Admitted applicants usually have a GPA in excess of 3.50 (4.00 scale), and generally score above the 85th percentile in each category of the GRE. Grades in mathematics and economics classes are considered much more carefully, as is the quantitative portion of the GRE. It is crucial that applicants write a well-defined statement of purpose that clearly identifies their research interests and how their interests relate to current research being conducted by members of the graduate field faculty.