Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

 Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

 Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day student life.

Tell us about yourself and what you're studying.

I am primarily interested in macroeconomics topics, ranging from consumption behavior to firm investment behavior. My specific research topic has not been decided yet, so I cannot provide more details on what I am studying.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I took an introduction to economics class and I had an amazing professor that made me fall in love with economics. I just really enjoyed the fact that what is studied in economics is relevant in everyone's lives. I also liked how most of the economic concepts are very rational and logical.

What classes are you taking right now? Which is your favorite and why?

The coursework is done in the first two years, so I am currently not taking any classes. Instead, I am now focusing entirely on research and teaching.

Let's say the school day just started, what's a typical morning look like?

Since upper-year Ph.D. students do not have coursework, our days do not have a rigid schedule and depend on only when we teach and when the seminars are. If I have classes to teach in the early morning, then it can be pretty hectic since I need to beat the traffic and get to school.

If I don't have classes to teach in the morning, then it can be quite relaxed and I would get to school if there is an interesting seminar to attend or if I feel more productive in my office.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

Grad students are normally in their office reading or coding for their research in the afternoon. Depending on the individual, they could have advisor meetings to discuss their research.

How are your classes/exams and how do you keep up? How many hours per week do you spend studying or doing assignments?

During the first two years where there was coursework, the classes were quite intense. The classes can be really long, but more importantly, there were a lot of assignments to complete because that is the only way for us to fully understand the materials. I would say that I probably spent 60 to 80 hours per week either in class or doing problem sets.

 Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your grad program?

During the first two years, it was definitely keeping up with the materials because the courses move at a very fast pace. After being done with classes, the most challenging thing now is managing everything on your own.

There is no one holding your hand and guiding you along the way. You have to reach out if you want help with your research. You have to figure out your own timeline to make sure you are on track. Everything is now entirely up to you.

What are some characteristics that help someone succeed in your grad program specifically?

I think being organized and efficient is very important to succeeding in an economics grad program.

Any advice on how to stand out and get into your grad program for those just starting off?

It is getting more competitive to enter economics Ph.D. programs. It is almost standard for most of the students to be math majors before coming into the program, so I would recommend taking graduate econ courses during undergrad if you want to stand out.

What's something that surprised you about grad school?

I was surprised by the amount of work in grad school. I knew that it was going to be a lot, but I was still surprised when I actually had to do it.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to get into your grad program?

I highly recommend doing a research assistant program at a Federal Reserve Bank or at a university economics department.

First, it can help you decide if you enjoy economics research. Sometimes doing research may sound nice, but you might not actually enjoy it once you experience the research process.

Second, it can help you figure out your research interests before entering grad programs, which is extremely beneficial because you do not have a lot of time to discover your research interest once you are in the program.

Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?