Email to check portal and then turned out to be an offer...

Email to check portal. Fed RA. Visit days overlap with Harvard Econ...

Mailed to check portal. Probably rejected because of less than competitive GPA and not fulfilling math requirements (I have two semesters of calculus against the suggested three)

email to check the portal

Rejected after interview

Indeed, I strongly advise Chinese students who wish to pursue a PhD after completing an MS not to continue their enrollment in this program. First, the famous agecon faculties are about to retire in the last two years, and there is no reason they should continue to advise students. Second, the research vibe is kind of toxic, which depends on who you work with (you may figure out soon you donot have too many choices of advisors if you are in this program). Third, due to Professor Li's departure and other factors, there has been a reduction in the recruitment of Chinese MS and PhD students to AEM programs, a trend that has begun this year. So, if you just want to get a STEM program and work after you're done, it may be a good choice because the tuition fees for an MS are cheap, and you have a lot of freedom to choose your workload. If you really like research and want to do a PhD, do not come to this unwelcoming place because doing a PhD is not only heavy learning stuff but also a mental challenge. If you continue to go to a place after you know you are not welcome to this place actually (maybe you got admitted), you will have a painful 5 years, maybe 6 or 7. FYI, the title of Cornell will still help you entitle yourself if you choose to go to industry instead of academia.