Graduate School Application Process

Over the last couple of months, on top of working and trying to enjoy the city (now that I can properly do so as a graduate), I’ve been trying to put together all my materials for applying next Fall to graduate programs in Economics.

While that has spelled some lapses in my ability to write for this blog, it has given me a window into the world of academia and graduate schools that I didn’t fully appreciate until now. On top of reaching out to people who’ve already gone through graduate school and could help answer my questions, registering for some extra math courses, and crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s for materials such as my transcripts, my papers, etc., perhaps the most time-intensive portion of my applications so far has been the statement of purpose.

Trying to condense my background, my interests, and my aspirations for a PhD in Economics into several hundred words is certainly challenging. Moreover, trying to explain why each particular school’s program will allow me to fully pursue my interests can also be challenging—especially when trying to do so in only a few paragraphs.

Trying to do so has forced me to delve deep into the strengths of different schools in diverse fields of study, the particular areas of interest of their faculties, and—most importantly—what kind of research would be most viable, valuable, and original for me to pursue.

Trying to explain one’s passion for a subject—all while simultaneously describing why one wants to pursue graduate work, how one is qualified to do so, what research areas one would be interested in pursuing, what one aspires to do after obtaining a PhD, and why a school is a particularly good fit given all of the above—can be a daunting task. But it has challenged me to articulate in concise and clear terms why I’m up for the task of a doctorate in Economics—and to give a deeper look into the field that I’m trying to communicate I’m very passionate about.

Hopefully, in less than a year now, I’ll be pressing submit on my applications with a statement of purpose that conveys to each program that I’ll be a productive, passionate, and dedicated researcher, with all the tools in his belt to provide valuable contributions to the field of Economics.