mattecon

Hi all, I'm looking to have some questions answered regarding UK/European routes to a PhD in economics. But first, quick context: I completed my M.A. from a U.S. program in development studies a couple years ago. My plan was to go directly into a PhD, and long story short, I didn't get offers from the programs I was hoping for (Top 10 programs at American universities). So I reentered the professional world and ended up with a staff position at the World Bank. The position is not as technical as I'd like (my graduate school work had focused on political economy/methods), but its a "prestigious", albeit entry, researcher role where I get to advise the president of the Bank and senior management. Up to the point when I got my final rejection, I had only imagined myself as PhD on quite an academic track. After spending sometime at the Bank, I can now imagine working professionally in the long term but I still can't get over not having done my PhD. However, most people I talk to (academic mentors, professionals, etc) think I'd be crazy to leave my current position for the arduous path to an American PhD (and the equally tenuous road that follows)...although a couple years ago they considered it an absolute must!! The other day someone raised the possibility of entering a UK/European program, which in most cases do not involve coursework but instead a 3ish year dissertation process, while still working my day job. I have colleagues who are ABD and writing at night, but I don't know anyone who throughout the entire PhD process was working. Here are my questions: 1) Is this an option with UK/European programs? And if so, is it a common route people take? 2) Since American programs involve coursework and often teaching components, the possibility of studying remotely is not really an option before the dissertation. But UK/European programs often don't have those same components...is remote work more common? 3) Are there admission differences to be aware of for European schools? I know the peculiarities very well for American programs...but I imagine that at the least the dissertation must be more clearly mapped out since you jump right into it in Europe. 4) This is a more general question: how much does economic-related professional experience help with PhD applications? This is something I've been wondering when I consider all routes back to school. I feel very familiar with the gives and takes of doing a PhD here or abroad...I'm just looking to understand possibilities in the UK/Europe more clearly! I'm interested in the more well known programs (Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, etc.), but open to anything. Thanks so much for all the help. I haven't been on these forums since I got my rejections...if anyone here has gone through it, it carries a bit of PTSD. But I'm grateful to be back getting advice. P.S. if there is a more appropriate place for this post on the forum, let me know!

Did Harvard need the Supplemental Data form to be filled in order for your application to be reviewed...

Who wants to claim the Cornell admit?

Same. Can we talk about the two seconds when you begin reading an email from NYU GSAS and see "I am very pleased to inform you that..." and then see MA instead of PhD. God. Dammit.

Preach

Who wants to claim that lone Brown acceptance -- any details? Was not expecting Brown this early

^Well, that is at least interesting, and fits with the batch patterns of acceptances/rejections -- *continues dreaming with false hope* Good luck, Evgeny. I'm all red so far too, still waiting on Princeton

Comparative as well. Hmm perhaps we're on to something -- anyone else not heard/subfield?

Yeah this is confusing. I'm comparative and have not heard anything. They could be doing batches -- it looks like in past years acceptances and rejections have come out on the same day, and this doesn't seem to be the case now...

I know this keeps coming up -- but I still haven't heard from NYU, and I see there have been batches of acceptances and rejections, with the latest rejections coming today. I even see some waitlists. How should I interpret this (speculate with me!)? I've been avoiding calling the office during such a busy period...

The fear is that the lag is a posting lag and not a staggering of emails :/

Same...but who posted the reject, and how were you contacted?

Can you loop me in on what you hear? Baffled by NYU as well -- I haven't heard anything yet.

Same question about Columbia -- I'm freaking out. In the past it seems maybe no, but I'm not quite sure

Someone want to claim the NYU waitlist?