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UG Top20 Math (3.9)+Science (3.6), overall 3.7 due to not studying -- partying too much during UG. No econ courses. I did well in UG real analysis and stochastic process, but I did not take any graduate level Math courses. Master Top 20 management, 3.7 due to not studying -- I am working and doing research at the same time. Some Econ courses but at the B-school level only. My work is policy related; not a top place/big brand. GRE: 160/167/4.5. I did not study for it because I got research to do. I can try to invest several weeks to score a 169 on V/Q but I guess it is unnecessary. Math Course: about 20 undergraduate level math courses, including calculus series, analysis series, linear algebra, algebra series, ODE, PDE, geometry, probability, statistics, stochastic process, math-fin. Mostly A with few A- and one B, 3.9 subject GPA Econ Courses: Business school econ courses, not PhD level, mostly A, one B. Research: One top field with revision requested. Two top fields submitted with AE/Editor coauthoring. One other working paper that could be tried to submitted to top 5. My research is between consumer theory, IO, policy, and a bit finance-related. Presented in top Economics/Business conferences (like AEA AFA) for five times. Letter writers: Currently one strong econ letter from a senior in top 5 (coauthor, regular meeting); one b-school letter from a senior top 5 (coauthor, met for several times); one strong stats/math letter from a senior in top 5 (coauthor, regular meeting last year); one letter from an econ AP (non star) from top 20 (taking courses only); one letter from an econ AP (non star) from top 20 (coauthor). May invest more time to find better letter writers. # of school to be applied: Honestly I don't know. If the number would not cause a problem for letter writers, then I would try to apply to as many schools as I can. Dream Schools: US top 5 or UK top 2 As a nontraditional applicant, I know that in top places UGs with perfect grade and a good thesis are preferred. So what shall I prioritize? Here is my list: 1. Revising papers 2. Submit to Top 5 3. Get another stronger letter in Econ/B-school 4. Write an impressive SOP to explain my experience, non-traditional background, and my poor grades 5. Improve GRE Does it sound reasonable? Thank you in advance for your advices!

Hi there, Profile: International student Undergraduate: Commerce - Not well known outside home country Percentage - 75% - this is a decent score. Cleared a very difficult famous accounting charter exam in India alongside my bachelors- only 11% of test takers clear in the 1st attempt - will this help prove academic ability in any way? Masters - Economics - Top 5 Economics depts UK Percentage - Distinction - Top 5% of the class. Diploma in maths - Distinction - Top 5% of class .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Courses from MSc in economics and diploma in maths - courses from undergrad not very relevant to economics. Economics topics - Intermediate micro (82), Intermediate Macro (72), Econometrics (65), Money and banking (64), MSc Macro (78), MSc Micro (82), MSc Metrics (78), Game Theory (79), Public Finance (78), Asset pricing (80). The MSc modules are somewhere between intermediate courses and graduates courses in terms of rigorousness. Math topics covered - Partial Differential Equations (75), Real analysis I (74), Real analysis II (72), Complex Analysis (75), Ordinary Differential Equations (78), Stochastic Processes (70), Linear Algebra (80), Optimisation (73). ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Research Experience - none Potential References - One from the head of the department who taught me undergrad level metrics - he knows me well, did his PhD from top in Australia. Another from math professor where I did my Math diploma - knows me very well and have discussed a lot of stuff with him with regard to mathematical applications in economics. Another from my dissertation supervisor, an associate professor who did his phd from an ok uni in the UK but I managed to really impress him with my MSc dissertation. He gave me very good marks on my dissertation. GRE - Q/V/AWA - 166/154/4.5 Research Interests: Macroeconomics, Time series My goal is to apply to the top 20 Economics PhD programmes. I fee like I should either do a course that strengthens my math profile or my economics profile. Its really hard to get a full time RA opportunity in the UK so i thought i should decide to focus on coursework and grades. i am hoping that my dissertation supervisor's reference would be sufficient proof of research potential. In the same university where i did my MSc in economics there is a course MSc in applied math that students in that past have taken and were placed in top 20 phd in economics in the US. This course allows you to take advanced math courses and phd level economics modules from the econ department. This will also help me build better relations with some of my potential referees and perhaps obtain a stronger reference from one of the profs teaching phd students. As part of a dissertation i will again get to reach out to some profs who are well known and write a dissertation under them. I could choose modules such as: Measure Theory Stochastic Analysis Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis Functional Analysis I Advanced Econometric Theory Introduction to Topology Advanced Real Analysis Another choice I have is to go for the LSE EME course where the coursework is perfect preparation for phd in the US but may not help me get a good reference as it is a short 9 month course without any dissertation element. I am worried if my lack of RA experience is going to count against me. Students from my program (Msc in economics) before me have gotten into Stanford, NYU, UofT, UBC, UCLA, Minnesota. Which course should i choose to maximise my chances of top 20 phd? Is there something else i can do to improve my chances of getting into the top 20 US Econ programmes? Please guide me.... :eager: Thanks a lot in advance.....

Hi All! Does anyone have any idea how hard it is to get accepted to UIUC Econ PhD program as it's ranked among the top 30? And how are the admitted student profiles? Thank you in advance!

Hi! I’m applying to a variety of PhD programs this year.

Hey everyone, I am a first year at the University of Virginia and am hoping to a PhD in economics. The main problem I am having is I feel that there is very little support for me at this university, for example: the vast majority of resources seem to be devoted to our business school, I am unable to assist in or conduct any research until my third year, and there is only one economics related club. In only a few weeks, I have made a few connections with the top economics professors at our university and feel that letters of recommendations from them will not be too hard to get. I am very motivated, have already taken high level math classes, but it seems like I could excel much more if given the proper opportunities. I few options I have been considering that aren't too far out of reach include: Northwestern, Georgetown, Cornell, Berkeley, UPenn, and Columbia. I have lots of other extracurriculars I am very excited about, but none of them are quantitative and all of these other universities have vastly more assistance for econ majors. I am hoping to get into a top 10 PhD program and was wondering how beneficial/hurtful transferring to another university would be. Thanks in advance.

So I am interested in macro theory and poverty, and there are several professors in my department in this field. My interests align more with two professors, but another one has a substantially better publication record (though it's primarily in housing, which I do not find interesting). This third professor also coauthors with more people from other institutions (Top 30 schools, Fed, etc), and has being published several times in top 5 journals in the last 2 years or so. Is it worth trying to work with him even if my research interests don't totally align with him? I'm guessing I would learn how to do better research from him and have a more recognized advisor when entering the job market. What should I do? Is there overlap between these areas?

I applied to 19 schools this year (17 PhD in Finance across US and Europe) and 2 MSc in Finance (LSE, Tinbergen). I was rejected without interview from 16, had interview at Michigan Ross and INSEAD and finally got an offer from Bocconi for PhD in Finance. I have a decent profile coming from top schools in my country (Bachelors in Physics, MBA) but have had below average grades in my UG Maths sequence (B-, B, B+). In the first two ones, I simply did not study (please don't ask why). So the rejections (especially from Masters program) fill in tremendous self doubt as to my ability to handle PhD level curriculum. I have worked on 2 research papers during my Masters, cleared CFA Level 2, working in a top US Bank and work with utmost discipline and sincerity. I think my primary motivation for pursuing a PhD was not research rather 2 factors. One, I love teaching, having taught in schools and other people. Second, I hate corporate world and the feeling of having sold myself and my life for big bucks. So being a Professor seemed a good option. But I don't know if I should even pursue this path anymore. Seeking some advice.

Hello! I finished undergrad quite recently, and am looking to get a sense of how strong my profile might be. I don't think I will do a PhD immediately, and I would strongly consider doing a predoc as well. Type of Undergrad: B.A. Economics and Mathematics (joint major). Top 10 US News ranking. GPA: 3.92. Major GPA: 3.94 GRE: Not taken yet P - Pass on Pass/Fail grading scale. Econ courses: Intro macro/micro (A/A); Advanced Micro (A); Intermediate Macro (A); Mathematical Game Theory (A); Trade and Development (A); Development Economics (P); Econometrics (P); Spatial Economics (P); Note: I got written commendations for both Development Economics and Econometrics that state I was among the top students in the class for both. Also would have gotten an A in Spatial Economics. Math courses: Calc III (A); Linear Algebra (A); Real Analysis I (A); Vector Analysis (A); Complexity Science (A); Stochastic Processes (A-); Intro to Probability and Statistics (A-). LOR's: (1) Asst Prof at Top 10 US News, 9 month part-time research and finished top of their class (2) Full-time summer RA for Asst Prof at Top 20 US News; (3) Unsure who to ask Research experience: Lots of RA jobs throughout undergrad. I realize I have some holes to fill (figuring out who would be my last rec letter, taking the GRE). Still, wondering whether people might have insights as to what kinds of schools might be attainable with this baseline. Further, if anyone had any advice for things I should consider doing (for instance doing an RAship and take more math classes or something). Thank you in advance!!

I moved the forums around a little bit today--I put the more popular forums at the top. Maybe this will make it easier to use for some folks.

Hi, Where would folks over here rank BU overall and especially for development and labour? I know it's classified as a MRM but where exactly would it fit? Top 25? Top 30? Top 40? Also, if you're a PhD student at a MRM, what are some helpful advice you have for improving your profile and making yourself competitive for the academic job market?

Education: Top 10 undergrad, majoring in CS and Statistics Test Scores (GRE): 170Q, 168V Undergrad GPA: 3.9 (Major 3.85) Research Experience (my weak point): 1. RA for graduate student my freshman fall 2. Relatively weak independent study my senior spring Teaching Experience: 1. Three semesters as a TA for a CS class 2. Online course development 3. Grader and tutor for multiple departments Work Experience: trader intern at top firm (2x), quant intern at top bank (2x) Relevant classes: 1st semester of PhD microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, all A's. several applied statistics and ML classes, through the graduate level, all A's. several theory and asset pricing undergrad electives, all A's. Target programs: Duke MA Econ UW Madison MA Econ Columbia MA Econ UIUC MA Policy Economics Penn State Econ MA NYU Econ MA Cornell AEM MA UM Twin Cities AEM MA Vanderbilt GPED MA International student and will apply after working, so I can't do a predoc instead of a masters.

Hi. Is it common to negotiate offers? If yes, how should I go about it? I believe the offer that my top choice school has given me will not be enough to sustain myself. I have an offer which is 7000$ higher than what my top choice program is giving me. Is there any way I can talk to these guys? Any polite way of doing this? I would love to attend the program but I don't think I have the funds to sustain myself.

To facilitate information sharing on the forum, please feel free to share as much information as you feel comfortable sharing about your received interviews, admission offers, or rejections. The following format has been in prior years: Notification Type (e.g., skype interview, flyout interview, waitlisted, accepted, rejected): Institution Name: Concentration Applying to (e.g., strategic management, finance, accounting, org behavior, marketing, etc.): Date of Notification: Type of Notification (e.g., email, phone, snail mail): Additional Comments: If you are fortunate enough to get a callback (interview or acceptance) from one of your top schools, congrats! If not, then remember ... several universities are probably pursuing the same candidates. By the time most of them make their decision, the programs that they decided not to go to are likely to have to go down the waitlist. Students at the top of their waitlists may have already accepted offers at other programs! Remember, it does't matter if you were their top pick or not! If you got in the program (for whatever reason), you're in! Best of luck!

Hi all, I want some opinions on getting MS in Statistics before applying to Econ PhDs. My plan is to pursue MS in Statistics, specifically either a "MS in Applied Statistics/Data Science in Finance" or just "MS in Applied Statistics." I do have an option to pursue "MS in Mathematical Statistics," but I was told that almost no one studies this here at my school (yeah people want to get jobs after this program). I am not considering the MS in Economics here at my school because we only have online version of it. Also, our Stat department is stronger than Econ (T20s vs T50s). So, given that I have an undergrad profile that makes me a quite strong candidate in T30~40s (like top GPA in Econ, Math&Stat minor, top GRE, etc.), by how much do you think my chances will improve in getting into higher Econ PhD programs by getting an MS from one of those programs? Of course, given that I do well (like >3.8/4.0) and do some research with Econ professors on the side. Also, which of the two~three options should I choose? Just to further elaborate on my choice of MS program, I do not want to spend a fortune in other MS programs in Europe or Private Top universities, and I have a strong shot of getting a funding here.

Hi, I have orginially focused on Europe for PhD Programmes, but going to the US has always been my dream. I believe I have a pretty solid academic profile, but I can imagine that the US Programmes are extremely competitive so do I have a chance at all for a fully funded programme? Test Scores: GMAT 690/85% (considering to take the GRE) Undergrad (Bachelors in International Management): Top 3% at a renowned European Business School Graduate (one year Masters in Managerial Economics): Top 5% at the London School of Economics (I know several professors personally who would write me a distinguished reference letter) Research Experience: Two dissertations (for my degrees) + 6 months as a reserach assistant (however not as a co-author) Teaching Experience: none Work Experience: Several internships in Consulting + at the time of application ~1.5 year of full-time experience (not McKinsey/BCG/Bain, but a good name) Concentration Applying to: Management with a focus on Strategic Mangement or Managerial Economics/Applied Economics Number of programs planned to apply to: not decided yet Dream Schools: Something within the top 20 in the US, otherwise I would probably stay in Europe Other Questions: What made you want to pursue a PhD? During my Master degree I really enjoyed doing research and after starting to work as a consultant, I realized more and more that an academic career would be better suited to me than an industry job. Questions or concerns you have about your profile? -I had only few Economics courses and only entry level Maths/Statistics courses within my Undergrad degree (and only Applied Economics courses in my Masters). Do I therefore disqualify for most Applied Economics/Managerial Economics programmes? -Would a GRE score of ~85% be sufficient to have a shot? Having a 60h work-week, I unfortunately do not have the time for extensive preparation. Any additional specific questions you may have? --

Hi everyone. I'l try to keep things as short as possisble. Undergrad: Top 50 USNEWS with a 3.7 in economics. The problem is my transcript looks terrible (semesters with low courseload, only math taken was calculus 2, B in intermediate micro). I was dealing with medical problems throughout undergrad so I didn't really focus on my courses too much. But I aniticpate completing 2 masters programs at LSE. One in applied mathematics which would cover graduate level math courses and the EME. Assuming I were to get top marks and rank highly in both of them, would that be enough (along with RA experience, good recomendations etc) to get into the top 5 or at least make my poor undergrad performance not such a big deal? Thanks in advance!

Test Scores (GMAT/GRE): 168Q 168V 5.5 AWA Undergrad GPA: 2.11 - Bachelor of Science (Applied Math) from #1 ranked university in Australia My undergraduate degree was marked by significant personal and mental health challenges (which are now behind me). I intend to detail this in a separate Statement of Impact, potentially including a letter from my treating clinical psychologist if this will help. I am hoping that clemency will be afforded to my undergrad performance based on these facts. Graduate GPA: 4.0 - Master of Business Administration from #1 ranked business school in Australia 4.0 - Master of Marketing from #1 ranked business school in Australia Awards: Dean's List (top 10% of class) for MBA/Master of Marketing Received Dean's Commendation Awards for the subjects 'Business Strategy', 'Consumer Behavior', 'Managerial Judgement', and 'Marketing Research' for all-round excellence, both in terms of academic achievement and classroom participation. Research Experience: Currently writing a business case study on a medical device start-up, under the supervision of a tenured Professor who holds a PhD from MIT. Hoping to publish this with Ivey Case Publishing. On completion of the case, this Professor & I intend to complete a research piece and publish a paper on qualitative predictors of medical device start-up success. Teaching Experience: TA for 'Data Analysis' for 4 terms (and ongoing), maintaining an average student satisfaction rating of 9.47/10. Additionally, I will be taking on a TA position for 'Managerial Economics' in 2021. Work Experience: 'Head of Marketing Research' at a relatively small coworking space start up (~30 employees, but raised over $20m in funding). Additionally, have my own marketing research consulting business. Other comments: Not sure if it's worth noting, but I am a dual US-Australian citizen. So whilst I have completed my studies in Australia, I am unclear on whether I apply as a domestic or International student. Concentration Applying to: Strategic Management Number of programs planned to apply to: 20 Dream Schools: Top 20 US + INSEAD, Oxford, Cambridge. Other Questions: Questions or concerns you have about your profile? Obviously my undergraduate performance is quite abysmal - I had several failing grades, as low as 5 and 17 (although, these were because I disengaged from the class and did not even sit the final exam). I am hoping my subsequent performance and Statement of Impact will clearly demonstrate that this is not an accurate reflection of my abilities, and was instead due to significant mental health challenges at the time. However, the question remains: how much clemency might I expect from Top 20 schools with regards to my undergraduate performance? Do I have a reasonable shot at some of my target schools (top 20 US + INSEAD, Oxford, Cambridge) or will my application likely be summarily dismissed? Is there anything else I can do between now and end of next year to strengthen my application? Assume I have a strong Statement of Purpose and Letters of Recommendation.

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 2 Canadian University Undergrad GPA: 3.88/4.0 Type of Grad: Grad GPA: GRE: waiting on results, should come soon Math Courses: Calculus (A), Multivariate Calc (A-), Linear Algebra I & II (A), Differential Equations (A+), Topics in Abstract Math (B+), Probability and Statistics (A+), Real Analysis (A+), Topology (In Progress), Nonlinear Optimization (winter semester), Group theory (Winter Semester) Econ Courses: Intro Micro and Macro (A-,A), Intermediate Micro and Macro (A,A-), Game Theory (A-), Information Economics (A+), Market Design (B+), Econometrics (A+), Behavioral Econ (A), Causal Inference (A), Advanced Macro (A), Financial Econ (In Progress), PhD Micro I (In Progress), IO (winter), International Trade (winter) Other Courses: Letters of Recommendation: 1.Prof who taught me Game theory, Information econ, and PhD Micro 2.AP who I RA'ed for, for a year 3. Professor who supervises the thesis course Research Experience: RA for a year, writing thesis, wrote a small theory paper about reputation in Information Econ class not sure if it counts Teaching Experience: N/A Research Interests: Micro theory or IO Other: Where should I be aiming for? One of my letter writers told me he's not sure if his letter would be good enough for top 10, how bad of a sign is this? Do I have a chance at top 15?

First time poster, long time reader here. I am a junior and an international student at a top 15 undergrad program in the US (top 50 econ), and I started to prepare myself to apply to grad programs relatively early, and once I wanted to be competitive at the very top schools, I planned to have taken multiple Grad level courses by the time I apply in my senior year. Well, I had my final exam for Grad Micro I today and I ended up making a series of errors due to lack of sleep and not knowing when to take the hit and move on to the next question (no excuses, I could have prepared earlier/better, my fault) that dropped my course grade from 97% to 92% (A-) So, from what I have read here, an A- in Grad Micro I is not the end of the world (even though I am feeling like it is today), but it does not help me either. First, how affected were my chances at a Top 5 program? Is an A- something I need to make up for, or is it something that will simply not stand out and I need to work on other things? Also, I am still a junior, so I have 1 year until I apply. I was planning to take 5/6 math courses next Spring, and then take Grad Metrics/Macro + Senior thesis during the Fall of my senior year, but now I might consider taking Micro Theory II next Spring to make up for the A-. Any ideas on that? I will leave my standard profile below. Any thoughts/advice you can give me will be appreciated. PROFILE Type of Undergrad: US News Top 15 - Math and Econ Major Undergrad GPA: 3.93 GRE: N/A Math Courses: Calculus (I,II,III), Linear Algebra, ODE, Intro to Math Reasoning (A-), Scientific Computing, Real Analysis, Operations Research, Intro to Probability. All A unless indicated otherwise I was planning to take next semester: Numerical Analysis, Complex Variables, Math Methods in Fin Econ, Topology, Stochastic Modeling, Algebra (can cut one or two if useless) Econ Courses: Intro to Micro/Macro, Intermediate Micro/Macro, Stats for Econ, Metrics, Monetary Theory, PhD Micro Theory I (A-) All A unless indicated otherwise Letters of Recommendation: Still a little bit unclear, but I am currently doing separate research for 2 Full-time Professors both for 1 year. Started talking about a senior thesis with another professor recently. Research Experience: RA for the above professors for 2 semesters and 2 summers. Teaching Experience: Math Grader if it counts

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad/Graduate: BA (Liberal Arts - UK), MSc Top 10 UK 4.0 equivalent, BSc Maths (Open University) - 4.0 equivalent Cumulative GPA: 4.0/4.0 (equivalent) GRE: Sitting soon Math Courses: Not as separated as in the US. Roughly covered, Calc 1-3, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Real Analysis, basic stats/probability, Group Theory, Metric Spaces, Numbers and Rings. (All A's or A-'s). Econ Courses: One year of undergraduate courses and one year of post-grad courses. 1st year coming from liberal arts did poorly in undergrad courses (I.e. B's in intermediate micro/macro). Second year MSc at Top 10: all A's apart from one class (B). Took classes in Micro, Macro, Econometric Theory, and other optional classes. Letters of Recommendation: Three associate professors/professors from the Top 10 UK university where I did the MSc (should be good) Research Experience: MSc Thesis (A equivalent) Teaching Experience: None Work Experience: Private sector (few years out) (finance - non econ related) Programming skills: Stata, basic Matlab Questions/Other/Concerns: ​ Completed the BSc Maths after the MSc, while working. - Low ranking of BSc Maths (although the content is pretty reasonable - Q31 | BSc (Hons) Mathematics | Open University) - concerned about this - non top 5 UK universities are not respected so not sure how US universities will react - 6 years since completed the MSc (only just completed the BSc in Maths) - Don't think I can get into top 5 in the UK. Can't afford another masters. What sort of places are plausible in the US/UK/Europe? Sorry if I have missed anything out. Please let me know and I will answer.

Hey fam, I'm starting to get a little anxious as I finish up and submit my applications. I'd love some input on my application and any other advice you have. Thanks! Micro OB/Management PhD applicant Test Scores (GMAT) 720/800 (94%), V: 41/51 (94%), Q: 47/51 (60%), AW: 5 (56%), IR: 7 (81%) Undergrad GPA: 3.84/4.00 overall, BS in Psych from a solid private school Graduate GPA: none Research Experience: 2 years, part-time with 3 faculty, econ, OB and Psych. Worked 0-20 hr./week depending on need. Also did several research projects in my research based classes (research design, psych testing, stats in psych, writing in psych, etc.), Research tools: R, Stata, Qualtrics. Teaching Experience: 1 semester as a TA for psych. Work Experience: 1 year in HR consulting/training as a project manager. Letters of Rec: OB professor I did research with, Psych professor I did research with, Psych professor I had 3 classes with and is a mentor/friend. Concentration Applying to: Micro OB, interested in Business/Behavioral Ethics, Meaning at Work, Positive Org Scholarship, Moral Psych. Number of programs planned to apply to: I've applied to 9 as of now, may apply to a few more. Dream Schools: Harvard, Michigan, Washington Other Questions: What made you want to pursue a PhD? - I thought the career would be intellectually stimulating, flexible, and challenging. I thought research could make an impact and that teaching/mentoring would be meaningful as well. Questions or concerns you have about your profile? - Concern is my Quant score. It's a solid score, but not too high on percentile. Not sure how much micro OB programs are sticklers on this one? Also, I'm applying straight out of undergrad without a masters, I've heard this isn't too big of a deal as long as you are prepared but wanted more input on that. Any additional specific questions you may have: - I'm applying to a mix of top 10, top 20 and top 40 schools (based on TAMUGA rankings). Right now I've applied to 9. Should I apply to more? Is my application strong enough for a top 10 school?

Test Scores (GMAT/GRE): 163V (93rd percentile) 159Q (73rd percentile) 4.5AWA (82nd percentile). Scored 5.0 (93rd percentile) on previous proctoring, but lower on other sections Undergrad GPA: 2.87, undergrad business school at Large Private University in Intermountain West, major GPA is also ******, but A's in every OB class I took. In applications that allow for addendums or personal history statements I address this. There is a compelling narrative here, i.e. if you go through my transcript you'd notice, "oh there's a story behind this, I wonder what happened?" Graduate GPA: N/A Research Experience: - 2 years RA 1-on-1 with bschool prof at top public university on West Coast (hoping for publication to emerge from this) - 7 months in behavioral lab at same school to learn social psych methodology - 8 months RA work (mainly data collection/cleaning/coding) for bschool prof at top private university on West Coast - working on publication with potential co-author (also bschool prof) at my undergrad institution (all 3 faculty are LOR writers) Teaching Experience: TA for management course in undergrad, also did some TA type work as part of RA responsibilities for professor I worked for after undergrad Work Experience: a little less than a year for tech company based out of Silicon Valley, left to go back to school (if I ever get in front of MBA's I'll be able to tell them "yeah I worked in tech") Concentration Applying to: micro OB Number of programs planned to apply to: 8 (1 top 5, 1 top 15, 4 25-40, 2 outside top 50). Also applied to 1 OB PhD program in ILR school, 1 MA program in social-org psych, and 2 pre-doctoral programs. Would have applied to more but didn't feel like it was worth the cost of application fees due to the weaknesses of my application. All but 3 of these programs I'd go to w/o hesitation. Dream Schools: Haas, Columbia, LBS, Stern, Anderson, Rotman Other Questions: What made you want to pursue a PhD? No other profession feels as honest. Projected lifestyle doesn't hurt either. Questions or concerns you have about your profile? What I really want to know is if I have a shot at the elite programs, considering my low GPA and low quant score. Was scoring higher on practice exams, but just didn't get it to the 90th percentile on test day. Planning on re-taking in 6 months if I don't get in anywhere. Have been told though that quant score is less important for micro candidates vs. macro candidates. Just not sure how much give there really is. The emphasis on elite programs is two-fold: 1.) Living in a diverse, and culturally rich place is very important to me. Part of the reason why I struggled so mightily in undergrad was because I was a minority at a very racially and ideologically homogenous institution. 2.) It just so happens that the majority of PhD programs and TT positions located in big cities are at elite universities, and don't want to get stuck in a negative feedback loop at the lower tiers, especially if it means I have to live somewhere desolate. How impermeable are the tiers truly, especially regarding the rank of your PhD institution? Also, seeking insight on whether it is worth it to continue applying each year in hopes of matriculating to top program, or am I costing myself too much by waiting? And, what do you make of these alternative MA and predoctoral programs? Are they viable options that would help me on my journey or merely a way for these schools to get more cheap labor or collect tuition (in the case of the MA program)? Looking inward and asking myself a lot of questions. 30 is getting closer and I've heard age bias from these programs is a real thing. My family thinks this is just a pipe dream and I should get a "real job", however I know once I take something outside of academe, the degree of difficulty to keep up with the research and publication cycle will be exponentially higher. Would be so easy to give up now, but I've sacrificed too much and worked too hard for this.

I took the GRE a few days ago and got Q165, V167. Given the fact that many top schools aren't requiring GRE scores, should I submit these relatively mediocre scores to top programs? Here's further context about my profile: Undergrad from average Canadian school with 3.94 overall GPA and 3.99 GPA in Math/Stats/Econ courses. A+'s in all math and econ courses, including real analysis and advanced cal, except for A's in linear algebra and probability theory. Master's from top-2 Canadian school (top 40ish globally) with all As and A+s. Short RA-ship during my Master's with a good young prof on an AEJ paper. I've been working in the public sector for 1.5 years since finishing my Master's. LORs from my RA-ship prof and MA Econometrics prof, neither of whom know me super well, but both seemed happy to write the letters. Other one is from a PhD economist I worked with in government who got to know me very well. Applying to US top 10 schools and Toronto.

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Top 20 State University US News(Econ major), Econ major. Cumulative GPA: 2.98/4 Currently doing MA in top 60 University US News. (Applied Econ) First semester in the school and I have three more semesters left before the graduation. I will try hard to get streak A for my masters to compensate my bad undergrad GPA. The program is very heavy in math and Econometrics. GRE: 168Q/152V/3.5AWA. I took it a year ago, but I can retake it if it's necessary. Math Courses: Undergrad: Calculus I (3.5), Calculus II (3.0), Stat I, II (3.0). Research/Teaching: Currently working as RA and GA. Programming skills: Stata, R, Python As you can see I don't have strong mathematical background from my undergrad, so I'm thinking of taking extra math courses during my masters if possible. I'd appreciate if you could recommend any math related courses I should take. And if I graduate with solid A's in my masters, what are the chances of me getting into top 50 Econ Phd? Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone. I am applying to finance PhD (2021 intake). I would appreciate if you could advice on my profile. Thanks so much in advance! Applying to: PhD in Finance (Research interests: credit risk, intangible asset on corporate finance decisions) Test Score (GMAT): V38, Q50, AWA 4 , Total 730 96% Undergraduate: reputable school in China; Bachelor in Economics; Poor overall GPA: 3.00/4.00, but did good on relevant courses - Calculus and Linear Algebra etc. Graduate: Top school in Hong Kong; MSc in Finance; GPA: 3.83/4.00 References: Two professors from the grad school. They have not supervised me but I did great on their courses. Work Experience: 5 years banking experience in China (prior to the master's program). 2 years as a general investment analyst in Hong Kong. Qualifications: CFA Research Experience: - Master thesis in green bond, not published. Teaching Experience: none Questions or Concerns: - Should I just forget about the top 50 schools (or even top 100), given the low undergrad GPA? - Will the CFA help in any way in the admission process? - Also a bit worried about age, as I'm already 30 yo. - I'm also targeting programs in Canada. Are they less competitive than US ones? Thanks in advance!