At GMU we have a large PhD program --- approximately 200 students enrolled in the PhD program at various stages of completion. Each year we get about 200 applications, and we admit roughly 50. Funding is very limited. In the comments at that Freakonomics blog it is stated that to get into a top PhD program it requires a GPA of 3.7 or higher, a 800 on the GRE quantitative (or near that), extensive undergraduate math background, already existing research experience, and 3 letters of recommendation from well-known economists strongly supporting your case...
At first a student reading that might say that is insane, but it actually makes sense given what I know of our own program at GMU. To be admitted to our program this year you needed the following:
GPA -- 3.55; GRE Quantitative -- 770; GRE Verbal -- 610. To receive funding you needed a much stronger record. The only offsetting factor to these competitive scores is letters of recommendation from professors that are known to the staff and willing to push their student in our unique areas of strength at GMU (Austrian economics, experimental economics, law and economics, public choice, and religion and economics). Still a student cannot be significantly under those baseline scores and get admitted to the program, and the opportunities for funding from the department are non-existent if you are under those scores (though there maybe some private funding).
Related;
Could Steve Levitt get into a top Ph.d. program today?
Fun with Econ: Would Steven Levitt get into MIT today?
Ranking Econ Departments
Notes for students interested in pursuing a PhD in Economics
So you're thinking about life after college and possibly interested in applying to graduate school in economics...
Mathematics Training for Students Interested in Economics
Preparing for Graduate Study in Economics
Advice for Applying to Grad School in Economics
What's needed for graduate study?
1 comment:
I know I'm late but thanks for the advice and links!
That being said, I won't get into GMU or anywhere of that kind. -- I'm in the "low GPA" (equivalent) scenario so the rules are different. It's the long story into which I'd rather not get in a blog comment.
Thanks again!
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