economicstyro

Can someone please confirm what kipfilet says? "Bear in mind that your chances at an academic placement will be extremely low, and even the 3rd quartile-student will end up in industry?" I personally have gotten a few offers from Top-70 and US News - unranked schools. These days I spent some time looking at the past placement results (if available) of my potential departments and it seems to me that at least 75% of their placements are academic, and that the overall results compare favorably with those from Top-50 schools. (Colorado-Boulder/Pittsburgh/Vanderbilt (US News top 50) as opposed to UT Knoxville, Binghamton, UConn, Washington State (US News top 70-80)). In my own observation, these lower-ranked (or even unranked) departments typically almost never have academic placements (excluding post-docs) into top-ranked departments, but their median students do get placed as well as those from higher-ranked programs. In this vein, I would like to ask a relevant question: when it comes to placement, does the department's reputation or the advisor's reputation matter more? Thanks for your input!

Does anyone have any insight on how likely it is to get admitted and funded at Colorado Boulder from the waiting list (i.e. how many funded/unfunded offers are given out, how many waitlisted candidates there are, etc.) ? Thank you!

Thank you a lot for the detailed information, cgore! I just received a reply directly from the Graduate Director. It's nice to hear insights from a current student. I appreciate your enthusiasm!

In my experience, after you identify your potential letter writers (based reasonably on the number of courses you took, number of research projects you did with them, how you performed, time given to them, etc), it is better to ask them directly: "Would you be willing to write a strong letter to support me in my application process?" This I believe is not a rude question. It saves time for both you and the letter writers and actually reduce the "risk factor" associated with lukewarm letters as you mentioned.

Hi guys, I have been a lurker here and benefited a lot from this forum's discussions. This is my first post here. I have been accepted to a handful of PhD programs, been (as expected) rejected at most places, and am waiting to hear back from a few others (very long shots though). These past few days I have started weighing my offers so there would be less hassle before the April 15 deadline, I hope. I have narrowed my choices down to these three programs: 1. University of Tennessee Knoxville - PhD in Economics (within the school of business) Total amount: $18K, including insurance. Possible to earn extra $4K in summer funding 2. University of Cincinnati - PhD in Business Administration with concentration in Economics (within the school of business) Total amount: $23K in TA-ship, etc, assuming 6-hour enrollment and serving as graduate assistant during the summer. Possible for reduced health insurance. 3. Binghamton University (SUNY) - PhD in Economics Total amount: $17K in teaching assistantship. No insurance coverage The details of the offers are copy-pasted in the end (I struggled with the forum's uploading utility.) I am having a really hard time deciding which offer to accept, since each program has pros and cons, and all things considered, these offers are equivalent to me. So I really would like to garner insights from this forum's members to make the best decision. Some information about me: international student residing in the US; taken various PhD courses in a top 40 program with average grades; no work experience; research interests are applied econometrics (particularly development, urban, education and health); wanting to become an assistant professor at a PhD-granting research university after finishing the program or securing a post-doc position. Any input is appreciated, though I would particularly welcome comments on specific aspects of the program/city, including: · Training in theory, econometrics, and topics courses; difficulty of the prelims · Placement; opportunities for tenure-track positions · Overall reputation of the department (I usually rely on US News, but unfortunately all of these programs are unranked there. Is there any other credible ranking?) · Cost of living (taking into account associated fees and insurance costs). Any information on apartment prices would be really helpful. I do not mind sharing a room with one or two other graduate or undergraduate students. · Safety/vibrancy/coldness of the city (I have lived five years in cold weathers, so I definitely prefer warmer places). I do not have the means (a.k.a. money) to visit Tennessee and Binghamton, despite the partial travel reimbursement at Tennessee. I have visited Cincinnati during the application process and quite liked the city. I would also like to ask a few specific questions: 1. Could you guys recommend a complementary degree/minor that I could feasibly do during the course of my PhD program to improve my placement outcomes? 2. I was actually also accepted to PhD programs in Higher Education at Rochester and Pittsburgh, and Research Methodology at Florida. Would it be worth attending those programs? Is there a chance to secure an Assistant Professor job in an Economics/Applied Economics department? I assume it is nearly impossible, but I want to hear your opinions. Again, any input is highly appreciated. Thank you all for reading. P.S.: Here are the offer details: 1. Tennessee: We are pleased to offer you Fall 2017 admission to the PhD program in the Department of Economics at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Given your strong academic record and clear potential, we are further delighted to offer you an academic-year assistantship. The assistantship carries with it a stipend, which will be in the amount of $15,000 for the upcoming 2017-2018 academic year. The assistantship carries a waiver of tuition and maintenance fees, and provides student health insurance. In addition to the assistantship, we have selected you to receive a J. Fred and Wilma Holly Graduate Fellowship. This fellowship is in the amount of $3,000 per year. The assistantship assignment will be to work half time during the academic year. Most first-year students serve as teaching assistants, although there are exceptions. More advanced students are given the opportunity to teach their own course or are employed as research assistants. No service is required during the summer term. However, summer employment is often available. For example, several students each year are given the opportunity to teach a course during a summer term, for which the compensation is currently $4,750. Appointments and tuition waivers begin on August 1 and end the following July 31. The first required course in the program, a course in mathematical economics, is scheduled to begin on August 1. All scholarships, fellowships and assistantships are renewable for a total of five years of funding. This funding is subject to conditions outlined in our Graduate Programs Handbook, compliance with the Standards of Conduct in Hilltopics (the official UT handbook for all students) and provisions dealing with students’ rights and responsibilities found in the UT Graduate Catalog. Links to all of these documents can be found at Graduate Programs | The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Please be aware the certain fees are not covered by the tuition and maintenance fee waiver, and remain your responsibility. For full-time students these fees for the next academic year are $711 per semester (In-State) or $826 per semester (Out-of-State). Please know that it is common at other universities for funded students to be responsible for certain fees, and we encourage you to consider this, along with cost-of-living differences, when comparing our financial offer. We are enthusiastic about having you join our graduate program. We, in return, believe that our department has a lot to offer you. The Department of Economics is one of six departments within the Haslam College of Business. The faculty have expertise in a wide range of fields and place a high value on diversity and collegiality. The department has strong ties to the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. The faculty are active in publishing peer-reviewed research and many are editors, past editors, or editorial board members of leading journals. 2. Cincinnati: Letter 1: It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been admitted into the UC’s PhD in Business Administration program with a concentration in Economics, effective Fall semester 2017. This offer of admission is accompanied by two award offers, a Graduate Assistant Scholarship (GAS) and a University Graduate Assistantship (UGA) appointment, which carries a stipend. Attached are offer letters for each award. In order to accept or decline admission and all financial support offers, you will need to sign and return all three (3) letters. Please note that the combined total worth of both of your award offers is $55,557 ($32,307 for out-of-state tuition and $23,250 graduate assistantship award). Your GAS offer letter further details the percentage of tuition and fees covered or not covered by the Scholarship award. Your assistantship letter details the manner in which your stipend will be paid. International students must document financial support for all years of study to be issued a “Certificate of Eligibility” (Form I-20 or DS-2019) for a student visa. The amount of support you must document annually is $44.915. The combined total worth of both your University Graduate Assistant Scholarship (GAS) and your Graduate Assistantship (UGA) stipend can be counted as a source of financial support in the Financial Certification Document as funds from the University of Cincinnati. Letter 2: We are pleased to offer you a Graduate Assistant Scholarship (GAS) to support your studies in pursuit of the PhD in Business Administration program with a concentration in Economics in the Lindner College of Business. The Graduate Assistant Scholarship (GAS) will cover 100% of full in-state/out-of-state tuition as well as general and campus life fees for the 2017-18 academic year; it does not cover the Information Technology and Instructional Equipment (ITIE) Fee (currently $184/per semester) or Student Health Insurance (currently $1,140). Note that in order to retain this award, you must maintain good academic standing (including a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA) and honorable student conduct/academic integrity in accordance with university and college policies, as well as register for a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours.. Letter 3: We are pleased to offer you a University Graduate Assistantship (UGA) appointment in the Economics Department to support your studies in pursuit of the PhD in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Economics in the Lindner College of Business. The appointment period is for the Fall and Spring semesters (8/21/17 through 4/26/18). You may also accept a position as a graduate assistant for the summer semester of 2018. This appointment stipend is offered in addition to your tuition award, and service is required to maintain the appointment. The total worth of your stipend for the assistantship is $15,500 (or $23,250 if you choose summer funding as well. This equates $7,750 per semester). The award will be paid to you in bi-weekly increments in the amount of $861.11 in the Fall and Spring semesters (Summer is optional). Your assistantship duties will be specified by Dr. Debashis Pal, Head of the Economics department and require that you spend approximately 20 hours per week in service to the department. Please keep in mind that your work hours are never allowed to exceed the 20 hour per week limit when school is in session, and in order to comply our department will never demand additional work hours of you. In addition, we will work with you to determine a schedule that allows you to meet your academic responsibilities as a graduate student. This is a part-time student appointment that provides no formal sick leave, vacation time or retirement benefit. Assuming good progress with your academic program, and satisfactory completion of your assistantship duties, your assistantship award will be for four years. In accepting and to retain your assistantship, you are required to carry a full-time academic load (minimum of 12 credit hours for fall and spring semester, and for summer 6 credit hours) for the duration of the assistantship and scholarship, and to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 as well as maintain academic integrity. Your assistantship will require that you be assigned to assist in the teaching, research and service responsibilities of the College. If you accept a summer graduate assistantship, you will be assigned teaching and/or research duties during summer semester, and will be expected to continue your graduate program through seminars, individual study or research projects. It is our goal that both assistantships contribute in a meaningful way to your education and to the College. 3. Binghamton: Congratulations on your admission to Binghamton University. The department of Economics is pleased to offer you a Teaching Assistantship for the 2017-2018 academic year! You have been carefully chosen for this competitive position based on your high academic merit and individual strengths. This assistantship includes a stipend in the amount of $17,000, as well as a tuition scholarship for the academic year. Up to $22,210 of your out-of-state tuition costs for eligible graduate courses will be covered by the tuition scholarship. Tuition scholarships do not cover mandatory student fees, which you will be responsible for paying prior to the beginning of each semester. To learn more about the conditions governing these awards, please read the enclosed “Terms and Conditions” documents. Your assistantship position implies that you will perform some research, teaching, or administrative service for the University. Graduate student employees on a full assistantship are generally expected to provide 20 hours of service per week. Employees in this bargaining unit are engaged in professional activities of such a nature that the output produced or the result accomplished often cannot be precisely measured in relation to a given period of time. It is therefore anticipated that there will be fluctuations above and below these general expectations. GA/TAs are expected to divide their time between their assistantship duties and the pursuit of a graduate degree. Any additional work assignment by any full-time (20 hour) GA/TA is generally prohibited and would require exceptional circumstances and explicit approval from the Graduate School prior to the commencement of performing any duties. You may review the Student Employment Policies here: http://www.binghamton.edu/operations/policies/personnel-and-payroll/student-employment.html Specific information regarding the duties of your assignment will be provided by the graduate program director of your department or hiring unit. For the purposes of collective negotiations, this assistantship position is represented by the Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU)/Communications Workers of America, Local 1104 and is eligible for health insurance benefits and reduced parking rates. Classes begin on August 23, 2017. Your assistantship appointment is expected to extend from August 22, 2017 through May 18, 2018. If you accept this assistantship offer, you will be expected to attend orientation activities the week prior to the start of classes (details announced in early summer via email and at www.binghamton.edu/grad-school/orientation ) Payroll information: Provided you have completed all paperwork including the federally required I-9 on time, the following is the payroll schedule and when you may expect a check. (Please note, the state runs on a two week lag payroll). Academic Year appointments start on 8/22/2017 and end on 05/18/2018 which equates to 19.4 pay periods. This means your first check will be issued on 9/6/2017 for 2 days’ pay. Your last check will be issued on 6/13/2018 for 2 days’ pay. International students in F-1 or J-1 status are required to be covered by health insurance. Health insurance enrollment in the GSEU plan is mandatory for all students. An enrollment form must be completed and returned to the Human Resources Office. For details about benefits (including the health insurance plan and enrollment forms), please go to the Graduate and Teaching Assistant (GA/TA) section of the Office of Human Resources website at Binghamton University - Human Resources: Employee Benefits: gseu