1. Take a TOEFL and GRE exam. (you should have scores before mid Dec.)
2. Prepare you resume and SOP. (You should have in hand in first week of Dec.)
3. Get enough! recommendation. (You should have in hand two weeks before application deadline)
4. Mail them on-time and accurately. (post one week before deadline)
5. request your exam scores to be sent by ETS. (request them when you send your files)
6. Wait. (Enjoy from Life)
General comment for each step:
1. I prefer the paper TOEFL. I think it has the same credibility as IBT. To do that you should check every week the ETS site to book for empty seats. But that is not enough, because you should check that every day. To do that apply in groups. Find at least 7 people, not necessary in the same field, but at least 2 of them apply for economics. Each day one member of group check the web for new empty seats. This is great exercise because you should do the same when you apply for VISA appointment. I will talk about it later. Also If you miss the PBT in you country consider the other countries. For example Iranian should consider Turkey.
TOEFL is very important. Generally you should get the minimum requirement. For some school it is really strict to pass the requirements for some not. But if you could not pass the requirement and you think you have good chance for that school, try for it and do not worry. The "Quantitative part" is very very very important in GRE. It is not easy. You should get 800. Solve many sample exams before the test. Sometimes you need to know the meaning of some worlds. If you fail this part, it is really hard to come up with the solution.
2. This link is funny but really helpful. The grad advisor prepares it for Job Market students and not you. But it shows that the resume should be really to the point and brief. Do not include any irrelevant statements. If it has no connection or nothing to do with the economy why do you mention them. Imputing then in your resume show that you are not a professional application. I like to prepare the in latex, if you know how to use Latex try these resumes. Also if you are gonna to write you resume in world, see them, they will give you some ideas.
3. It is very important, believe me. Talk with professors very seriously. Ask them how many recommendations they can write for you. Set some day to get them. Ask from your old friends to know who is responsible for recommendation. Responsible in the sense to write accurate, fluent and relevant recommendation. Do not try the advisor who miss the deadline for your important school. Request from whom who are more in contact with you during the school. Ask them to write what. If you think your professor is a nice guy, request to write a sample to make the life easier for him/her. Consider to mention the following points. "I know him during this class or project. He is hard work, self research and responsible student. He is good programmer because write many codes for me. Good researcher because follow the project with high incentive and individually up to get some results. He present his results professionally. Outstanding among students. His English is fluent. I thought macro from Stokey-Lucas and he show his good math background in that class ...". Be honest. Explain what you are.
4. Plan to mail on-time. Although if departments receive your documents one week later they will be fine, but this one week is for some accidental happenings and error terms. You do your job on-time, they will happen out of you hand. Check with graduate advisor that they have received the files completely. If sending the files in groups reduce the cost do that. You can also send them for your friends in the same city and they hand out them to departments. But pay the application fee some days advanced. If you miss the deadline for application fee, it is hard to have another chance. Before start the application think about the credit card seriously. I mean before starting anything make sure you have reliable credit card. I will write more about it.
5. Easy but do that on-time. Ask the ETS to give you the information of postal date and code. You can share them with department if they deny reception.
6. Wait and check here for news and rumors. Reply to departments in time. If you want more time for decision, inform them why do you have such a request and inform them one week in advance. Bring reasonable reason.
Good Luck
