Rutgers PhD in Economics is A Disaster

[Hmart]

If you fail to get admission with a fellowship from Rutgers University, do not come to this department.

The department is seriously underfunded. Previously, most students could get full funding and tuition remission in their second, third and fourth year if they performed well in their course and research. This year, however, most third-year, fourth-year students lost their full funding. Many of them have GPA close to 4.0.  The program director said the number of funding spots is not enough in this department and the situation may remain unchanged in several years.

Students in this department have to pass a very hard qualify exam at the end of the first year. They can try twice. But only those who pass at the first attempt can get full TAships in their second year. In the year 2016, 7 out of 14 students passed in the first round. 6 are Chinese and 1 is Korean. Those who passed in the second round only get funding for one semester.

If you get the admission without fellowship from the department and ask the staff about you future funding opportunity, they will tell you there is a high chance for you to be funded for three years. Don't believe it. You can hardly get any money after your second year. They will show you an optimistic future to attract you only because they need enough students to open courses and make money. Don't become their cash cow!

The average graduating years in this department is 6 years. If you don't have fellowship which guarantees your funding for 5 years, you will pay your tuition and living expenditure for 5 years at least. There are only 4 fellowships students in each year. So don't come without a fellowship.

 

Edited January 21, 2017 by Hmart