[AEA_CSMGEPnews] CSMGEPNews: AEA Summer Training Program & AEA Minority Fellowships

[aea_csmgepnews at americaneconomicassn.org]

Online applications are being accepted for the American Economic
Association’s Summer Training Program and the affiliated Minority
Scholarship Program.  Detailed information about the program and how to
apply are available at the following web site:
http://econ.ucsb.edu/aeastp/index.html.

Starting in the summer of 2008, the University of California at Santa
Barbara became the 10th university to host the Summer Program, which
typically remains at a particular host site for three to six years.
Previously the program was hosted by Duke, the University of Colorado at
Denver, the University of Texas at Austin, Stanford, Temple, the University
of Wisconsin at Madison, Yale, Northwestern, and the University of
California at Berkeley.

As the website notes, the AEA Summer Training Program, which began in 1974,
seeks to prepare talented undergraduates for doctoral programs in economics
and related disciplines by offering a unique opportunity for students to
gain technical skills and conduct economic research with prominent faculty.

All US citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for
scholarship assistance; however, preference is given to members of
underrepresented minority groups that have been historically disadvantaged
in the US context.  Scholarship decisions also consider demonstrated
financial need. The purpose of the Minority Scholarship Program is to
increase the number of African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans
with doctorates in economics.

The application deadline is March 15.  For more information about the
Summer Program, please see the website above; the email address is
aeastp at econ.ucsb.edu, and the phone number is 805-893-7309 (fax
805-893-8830).

Here are some points to keep in mind as you think about potential
candidates at your institution:

1.  The ideal targets are promising undergraduates (sophomores, juniors,
and seniors) who eventually might want to pursue graduate study in
economics (especially at the Ph.D. level).  Also considered for acceptance,
however, are somewhat older students interested in graduate study in
economics, or students interested in graduate study in related fields such
as public policy, demography, or public health.

2.  There are two levels in the program:  a "foundations" level and an
"advanced" level.  The advanced level is for students with a strong enough
background in economics and mathematics that they could consider applying
soon (i.e., within a year or so) to doctoral programs in economics.  The
foundations level is for students not yet at the advanced level. Students
who complete the foundations level in one summer can apply to return in a
subsequent summer for the advanced level.

3.  Minority students attending the program typically receive funding for
their costs of participation (e.g., tuition, room, board, books,
transportation to Santa Barbara) as well as a modest stipend.

Please don't hesitate to contact Steve Trejo, the Associate Director if you
have questions or if you have any students you'd like him to know about.
Prof. Trejo's phone number is (512) 475-8512, and his e-mail address is:
trejo at eco.utexas.edu  You can also contact the Summer Program Director,
Prof. Doug Steigerwald of UC-Santa Barbara.  Prof. Steigerwald can be
reached at doug at econ.ucsb.edu