PhD2015ForSure

Why do they make that choice?

Does Columbia offer admissions without funding? What are details of such offers?

Did you receive a Columbia PhD offer without funding? I thought all their offers were funded. What do you mean by no funding?

Another option is go to Cambridge and re-apply hoping to get into a top 10 US program. Cambridge is also strong and getting stronger in theory/networks. They just hired Matt Elliott from Caltech. If I were you I would go to Cambridge, work hard to excel there, reapply to top 10 schools. If you get into a US top 10, if not and you excelled at Cambridge, then you will just continue on to the Cambridge PhD. Another possibility as an additional backup is to see if you could defer Penn State or Maryland for a year, but I wonder if that is ethical/appropriate. All the best!

Thanks chateauheart for the clarification. Could you explain what you mean in the statement below. I do not understand. Thanks. "If you want to avoid the opportunity to make a big impact or get a great placement because economists currently (and correctly) think those disciplines are mediocre, I think you're being myopic."

Thanks chateauheart. One more question, please. You advise the OP in this thread to apply to political science and public policy programs which is fair advice. However, I find frequently that Economists have utter disdain for other social scientists. I have attended seminars where Economists derisively refer to political scientists as "John Doe, Political Scientist" with a smirk. I have seen professors refuse to go to seminars on topics in their field simply because the presenter is a political scientist or trained in a public policy program. Given this what incentive is there for an aspiring academic to go to a political science or public policy program if they will be condemned to a lifetime of second class status in the academy and automatically be assumed to be of lower IQ, lower aptitude simply because they are not economists?

Why do Econ PhD programs not put weight on diversity in admissions?

Due to PhD Econ competitiveness, this may be a good strategic decision to gain admission, but will he get the training required to conduct research in development economics? I doubt it. Herein lies the dilemma, how can a student requiring economic training receive such training if his research interests are not well received by economists and/or such interests and profile makes the likelihood of admission into Econ PhD programs slim?

I am happy ..very happy for you and your husband. I commend you for your love for your husband. I wish you both all the best.

Good! Wish you success!

I saw this after my previous post. I am happy you will be taking this advice. Thanks again pch for giving Kevin good advice.

Thank you pch. Kevin, this is the best advice on this thread. Please take it. Also please delete the letters you posted. I do NOT believe you did anything wrong per se, but keeping these letters here does you no good.

I suggest you post your questions in the Economics PhD forum for responses. PhD in Economics Good luck!

Congrats! I love these stories. Questions: Did you do the Master's Econ at UCL or at the top 20 US? What area of focus is your Business PhD? Strategy, Management, Economics, Accounting, Finance, etc. When did you start the Business PhD? When you say top 10 school for Business, do you mean top 10 Econ or top 10 MBA? Congrats again!

I think you are in good shape. Very good shape. Focus on acing your EME coursework and enjoying London. Come back here to share your success. Best of luck to you.