Slutsky_Walrus

What's your math background like? I can't speak for any of the other programs, but if your math background ends with Calc I&II, you're gonna have a bad time at UBC...

Repec isn't a definite rankings list, but sometimes it can be useful. http://ideas.repec.org/top/top.germany.html

I'm originally from Toronto, but just finished up at Waterloo.

Well how early did you get accepted? If you were a first round offer or relatively early, then I dont see why you wouldn't get in again next year. But if you got one of the last seats available, then obviously it could go either way.

Nah I decided to just get a room and share a place with someone. What pet are you bringing with you? A dog?

On the econ side, this is the general trend I've seen/heard: GRE: Quant is the usually the one that matters, at least160 (80th percentile) GPA: Generally anything below 3.5 will get you auto-rejected at top schools (like a GRE Q below 160) Publications: If you have any that's great, but most undergrads coming out do not have them. So definitely helps you if you do, but won't hurt you if you don't. Undergrad thesis: Exactly 1 person in the world cares about you undergrad thesis - you. Research interests: There aren't any that are better than another, but you should be aware of each school's general strengths when applying Now the math courses list is slightly more tricky. The golden rule is more math the better. But you should at the minimum have all A's in calculus courses (single and multivariate), real analysis, algebra courses (linear and abstract). and I'm probably missing some. Now, you may be missing one or more of the core math courses and you might get in anyway, but that means you're already a step behind everyone else. And playing catch up at a top school, or at any school, is not a good idea.

I emailed a few months places last night and they were all filled. I'm also starting to get a wee bit nervous myself!

Well I figured I'd run into another MA Econ student around here! Where are you coming from?

As it's been said in countless previous threads, email the department and tell them. Don't make up a sob story, just tell them you believe UBC will be a better school for your professional development. I honestly don't know if there will be consequences, but personally I feel that grad directors probably won't even remember your name in an year or two unless you particularly stand out for whatever reason. But on the other hand, academia is a pretty small community... so who knows. If you do end up choosing UBC, see you there in September!

I can only speak from the little bits of info I've seen on cases like this. With that said, I have not heard of a single applicant accepting a LSE/UCL/Warwick/Oxford offer over a funded one from a decent school - UBC/Toronto in Canada, and I've seen cases of people choosing BGSE, Toulouse, U3CM, etc. Obviously those schools don't have quite the brand name as LSE or Oxford, but as long as you go to a decent enough school for your undergrad/MA, it's really not as big of a factor when applying I think. With that all said though, as a Canadian applicant I chose an unfunded UBC offer over funded offers I had. Not necessarily to better my chances at a PhD, but for other reasons.

mizan, are you an international student?

I had an email worded almost exactly the same - higher than usual number of first round offers were accepted, we do not know if further offers will be sent out, etc. I ended up getting into that program. I had another program tell me that they can't offer me funding, and if I'd still like to be considered. I said yes, got in, and that's where I'm headed in the fall. In other words, until they say "sorry try again", it's still very much possible.

For a second I was wondering if I was on EJMR

Got my final official rejection today, although I knew that was the case a while back. So no more loose ends!

I don't know about the engineering side, but everything I've heard about UBC for my discipline says all the big name faculty are busy doing their own research and won't bother much with students unless they're PhD students. Ie. undergrads and masters students don't see them much. The little I've read about UBC-O today (I didn't even know there was a campus out there, I'm going to UBC Vancouver this fall) seems to indicate a small program with a lot of faculty-student interaction regardless of student level. If OP can go to UBC-O and kick ass, ie. graduate top of his class, along with getting to know faculty well, then it might be the better option even without considering the 80k.

Seems like quite a disparity in the quality of your options, where else did you apply?

I'm in another discipline but was in a somewhat similar situation in terms of choosing between ranking and funding. I gave up the funded offer (17k) at a top tier 2 school to attend arguably the top program here in Canada. I was told to keep my doors open for international PhD programs (and the top Canadian ones), I should choose ranking over the money although I'm guessing the money difference for you is bigger than 17k?

Really hoping to find at least a bit of time to do some skiing in BC

I don't mind the cold and snow too much, in fact I think I'm gonna miss it. As silly as it may seem, I actually hate the rain so next year is gonna be interesting if I can't get used to it lol. But I figure I'm gonna spend most of my days stuck at a desk studying anyway...or at least I should be!

I'm still unsure I made the right choice, but I chose the higher ranked (and generally regarded as tied for best in the country) program. My specific career path I'd like to pursue more or less needs me to come out of the program and I wanted to keep my options open in terms of continuing into a PhD. I guess I'll find out whether I made the right or wrong decision next year.

I know of two that are going to UBC from my department, so at least I'll know a couple of people in my classes. Otherwise, I don't think I know anyone else going to UBC. I also took extra long to finish my undergrad so all of my HS friends are done school already. And on top of that, Ontario students generally don't leave Ontario to go to school since admittedly there really aren't any reasons to go elsewhere for education unless you personally want to (and I, like you, have always wanted to go out west)

I was planning on getting outta here and moving to Vancouver next month to enjoy the summer out there, but didn't exactly pan out that way so I'm gonna have to wait a couple of months. I'm thinking about trying to find a place in the Marpole/Kerrisdale/Oakridge area. A little further out, but rent seems a little more reasonable and there's still a direct bus route to campus. But I've heard the traffic can be bad, and I'm originally from Toronto so I know how painful that can be. The trips to the store and little trips around/outside the city should be nice, as long as I can find the time haha

I'll be moving early August probably. Gives me some time to move and settle in before starting the program. I was initially planning on attending SFU so I looked in Burnaby, thought that was expensive, then I looked in vancouver once I got accepted by UBC. Even though I'm driving out there, I'll definitely be commuting by bus as much as I can.

M.A Economics! I've been checking out padmapper to get an idea of where to live. I haven't decided if I want to live with a roommate but considering I'm going without any funding, it might be the only choice. I'm planning on renting a u-haul trailer and driving some of my stuff out there from Ontario. Gonna be a long drive!

So, who's going to UBC this fall?