PROFILE
Type of Undergrad: Econ from top 100 international liberal arts-like university (top 5 in home country)
Undergrad GPA: 4.00
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 170/170/6.0
Math Courses: Intro Calculus (A+), Intro Statistics / Probability (A+), Mathematics for Economics (A+), Mathematical Economics (Grad, A+)
Econ Course: Principles (A+), Corporate Finance I/II/III (A+), Intermediate Micro (A+), Asset Pricing (A+), Applied Econometrics (A+), Advanced Macro (A+), Advanced Micro (A+), Econometric Theory (A+), Monetary Econ (A+)
Letters of Recommendation: Evidently very strong given placement - few students go to PhD, so professors tend to enthusiastically support those who do and I had strong relationships with all three professors. (1) Grad Mathematical Economics Prof, Top 5 PhD, (2) Corporate Finance Prof, Top 5 PhD, (3) Thesis Advisor, top 100 PhD.
Research Experience: Senior Thesis
Teaching Experience: TA for various courses in junior and senior year
Research Interests: Macro
SOP: Assume it was standard - talked about why I was interested in my specific topics and pointed out what about each school made it a good fit for those interests.
Concerns: Far less math on transcripts than peer group (judging by these forums)
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Chicago ($$$), Princeton ($$$), Berkeley ($$), Columbia ($$) various schools in home country (N/A to $)
Waitlists: N/A
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, UPenn, NYU, Northwestern, HBS, Minnesota, Chicago Booth
Comments: Frankly, I placed higher than my profile probably deserves - especially given the relative dearth of mathematics on my transcripts. My saving graces were that (1) I believe I was the only student in my year applying to top PhDs, so I had the undivided support of my recommenders, and (2) my grad mathematical economics prof could attest that my transcripts understate my mathematical preparation. Although it is obviously unwise to generalize from one data point, my case at least disproves that you must have real analysis or must have RA experience to get into top PhD programs.
What would you have done differently? In terms of the process, nothing. I'm thrilled with how it turned out - I'm very fortunate to have gotten the placements that I did. In terms of my undergraduate degree? Taken more mathematics - it would have made applications marginally less stressful and first year considerably less painful.
