PhDPolEcon

Thanks chateauheart. This is a great post...and I think you are right. I also think that research promise/experience is the best predictor of PhD success. I am not sure that RA experience translates into true research experience, but perhaps the MIT/Harvard adcomm members know how to distinguish meaningful RA experience from trivial RA experience or they invest more time with these students which then ensures their success.

I am curious then what Harvard & MIT place their main focus on, if it is not academics.

What age becomes a problem for admissions to econ PhD programs? 29? 30? 35? 40/

Thanks for the contributions. I still do not understand the downvotes. Can one not ask or question or even disagree without being downvoted? Very strange.

I am not sure why my question was downvoted... To clarify my question, yes it is assumed a publication or R&R should be helpful but the case I am referring to is for someone whose profile is otherwise non-stellar e.g. missing mathematics courses, no RA expericence, no European Masters, average GPA at undergrad or grad level. Would such a person who might not otherwise be admitted, be admitted to a top 5/top 10 program if he/she had a publication or R&R at a top journal?

Serious, honest question. Why does a student from Asia need a MSc econ?

In the rare case a publication occurs does it help? I recall there was a student here who claimed he was close to a pub in a Top 5. How about if you have a R&R? Will that help? Again, ignore the fact that this is unlikely.

But will adcomm agree that it makes sense? Faculty members openly state that students should NOT state in their SOPs/applications that they wish to seek non-academic careers.

So no more comps...what did they replace it with? Why did they get rid of comps?

So how did the visiting days go at Harvard, HBS & MIT?

Chateauheart , are you saying if he gets published or an R&R it will not help for admission? I thought a publication or R&R would be a very strong signal. Also, I think the OPs question could be phrased as what can he/she do to get into a top 10/5 school? You said he/she needs "to aim at a different range". The question I think OP has, and the one I have is what needs to be done to improve a profile in order to get into the applicant's desired range of top 5/top 10? Which could also be phrased as "what is the profile of a successful top 5 applicant"? Thanks for your contributions to the forum.

So you can't research how to solve problems? The way real scientists do? The medical, biotech and technology sectors are full of scientists engaged in research to solve problems. When economists find a problem, what do they then do? Write a paper, get tenure and move on to the next easter egg to find, write another paper and repeat?

I see and hear this sentiment constantly. Why do you believe this? What is the justification? What is the purpose of a PhD?

If his boss is aware of his plans to apply in the Fall and is willing to write him a letter then your point is moot. I still believe option 4 is the best of his current options.

Congratulations! Option 4 seems to be a great choice. If I were in your shoes, I would grab it!

What are the courses you recommend that are required to get you into a top 2 or top 5 program? How best to take these classes- local college, online at Illinois? Any other options. Thank you.

Thanks

Thanks for sharing this. Have you noticed any correlation between website visits and admits?

I guess the real question I have is NOT if you can track them ( I am sure you can using IP tools). My question is do adcomms visit applicant websites i.e. if an adcomm member sees your website on the application or CV will they visit the website or do they just ignore the website?

Did any of you with websites actually see visits from adcomm members or did the adcomms just ignore the websites?

Congratulations! Very happy for you!

Another Stanford GSB Economics admit posted on gradcafe. This one, I believe. the previous Stanford GSB Econ and Stanford GSB Pol Econ, I still have doubts about...but I may be wrong!

Yep, they are now gone. The Stanford GSB Economics and Stanford GSB Political Economy admitted posts still remain. Are they valid?

There's a post on Gradcafe showing an admit to Stanford GSB "Political Economy". Can someone confirm if that is a real post? There's also another post on Gradcafe showing an admit to Stanford GSB "Econonomics". Can someone confirm if that is a real post? Thanks.

I do not understand what the search engine ranking effect is.