IntroductoryAnalysis

While Stock & Watson is great for econometrics, it's not going to be very helpful to learn the stats that @dyavrom needs. The first chapter is a very quick stats review, but you'd be better off reading the Wikipedia page on covariance than buying an econometrics book to study for an intro stats test.

Most programs that I've looked at say on their website that they don't accept any transfer credit -- and you have to think it would make no financial sense for them to accept class credit taken somewhere else. I guess it might be possible to use a year of an MA to prove you're capable of doing graduate-level work and are interested in the field and then leverage that for a new application to someplace you've been previously rejected (I assume this is your intent?). On the other hand, it might make more financial sense to sit grad school out for a year, take some courses as an at-large or visiting student at a local university, and try again in a year. In that year you could also get more work / volunteer experience in your field of interest. This might be harder if you live someplace rural without easy access to a nearby college or university, but in that case online courses might have to do.

Did anyone attend the admitted students day (sadly I had to stay home at the last minute)? If so, can you offer any thoughts / impressions? Thank you!

Ha. Sadly, I'm not at Michigan either.

Yup, go to Michigan and take a class with Betsey Stevenson. The Ford name is going to travel well, I wouldn't worry about that.