So you’ve decided, you want to get your PhD. That is fantastic! I had a lot of support along the way and looking back, my conversations with my advisors and peers were a huge help in my plan of action. I put together a list of resources and tips that I found useful when I was applying, with the hope that you will find it helpful as well.
P.S. This list is by no means comprehensive. If you happen to know other resources our future peers could find helpful feel free to drop them down in the comments below!
Advice written by experts
- Chris Blattman on applying to graduate school.
- Stanford’s guide to getting into graduate school.
- Greg Mankiw’s advice for aspiring economists and why you need math.
- Susan Athey’s advice to economics applicants.
- A guide for UCSB undergraduates considering a PhD in Economics.
- Miles Kimball and Noah Smith’s complete guide to getting into an Economics PhD program, and Noah Smith on why you might want an Economics PhD.
- Drew Appleby and Karen Appleby’s article on common graduate-school application mistakes.
- Jesse Shapiro on applying for a PhD in Economics.
- More content on Greg Mankiw’s blog.
- Advice for graduate school on Karthik Muralidharan’s resources page.
- Miscellaneous material on Christine Cai’s website.
- Tal G. Roded’s economics resource wiki.
- Nick Hagerty’s Reflections on Grad School in Economics.
My personal advice
Given my limited experience compared with the people above, I will share thoughts based on my own application cycle in Fall/Winter 2020–2021.
General tips
- Take time before starting your PhD to find RA opportunities and work as a researcher for two—or even three or more—years. This helps develop your interests, refine your skills, gain insight, make connections, and build a stronger application. It has also become the norm, so many competing applicants will have research experience.
- Prepare far in advance. A PhD application can feel like a one-shot opportunity, and you want to be ready. It took me more than a year to get my documents where I wanted them, including the GRE and personal statements.
- Keep everything organized. Make a spreadsheet of universities, deadlines, and requirements, and maintain folders for your CV, statements, and research proposal.
- PhD applications are very competitive, so apply to many programs. If you target top-ten schools, I would recommend applying to 30–40 programs. It is expensive, but it is an investment in your future. My RA position helped fund most of my applications.
- Create accounts and begin the university application forms at least a couple of months before the first deadlines. Administrative forms can take much longer than expected, and each university has slightly different requirements that you may only discover in its portal.
For development and political economy applicants
- Consider working as an RA for development professors or international organizations. Field-research experience is especially valuable if you are interested in field work. See my dedicated guide to predoc and RA positions.
- If you see yourself at the intersection of development and political economy, seriously consider Political Science PhDs with strong Political Economy or International Relations groups. A background in Economics is often an advantage. Keep in mind that Political Science statements are expected to differ from a standard Economics statement of purpose.
- The same applies to Business School and Public Policy PhDs. They can be fantastic opportunities and may be slightly less competitive than Economics, depending on the program and profile.
- Remember that these routes lead to different professions and PhDs. Do your homework before choosing one.
Scholarships for Italian citizens
- UniCredit Foundation — Crivelli Europe Scholarship: usually €65,000 for two years; deadline around mid-November; notification around January 31. See the 2020–21 edition.
- Bank of Italy — Bonaldo Stringher Scholarship: usually $33,000 for one year; deadline around mid-November; notification in February. See the 2020 edition.
- Fulbright Scholarship IIE: usually $38,000 for one year plus other benefits; deadline around early December; notification in February; recipients are required to return to their home country for two years after completing the PhD. See the program page.
Did you find this helpful? Did I miss something? Feel free to let me know.