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Hi, I was accepted at Columbia and Northwestern PhD in Economics and I am waitlisted at NYU. So at this point, I am deciding between Columbia and Northwestern, but still considering NYU in case of getting off waitlist. I will really appreciate for any opinion of which place seems as the best place to go. My research interests are more inclined towards financial economics and micro theory (where I know NWU has a strong tradition), however I am opened to other fields, so I am looking for the best overall department (any opinion regarding this I will appreciate it a lot). Also, I will like to go to the place that maximizes the chances of getting a good/decent academic placement (placements seem similar for the three programs, but maybe someone has a different opinion). Thanks a lot!

Just a quick question: For those who pursue behavioral marketing, which schools are the strongest ones? Northwestern or Stanford? How about Duke or UPenn? Thanks!

Would Kellogg's PhD in MECS (Managerial Economics and Strategy) be a good fit for someone interested in empirical research in incentives, strategy, and innovation? Given that NW only allows one application per cycle, would someone with these interests be better off applying to the econ or MECS program? The only MECS-related threads I could find on URCH are from 2010 or earlier, and they give the impression that MECS is heavily focused on theory. However, the MECS website doesn't state theory as its sole focus-it says students can work with both the MEDS and M&S faculty. There is also a fair number of current students doing applied work. Can someone please help resolve the discrepancy between what was written in URCH about MECS' theory focus and what is posted in MECS' current website?

I am a bachelor in Economics from the top university in a South American country (but not among the most prestigious in the region). I graduated last year, first of my class. Since my degree lasted 5 years, I have already taken intermediate courses on economic theory, econometrics and mathematics. I have more than one year experience in Applied Economic Research at my university's Research Center. I also spent a semester as an exchange student in Mannheim (Germany), where I took elective courses from the Master's program and passed with a 4.00 GPA. I want to enter a top PhD program in the US as soon as possible, but I don't know which is the best route to achieve that. I am undecided between RAing in the US or attending a master's program in Europe, this coming fall. Right now I have received an offer to be RA to a top researcher at Northwestern University. However, I was also planning to apply to the Bocconi master in ESS. Since I have not taken the GRE yet (I've been preparing for the last few weeks and plan to do it soon), I would have to accept or decline the offer at Northwestern before knowing the outcome of my application process to Bocconi (which would be due in april, approximately). Which option would you recommend? Some points I have in mind are. - I have a fair chance of entering Bocconi, but I have no idea if I would be granted full or partial funding (and in contrast I would be paid for working as an RA). From what I have read here, it seems that the program has very good placement in the US, but does anyone know if I would get the chance to do Research and interact with top faculty? - South American PhD aspirants always hear that we should do a master before applying, because of poor signaling. Would my experience as an RA in the US substitute for this? Would I have a better or worse chance to be accepted in a top PhD without a graduate degree, but considering that I have spent >1 year at Northwestern? - Is the work as a pre-phd RA challenging? Would I interact closely with top researchers there? How likely is it to get good LORs after this period? I was also told that I would get the chance to take courses at Northwestern, do you think that could help my profile? Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks to everyone in advance :)

I accepted my offer for MS in Mechanical Engineering at UCSD because of the April 15 Deadline I have only one choice at that time. Today, I just got an offer from Northwestern in the same program specialisation in energy & sustainability. I really can't decide whether which one is better for finding job opportunities afterward.

Hi. I see on both Northwestern graduate school's and Kellogg's websites that students could only apply to one program a year. Is this restriction strict? Has anyone applied to both? Thanks.

Any comments, corrections or sugestions are very welcome. I like Mathematical economics, game theory, mathematics, decision and choice theory, probability theory,behavioral economics(theory), logic. I dont like Macroeconomics, Econometrics or even the microeconomic part which has to do with prices, general equilibrium, supply and demand. I have to apply for a phd. I know that a phd is mainly not about courses and more about the research, but i dont feel like i should be taking courses that i dislike and that i wont use in my further academic career when i could be taking courses that i really enjoy. On the other hand applying to a standard economics phd has much more prestige, some times bigger and better faculty and most probably better students to work with. I have the following options: 1.- Programs where i would mainly have courses in what i want: Duke Social and Decision scienc in Fuqua UC Irvine, mathematical behavioral science 2.- Programs that have probably more prestige and are a bit less different than my real interests but still you dont get macro: Northwestern at Kellog(1st year: 3 quarters in standar microeconomics, 2 optimization + 1game theory, 2 econometrics +1decision theory) Caltech(microeconmics, econometrics, political theory, foundations of rationality) Carnegie mellon decision science??? it doesnt say more and it seems to be much more experimental. 3.- The last posibility is to go to a standard very prestigous program in economics with a big economic theory group and swallow most of the courses which i wouldnt like: Standford GSB Princeton Yale NYU Harvard??? What do you think? do you have any comments, any programs i missed? any advices on what i should i choose supposing i had the choice?? Some aditional information on all of this can be found in posts like the following: http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/123133-mathematical-behavioral-economics-decision-science.html Thanks!!!!

Hi everybody! I am going to Chicago's flyout (on April 4), but I was thinking that it would be useful to build a TM group in order to visit Northwestern on another day. I know that many of you facing the same dilemma probably choose to visit NU instead. Anyway, in case anyone is in the same situation ... Maybe on April 2? What do you say? I'm not sure but I presume that being a group let the Department provide more resources (a few current students, faculty members, etc....).

I have applied for PhD (fall 2014) at McGill university materials engineering department. Hopefully I will get an offer. I just wanted to know from any current PhD student or anyone about doing PhD at McGill. Will it be a good decision, considering I get the offer? I would like to be in academic environment in future. Also if I get an offer for phd from materials engineering department, Northwestern university, which one will be a better option out of the two?

I have applied for PhD (fall 2014) at McGill university materials engineering department. Hopefully I will get an offer. I just wanted to know from any current PhD student or anyone about doing PhD at McGill. Will it be a good decision, considering I get the offer? I would like to be in academic environment in future. Also if I get an offer for phd from materials engineering department, Northwestern university, which one will be a better option out of the two?

Any thoughts, corrections and comments in the following are very much appreciated. I want to do a phd and further research and believe that have good qualifications. My interests are Mathematical Economics, Game Theory, Decision Theory, logic, mathematics, foundations of rationality, behavioral economics(theory). I dont like Macro or econometrics or even the micro part that is not the above(supply-demand, general equilibrium...) What Phd and which university would be the best to go to? 1.- There are few programs which seem to concentrarte very closely in ONLY what i want: Duke, Decision Science program in Fuqua UC Irvine, Mathematical Behavioral Science The problem is they are not as prestigious as the top universities. 2.- There are a few programs which seem to be more prestigious and a bit more far to what i want but still close: Caltech, Social Sciences Phd(first year courses: micro, econometrics, political theory, foundations of rationality) Nortwestern MEDS in Kellog(first year: 3quarters micro, 2 econometrics + decision theory, 2 optimization. A lot of faculty in microeconomics) Carnegie Mellon Social and Decision Sciences(doesnt give much info, seems to be flexible but seems to be more experimental) London School of Economics but in the philosophy or mathematics departments???? 3.- There are the top universities in Economics which are very good in economic theory but you get other courses such as macro or other buisness related: Stanford GSB Berkeley Economics NYU Yale Harvard?? Princeton Basically my courses would be things i dont like too much: Macro, econometrics and micro On the other hand i know phd is much more about research and i would be working with someone in what I like afterwards(after all you have to take this courses only for a year), but I feel like this is my phd and its not worthy to study very hard for things i know i dont even like and will never be studying when i could be taking courses that i would really enjoy... What do you think about what i should decide? what do you think about the assesment i made?? am i missing a program? is there any similar program at the top top universities? I feel like i prefer duke or ucirvine but i am very tempted to choose(assuming i was already accepted and had the choice) Northwestern, Caltech, standford or berkeley instead for the prestige... Thank you for any comments for another thread in similar things: http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/123133-mathematical-behavioral-economics-decision-science.html

Right now I'm not sure what exactly I want to specialize in, but I know NYU stern would give me more options. NYU also gave me a quarter scholarship and it has the city life but no campus. Northwestern has prestige and a campus life, but I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a job with econ degree in northwestern. Any feedback would be appreciated and please give me your reasons.