themli

I would also check out their placements, would you prefer to be in one cohort vs. The other?. Congrats btw - great offers!

I agree ^ I didn't mean to put you down OP. Just know that empirical and theoretical work is very different. You could of course learn a lot of the math yourself after you've been admitted if you still want to do theory. I was just trying to give you a picture of the competitiveness of T10-15

If you're not good at math you should stay away from theory. I think departments will be worried if you write that you intend to do theoretical work without sufficient preparation and motivation. Most theorists take measure theory as well. Your research experience might also insufficient for top 10.

You have basically no chance of top 10. Your profile looks like it needs either a top EU master's degree since you have no graduate courses in econ. And you have no math to compensate for it (i.e. measure theory, topology or grad real analysis). Also, was your RA-ship over a long period? Admissions like to see a year of RA with a researcher they know or know of. If you want to be competitive for top 10 most of your competitors will have either: RA'ed with a top researcher at a top 10 for a year or more, taken PhD level micro, macro and/or metrics (for instance OxBridge MPhil or as elective), or are superstars in math/stats. Also, I wouldn't worry about the AW score, and the actuary experience will have no effect on admissions on the margin. I would aim lower (for econ PhD), and apply to some master's degrees (Duke, Oxbridge, LSE, BGSE) + some Finance PhD's.

UPF (BGSE), Oxford and LSE

I wouldn't worry about the V score

Have you considered Public policy PhD's? Attending a low ranked phd won't lead to a good experience in the job market later. You'll have a better chance of getting in to a PP PhD (i.e. a higher ranked institution vis a vis econ). Master's programs is also a possibility - but make sure they send students to Phd programs (not "applied" masters".

A though one, since the GRE is used to "screen" applicants (i.e. to throw out applications before reading them fully if the score is below a certain point). Hard to tell where the threshold is, but probably above or equal to 160Q. It will also depend on your math background. This is why taking math courses at the math department is so important, since it's hard to evaluate your quantitative background from econ courses only (especially non-US applicants). BTW my sources is two admissions committee members from top 20 US.

Research experience and letters' connections will decide your faith.

Based on what I have learned (from talking to admissions commitee members of T15), you generally need more research experience to be competitive for T15. Try to apply for a semester long or year long RA-ship. Other than that, your profile is looking good. Maybe retake GRE to hit 167+ if you feel like you have it in you.

No worries. Yeah I guess this is why most European students go for a masters, due to the lack of RA opportunities. I did however figure out how to take graduate econ courses along side my math courses (only MSc-level though). FED RA is not possible, as you need to be a US citizen. The senior thesis will help, as you say. EDIT: I added some masters courses I'll be able to take. It turns out I also might get an RA position next summer! It's starting to look better!

I hate to double-post but I wanna add something. I have been looking at the NBER and "not at NBER" RA-positions postings for a few months, they seem to pay well and are mostly at prestigious universities. These must be insanely competitive? I feel like it would be a huge gamble to take a year off just to count on getting one of those.. Additionally, my current uni only offers RA to Masters students (rarely)... So no luck there. Another possibility is to take some grad econ courses and more math at a US university, and try to apply for some RA positions through the faculty? I would love that tbh.

Yeah I should probably apply to both RA's and PhD in the same cycle. I'm not applying until next fall though. I am taking a year as a special student taking some of the courses I mentioned above + the GRE. My concern is def. the lack of a graduate micro course. But maybe a decent RA-ship might compensate? I saw your profile btw! Looks good! You seem to have a lot of good research exp.👍🏼

Hi, this is what my profile will look like in about a year. PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: BSc Econ (Europe) Undergrad GPA: Currently about 90-ish % (excluding some of the courses below obviously) Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: Not yet taken. Math Courses: Math for Econ, Basic Statistics, Advanced Calculus I-II (theoretical and proof-based), Linear Alg. and optimization, Mathematical Statistics, Real Analysis (Baby Rudin), Measure and Integral Theory (Papa Rudin). Econ Courses (grad-level): Microeconomics I (MSc), Econometrics I and II (MSc), Research Methods (MSc) (basically Metrics III) Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Principles of Economics, Math for Econ, Macro I and II, Micro I and II, Development Econ, Political Economy, Bachelor’s Thesis. Other Courses: Programming, Finance & Accounting, Management, Marketing, Political Philosophy etc. Letters of Recommendation: Should be strong; will RA for one, TA for another, write thesis with a third. They have good contacts in top US deps. Research Experience: Bachelor's thesis, RA next summer + taking a research methods course Teaching Experience: None yet, but probably next semester Research Interests: Micro and metrics SOP: Research interests, the usual. Concerns: Could’ve taken even more math like Topology and ODE/PDE. Department hasn’t placed a lot abroad, tends to recruit to their own PhD. Other: Latex, Stata, EViews. Applying to: US, but not sure about range. Hopefully US top 20-30?