Stephen

I agree with your strategy - I will be writing applications for every top 15 schools (including LSE) and see what happens next. I have three questions in my mind - one quite general, and two more specific. (i) (General) Do you think I have a fair chance of getting into any T5-T10 schools? I know the admissions process is quite unpredictable, so it's perfectly fine if you don't want to answer this. (ii) Can I ask which schools are you referring to when you say '2-3 theory-oriented schools'? (Few schools do come up in my mind, but I am not so sure) (iii) You advised me to ask my job supervisor for the referee letter. The thing is - he just worked in the central bank for, like, 30 years but doesn't really have any academic reputation as an economist - he just publishes within-institution research papers. Do you think that he held a respectable position in the central bank still carries some weight for the adcom? He actually asked me about this, so I need some confirmation. Any responses will be greatly appreciated. Have a good weekend!

I am an EU-based applicant who just graduated masters and is currently taking a gap year. I already secured an offer from UCL (which I deferred to work at a private job) and was wondering whether I can apply for either LSE or top-ranked schools in the U.S in the meantime. Given UCL's high focus on labor and applied micro (which is also my research interest) I will be very happy to study at UCL anyway - so unless I have a reasonable chance of entering top 10 (or 15 to be broad) - I won't bother writing the applications. The problem is, (i) my undergraduate record is bad with lack of math preparations (although I couldn't have taken more modules since UK has quite rigid course structure), and (ii) my grad record is reasonably 'solid' but not really that stellar. While my primary source of advice should be definitely my professors, I would still gladly welcome any further inputs from this forum (which I have benefited so much for the past few years) Many thanks in advance. Undergraduate Type of Undergrad: One of the top schools in UK Major: Economics and some really really irrelevant subject in Humanities GPA: High 2.1 (missed first by a margin). I will only list courses that are relevant to economics. 1: Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Econometrics, Statistics - either A to A+ 2.1: Public Micro, Mathematics (Calculus + Linear Algebra) - either B+ to A- 2.2: Intermediate Macro - roughly B Graduate Type of Grad: One of the top departments in UK (not LSE though, if that helps) Major: Economics GPA: Distinction, with Distinction in all modules except one (7 out of 8) - That only single course had abnormally low average compared to the rest of the course - 80%-Early 80% (70% is the threshold for distinction) in some advanced optional modules - 3rd highest score in preliminary math & stats course GRE: 168V 170Q 5.5 AWA Research Experience (aside from dissertation) : RA for 1 year at my home country's governmental research institution. Joint project with international organizations. During the year I also took real analysis course at a local university, which may explain why math & stats results got better. (I do have a prize from the national Math Olympiads, so I wasn't initially detached from math that much) LOR: Does have some options... (i) Dissertation Supervisor - Does know me well and has an international reputation in applied metrics. Solid first option. (ii) Since I have distinction in almost all modules I can secure grade-based LORs relatively easily, but won't be really strong besides their name values. (iii) Econ department tutor from undergrad - but this again is grade-based one that anyone can write. (iv) My RA supervisor was the head of the research department for the central bank (from home country.) - he can tell something about my work ethics but he's not in the academia... TA Experience: None Any help will be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if (i) if I was being too specific or (ii) do you need any further info. to further gauge my profile.