I started college as a Statistics major because I really enjoy math, but I realized I wanted to apply it to real-world questions. After taking an upper-level economics course, I was drawn to how economics uses math to study a wide range of issues. I think economics has a lot of practical applications and I truly believe it connects to almost everything!

Outside of the classroom, I stay involved as president of the Women in Economics organization. I’m also working on a LAURA research project with Professor Solomon this semester. In the past, I’ve also been a Peer Teacher for Macro Principles.

The AEA Summer Program is an 8-week program that is meant to mimic the first year of a PhD program in Economics. I took 3 graduate-level economics courses and worked on an independent research project during the summer.  I also attended research conferences, connected with professional economists, and built a strong network with peers who share similar academic and research interests.

I gained a strong set of technical and research skills from the program. I became very comfortable working in R through daily use on large, messy datasets, which significantly strengthened my data skills. The independent research project also helped me understand the full research process. 

Beyond technical skills, the program taught me resilience and adaptability. I faced several challenges during the research process and learned how to pivot and manage my time effectively. Most importantly, I built a strong network of peers and mentors through the program.

I know I want a career that is intellectually challenging. I enjoy working closely with economic research, so either conducting research myself or applying it to real-world problems is a goal of mine. I’m especially interested in work that directly impacts people, such as improving public systems, healthcare outcomes, or protecting consumers. Being able to see real-world impact from my work is very important to me.

This is a hard question. It would be a tie between Economics of Development and Growth and Econometrics. Development was the first class where I really got to see the applications of economics in a way that was incredibly meaningful to me. This is the class that definitely sparked my interest in research. I also really enjoyed Econometrics because it was cool to learn how statistics can be used to answer important economic questions.

Economics is so broad, so I recommend taking as many electives as possible and exploring a wide variety of them. Also, get involved outside of the classroom. Whether it be a club or research, you never know what you might find exciting!

I wanted to understand how public policy affected citizens' wellbeing in a more quantifiable way than just political theory. Economics offered me the framework through which to study policy decisions and make recommendations based on data and empirical analyses. Beyond the classroom, I am involved in the Temple Economics Society, with whom I travel to an Economic Policy Conference in DC every Spring. I serve as a Peer Assistant with the department, aiding students in introductory courses, the Women in Economics club, and the Omicron Delta Epsilon honors society.

I absolutely loved the semester I spent at TUJ. The opportunity to live in and experience a different culture is priceless. I was able to take classes dealing in international monetary systems and geopolitics and gained a new perspective on international relations. TUJ has wonderful career development and networking opportunities, even for those studying abroad.

At PHA I worked on a data analytics project for the Office of Public Safety, analyzing crime data and local housing characteristics to model trends in crime. My department offered a wonderful work environment. It was a very closeknit team and my colleagues wer more than willing to answer questions and aid in the adjustment process. I would recommend PHA to those who are motivated to do good in their communities.

I would love to explore a career in Public Policy research, working at an independent think tank or an international relations institute. I plan to pursue a research role after graduation and then apply for graduate school from there.

One of my favorite courses was an upper-level elective called the Economics of Development & Growth with Dr. Das which analyzes developing nations and communities and how various growth and development strategies affect those communities. I was exposed to many different economic models, research methods, and experimental ideas in this class. I loved that economists devised methods to measure and model complex concepts like gender-based freedom, household decision-making power, childhood health, and human functions and capabilities.

Whatever you THINK Economics is, think bigger and broader. Economics is a framework through which you view the world. It is how you make choices, how you analyze problems, and devise solutions. It can be applied to a scenario as small as buying lunch or as big as reducing global poverty. If you are logical, enjoy problem-solving and combining qualitative and quantitative skills, this is the major for you.