For Undergraduates Considering a PhD

Resources for undergraduates exploring whether an economics PhD is the right path, and how to prepare for it.

Deciding and Preparing

Honest perspectives on what a PhD entails, plus practical advice on building your profile — coursework, research experience, letters of recommendation, and gap year strategy.

• Susan Athey: Professional Advice — Candid advice from a Clark Medal winner on whether to pursue a PhD and how to prepare.
• Miles Kimball: The Complete Guide to Getting into an Economics PhD Program — Comprehensive overview of what admissions committees look for.
• Rachael Meager: For the Ambitious, Prospective Ph.D. Student
• Reed Walker: Paths to Graduate School (Slides) — Overview of what experiences matter for admissions (see slide 8 in particular).
• Jesse Shapiro: Notes on Applying for a PhD in Economics
• Elgin et al.: So You Want to Go to Grad School in Economics? — A group-authored guide covering the full decision and preparation process.
• Shiv Hastawala: Advice for PhD Econ Aspirants from India — Specific guidance for students applying from India.

Pre-Doctoral Programs and RA Positions

Pre-doctoral research positions are one of the best ways to test whether a PhD is right for you and to strengthen your application. This section is a stub — contributions especially welcome here!

• PREDOC - Pathway to Research and Doctoral Careers
  • De facto source where most pre-doc opportunities get posted.
• Riccardo Di Cato: Finding Predoc/RA Positions
  • A compilation of resources to find pre-doctoral opportunities.
• Zahra Thabet: Pre-Doc Advice and Resources
  • She’s currently a PhD student at Stanford who wrote this guide a few years ago - useful guide for finding RA and pre-doc roles.

Mathematics Preparation

Building a strong math foundation (real analysis, linear algebra, probability, and measure theory) is essential preparation for a PhD in economics.

• American Economic Association: Recommended Mathematical Training for Graduate School in Economics
  • Mathematical course prep recommendation from the AEA, this applies to most top-100 programs.
• Terence Tao: An Introduction to Measure Theory — Free textbook on measure theory, a key foundation for advanced econometrics and economic theory.
• Terence Tao: Advice on Writing Papers — Mathematical writing advice from a Fields Medal winner — useful well before grad school.
• Hal Varian: How to Build an Economic Model in Your Spare Time — A classic essay on economic modeling; Watt recommends reading it once a year.