FAQs about Graduate School in Economics and Links to Useful Threads

asquare · September 11, 2008

This post is especially intended for new TM posters. Some questions about applying to or attending graduate programs in economics come up frequently on TM. You're welcome to ask questions even though they've been discussed in the past, but there is a lot of useful information in the old posts, and I'd urge you to read through some of those posts to see if they help you out. You can search using the search function in the menu at the top of your screen, just below and to the right of the box that says "Welcome [username]."

To get you started, here are some of the most commonly asked questions, and some threads that I think do a good job of addressing them. Please feel free to add more questions and links to other useful threads to this discussion! I'm only listing a few threads of the threads that come up when I search for these topics, and I'm sure there are other excellent threads that people can link to. I'm not trying to replace the search function, just trying to give new posters a sense of what information is already available on the forums :)

1) Here's my profile. Where should I apply?

Start with this year's Roll Call thread. Note that the Roll Call thread is for reference. Please post your profile there but save any discussion for separate threads.

Other useful threads include the "Profiles and Results" threads from previous years:

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/85985-profiles-results-2008-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/66608-profiles-results-2007-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/37272-profiles-results-2005-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/71470-profiles-results-part-2-non-top-50-programs.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/63510-post-complete-profile-admissions-decisions.html

2) Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation? Is it important to have LORs from famous professors? Should all of my letters be from economists?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/83133-true-about-recommendation-letters.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/77148-letters-recommendation-non-economists.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/76909-should-i-ask-professor-write-me-letter.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/76246-drafting-ones-own-letter-recommendation.html

3) What does a strong (or weak) LOR sound like?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/86397-gift-future-applicants.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/77092-what-does-lukewarm-letter-recom-usually-mean.html

4) How important is math to the application? Is real analysis necessary? What math classes are useful during first year?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/98305-how-important-real-analysis-admission.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/92883-yet-another-real-analysis-thread-sigh.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/73861-must-math-courses-phd.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/56198-how-much-actual-math-phd-programs-once-youre-there-not-get.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/56071-how-much-linear-algebra-do-you-need.html

5) Should I get an MA in economics (or math) before I apply to PhD programs?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/80843-why-exactly-m-economics-nyu-not-good-step-towards-top-phd.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/69641-fallback-options-well-qualified-applicant.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/56188-ms-math-econ-phd-prep.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/79874-why-us-econ-ma-not-good.html

6) How important are GRE scores? Do I need an 800 on the quant section? Does the verbal score matter?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/96462-gre-scores-required-schools.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/75003-verbal-300-ger.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/58924-whats-point-gre.html

7) What matters most in admissions? LOR? GPA? GRE scores?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/60877-weighing-different-factors-admittance.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/93806-degree-importance-among-admission-criteria.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/79348-how-applications-looked-analyzed-first-round-adcoms-any-idea.html

8) Can I transfer from a lower ranked school to a higher ranked school after my first year?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/77956-common-students-low-ranked-phd-program-transferring-high-ranked.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/66991-university-transfer.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65104-transferring-schools.html

9) What are placements like from different tiers of schools?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/81306-placements-place-class.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/71484-tenure-sure-after-getting-econ-phd.html

(there are tons of threads on this subject; search for "placement" and whatever school you are interested in, and you'll get lots of information)

10) What are attrition rates like? How common is it for students to fail prelims/quals?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/92125-attrition-rates.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/90437-preliminars.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/53478-competitive-culture-grad-school-why-do-econ-students-drop.html

11) How does funding work? What should I do if I'm not offered funding at my first choice school? How much does grad school cost?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/83542-faqs-about-funding.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/86272-help-meaning-april-15-a.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65990-attending-school-without-funding.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65378-current-phds-how-much-can-we-bargain.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65057-can-current-grad-students-give-cost-living-numbers.html

12) How should I choose between the schools that admit me?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/63673-questions-ask-current-graduate-students-prospective-schools.html

GymShorts · September 11, 2008

This has sticky written all over it.

lightyears · September 11, 2008

Great job asquare! Really useful to me

Canuckonomist · September 11, 2008

SOmetimes people skip the stickies entirely. It's nice to keep this up near the top of active threads to keep it in people's faces.

It's posts like this that make me fall just slightly in love with asquare. Always thinking of the forum and it's needs.

econofrosh · September 11, 2008

I second GymShorts and light years. Great thread! ;)

Might I suggest / request adding a section on PhD from Applied/Ag Econ vs. Econ Departments?

italos · September 11, 2008

Why don't you make it a sticky thread?

asquare · September 11, 2008

Stuck, and will try to dig up threads on ag vs. straight econ (and possibly business econ vs. econ) later today. If others have suggestions for useful threads on those questions, please post them!

italos · September 11, 2008

you forgot the SOP threads

asquare · September 12, 2008

13) What should I write in my SOP? Should I mention specific faculty? How much do I need to tailor the SOP to each school? How important is the SOP?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/94430-how-write-good-statement-purpose-sop.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/79529-tailoring-sop-various-schools.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/62355-how-specific-sop.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/62815-sop-puzzle.html

asquare · September 12, 2008

14) Should I apply to Ag Econ or regular Econ departments? How different will my job prospects be if I get a PhD from an Ag Econ vs. a regular Econ program?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/85597-making-case-arec-departments.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/86755-job-market-job-opportunities-phd-agriculture-resource-economics.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/67527-agricultural-applied-programs.html

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/58330-thoughts-ag-econ-ms-schools.html

chestnut.cc · September 12, 2008

kindly post the masters results thread... which lies smothered somewhere... good thread!

asianeconomist · September 12, 2008

Served:

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/84446-masters-decision-thread.html

italos · September 23, 2008

The secrets of the Temple :How admissions are conducted ?

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/86538-how-selection-been-done.html#post562115

kkitkat · October 21, 2008

I found this thread very useful

NSF sample essays

Golden Rule · December 5, 2008

My applications are done -- now what should I do to prepare for my first year of graduate school??

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65206-books-review-before-grad-school-4.html#post429051

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/71401-1st-year-econometrics.html#post466206

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/71309-simon-blume-good-enough.html#post465891

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/85923-what-do-summer-before-grad-schools-2.html#post556462

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/67755-whats-best-way-prepare-first-year.html#post446885

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/65206-books-review-before-grad-school-4.html#post429051

untitled · April 20, 2009

I've aggregated results posted on test magic in the appropriate threads and resorted them by school here. Following that link, there is a link to some sort of analysis of the applications.

dreck · April 1, 2010

What schools are best in [econometrics, macro theory, etc]?

For students with specific field interests, you can find information on rankings of schools by specialization within economics here:

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/118300-where-can-i-find-field-rankings.html

Team3 · April 16, 2010

Advice for Older Applicants (and those who didn't major in economics or math)

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/117974-advice-older-applicants.html

applicant12 · April 28, 2010

What first year is like with a very informative post by asquare :)

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/119453-what-1st-year-like.html

Fantiki · April 28, 2010

Statement of purpose (SOP) examples:

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/phd-economics/119180-post-your-statement-purpose-sop-here.html

AppliedEcon · May 17, 2010

I used the Testmagic forum all through my undergraduate years to plan for graduate school and will start a PhD program in environmental economics at UMD this fall.

I recently started a blog to offer advice and answer questions for students interested in pursuing graduate economics. I will also give regular updates on life as a graduate student. Feel free to ask any questions or voice any concerns and I will answer them to the best of my ability.

The Backyard Economist