proletariat

PROFILE Type of Undergrad: Top 50 LAC Undergrad GPA: 3.74 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: N/A. I have a strong hostility toward standardized tests and its nonsense since I applied for undergrad, so I decided not to take it at all. Math Courses: Linear Algebra, Matrix Analysis, Calc Sequence, ODE, Probability, Math Stat, Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis (All A) Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro & Macro, Econometrics I, Optimization, Advanced Macro, Behavioral, Theory of Firms, some other electives (Mostly A, some A-) Other Courses: N/A Letters of Recommendation: All from undergrad profs (2 econ + 1 math). I am sure they are stellar as I am one of the best of my college in the past few years. Also they told me that the letters directly compared me with other graduates of my college who entered most programs that I applied to, so it is a huge plus. Research Experience: RA for my undergrad profs. No predoc. Write one solo paper that eventually was presented at some economic conferences. Teaching Experience: N/A Research Interests: Experimental, Micro, Political Economy SOP: I think I tried my best in SoP, since I really spent time to tailor different statements to different schools. I think my interest was really clear as I targeted specific faculty members and kept my eyes on their research pretty closely. Other: RESULTS Acceptances: UCSB (off the waitlist), IUB, GMU, MSU (MA), BGSE (MA) Waitlists: UCSB (eventually accepted) Rejections: Booth, Maryland, Pitt Pending: None Attending: UCSB Comments: Happy with the ending. Here are what I have taken from this cycle (of course, some of them might not be objectively true): - Don't underrate SoP. I know that this is controversial. But one of my profs told me that he talked to the DGS of two Ag Econ programs, and they rank SoP just below LoR in terms of importance. Of course, this for sure differ from school to school, as a lot of them practically do not care about SoP. But it really does not hurt you to craft your SoP well. A good SoP does not guarantee you an offer, but a bad SoP, especially a generic one plugging faculty members' names to show artificial interest, will definitely throw you out of the pile. - For people who come from lower-ranked LAC or state schools like me: apply to programs where your professors have a solid network, or programs where alums of your current school have gone to (and succeeded). This allows the prof to directly compare you with names that are familiar with the adcoms. I was unlucky since my profs' network is mostly with Ag Econ, which is not my cup of tea, but at least I was able to get good letters. - Talk to alums of your schools who ended up doing PhD. They are extremely helpful during the whole application process, especially with preparing for interviews. What would you have done differently? - I realized too lately that the lack of GRE really limited my school list. There are some other schools that might be a reasonable gamble with research fit for me, like UC Irvine, but I couldn't apply without the GRE. Also, I should gamble with some more schools that didn't require the GRE like Stanford, UMich, UWash, or Cornell. I decided not to do so because of either loose research fit or low change of getting admission, but now I think I should have done otherwise. - I also should have tried to push harder for one of my papers for publication, but well the online time really degenerated my productivity. - Prepare my application materials earlier. I was a little bit rushed near the deadlines, though everything ended up to be fine. But if I finalized most of my materials during the summer I would be in a way better state.

Around 5:30 PM Pacific time today, via email

Off the waitlist at UCSB. My cycle is done and damn I will begin to live like a normal human from tomorrow. Good luck to you all who are still waiting for waitlists. All the best comrades

Anyone knows whether UCSB starts sending offers off the waitlist?

Anyone going to the virtual meeting of UCSB tomorrow? I counted the number of non-UCSB emails on the invitation, and it ended up being sth close to 50. Holy cow. So basicially the number of waitlisted candidate is roughly 15-20, if not more.

Guys what is the whole purpose of an unranked waitlist like one of UCSB tho? How would they be able to pick people from the waitlist? Random wheel generator?! Ugh.

https://www.econ.umd.edu/graduate/admissions-information According to their website, those who have not received anything are all rejected.

Waitlisted by UCSB. I am genuinely surprised, because my background is relatively weak in the pool (top 50 LAC). Since my application is really personal and target particular faculty members, I expected it to be either an outright rejection or if I'm lucky I will be accepted. For those who got an offer & waitlist from UCSB: congrats. If you have other dominant offers I beg you all to turn down UCSB since it is my top choice right now. I'll dedicate my first publication to you to honor your merciness.

Thanks for sharing. I'm panicking just because UCSB seemed to release their non-1% acceptances within 1 or 2 days before extending it to the waitlist, and there're already a couple on GC. If lucky then I will have something today, but if not then I'll just assume IR

I did. I got into one master + one safe PhD with funding pending. So basically I have nothing in my hands right now.

The pattern of last year seemed to be: the first two days for acceptance, the next day for waitlist and the last day for rejection. Not to be pessimistic but I am really sure if we don't hear back tomorrow, we're done. I only have UCSB and IUB left. I signalled my interest extremely well on both applications, if I can't get into either I don't know what I could have done actually.

One UCSB acceptance is out. Start losing hope 😞

Can anyone confirm the IU Bloomington acceptance on GC?

I think schools that have not released anything yet are likely to do so this week, since most of them want to finish their first wave before the spring break. So some of us will have our cycle finished by the end of this week. Stressful week ahead but good luck to everyone.

I think the trend of increasing difficulty every year will inevitably continue with or without Covid anyway. From a BA in econ + some math courses to a double degree in Math, to Master, and to pre-doc, who know what the heck they will introduce in the next 5-7 years? This stupid spiral of new and new barrier of entry will never end. Just look at how the value of a Master has fallen in the last 10 years, I'm scared of how brutal this whole application process has become.

Dude, these last few weeks I have smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day just because I have been panicking. And holy cow there is basically no personal space in American colleges, people are everywhere in the campus, so I am unable to find a space to rest either. My mentality is about to collapse right now no kidding

I did, but no response from the other side of the line, unfortunately.

I think the reason is that they commit to fund all admitted applicants, so.

I think I'll call Mark shortly today to ask. Damn it. Will update soon

Same boat here. I emailed Mark the coordinator last week and he hasn't responded yet. Given that there is already an acceptance posted om GC, I am having a heart attack right now.

Still waiting for UCSB and IU Bloomington, my last 2 shots. Hoped at least one of them will be released this week, but still a silent week so far 🙄 I'm losing hope damn it

Btw, Maryland already sent out interview invitations. So those who didn't receive anything probably IR. Ugh, tough cycle.

Booth rejections are out

Did you check the portal or through email btw?

I emailed the Dept and "official "rejection" letters will follow later in admissions season."