IMB8000

If the assumption is that they'll make it their mission to reduce the class size this year, then by the time he will need faculty interaction, this years class size would already be greatly reduced, no? tm does make great points about what it means to defer and what the opportunity costs are. But I tend to agree with Fantinity that he shouldn't completely rule out a deferral, as 26 is a lot of people specially as Brown is normally a very small program. I would again recommend talking to brown and seeing where they are at, and see what it means to defer. and what are your alternatives for this gap year?

Thanks! I guess I'll just have to wait then

Does anybody know how the reimbursements work for visiting days? I sent them all the information that they asked, but i never got a response even when I followed up and asked some questions. How long does it usually take? and does your decision not to attend a program affect any of it?

I maybe naive here, but why not ask brown directly? I feel like they can easily tell you if the size of the incoming class will be a problem for them and if they consider giving you a deferral. They have no reason to lie as your decision can help them out. I like the idea of a deferral year if you have something to do during this year (work, take extra class, prepare more, whatever) and feel you aren't the strongest of candidate (not the normal, pre phd anxiety and self doubt). However, if you know that you wont do anything productive with this year off, then my advice is just to start now.

for what its worth, I put i wanted to work as a researcher in a think tank on SOP (and in some applications) and I got into top programs. I think the SOP counts for so little that I don't see how being honest will hurt you (just don't insult being a professor as a career). And every year PhD programs place into the fed/IMF/ World Bank, so its definitely an achievable goal. With a PhD your options aren't limited and you get a pretty good deal if you are wiling to put up with all the work. You get really good training for your future job and you know for a fact that you are pretty much prepared for any position that you might like.

I didn't mean to belittle research and if you can, definitely do take that opportunity. I just tend to stress getting great LOR over research because i find them to be more important and a good lor can make up for lack of research experience while the reverse isn't true. Plus you mentioned that you are planning? to do RA in the summer and do a Senior Thesis (which if you can do it your junior year that way you have the research experience and if its good enough you can submitted with your applications) and that would should be enough (however again more is better).

You seem to be in very good shape (if you were to apply now, I would bet that you'll land somewhere in top 10 or 20), and I wouldn't necessarily consider your GPA to be low. The B in calculus can be worrisome but the rest of your grades, specially those in harder and higher classes, will show that it was an outlier and I wouldn't worry too much about that. If I were you, the one thing I would try to focus on is creating relationships with professors. Ask for their advice, take more classes with them (even if they don't necessarily greatly improve your profile), and try to RA for them. In an ideal situation, try to get them to be well known and that they really know you; as you LORs will be key if you want a top admission. All of this is given you dont slack now and you do well enough in your GRE (165+ in Q). And Another Thing... try to take all the feed back you get here with the grain of salt, since none of us work in the admission process. The best way to truly evaluate your profile is to go to results of previous years and see how you compare to your profile, and what your professors say and steer you towards. best of luck

My understanding (from a current student there) is that Rios-Rull is leaving to Penn, Pat is going to Stanford but only for a one year visiting position, and Chari is staying. I wouldn't be too worried as its really just one person thats leaving and Minnesota has a history of being able to hire good people and replace those that leave.

Ill be coming out of my undergrad and I really haven't decided. Im either going to rest and get caught up in movies and shows and generally just rest, or learn matlab / R / Latex(Im debating whether it'll be worth it).

I never got a clear answer for this. It is my limited understanding that it really depends on what business school you are talking about. Some focus more on applied and industry, others on macro and the public sector, and while others are basically the same thing as the regular degree. So just try to see what the faculty are working on and where they place.

I think its more panic mode. We (at least I ) had this idea that after visiting one or reviewing something the decision will just be completely clear and make perfect sense. However, when people realize that the deadline is impending and they haven't had an epiphany of where to attend they panic. So they try to gather as much information even if its repeated information and asking all kind of questions. It lends itself for someone to say "X is clearly better than Y" or something of that nature.

I don't think you are going to find the answer you want here. It sounds like you have all the facts, and it is just a difficult decision. Rochester is better at macro and theory and seem to be trending up. They devote a lot of time training their PhDs and have a history of being a great program. Penn State, for my understanding, is better at applied micro. Penn State is above rochester in ranking right now and their placement indicates that. What is your feeling about rochester? do you think they'll climb significantly in the next 5 years? How sure are you that you want to do macro? Would you mind doing micro? Would you be happy with the mean placement at both schools? All of those will help you figure out an answer. Plus remember, you have no bad choice between the two. And neither school places a ceiling. So its not that big of a decision even if it feels that way.

If you are truly considering going to Columbia for an MA, then go to UPenn. UPenn is a top 10-top15 school. Acceptances to top 15 are very difficult to predict and a MA wont improve your chances greatly (specially an unproven MA, in which you have no idea who is going to teach you or the direction they'll go with the program. And columbia's stats MA has a reputation for being a money grabber so be careful that the econ one doesn't follow suit). And so if you are willing to pay for one year MA, why not pay what i imagine is about the same money for the first year of a PhD at a top 15. With all of that being said, I agree with Mathman22. UCLA is the better option (if they fit your interest). UCLA has a good department, their placemnt hasnt been the best but its still good and you can be placed in any of the top departments. And its funded. So ill rank them as UCLA>Penn>>>>Columbia

Its not the same for every school. Your offer/fellowship letter should say by when you have to accept it. I plan on sending it by the 14th just to make sure it gets there and there isnt any problems with it.

This might sound harsh but don't apply in the fall. Try to do well this semester and all of the next. That way you can get your GPA higher and take higher courses that show your previous grades were due to (whatever they were due to). It will also allow you get a better 3rd recommendation (THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT ) If you are able to get close to perfect grades from now on and get 3 good recommendation letters you can probably aim at top 40-60.