freebanker

There are a few restrictions on how often you can take GRE; if I remember correctly there have to be at least 10 days from one exam and the other and there is a maximum number of exams you can take in one year. I suggest you to look for this info on ETS website, because I do not remember it well.

Some people drop out during the first year of PhD. I don't know how motivated you are, but in case you figure out that earning a PhD is not the right thing for you, having a MA could give you some advantage in the job market.

I think that when you compare bachelor programs at that level, the school does not really make a difference. They are all good places and in this case the factors that would influence your chances of getting into a good PhD program are under your control.

I don't think the ranking really matters when the two schools are so close.

I have recently been admitted to NC State with funding and I am probably going to accept their offer. Being from abroad, I was unable to attend their open house, therefore my knowledge of the department and of the place is limited to what I can find on their website and little else. I noticed they have a few good recent placements for people doing monetary/financial economics, thus I believe it is the right place for me. Does anyone have more information on the department, the program or even non-academic issues such as housing? Are there any expected changes that would make the department weaker or stronger in the next years? Thanks!