Master Swauss

Tufts had one student going to Cornell and another to Maryland in this year's applicants, but for econ PhD's. Possibly more, but I think those are the top admits.

Take a look at Tufts University near Boston. The average funding package covers about half of tuition, but the top applicants can receive much more than that. Plus two of their better students this year received funded offers from Cornell and Maryland.

Type of Undergrad: Small liberal arts college; relatively unknown with no graduate program in economics. Major(s): B.A. Economics & Political Science, Minor in Mathematics Undergrad GPA: 3.953 Cumulative, Economics 4.0, Mathematics 4.0 Relevant Honors: Honors Program, International Honor Society in Economics (Omicron Delta Epsilon), Dean's List. GRE: Q-164 V-161 W-5.5 Math Courses: Differential Calculus (A), Integral Calculus (A), Multivariable Calculus (A), Differential Equations (A), Discrete Mathematics and Intro to Proof (A), Linear Algebra – proof based (A), Probability and Statistics I – calculus based (A), Probability and Statistics II (current), Real Analysis (current), Numerical Analysis (current). Econ Courses: Principles of Micro (A), Principles of Macro (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Managerial Economics (A), Money and Finance (A), International Economics (A), Econometrics (A), Public Finance (Fall 2015). Other Courses: Coursework in Constitutional Law, Foreign Policy and International Relations. Letters of Recommendation: "He's wonderful blah blah blah" etc. Pretty standard, no one famous Research Experience: Did econometrics research under the department chair measuring the contribution of exports to economic growth in Germany. Utilized time series data from FRED and cited other studies that employed Granger Causality and unit root cointegration tests. Also wrote an Honors Thesis on capital gains taxation in Public Finance. Teaching Experience: Economics department tutor for over two years, assisting students in principles as well as Intermediate courses and upper-level electives. Mathematics tutor in the college’s drop-in tutoring center, helping students in courses ranging from pre-calculus to Differential Equations. Research Interests: Econometrics, Growth Theory, Public Finance SOP: I mentioned one economist by name in my personal statement, and I spelled his name wrong. The worst part is that we have the same first name, and I just forgot a letter. WOW. Feel free to chuckle at my expense there. Other: Sometimes I wonder how aliens would allocate scarce resources that have alternative uses. Familiar with R and a few other programming languages. Applying to: Boston College, University of Virginia, Boston University, Brown University, UCLA, Georgetown, Clark, USC, Tufts (MA). Acceptances: Clark U ($$$), Tufts University (MS) ($$) Attending: Tufts!!!!!!!!!! Will apply to PhD programs again in a year and a half. Waitlists: Boston College Rejections: The others....

Hello, Most of my applications require some unofficial copy of my transcripts to be uploaded online. The school websites mention the option of scanning hard copies and uploading the pdf. When I scanned my transcripts the ink reacts and causes the document to say "void" all over it. The courses and grades are still readable, but is it considered taboo to have "void" scrawled all over the background? Thank you!

Type of Undergrad: Small liberal arts college; relatively unknown with no graduate program in economics. Major(s): B.A. Economics & Political Science Minor in Mathematics Undergrad GPA: 3.953 Cumulative, Economics 4.0, Mathematics 4.0 Relevant Honors: Honors Program, International Honor Society in Economics (Omicron Delta Epsilon), Dean's List. GRE: Q 163 =( V 161 AW 5.0 (registered to take again) Math Courses: Differential Calculus (A), Integral Calculus (A), Multivariable Calculus (A), Differential Equations (A), Discrete Mathematics and Intro to Proof (A), Linear Algebra – proof based (Fall 2015), Probability and Statistics I – calculus based (Fall 2015), Probability and Statistics II (Spring 2015), Abstract Algebra (Spring 2015), Numerical Analysis (Spring 2015). Planned on having Real Analysis this fall but it conflicted with a required course in my major and neither department could change times or offer a directed study. Not offered again before I graduate. =,( Econ Courses: Principles of Micro (A), Principles of Macro (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Managerial Economics (A), Money and Finance (A), International Economics (A), Econometrics (A), Public Finance (Fall 2015). Other Courses: Coursework in Constitutional Law, Foreign Policy and International Relations. Letters of Recommendation: I'm expecting very strong recommendations from three professors whom I have taken multiple classes with. One professor is the department chair, who I have done research with, one is the co-founder of a well-known journal on heterodox economics, and the third also teaches at a significantly more prestigious college in Boston. Research Experience: Did econometrics research under the department chair measuring the contribution of exports to economic growth in Germany. Utilized time series data from FRED and cited other studies that employed Granger Causality and unit root cointegration tests. Currently writing Honors Thesis on a topic in Public Finance. Teaching Experience: Economics department tutor for over two years, assisting students in principles as well as Intermediate courses and upper-level electives. Mathematics tutor in the college’s drop-in tutoring center, helping students in courses ranging from pre-calculus to Differential Equations. Research Interests: Econometrics, Growth Theory, Public Finance SOP: Work in progress; want to touch upon how far I've come in terms of math background since I started college (I placed into pre-calculus). Other: Sometimes I wonder how aliens would allocate scarce resources that have alternative uses. Familiar with R and a few other programming languages. Applying to: Boston College, University of Virginia, Boston University, Brown University, UCSD, UCLA, Harvard (why not?), MIT (why not?), Clark, USC (maybe), Duke (maybe), Tufts (MA).

Thanks to everyone who posted for the helpful feedback – I’m beginning the process of putting together pieces of information and application details and this sort of reflection is an important component. While I won’t be able to take courses in Analysis or Topology (according to our course catalogue, no topology class exists outside of a faintly possible directed study....), I may be able to fit in a second semester of Probability and Statistics as well as something to the tune of Abstract Algebra next spring. However these likely won’t be included anywhere on the transcripts I send with my applications, so it may be too little too late. I must admit that typing out my profile made me realize how relatively little upper level mathematics I had compared to other applicants. Considering that I started in pre-calculus and worked my way through the minor, I can’t say I regret not having taken more classes. Perhaps that is something to mention in my statement of purpose. I do like the idea of learning some Real on my own; picking up a copy of Rudin’s text the summer before beginning a PhD program is a smart plan regardless of whether or not I get graded for it. I have also started to consider RA positions as an alternative route towards graduate school. I was aware the Federal Reserve Banks offered such programs but it never dawned on me to investigate NBER. Thanks for that. At this point I am shying away from applying to top 10 schools. I will likely still give Harvard and MIT a shot, mostly because I grew up in the area, but perhaps the likes of UCSD, UCLA and Brown are a touch out of reach. In any case, I have a few months to decide. My trump card in all of this is that one of my professors and letter-writers also teaches at a top 50 school that I plan on applying to (he may even be on the admissions committee, I don’t remember). Can anyone speak to how beneficial that might potentially be to my application at that particular school? I imagine that it would depend greatly on his clout in the program and a myriad of other factors, but if someone can speak from experience that it would not matter at all, that would be good to know. Thanks again!!

Hi All, Hoping to get some feedback on my chances when I apply to PhD programs this fall. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Best of luck to everyone applying this year. Type of Undergrad: Small liberal arts college; relatively unknown with no graduate program in economics. Major(s): B.A. Economics, B.A. Political Science (Double Degrees), Minor in Mathematics Undergrad GPA: 3.953 Cumulative, Economics 4.0, Mathematics 4.0 Relevant Honors: Honors Program, International Honor Society in Economics (Omicron Delta Epsilon). GRE: Will take in August 2015, aiming for 165Q/160V/5AW or better Math Courses: Differential Calculus (A), Integral Calculus (A), Multivariable Calculus (A), Differential Equations (A), Discrete Mathematics and Intro to Proof (A), Linear Algebra – proof based (Fall 2015), Probability and Statistics I – calculus based (Fall 2015). Desperately wanted to take Real Analysis this fall but it conflicted with a required course in my major and neither department could change times or offer a directed study. Not offered again before I graduate. =,( Econ Courses: Principles of Micro (A), Principles of Macro (A), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Managerial Economics (A), Money and Finance (A), International Economics (A), Econometrics (A), Public Finance (Fall 2015). Other Courses: Coursework in Constitutional Law, Foreign Policy and International Relations. Letters of Recommendation: Very strong recommendations from three professors whom I have taken multiple classes with. Each ranks me in the top one percent of economics students in the history of the college (we might have a handful of students who went on to graduate school for economics in the last 30 or so years). One professor is the department chair, who I have done research with, one is the co-founder of a well-known journal on heterodox economics, and the third also teaches at a significantly more prestigious college in Boston. Research Experience: Did econometrics research under the department chair measuring the contribution of exports to economic growth in Germany. Utilized time series data from FRED and cited other studies that employed Granger Causality and unit root cointegration tests. Teaching Experience: Economics department tutor for over two years, assisting students in principles as well as Intermediate courses and upper-level electives. Mathematics tutor in the college’s drop-in tutoring center, helping students in courses ranging from pre-calculus to Differential Equations. Research Interests: Time-Series Econometrics, Long-Run Economic Growth, Macroeconomics, Public Finance, Microeconomics and Economic Development.... basically everything. SOP: Will write; going to put a great deal of effort into crafting a bold, eye-catching SOP. Other: Sometimes I wonder how aliens would allocate scarce resources that have alternative uses. Also I’m working on teaching myself “R.” Thinking of Applying to: Boston University, Brown University, UCSD, UCLA, Harvard (why not?), MIT (why not?), Boston College, Duke (maybe), Tufts (MA).