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Hi there, From UBC econ dept you should receive an email, from the graduate assistant stating the completeness of your application as all the items are reaching the dept. If you haven't received any, I guess the best you can do is call them and ask. I don't advice you to email because I am not sure you'll ge an answer soon (meaning before deadline). Now, regarding UoT they will consider only 2 LORs. How will they pick them? I have no idea, but anything that is included in your application and has not been requested by them, will be trown out...at least, this is what I know they usually do...

Hey guys...call these depts and ask them directly. You might be allowed to apply with older scores...in any case, you can only get a positive result: 1) they allow you to use your old scores; 2) you save money avoiding these applications...

Simply because I love economics more than whatever else...law, business, mathemathics...btw, I wish you all a happy new year!!!

I second cridamour in that universities will just keep your score for sometime and then, if you don;t apply there, they'll throw them away...you can even 'skip' that section when you take the GRE, meaning that you are not obliged to fill it in. Of course, later when you make up your mind and need them, you'll have to pay to have them sent to your schools....

It should count as a non-referred publication....at the end it is a publication but it did not go through the peer-review process...

It will not make any difference if you handwrite the envelopes or not...what really matters is what is inside. The envelopes will be useful up to the point in which the grad secretary opens them to take the content out...then, all envelopes go to the same place: garbage cans (perhaps recycling cans...)

I'd like very much to know what MS in Theory means??? In any case, I second reactor in that your profile seems pretty strong and your chances appear to be high!!!

I suggest to write a strong SOP...your AWA shouldn't hurt that much...specially because you got very good scores in the other parts. In any case, a strong SOP should make up for that AWA score..

Hi guys...you should get answers in late febraury, early march...

I guess you have to be clear in at least one thing: what you want to achieve with the program you are undertaking. I mean by this that if you are too specific, then your SOP will leave out room for 'adjustments' along the path. Be sure that admcoms know you will change your mind, even in what regards your research interests. So, they are not expecting you to write a full developed research proposal. What they want to know is whether you have clear what it means to get into grad studies and what they're for. So, you should base your SOP in concrete things but avoid being too concrete! Just think that when the admcoms read your stamentent you want them to think you know what you're talking about and also that you have knowledge about the specific field you are pursuing. You can always write about things that you like, but here you need more than that: you need to establish a connection between what you like, how you plan to achieve them and how the program you are applying to fits into those plans...

Hey guys...I think there is an agreement among almost all grad schools in the States which says no school can force you to accept an offer before certain deadline...meaning, all schools have agreed to have the same daeadline (I don't really remember the date, but it should be close to april 15th :) ). That agreement also says that you (the student) are free to withdraw any previously accepted offer before that deadline. Now passing that date, things are a little more complicated as you will have to state in writing the reasons that lead you to give up an offer you already took when you had all the time in the world to do so before april 15th. Now, when you are accepted you get, along with the official letter, some other documents...one of those in the one I am talking about....summarizing, before april 15th (you should check this date..I am not 100% sure of it and I don't have my old application documents with me here), you are free to accept and 'reject' any offer previously taken and no school can push you to accept its offer before that deadline...hope this helps...

If you are sending all in one package, I guess it is not necessary. Although, if your recommenders are sending the letters on their own, it does not hurt to write your name on the envelope...actually, it is better: you avoid your letter to be misplaced...

I think she meant that it would be ok if the recommender is the one sending it. So, I agree with crslr on that point. I'd also agree on that this is a very busy time for them so, expect to get such strange responses. Now, I'd add that it is by far much more advisable that you manage to get the letter sent in 'hard' copy. Admcoms put a lot of weigth on LORs so it is better if they get a trustful copy of them. In case you are running out of time, you might use other means as email or even fax. But try to make sure that your recommenders contact the department to let them know he/she is using an alternative way to deliver the letter and the reason for doing so...that might save you lot of troubles in the future...

Hey guys...I think that what U Chicago told Ivo is the 'usual' practice...meaning, they will process the application, but in case of a 'tie' the one that arrived 'in time' will be given priority. Of course, if you are a much stronger applicant than those who sent documents in time, you have 'nothing' to worry about (meaning, you still have to worry a little bit, but not that much :) )...

Hi Mex_Econ...I think your chances are clearly enhanced by those additional pieces of information you provided. I am pretty sure you'll succeed in getting into op schools! Wish you luck! (although you might not need that much, given your strong profile! ;))

I guess you will not have problems getting accepted by those schools you mention...I'd just like to know when you graduated from your master...some shcools tend to look at 'how-long-you've-been-out-of-school' part of the application...not saying this is too important, but it needs to be considered...in any case, I am sure that with your profile, you will definitively succeed in getting accepted by top schools...good luck?!

I'd say that the rule is to give you as much funds as possible when you're admitted to a PhD...for masters, probably depends on the field you choose, but in economics, it is not a common practice. However. I know some schools that fund master students mainly through TA duties, though I think that will not be the case in USA. What is your field toohache?

First of all, congrat for your acceptance at Tolouse. It is a extremely good school, specially in micro theory and IO. Now regarding research experience, it is always good to have it. I think american schools also look at that asset...it signals you have some of the required abilities to conduct independent research. So, research is something that will definitively add value to your grad application, in the states or anywhere else. Now, math is not something that will automatically turn you into a Nobel prize economist...the thing is that most of the literature requires you to have enough math background to follow what is being done in the paper which is commonly the first step into your own research...I am sure that after your Master you'll see what I mean and I am also sure that conditional on a 'good' performance, you'll be ready to go for top 10 schools in USA... good luck!

Hi Avsfan820, To me, you look like a pretty strong applicant. It is difficult to judge your chances without any further info, but you have some very interesting credentials (like that prize you got). Now, if you can get really good LOR's your chances will be really enhanced...so, make a smart plan and consider applying to a bunch of schools from top 10-1op 20 range...I am sure you will make it into most of them....good luck!

Hi guys...I am by no means and expert writing SOP's but here is something I did and it seems to work :) Hope this helps! ************************ 1. State as clearly as you can what you want to say and be direct. You should try to communicate smth that convinces the committee that you deserve to be adm. Something like: (i) I know what I am getting into (grad studies)...this is very important!!! sometimes you don't get accepted just because the committee members aren't sure you know what grad studies means in that they are pretty different from undergrad studies; (ii) point out your strengths and weaknesses and state how you think you can deal with your weak points...the problem is not the weaknesses you might have but how you are supposed to deal with them; (iii) End the statement with some convincing stuff telling adm comm members that you're worth of admission! 2. Read and write as many times as you can. The more you read and rewrite, the better it turns out to be. 3. Ask for opinions about the general feeling of your SOP. Try to difersify the pool of opinions, i.e., ask to some CS guys but also to some that aren't related to CS (any friend of yours). 4. Once you feel right reading your sop, you might begin to think you have ended up with an acceptable statement. 5. At this stage is not that important if you state or not your clear reseacrh path. The SOP is not a research proposal and admcom members know you will probably (almost surely I'd say) change or sharpen your mind after you go thru fisrt year theory courses. So, don't get desperated if you do not have very clear what to do. Just outline some idea of what you would like to do and what your main interests are. The idea is to give some guidance to admcom members to see if their program is well suited for you (meaning, if they have enough faculty to supervise you later).

For economics: General: UoT UBC Montreal Queens UWO McGill Micro (theory) UofT UBC Queens Applied Micro UBC UofT Queens UWO Other...go to www.econphd.net and you'll find some very good rankings :) As for the funding, I guess that some years ago it was harder than now to get money...however, now canadian schools are supporting almost all PhD students they admit, regardless their 'visa status'...

Hi there...I am not sure you can remove the schools you gave when you took the test, but nothing is lost if you call to ETS centre. I am not sure but I think I read sometime ago you can ask for your scores not to be sent but you nned to call or smth like that...the best you can do is to go to their website and check...if you don;t find anything helpful there, call them :) Now, if you think of retaking the exam you can always provide them with no names so that they send your scores to anyone else except you. So, once you get the scores you might decide whether you want them to be sent. Of course, you will have to pay for every school you want to receive your scores...and believe me that isn;t that cheap. So, if you are unsure of your results, do not fill in the part where you are asked to submit school names. In any case, you get to know your 'preliminary' score on the screen when you finish the test...Hopt it helps?!

There is a place in which you can find very good rankings and links for econ depts. You will also find discipline rankings which might help you even more to make a good decision...the site is http://www.econphd.net I do recommend it as a good starting point to get to know different econ schools...hope this helps?!

Although I am not a finance guy I am sure that you will make it into top schools...your credentials are pretty good...just try to look at schools where your chances of getting some money are also high...sometimes, you manage to get into but with no money at all...good luck!

Hi there...up to my knowledge, PennState is a very good school which has managed to claim into the top 30 last years. They have placed some of their grad into top schools, but it does not mean that is going to happen with everyone going there...I am sure it is a very nice and good school, but I donno if they will be able to keep such a nice placement record (the guys in MIT and Harvard had a pretty nice background before they got into PennState)...anyway, Rochester, UCLA, and Michigan are very well known to be excellent schools...they are also known to be highly mathematical oriented, so keep that in mind when you apply to those schools. About the 'econ-like' programs, there are very good PhD programs in business schools...NYU-Stern is a very good example of that...so, do not think that because they are not in "art faculties" or 'liberal art faculties' they are not good...you should look at the current active faculty and their recent work...that will give you a pretty nice idea of what is the quality of those programs...