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That's a good point. Perhaps a better understanding of each field will be gained after reading tons of paper in the graduate program. What I am wondering is that when I choose which programs to apply, maybe I should figure out my own interests so that the program will fit. But maybe this is not obvious ex-ante but obvious ex-post.

Is there any way to have a big picture about what each field in economics is about? For example, what people are studying in applied micro theory. Does it matter (to know about what specific field you want to do in PHD) when you apply for econ PHD programs? Thanks a lot in advance.

Thank you for the information, Spookiz. I didn't know RA positions were so competitive. But I am still looking for other possible RA positions. The tuition fee for TSE this year is much higher(6000 euros compared to 300 euros...). But spending two years in France sounds great (haha)! Cheers!

I am afraid that it is impossible to ask for extension. It seems like that the confirmation is for the nomination of the government scholarship, which is approaching deadline.

Thank you for the suggestion. I am also considering taking the master program first. My only concern is LoRs. I heard that it would be better for international students to have LoRs from professors from top US programs. I am thinking whether LoRs from professors are enough, assuming that they are equally strong. Yeah, I don't have any safe place to go at this moment. Here, when I say strong LoRs, I mean either the referee is not well known enough or the referee is well known but don't have much contact with me, which I think may be strong enough for a top program (top 20 or above). Just for curiosity, a top 20 program and TSE, which one will you guys choose?

Not really. My home university is less well-known. The best placement for PhD is programs ranking 30 or so, as far as I could tell.

Hi all, I am a senior student from China. (I posted my background before.) I just got an offer of TSE M1 program and it is supported by the Eiffel Scholarship. But I have to make a decision before January. I also applied to some PhD programs in United States. I am now thinking whether I should accept the offer or wait for the results of PhD application. I saw some threads discussing the RA positions in top 5 programs. I also applied to some RA positions in top 5 programs. I was invited to take the test of one of the position (Stanford). But I didn't get the job. I think it is because my writing skills in English and analytical skills are not strong enough. (Another reason is that I am a foreign student and I require a VISA to work in USA.) So I doubt whether I am qualified for the PhD studies. Considering I don't have strong LoRs from 'big name' professors, and I am okay to spend two years on a master program, do you guys think I should wait for the PhD results? Another advantage of taking a master degree in a English program is that I can further develop my writing skills and research skills. I do think I can handle the courses in PhD studies after my undergrad. And I think I have a rather high chance to get admitted by a PhD program ranking 30 or so, since students from my home universities with similar profiles like me got offers from programs ranking 30 before. It is a hard choice for me. And failure to get the RA job does discourage me a little bit. So I hope I can get some advice from you guys. Many thanks!

Hi! Here is a realistic problem about application. Applicants are required to upload a writing sample when applying for some econ PhD programs, such as Columbia and University of Chicago. But for most PhD programs, a writing sample is optional. I am curious what signals a writing sample can send. Some people say that a writing sample can reveal what your ability in doing research is. But some people say a writing sample only shows that you are well-prepared for the graduate studies (At least you have prepared a writing sample!), but its quality is not the most important. Which is view is correct?

Hi guys, Here is a small question for the GPA ranking. I don't think it is very important but interesting enough to ask for your opinions. In my home university, there are two types of GPA ranking. The first one is the ranking among the whole program, including students from finance, accounting and economics. In the whole program, there are roughly 200 students, who were recruited after the college entrance examination by using the same standard. I the following years, students in this program can choose different direction as their major, including finance, accounting, economics and trade. In this approach, my ranking is roughly 10/200. The second approach is ranking among each direction. In the second year, I chose economics (honored class) as my major. In this major (economics (honored class)), students take courses in English and take more math courses. Usually, courses in this direction are more difficult. In this approach, my ranking is roughly 1/16. Suppose that admission committees have little information about this program (I think this is a reasonable assumption because this setting is weird enough), which type of ranking can send better signal? I think the difference is very trivial.I discussed this question with my friends but we have very different opinions. So I am really curious about how you guys think about this problem. Welcome to any opinions.

That's a very special perspective. Thank you for sharing. I am curious about what PhD candidates usually do after taking 3 years of courses. It is said that there are no courses since 4th year (or 3rd?). And then there will be a very high rate of quit. Is that true?

Emm. Thank you guys. Then I don't need to spend much time worrying about picking programs now.

Yeah, trying hard to find such programs. How do applicants usually evaluate which fields a particular department is good at? I find it hard to judge from its faculty webpage. Are there any index or general rules?

Hi mates, I have some new concerns about choosing phd programs. I am an undergraduate student and planning to apply for US PhD programs. I have some research experiences and took some courses in specific fields. For example, I have research experiences in IO and public finance; I have taken courses like behavioral, environmental, labor, IO, etc.. But up till now, I can only make sure I don't want to do research in micro but I am open to other fields, including macro, metrics, public finance, labor, environment and development. I know it is good to be open to many fields, but I face some difficulties when choosing programs. Of course top 5 programs are usually good at almost everything, but in lower ranking programs, they are usually good at one specific field. Then what kind of rules I can follow when picking lower ranking programs, considering my wide range of interests?

Thank you guys. You've mentioned very important points. Let me summarize a little bit. 1. A mater degree is not an essential element for phd application. 2. The time costs and monetary costs usually exceed the potential benefit one can get from a master program. 3. A master program can help one remedy the most obvious shortcomings in one's background. I am pretty clear about the rules of the game now. But I still have some individual concerns. My long term career goal is to be a faculty member in a top university in China, but before going back to China, I would like to spend a few years in US as a faculty member. Considering this long term goal, which range of programs is an essential element? Thank you guys.

What about masters in Europe?

Hi guys, I have a question about career planning that I want to listen to your advice and opinions. Given that I want to take an econ phd, hoping to be a faculty member in some day, and I am an econ undergraduate student, should I directly apply to PhD programs or take a master degree first? If I directly apply for a phd degree, I may bot be able to get admitted by a very good program. Assume that I can be admitted by a top 30-40 program at best. But given this profile, I can be admitted by a very good master program. Also assume that I will work as hard as I am an undergraduate student, I think taking a master degree first would not make me worse two years later. Here worse means getting admitted by a lower ranking program. Based on this reasoning and considering that I will take a phd study eventually, do you think it a good idea to reject a top 30 - 40 program but take a master program first? Of course I may be wrong about my initial assumption. For example, I may overestimate my profile. But please take them as valid assumption first. I am more concerned about the above reasoning but the assumption. What do you guys think? Welcome to any comments and opinions. Thx~

I think it is hard to evaluate an international student's profile. Taking undergraduate studies outside US adds to uncertainty. But please feel free to post any comments. My final goal is to get admitted by US econ programs and don't care much about how I achieve this goal. So if my profile is not strong enough, other alternative paths suggested are welcome. Thank you very much.

Type of Undergrad: A Top 5 University in China (I think it is not well-known in US), major:Econ, minor:Math Core GPA 91/100 GRE: V154 Q170 AWA 3.5 TOEFL: 105 30/27/22/26 Math Courses: Stochastic Process(A), Partial Differential Equation(B), Numerical Analysis(A-), Abstract Algebra(A-), Real Analysis(A+), Ordinary Differential Equation(A+), Advanced Algebra(A+), Probability & Statistics(A+), Linear Algebra(A-), Mathematical Analysis I, II(A+，A+) Econ Courses: Econometrics(A+), Intermediate Micro(A+), Intermediate Macro(A), Game Theory(A+),Labor(A), Environmental(A+) Research Experience: 1. A 5-month research project on IO, studying the market structure of China's automobile industry 2. A 2-month summer RA @ top 5 US econ program 3. A 2-month summer RA doing code conversion job 4. A long term research project on public finance Research Interests: public finance/ public economics/ macro References: 1. A Chinese professor (my mentor) that knows me very well but not well-known in US 2. A letter from the professor related to my second research experience, very well-known but I am afraid that we don't have much communication 3. A letter from the professor related to my third research experience, not that well-known but knows me better than 2 Concerns: 1. I think I don't have any strong LoRs and I am not sure how much it will influence the outcome. 2. I am thinking about taking econ master at Europe first but I am also not sure how much it will help two years later. Really puzzled about what kind of programs I should apply to. Thank you so much for your help.