<p>I just took the GRE for the first time yesterday and am trying to use my scores (no analytical writing section yet) to decide to which programs I should be applying.</p>
<p>General stats and info:</p>
<p>Majors: Economics, Spanish
Minors: Math (will not complete coursework in real analysis until next semester, am finishing coursework in multivariable calculus), English</p>
<p>GPA: 3.99/4.00</p>
<p>GRE: 167 V 168 Q</p>
<p>Research experience: Pretty limited. I haven't spent any time doing research for any of my professors (I know, big mistake). I am spending time doing some independent research as well as doing some applied statistical analysis/research for a local school district. I have done a decent amount of stata programming, but I do not have great command of python or sas.</p>
<p>I do have two years of TA experience, working with professors in teaching statistics and a couple of econometrics courses--I admit that I'm not sure what kind of weight this has, if any, in the admissions process.</p>
<p>Recommendations: Two of them should be excellent. The third will probably be pretty good. One will come from the head of the department, another from a well-known and well-respected econometrics professor. The other will certainly be positive, but even though the professor's track record is good, he's not exactly well-known.</p>
<p>What are the kinds of programs I should be targeting? Is a top 10 program out of reach? Should I try to spend a couple of years in industry or research before applying to prestigious programs?</p>
<p>Oh, and since I forgot to specify before, I am at a top 50ish private university. Certainly not noteworthy enough to make admissions committees stop and notice, but certainly a known quantity.</p>
<p>But what can your letter writers say except 'did well in class" since you haven’t done any research with them? Without an assessment of what kind of potential you have to produce original research, I don’t know what you can do, unless econ admission is very different than the process I am familiar with. Have you discussed this with your profs?</p>
<p>Congrats on the gpa, wow.</p>
<p>The TA experience is good. Not going to get you in, but they like it, and some require it. Top 50 should be good enough for any program. But no research is a head scratchier maybe a non starter. Perhaps your professors can illuminate this point. </p>
<p>You don’t use your GRE scores to determine what programs to apply to - they are arguably the least important component of your application. Plus your GRE scores are good enough that you shouldn’t worry about them. They won’t keep you out, but they won’t get you in either.</p>
<p>What’s most important for PhD programs are your research experience and statement of purpose, plus your previous grades and letters of recommendation. Your grades are excellent and it looks like you will have strong letters. If you are focused enough and a good writer, you can write a great statement. So the only thing you have that’s not as strong is the research experience. I think if you know one statistical package that’s good enough, and I think economists use Stata more than SAS anyway (although these days everyone’s using R, but I think most students don’t learn that until grad school anyway).</p>
<p>You didn’t say how long you’d been doing that applied work for a school district. That DOES count as research experience, though. Is there someone with a PhD supervising you on that project? Can they write you a letter? To be competitive you REALLY need a letter from someone with a PhD who has supervised you in research.</p>
<p>I recommend that you undertake what I call a “limited/targeted” application round this time. Apply only to top programs that you really like and that are a great fit, and limit your applications to like 5 or 6 PhD programs, plus maybe like 2 really good fit funded MA programs. See what happens. You may be surprised! But if you don’t get in, then use the next few years to get some more research experience. There are several ways you can do that - a funded MA in economics, or working in industry for a</p>