Hokies Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Hello, I noticed that this application cycle there wasn't a thread for those of us interested in agricultural, resource, or applied /development etc economics programs. I recognize most applications are due already, so best of luck to all of you! I think Cornell will be the first for us to hear back from! How would you guys rank the different applied economics programs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicaffairsny Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 I'd be interested in learning a bit more about these programs. I've looked into cornell's program and it seems like they have policy tracks in their ARE program. I just have this prejudice towards the field because I don't understand it and I'm not interested in agriculture. I realize today it deals more with issues of creating policy in the face of constrained optimization. Would you share some of your research interests and what drew you to this field? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hokies Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 Sure! I am very interested in development, like working at the World Bank or in the IMF. I have many family friends who work there and they suggested to look into these programs specifically--they focus on field research and looking at forming optimizaiton, regression, etc using collected data. Many of my friends who are studying at schools in these fields are going to various countries these summers to conduct impact assessments on USAID funded projeccts or ones funded by IFPRI. However, if you are interested in let's say sustainability or maybe behavioral economics this would be also the field for you. Here are some articles that are somewhat related that are from the NYTimes that show some examples of "applied" economics. Some schools are more agriculture than others--this is purely based on the fact that many of these programs are from "land grant schools" and are housed in the college of agriculture--Cornell is in the Ag school but has broadened itself a bit--in that the behavioral masters program for example has a tuition associated in the Ivy section of the university, not the contract (I can clarify if needed) Lunch Lines http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/21/opinion/20101021_Oplunch.html?_r=0 Food Riots http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/science/earth/05harvest.html?pagewanted=all I think the major difference here is that you use real world data and then try and see how it relates to economic theory--externalities fit and models aren't always right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanket Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Hokies, thanks for the thread. If you don't mind, can you, and other ARE applicants, share your profiles in this thread, or the Profiles/Results thread? I'm interested in the profiles/targeting. Thanks and good luck! - fellow prospective ARE applicant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicaffairsny Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Sure! I am very interested in development, like working at the World Bank or in the IMF. I have many family friends who work there and they suggested to look into these programs specifically--they focus on field research and looking at forming optimizaiton, regression, etc using collected data. Many of my friends who are studying at schools in these fields are going to various countries these summers to conduct impact assessments on USAID funded projeccts or ones funded by IFPRI. However, if you are interested in let's say sustainability or maybe behavioral economics this would be also the field for you. Here are some articles that are somewhat related that are from the NYTimes that show some examples of "applied" economics. Some schools are more agriculture than others--this is purely based on the fact that many of these programs are from "land grant schools" and are housed in the college of agriculture--Cornell is in the Ag school but has broadened itself a bit--in that the behavioral masters program for example has a tuition associated in the Ivy section of the university, not the contract (I can clarify if needed) Lunch Lines http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/21/opinion/20101021_Oplunch.html?_r=0 Food Riots http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/science/earth/05harvest.html?pagewanted=all I think the major difference here is that you use real world data and then try and see how it relates to economic theory--externalities fit and models aren't always right. This sounds great since I'm mostly interested in empirical research and regression analysis. How does admissions to Cornell AEM or UMD College Park ARE compare to Cornell Econ or UMD Econ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I thought I'd give this thread some life. I'm applying for mostly ARE programs (seven all together) and a few Geography programs. I'm an American student coming out of a European master's program and anxiously awaiting results (didn't apply to Ohio and I'm expecting first results not for another month or so). Anyway, thought I'd at least give the thread a little bump and connect with other ARE-ers. I'm waiting on Berkeley, Virginia Tech, Penn, Purdue and Florida ARE and Davis and Illinois Geography. I went for Geography for a few because of professor matches and because I want to work in ABM and spatial modeling, so it seemed like a cool option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hokies Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Awesome, I applied to VT, Maryland, and MSU. I think for ARE it may be more competitive in some programs because it's a much harder "fit." It's different then let's say applying to UChicago for economics. But compared to applying to Maryland for general Econ, Maryland ARE is one of the best applied economics programs and specializes in resource economics, so unless you have that background it would seem odd to apply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 First responses came in. Admits to University of Florida FRED and to Virginia Tech arrived via email last night. No changes to their websites, yet, notifications through admissions coordinators. Both with funding, but not clear on amount/exact type yet. Good luck to everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hokies Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 just heard from VT too! might meet you at the weekend event! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulebrahim Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 congrats on the admits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bvd Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Admitted at Minnesota Applied last Friday with no word on funding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 just heard from VT too! might meet you at the weekend event! I'd love it if I could make it, but I'm based out of Europe right now. Have fun if you go! I'm looking forward to hearing more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
user727 Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Congrats on the admits! Decided to apply to ARE programs pretty late in the game. I wish I had applied to the schools that sent decisions as early as January. The wait is killing me! Good luck to everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Hey, good luck on your apps! Where did you apply to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Heard back from Purdue today, admitted with an assitanceship. Very nice email, making decisions tougher for me and my girlfriend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardball162 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Institution: Penn State Program: Ag Econ Decision: Admitted Funding: TBD Notification date: 1/29/2015 Notified through: department email Posted on GC: no Comments: Email from department, will get official acceptance notification in upcoming weeks along w/ funding info Institution: Oregon State University Program: Ag Econ PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/3/2015 Notified through: email Posted on GC: no Comments: no word in the email on funding, I imagine that means I did not get any, will follow up though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Congrats on the admits hardball162! I had emailed Penn State to ask about decision timeline and heard back I was rejected, but got in today to UC Davis's Geography program. Still waiting on Berkeley and Illinois, and my girlfriend is waiting for Davis ARE as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hokies Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Did anyone hear from Cornell AEM Masters? I saw on Gradcafe people heard back for PhD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Did anyone hear from Cornell AEM Masters? I saw on Gradcafe people heard back for PhD I didn't apply so not sure, but I also saw the (just one) GC post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardball162 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Congrats on the admit pylaios! are you going for geography at Berkeley and Illinois or ARE? Best of luck to you and your girlfriend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluWander Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I just got an email from Cornell AEM this morning. I am waitlisted by their PhD program, and they strongly encourage me to attend the open house. Anyone who is also waitlisted? This is my first result, hopefully there will be offers later.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pylaios Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Congrats on the admit pylaios! are you going for geography at Berkeley and Illinois or ARE? Best of luck to you and your girlfriend Thanks! I'm going for ARE at Berkeley and Geography at Illinois. I had been in touch with an ARE professor at Illinois that does what I do, but he advised that funding was tight, so I looked at the geography program and found some interesting opportunities. We're looking forward to hearing from Davis and also getting the official info from Florida, but right now our debate is a back and forth over the pros and cons of Purdue and Virginia Tech. The program at Purdue is fantastic, but we're not so excited about the location. And while I think Purdue's bigger department is an asset, Virginia Tech could have some cool opportunities and offer a great degree, while also being in a better location for us. It's tough, nothing's clear enough to be a decisive choice! If she gets into Davis and Florida offers something really interesting, I don't know what we'll do! Any thoughts among everyone here about balancing the department and the location? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardball162 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I have gotten conflicting answers on how big of a role location should play in your decision (and it ultimately should vary with personality) a couple things to consider 1) Cost of living. I think there is probably a wider range in the cost of living among locations than there is in funding (e.g. you can't really expect to get much more $ from NYU than UConn just because NYC is far more expensive than Storrs, CT) 2) Distractions. This can go either way. one of my advisers has told me that he thinks there are benefits to doing your program in a location that isn't necessarily overly appealing to you, as it provides motivation to focus on work and complete your degree expeditiously. 3) Mental health/enjoyment. For me, location is pretty important, and I might even be giving it too large of a role in my decision process. I much prefer rural areas to cities, which makes it difficult because premier institutions tend to be in more highly populated areas. We are going to spend at least 4 years where ever we choose, and that will be a lot more depressing if all we can think about is, "I can't wait to get out of here." I know I won't have all that much time for hiking, golfing, or snowboarding, but it is important for me to place myself somewhere that I can at least do these things on the rare weekend with free time. I'm sure other people can add more, since I haven't actually experienced the outcomes at the PhD level (I allowed location to play a big role my decision of where to pursue a Master's degree, and I have mixed feelings about the outcome). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardball162 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Hey y'all - I recently found out that I got into University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and the Environment PhD program, specifically, I would pursue the "resource policy and behaviour" stream. I was wondering if anyone knows much about this program. I know it is a bit different than a traditional ARE program, but they have a lot of people using econometric techniques to study resource use and policies. Does anyone have any experience with this program? I'm thrilled, but I'm curious how limiting it would be to get a degree that does not have the word "economics" in it (I'm more interested in think-tank/NGO/government jobs than academia though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColonelForbin Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I know I won't have all that much time for hiking, golfing, or snowboarding, but it is important for me to place myself somewhere that I can at least do these things on the rare weekend with free time. I think people overestimate how much punishment you must endure during the Ph.D. Certainly, it is a lot of work and you will be busy, but this makes it all the more important to have outlets and to make time for them. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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