Who this is for: students exploring or applying to Econ or Applied/Ag Econ PhD programs, especially first-generation and Africa-based applicants navigating visas, funding, and limited networks.
This is from my own experience, as I am towards the end of my PhD program now (depending on when you are reading this blog). I have gathered the below resources that I found very useful in my journey and thought could be useful to share with other potential PhD students.
Here is my own thought process when speaking to potential/new PhD students either at my own department APEC or at GAIN.
1) First, do you really want to do a PhD? Decide whether a PhD is the right path for you.
Start by understanding what a PhD in economics actually involves: typically two (or more) rigorous years of theory/econometrics coursework followed by three to four years focused on independent research and dissertation writing (total ~5–6 years). Often the admissions FAQ page for the department has some really useful answers (this is MIT’s). Please read the entire course program details of the PhD program you want to join. Compare the courses and the program structure for the different departments you are considering. Next, decide which model fits you best. In the US, most programs are direct-entry PhDs of about five to six years; in the UK/EU, many pathways follow an MRes/PhD structure with 1–2 years of MRes coursework before progressing to the PhD (often another 3–4 years), see good examples of such programs in Bristol, Warwick or LSE. If you’re just getting oriented and not super sure what to read, I would recommend skimming through the two (quite broad) overviews from the American Economic Association and from the New York Fed.
2) Ok so you really want to do a PhD.. now check if you’re prepared and what are you missing in terms of math, stats, or coding skills.
Most selective econ or applied/ag-econ PhD programs expect you to have the core intermediate sequence (micro, macro, econometrics) plus a solid math foundation: multivariable calculus, linear algebra/matrix algebra, probability and mathematical statistics, and (ideally) some real analysis. In my opinion the above order of math courses also somewhat represents the importance to succeed during your program (see more in Currently in the PhD program?). Departments explicitly spell this out; for example, Berkeley lists multivariate calculus, matrix algebra, differential equations, statistics/probability, and additional coursework in algebra/real analysis as desirable preparation, and Berkeley/Columbia undergraduate advising pages similarly emphasize quantitative depth alongside intermediate theory. If you’re light on any of these areas.
Build a plan now (e.g., targeted university courses, a research-oriented master’s term, or structured self-study) so your transcript and letters can credibly speak to readiness. Free open materials make it practical to fill any gaps you might have. A widely used starting point is MIT OpenCourseWare’s Real Analysis (complete lecture notes and readings), which builds proof skills and the rigor graduate micro/econometrics will assume. Pair this with problem-set practice in linear algebra/calculus and, if possible, a short “math camp” or refresher offered by departments. I did both real analysis and multivariate calculus on the MIT OpenCourseWare, during the year I was applying for PhD programs.
3) If you have the time.. get research experience.. do two years as a pre-doc (there are plenty of those on X).
Strong research exposure plus credible letters can outweigh small GPA/test differences. Aim for roles where you’ll clean and analyze data, replicate results, build surveys, or co-author memos—ideally with economists who can later write specific, evidence-based letters. Good places to look include the PREDOC consortium’s listings and part-time board, J-PAL’s global careers portal, NBER RA postings (and affiliated positions not directly hired by NBER), and the pre-doctoral/RA programs at the Federal Reserve (Board and regional banks, typically two-year roles).
4) If you think you are ready.. start shortlisting programs and please focus on fit first then rank (rank of the program not the university!).
This is very time consuming, so please take your time. Start with research fit: identify 3–6 faculty per program whose recent work truly matches your interests. Then layer in evidence on training and outcomes using RePEc Econ and Ag Econ rankings. Then look into the placements of recent PhD graduates, if you like their jobs and where they are working, that is often a good indicator that the department is a good fit for you. Browse department rankings to understand the landscape (University rankings are not the same as department rankings, and department rankings are more relevant for PhD programs), check individual author profiles to map where your potential advisors publish and co-author, and use the RePEc Genealogy to see advisor–student networks. These tools are imperfect but helpful for understanding communities you might join.
5) Plan your timeline (most US deadlines are late Nov to mid Dec).
Build backward from deadlines. Many econ PhD applications open in mid-September and close in early-to-mid December. Use these as anchors to schedule GRE/TOEFL tests, drafts, and letter requests 8–12 weeks earlier.
6) Secure letters of recommendation (some might argue this is your most important asset).
Ask research active economists who can speak to your potential for PhD-level research, ideally including at least one from your most recent institution. Know your FERPA choice. Most applications ask whether you waive your right to read the letters; many applicants do waive, and Harvard GSAS explains what that means in plain terms. Prepare a tidy packet for letter writers (CV, draft SOP, transcript, writing sample, bullet list of projects, and a deadline table). Please give your recommenders enough time ahead of the application deadline (at least a month before the deadline).
7) Writing your Statement of Purpose (SOP).. plus any personal/diversity statement.
Admissions committees want a focused narrative showing your preparation, research interests, and program fit (specific over generic). Harvard GSAS outlines what to cover in SOPs, personal statements, and writing samples; Berkeley’s graduate division explains how the Statement of Purpose (academic preparation/research) differs from the Personal History (lived experience, contributions, and context). Use those distinctions to avoid overlap and keep each statement crisp. Please.. PLEASE try your best not to use any generative AI for this. Instead, you can ask one of your professors/advisors to read or review your statement.
8) Preparing your “academic” CV and possibly a writing sample too.
If a writing sample is requested, submit your strongest evidence of research ability (e.g., a thesis chapter, RA-style memo, or empirical term paper) and follow each department’s formatting limits. If you did a pre-doc and you had the opportunity to co-author a paper, use the working version of that paper (but first ask for permission from your co-authors). For your academic CV, lead with research: education, research interests, working papers/works in progress, RA experience, methods/software, awards, and teaching. Harvard’s career materials for PhD students are a useful template even outside Harvard. UW-Madison has good examples too.
9) Funding, application fees, and waivers.
Econ PhDs are often funded (tuition + stipend), but confirm details on each program’s site and budget carefully. The AEA’s hub summarizes common funding arrangements and fellowships. For application fees, check waiver policies early. If you get an offer for admission without funding that is not necessarily a bad thing and it is not necessarily a reflection on the quality of your application. This is very tricky! I actually rejected two funded offers and accepted an admission offer without funding at UMN because I really wanted to work with two faculty members (who later advised me and joined my committee).
If this happens to you, we can definitely talk more. Most US universities offer graduate assistantships that practically offer you the same/similar offer given to fully funded students, but you would have to work either within your department or in some other research institute within the University (in my case I was admitted to the PhD program at APEC and worked at the Minnesota Population Center). If you are an international students, make sure you check your eligibility to work. Most US international student visas allow the student to work for 20 hours a week only within the University, and that is often exactly what you need to be fully funded (tuition + stipend) if you work outside your department.
10) Emailing potential advisors.
In US econ and ag-econ departments, admissions are typically committee-based; many departments do not expect (or encourage) pre-admission faculty emails. For example, MIT Economics states plainly that you should not contact faculty before admission. If you do reach out elsewhere, make it short and research-specific. Again.. PLEASE do not use any generative AI to write those emails. I personally did reach out to faculty members during the application season, before I was admitted. This is often a good strategy to meet your potential advisor. After all you are going to spend A LOT of time working with that person (at least 5-6 years). And so far you’ve only read through their personal website or looked at their RePEc rankings. And remember if you do hear back from the person you reached out to, and if you did get a chance to have a Zoom call that could be a good or bad indicator depending on how that communication went. But if you do not hear back from them, that does not necessarily mean anything.
Another good strategy is to reach out to current PhD students or candidates at the department you are interested in. I did that myself, and it was really useful. This should also give you a sense of the work/research environment in the department you are targeting.
11) If you get multiple offers.. CONGRATS! That is a very good problem to have!
I lost a lot of sleep because of this.. please don’t. Remember this is a good problem to have, and you are always better off having options. When deciding, I strongly recommend speaking to current PhD students or candidates at the department. Now is also a great time to request a Zoom call with the Director of Graduate Studies at the department. Some departments, like mine, assign in-take advisors and PhD candidates as mentors. Speak to them, explain your uncertainties. For me I did all of the above, and I also found it very useful speaking to a family member that I trusted. Being first-generation, it was unfortunately not very easy for me to get career or academic advice from my family, as often such advice could be irrelevant. But speaking to your family is still very important.
When deciding I would also recommend weighing your decision factors reasonably. Doing a PhD in the US means you are probably going to spend 5-6 years living in the same city, working with the same advisor(s) and the same peers. Yes weather is important, but please don’t make weather your main deciding factor. City life and the neighborhood is important too, but always remember that your chances of getting employed in the same city you did your PhD in, are often slim compared to moving. Most of the PhD graduates often move to another city or state, or even move to another country. So try not to dwell too much on the weather or the city.
For me it was a very difficult decision, because I had to decide on a couple of funded offers before I was able to secure funding for my PhD at UMN. It was a tough decision, but I knew who I wanted to work with, I spoke to my potential advisor at UMN when I was admitted before joining, and I also spoke to current PhD students at the department. I made sure it was a great fit for me to go to Minnesota, before taking a calculated risk (although my wife would disagree on the calculated risk part). I rejected both the funded offers I received to join APEC, before I secured funding at UMN. But thankfully I did two months later.
12) When you get admitted and you’re happy with the offer.. Congrats! If you are an international student. now is the time to apply for visas.
Given the ever-changing rules and regulations and depending on what country you are applying from, requirements and timelines could vary. So I’ll try to keep this short. Almost all US universities have an International Student office, at UMN where I did my PhD, it is called the ISSS. This is often your best place to start in your own institution. Reach out to the International Student office at your own institution and if available you could ask for a Zoom consultation. The most important advice I could give about visas, is start early once you accept your offer!
13) Mentoring! This is something I personally struggled with (given my background).. I never knew about personal websites where people welcome questions from potential PhD students.. I knew nothing about mentoring programs and I did not know you could reach out to complete strangers and ask for advice.
Networking and mentoring, for me, I would say were my biggest obstacles during the PhD application process. Most technical skill gaps can be filled with the vast educational resources available now online. But knowing who to reach out to and having someone telling you a name you could search online, or someone to write an email to, was something I really missed during the PhD application process. This is why I’m writing this blog!
Depending on when you are reading this, I’m currently serving as a GAIN mentor. There are many more mentoring programs that you can enroll in. Aside from GAIN, the Economics Mentoring Program (EMP) and the RIC program are two great mentoring programs that you may want to consider. I would recommend tapping into those structured mentoring programs early on.
In addition to structured mentoring programs, the AEA website has a great list of useful resources written by experienced scholars.
Hosam Ibrahim 