Curious about graduate school? Here are some top tips from MBA, JD, and MA graduates.

Submitted by Madison Adams on

Every undergraduate student eventually asks themselves: “What should I do after I graduate?” For many, the answer is graduate school. Getting an advanced degree can be equally rewarding and challenging. Navigating the world of admissions and life while in graduate school can be tough. The Department of Economics recently hosted a virtual graduate school informational session on April 25th with Visiting Committee members Chris Nelson, Eileen Wang, and David Roe as panelists speaking about their experiences getting different graduate degrees. Each of our panelists are UW Economics undergraduate program alumni and concurred that their experiences in our department were very helpful in preparing them for the types of problem-solving scenarios and rigorous courses that they would encounter in graduate school.  

Chris received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and leads a data analytics program in compliance at Microsoft after working as an attorney for their Competition Law Group. He took on a math minor while at UW and considered graduate programs in economics, but ultimately decided to pursue law. He noted that “it’s been really beneficial for me to have enough econ and math background that I’m able to bring that to my legal practice...Those nexuses are where there’s lots of opportunities to innovate, to grow, to influence.” Eileen seconded the importance of math and some computer programming skills in her graduate school experience, having received her M.A. in Economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began at University of Wisconsin-Madison intending to get her Ph.D. with the hopes of working in foreign policy or becoming a professor, but ultimately left after receiving her Master’s. She worked in banking for a couple of years before transitioning to Microsoft, where she served on several teams from the Customer and Partner Experience Measurement Team to the Worldwide Enterprise and Partner Group. She now works at the nonprofit SplashForward. David Roe was also curious about getting a Ph.D. in economics right after finishing his undergraduate degree but ended up working for several years before deciding to go back to school and earn his MBA from University of Chicago. He currently serves as the Senior Delivery Director of Slalom Consulting with a focus in telecommunications.  

The application process for graduate school looked different for each of them, but they offered our students valuable advice that is applicable to many programs. David recounted his test preparation strategy that prioritized studying in his free time. In preparation to take the GMAT, he took a prep course and studied for about two hours per night once he got home from work five nights per week. He also noted that having multiple people review his essays and giving himself time to rewrite them was valuable. He encouraged students to “allow yourself time to do the exploration to figure out the programs you want to go to.” Chris has a similar intensive approach to studying for the LSAT, recalling that he wanted to be as confident as possible in his ability to succeed in each of the test’s sections. It was important to him that he invested his time in applications to get into the best school possible, which included preparing for the entrance exam. He found practice tests to be helpful, as well as going through previous questions and finding patterns in the types that were asked. Chris also emphasized the importance of highlighting passion in the personal statement, which is a common component in many graduate school applications. Eileen assembled a portfolio application for her graduate school admissions that contained GRE scores, transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation. Many students are not sure where to start with gathering letters of recommendation, so Eileen advised that students first reach out to people that know you. Meeting professors, attending office hours, and giving them an idea of why you want to attend a certain graduate program helps them to write standout letters that are more personal and effective. Eileen also got as much research experience as she could during her undergraduate years so that she could be a more competitive candidate for a top research institution. She presented her honors thesis at the annual UW Undergraduate Research Symposium and wrote an article about it for the EUB’s Economizer newsletter. Before she began filling out applications her senior year at UW, Eileen contacted all the graduate departments that she wanted to apply to well in advance and asked if there were any specific additional requirements for applying beyond the standard ones. She found that some schools wanted their applicants to have at least one computer science course on their transcripts or to have reached a certain level of math. Connecting with advisors allowed her enough time to register for a course that would be necessary without having to try and squeeze it in her final quarter at UW. 

Getting admitted to your dream program is a huge accomplishment that is worth celebrating. Our panelists encouraged students to find ways to make the most of it once they begin their graduate studies. David found networking to be an integral part of his MBA program, and his school offered many opportunities for students to get involved through clubs and other interest groups. Balancing studies, extracurriculars, a job, and other obligations can weigh heavily on a person. Graduate school is challenging, no matter what program you end up in. Eileen was candid about the difficulty of her program and lack of free time but emphasized the importance of making time for activities that are good for your mental health, such as exercising or spending time with friends. Many schools, including UW, have low or no-cost counseling and peer support services for students at all levels that could be helpful as well. 

We are so grateful to our three panelists for taking the time to share their advice with our students. Stay tuned for more panels coming in the next academic year! 

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