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Hey, I am currently on the waitlist of UCSB and I would really like to go there. I declined all of my other offers except one. Is any of those who already got an offer thinking about rejecting it? Thank you in advance!

I'm interested in environmental/energy economics and I'm choosing between UCSB and Ohio AEDE. I want to work in the academia after graduating. I heard great things about both program and their funding offers are comparable. I would love to hear what everyone thinks. Thanks!

If you could sort the following into Top-10/20/30/50/etc, how would you do so? USC UCLA Stanford Berkeley UCSD UCSB UC Davis UC Irvine Rice Virginia UT-Austin Texas A&M Duke UNC

Recently I've gotten offers from the following programs: Cornell AEM UC-Davis ARE UW-Madison AAE Rice Econ UCSB Econ Please give me some advice! Many thanks!

I have offers from UBC and UC Santa Barbara for the economics PhD. The funding offer is the same from each school. My interest is in environmental economics, especially the intersection with development econ. I don't know much about UCSB, so I am having a tough time weighing the options. From what I read, it is strong in environmental econ -- most of the job market candidates list it as a primary or secondary field, and there is a collaboration between the econ and environmental science department. This makes me feel that I would get a lot of faculty support and guidance in this area. On the other hand, the placements are pretty weak - mostly at state schools or consulting companies. With UBC, they have less of a structured focus on environmental econ, and only 1 or 2 profs are experts in the area. However, the overall department quality is quite high. I know some professors, and they are very helpful and willing to invest a lot in your academic progress. The placements are stronger -- either decent Canadian universities or mid-tier american schools. Downside is that cost of living is VERY high. I'm wondering if anyone with more insight about UCSB could suggest more info about pros vs cons?

Dear all, I got accepted from the UCSB a month ago. Two week ago I received an letter from their department and said that I am less likely get funding in the first two years of graduate study. Any one has similar circumstances? Would that change a little bit(ie., limited funding) if I wait until April ? Or, If I accept it and fund myself for a whole year, would they provide assistant ship to those students who are un-funding in the first year? Any suggestion or insights will be really appreciate it !

Hi everyone, while checking the status of my recommendation letters in the application portal of UCSB, I noticed that I apparently forgot to waive my right to see one of my LOR's, which has already been submitted. Unfortunately, there seems to be no possibility to delete a recommendation once it has been submitted, and the graduate office doesn't answer my requests. Obviously, I do not intend to read this LOR later and I usually always choose to waive this right, I don't know what went wrong this time. Did anyone have a similar problem before? How bad is it really to not waive this right, will it make this LOR completely worthless? Do admission committees really think that LOR writers actually pay attention to this, and change their recommendation accordingly? Any suggestions about what to do now, if UCSB does not answer? I thought about just deleting my whole application and starting a fresh one, but it seems an awful lot of trouble and also feels a bit like cheating, or could be perceived as such. I also might ask this particular recommender to notify UCSB that me not waiving this right did not have any influence on her recommendation at all. Obviously, she submitted the same letter as to every other place, where I DID wave my right to see it. Do you guys think such a mail would help? Would be great to get some experiences or feedback on this. Thanks a lot!

Hey everybody, I posted a similar topic a few weeks ago regarding two other schools, but I was recently accepted off the waitlist from UCSB so things have changed a little bit. My interests as of know lie in international finance and macroeconomics. My immediate career goal following my doctoral education (assuming I finish of course) is to work in the IMF. As my background is in physics, I have had light exposure to economics (intermediates, metrics, & intl fin) so my interests may change. As I said though, I loved my international finance course. I know that UCSC specializes in international stuff, but UCSB is ranked within the top 50 and I have been told to just go to the highest rank you get accepted to. This is the same reason why I am not considering American as much anymore despite its close ties to the IMF/WB/think tanks. To complicate things even more, my significant other will be moving with me I decide to go and will need to obtain employment as well (she's an econ undergrad). I was just hoping to get all of your thoughts and suggestions on which program is best suited for both my interests, career goals, and my girlfriend. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi! Need help, offer holder for MSc economics from UCL and MA economics from UCSB. I'm an international student (india) and was contemplating between UCL and university of California Santa Barbara (MA economics-1 year course). For me the prime factor is getting a job after the degree, could anyone tell me which one is a better bet in that respect? (US vs UK for getting a job) thanks! Any inputs would be highly appreciated. Kinda screwed right now

Hi All, I have received following admissions for Fall 2014: 1. University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) for MS/PhD in ECE department. No financial aid. I mailed the graduate department and got to know that I will be supposed to find fellowships and advisor in my first semester. Further, depending on circumstances, I can always change my admission from PhD to MS and vice versa. 2. Texas A&M University (TAMU) for MS. No financial aid. Can change to PhD depending on financial aid and advisor. My area of interest is (1) microelectronics and computer architecture and (2) Nano-electronics and fabrication. I am international student, so fee structure would be 47000$ per year for UCSB and 34000$ per year for TAMU. Please suggest me which university should I consider for above field of interest considering financial situation, job opportunities and research potential given considerable "extra" amount that I will have to pay for UCSB. Waiting for your responses... any suggestions and replies would be really helpful. Thank You Additional Info: I have also been admitted from MichiganTech for PhD in same area without funding.

Hi All, I have received following admissions for Fall 2014: 1. University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) for MS/PhD in ECE department. No financial aid. I mailed the graduate department and got to know that I will be supposed to find fellowships and advisor in my first semester. Further, depending on circumstances, I can always change my admission from PhD to MS and vice versa. 2. Texas A&M University (TAMU) for MS. No financial aid. Can change to PhD depending on financial aid and advisor. My area of interest is (1) microelectronics and computer architecture and (2) Nano-electronics and fabrication. I am international student, so fee structure would be 47000$ per year for UCSB and 34000$ per year for TAMU. Please suggest me which university should I consider for above field of area considering financial situation, job opportunities and research potential given considerable "extra" amount that I will have to pay for UCSB. Waiting for your responses... any suggestions and replies would be really helpful. Thank You Additional Info: I have also been admitted from MichiganTech for PhD in same area without funding.