sardegna2016

Thanks for your input. That's an interesting point you're making. During my master's I didn't do any PhD level coursework also because I wasn't seriously considering a PhD at that time. Then thesis time kicked off and it was too late to start. I decided to apply to a bunch of European masters to make up for this deficiency because the new trend (also shown by this forum) is to be able to send strong signals by handling PhD level classes successfully PRIOR enrolling in a PhD. If I don't stand a chance to getting admitted to any of these masters programs, I'm in trouble since I can't see other ways of proving this. That confuses me big time because i feel stuck in one place and have no clue what's the way forward, what steps to take from here in order to raise my chances of admission into a decent PhD program.

I checked the website.... Didn't get an email.

I got the rejection just about 10 days after I submitted my application... Which I found bizarre as it looked like a straightforward rejection case for them..

That wouldn't be an option for me. I was planning to submit more applications but I think it's time for a new approach, so this application season is over for me... Anyone else who got admitted to any of these programs and cares to share their background?

@specious Thanks for the suggestion but I don't think I could afford it financially... LSE is extremely expensive...

@ tutonic congrats on your offers. I just got the rejection from Oxford - alone today I have received 3 rejections...oh well....it cant get any worse...

@specious My undergrad (BSc in Economics, first class honours) is from the UK and GRE scores were not required. I am not sure I understand the application process anymore - Did you already have a master's degree when you first applied to these master's programs? Do you think that having a master's degree already poses issues for these schools?

So I just found out that I got rejected by Carlos III Madrid - economic analysis Masters - Pretty unexpected and a bit painful, I would say... On their admissions website, it says, decisions are based on CV and references...here is where I feel lost and confused... I have a master's in applied econ from a decent (not top 10) US public university, GPA 3.89. I did coursework in mathematics (Linear Algebra, Real Analysis), statistics, probability, econometrics, got As in all except one econometrics class in my first term that ended with a B. I worked with one of the best professors in our department as RA for 2.5 years and I did some TAing for 1.5 years. I collected my own household survey data in Africa for my thesis, developed a fairly complicated econometric model for it and did all this in collaboration with two professors who provided my references for UC3M. I have never seen those recommendations but my feeling says that they should be strong since I was in very close interaction with these two for over 2 years of my grad life and they know my research ability fairly well. What I did not have for this admission: my GRE scores were not valid anymore and didnt get the chance to retake the exam (as I was moving continents after my Msc graduation and things were too stressful to revise for and take a new GRE exam), so I did not submit GRE to Carlos. I am probably a bit older than the majority of their students (in my 30s) since economics has been a career change for me; Also this would be my second masters because having evaluated my chances for a PhD I came to the conclusion that I was not competitive enough to get into a good school (I dont have any PhD micro courses to start with)--- It would help to hear from those of you who got admitted into research masters in Europe (UC3M, Pompeu Fabra, BGSE, Bonn, Oxford, Cambridge), particularly some info about your background and what you think helped your admission. I am still waiting from Oxford but now, after being waitlisted at Cambridge and rejected by Carlos III, I have lost most hope... Thanks!

hey guys - to those of you who have some experience dealing with this - i have received an email from the hiring manager who interviewed me for the research associate role saying that they are still processing things and I should hear back as soon as possible. My question - is it okay to reply to this maybe expressing my interest in the position once again? Would that sound too desperate? Would you advise against it? Please help! Thanks

I actually meant after a first (pretty intense) phone interview with the hiring division - it would be great to hear back either way rather than be left hanging there...the entire process may be pretty slow though...

Sounds good, thanks. Did you guys hear back even in cases you did not progress to the next stage of your application after the first phone interview?

Anyone has interviewed remotely (Skype) for RA positions and got hired without doing an in-person interview?

I have thought of following up but at the same time I have read on other sites that it's better not to since reaching out to them may sound like impatience, desperation, etc. This role is at a big research institution and as you said, the process may be pretty slow...

Hey guys, any of you has experience applying for (economics) RA roles at universities/research institutes and can comment on their recruitment process? How slow/fast is it? How soon after a first screening interview do applicants hear back? I have applied for several roles so far - heard back only from one place, I then had a pretty good phone interview (interviewer reacted interested in what I had to say and asked loads of follow up questions). It's been a week now since that happened yet no news. I know they are probably screening more people but how much is too much in terms of waiting time when it comes to research roles? Is it time to write it off and move on? I REALLY want this job. Help me understand what's going on... thanks!

I have got this from their website: [h=2]"How to apply[/h]You should feel free to make contact with any member of academic staff who might act as potential supervisor for your proposed research. " From previous experience, it is NOT okay to reach out to professors before receiving an offer - so I am confused about this. Anyone has any experience doing this successfully for Oxford Mphil or other programs? This sounds a bit silly but what should be the structure of such an email? Talking about your own research interests and how you feel the respective faculty could help by supervising your research?? - Any tips? Thanks!

I have an undergrad in economics from the UK (first class honours) -an OK school, not top 5 though- and a master's in applied economics from a good US university (GPA: 3.89/4). I am planning to apply to Oxford and Cambridge for their Mphil (prior to pursuing a Phd). I read on their website that if you have a UK degree, submitting GRE scores is not compulsory. Thing is, my GRE is about 4 years old and not so stellar (I have grown a lot ever since) and even though I am planning to retake it, I may not succeed in doing so before the deadlines. Should I still submit my old, not-too-attractive scores or should I submit no scores? I wonder whether no scores (as they are not compulsory in my case) may be wiser in my situation. Any thoughts?

true - had a close look and for masters, it looks solid to me. added to the list :)

hey all, anyone can tell me whether Manhattan GRE has changed their policy and no longer offers access to the 6 practice tests if you buy one of their books? Anyone who has done this recently? Thanks!

Is CEMFI not macro-oriented?

As of now, I am looking at Bonn, University of Barcelona, Fabra Pompeu, UC3M, Graduate Institute Geneva, Bocconi, Barcelona(GSE), possibly Toulouse and PSE. Not quite sure I will apply to UK universities - hence I am focused on continental Europe for the time being, with special preference on Spain-based programs. Also I would like to know what are the funding opportunities for PhD in general? I may have to apply for their masters' degree first but overall, I am interested in knowing more about the PhD experience students get in these places... Any input/views? Thanks!

Nobody?

Hi all I would like to get some insider information, ideally from people who have had some exposure to an economics PhD program at a European university - although everyone is welcome to chip in... my experience during my masters program in the US has been quite positive - RA ing for several semesters, close interaction with my supervisors, did fieldwork in sub Saharan Africa as part of the project I was working on... so my questions are: 1. What is the PhD student-professor interaction in European programs? Do these busy people make time for students? Do you get sufficient support, able to discuss your ideas etc? 2. How is the atmosphere in the program, in terms of classmates, people interaction ? Alternatively, would you describe the PhD as more of a solitary experience from start to finish? 3. Any networking opportunities? How do people get placements post graduation? Does the school/ supervisor help in anyway? 4. What about the program funding? How common are the RA appointments ? Or is it mostly TA work that PhD students do? i can't think of anything else right now but I am sure there are other aspects worth considering... Your input is valuable. Thanks, guys!

Thanks for your reply. Here are a few points: 1) An RA position would be great but not sure how common they are in Europe. It does seem to be common here in the US - would you suggest I try to get an RA here for 1 year while applying for PhD programmes in Europe? 2) I was looking over the syllabus of some micro courses at the University of Barcelona - and they do slightly more advanced stuff than what I did here during my masters - that got me worried. Hence the idea of doing another masters there before the PhD. 3) yes, most of the schools you listed are strong in macro, as far as I remember - maybe perhaps Toulouse. How about Bonn? 4) Does anyone know whether it is possible to submit concurrent applications for Msc and Phd at the same university (in Europe)?

So, here is my situation - i am currently completing my Msc in applied / agricultural economics at a good school in the US. My grad GPA is 3.9 and while here I took linear algebra (A) and Real Analysis (A) as well as a few stats classes on top of econ classes. My supervisor is hopeful that I could get my Msc thesis published. The initial plan was to apply for PhD in Ag econ or related at universities like MSU, UC Davis, cornell, Purdue etc... I am European and due to family constraints back home, I am considering moving back to Europe and possibly get into a PhD program there. So far my interests have been in microeconomics of development but after some preliminary research, this seems like a hard find in European programs. I am willing to consider other related fields as long as it is micro. Here is the catch - it looks that some PhD programs in Europe require more rigorous quant/econ preparation than what I have done here in the US. So here are my questions: 1) should I apply for another Msc Economics in Europe that will supplement my preparation before the PhD ? Since PhD programs are usually 3 years in Europe and I was counting on another 5 in the US, I am ok with the idea of having to go through another masters if need be. 2) any very good such programs that have a strong micro focus and a good PhD placement in Europe? 3) any solid PhD programs in Europe (again, with a strong focus on micro, possibly development if I am lucky) that I could consider and which have a decent record of placing people in academia in Europe? 4) I am not a fan of being back in the UK (did my undergrad there) so if you have any suggestions for continental Europe , that would be amazing. Thanks !!!

That's incredibly helpful! Thank you!