your stats minor after your application, and go with stochastic processes, which would become important in the study of metrics and macro. But again, that decision is probably irrelevant for your application.

Your profile does look like a good fit for ARE programs, but it really depends on your interest. You can also check out the PhD for Applied Econ program in Wharton U Penn. If you blew the PhD metrics sequence by accident, you can probably ask the professor who knows your ability in metrics to write you a recommendation letter. But the assumption is that he/she is willing to write really positive things for you, or else the recommendation letter may actually emphasize the concern. Good luck!

Good luck with applying to MPhil programs. I don't have much to input in that regard, except that the states and Canada also have some solid MPhil (MA, MSc) programs, say U Toronto and BU. Also, try not to let the "unusualness" of your background disturb you too much. Try to up your profile as much as possible and you will eventually end up in a program that fits you most. Best of luck!

As your profile is rather unusual , I would recommend you to seek advice from people who know you better to make assessment. Have your program sent any graduates to top programs in the US or master programs in the UK? It would also be a good idea to ask your boss who came from UCSC, since he probably knows both the US system and your program well enough to make a more educated comment than most people here on the forum can.

It never hurts to apply to top programs, and the more so for an applicant with strong background as you. My suggestion would be to talk with your recommendors (the Economics professors) and ask for their suggestions regarding range of schools to apply to. I would be surprised if they don't recommend you to apply for the top programs.

If you are interested in Econometrics, you should also consider Yale. I definitely do not think you are wasting money by applying to top 20 programs, as I feel that you really have a chance for those programs if you can improve some weak spots of your profile. Quite the opposite, I think you might be wasting money by applying to too many lower ranking programs. Bottom line is, if you don't have significant resource constraint for application fee, and if your letter writers are okay with it, apply to as much program as you are interested in. Best of luck.

My speculation of what went wrong is the following: while your profile clearly indicates that you are good at mathematics, and may be not quite as strong in economics, two out of three of your recommendation writers were math professors, and the other was an econometrics professor, who probably does not have much say on your low micro and macro grades. If I was on the admission committee (speculating now!) I would be worried whether you can pass the macro and micro comprehensive exam after the first year. Moreover, ad coms hate this kind of uncertainty! Considering this, I think you made a better selection of letter writers for your next cycle. However, I was wondering why you would not let your econometrics professor write you a letter again instead of asking a colleague. Econdoc definitely made a good point by suggesting you take a higher level macro and micro course if you have access to such courses and are confident that you can do well. Since the grades would probably not come out by the time of application, I would suggest you ask your professor of those courses to write you a recommendation letter if you actually end up taking those courses and do well in them. Also, you should probably apply to more schools. 10 programs is a decent number, but with the unsatisfactory result of this cycle, it might serve you better to cast a wider net next time. Good luck!

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 10 Liberal Arts College; Junior Year Abroad in Oxbridge (I will leave it vague between Oxford and Cambridge, but dark blue is better than sky blue); Undergrad GPA: 3.92; 4.00 in Mathematics and Economics when applying; Type of Grad: N/A; Grad GPA: N/A; GRE: 168Q/169V/4W; Math Courses: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Applied Math (Differential Equations), Applied Statistical Modelling, Real Analysis, Advanced Linear Algebra, Modern Algebra (Group Theory), Measure Theory, Topology (taking it this semester, mentioned in the applications, but probably didn't matter too much); Econ Courses: Intro to Macro and Micro; Intermediate Macro and Micro; Probability and Statistics; Advanced Macroeconomics: Economic Growth (Barro and Sala-i-Martin); Advanced Microeconomics (Jehle and Reny); Command and Transition Economies; Origins of Global Economies; Topics in Econometrics; Independent Study in Econometrics (Ruud); Other Courses: Nothing much; Letters of Recommendation: One from senior thesis advisor that knew my work really well, and thought my thesis is publishable in a second tier field journal (working on it!); one from professor that I served as research assistant for, who knows my research ability well as I have been doing a lot of independent work for his research, although nothing super technical; one from my department chair, who also supervised my independent study during the fall semester of my senior year. All are extremely great people and knew me personally (a benefit of liberal arts college). None are superstars in the academia, but my thesis advisor and department chair are relatively well-known in their field and have connections with top departments; Research Experience: Senior thesis (had a draft that was good enough to be a thesis by the time of application, nothing too impressive though); worked as research assistant for one of my letter writers, and have been doing more intuitive background study of the research he was starting to work on (a lot of researching and writing, but nothing professional or too technical); Teaching Experience: TAed for Intro to Economics, Probability and Statistics, and am TAing Intermediate Micro now; Research Interests: Game Theory, Public Economics, and Behavioral (There is a great chance that this would not be my interest a few years into the future, and I have been honest about it in my SOP); SOP: Explained how my senior thesis and RA experience motivated me to have my current research interests, and customized a paragraph for each school by listing a few faculties, the research of which I was interested in; Other: International student; applied straight from undergrad; RESULTS: Acceptances: Yale (off wait list, $$$); NYU ($$$); Michigan ($); UCSD ($); Brown (MA with no funding first year, $$ then after); Maryland ($$); Penn State ($$); U Washington (Informally, asked me if I actually wanted to go); Waitlists: Yale (admitted, $$$); Minnesota; Boston Univ.; Rejections: Harvard; MIT; Princeton; Chicago; Stanford; Berkeley; Northwestern (after I half-assedly replied to their "pending" email); U of Penn; UCLA; Pending: Attending: Yale ($$$); Comments: Nothing special apart from the dramatic wait list process. My advice for anyone who (really) wish to get off a wait list is DO NOT GIVE UP. I responded to the program's email as fast as possible every time they updated us on the wait list, and my thesis advisor used his connection to give me a push (which must have been important). Moreover, I negotiated with my second option to give me extension for deciding on the offer, which turned out to be imperative for my acceptance off wait list, since the time Yale contacted me was in the late afternoon of April 15th. In that sense, I feel really grateful for my second option's generosity. Like Greg Popovich always tell the Spurs, every blow one hammers on a stone is important for the final crack. Keep your morale high; What would you have done differently? The only thing I would have done differently is probably to enroll in a summer research program to gain more research experience, which is definitely the weakness of my profile. That might have helped me break the top 5 roof, but who knows. I am satisfied with my results.

You can always try emailing the administrators in the department. Department secretary, or assistant of graduate studies etc.

FYI, I just found out today that NYU has uploaded its placement record on its website.

Thanks ExclamationMarx and HowDoIUserName for the information!!!

Yeah, it'd be great if someone can comment on these issues. I didn't apply to Columbia, but am interested in what NYU is like. They don't post their placement online.

I will go with topology if those are the only choices. Topology is definitely useful for micro theory (in general equilibrium, and game theory, for example). It would also be a strong signal if you can do well in that course. Although not all schools require fall semester grades, if you send your fall semester grades to schools, they would most likely take it into account.

Oh by the way, a condition for my prediction in the first paragraph is that you have done well in those grad courses.

In my own opinion, if you have already taken grad micro, macro, and econometrics by this point of your undergrad career, you have a good chance for top 20, let alone top 30, econ programs, if you push yourself harder before your application cycle. (if you push really hard, you might even have chance for top 10, but some one in this forum might disagree with me.) B in RA is slightly problematic, especially as you are thinking about micro as your focus. You can take some even more difficult math course, say Measure Theory or Topology, to prove that the B was not the best you can do. But of course, this is if you are confident that you can pull an A in those math courses. Another thing that is missing is independent research. You should probably kick start a thesis sooner than later, and make sure you, and your thesis advisor, have something to talk about (ideally, a "good" writing sample) by late November. In terms of research assistant work, I personally think that, although it is important, most of its value lies in how enthusiastic your boss is about your research potential in her/his recommendation letter. This is correlated but not entirely determined by how significant your work is. Other explanatory variables on the right hand side may be your effort, your creativity, or how much you are willing to go beyond your assigned task. Good luck, and hope this helps.

According to past years' experience, top 20 schools usually have their results out not until February. We just need to cross our fingers and try to be patient. Good luck!

Usually this means the program sent the invitation to submit recommendation letters to your letter writers. I haven't applied to WUSTL, but usually the application system should clearly state "letter submitted" if the letter was submitted. If the deadline is approaching, I think you should confirm with your letter writers whether they have submitted their letters. No need to panic though, if professors have agreed to write a letter, they will write them on time. Good luck!

Thanks to both of you libre 147 and brettmullga! I was thinking about using the username in that "AY account confirmation" email as well.

Anyone applying to U Maryland? In the supplemental material form (the one in which you fill out the relevant courses), an Apply Yourself / Hobson ID is required. What is this ID number? The username I use to log into the application system is simply my email address. Is that it?

I was probably a bit unclear. The cover sheet is a page of the online application but it is not filled out by you. It is filled out by the system according to the information you provided. It needs to be sent to the university with the required document if one accepts the offer.

It is for visa purpose. For the time being, you just have to fill out the cover sheet on the online application, which does not require any financial information. You will have to submit the cover sheet with the required financial information to the university by postal if you accept its offer. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Fellas, merry christmas and happy new year. Wish you all (including myself) good luck for the upcoming year (especially the upcoming spring).

Thank you for the information as well!