Sereen Alhabsi
Hometown: Muscat, Oman
Year in School: Junior
Interests/Hobbies:
Swimming, hiking, solo walks, and traveling.
Involvements/Employment/Activities:
I am actively involved in the Economic Student Association, currently serving as the Career Trip Chair. Recently, I organized a trip to Chicago, where we visited several companies to explore different fields within economics. Additionally, I work as a tutor for Economics 310 and participated in the “Engage in Econ” program last semester.
Where is your favorite place on campus and why?
Both the Terrace and College Library are my favorite spots on campus. The Terrace is by far the best place to relax and unwind, and being so close to the College Library makes it even better. As for the College Library, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with it. It’s the best place to study, with a café on the first floor and a perfect location near Social Sciences and the Terrace. The library is always there for me, but after spending so much time there over the past couple of semesters, it started to feel a little overwhelming.
What has been your favorite Econ course?
One of my favorite course has been Econometrics 410 with Professor Yata. It was challenging, but he explained the concepts in clear, simple steps. The class really helped me understand data and econometric methods. Initially, I was intimidated by the name of the class, but the concepts were fascinating. I especially loved how, with simple techniques, I could generate more data from data! I also enjoyed Econ 312 with Professor Alder, it was by far the hardest class I’ve taken, but I learned so much and made some great connections with my peers.
If you have any other majors or certificates in addition to Econ, how did you decide to add Econ or add the other major/certificate?
I am pursuing four certificates that complement my economics degree. Since I’m considering a more applied career path after graduation, I decided to minor in both Mathematics and Data Science to enhance my analytical skills and data visualization abilities for research. Additionally, I’m working towards a certificate in Development Economics after taking a class in the Agriculture and Applied Economics department (Econ 474), where I found the material particularly engaging. The papers we studied applied economic concepts and theories to real world situations. Lastly, I’m also pursuing a certificate in Leadership to become more actively involved on campus.
How do you manage your course load?
Google Calendar! I can’t stress enough how helpful it is for organizing my tasks in a manageable way. Sometimes the workload from classes can feel overwhelming, but by putting everything in one calendar, it makes it much easier to tackle one task at a time.
Where did you intern/research, and did you have a good experience? Why or why not?
I haven’t had any internship or research experience till now. However, I am currently taking Econ 580, which is a prerequisite for the senior thesis, and I’m also enrolled in Econ 695 this semester. In Econ 695, we focus on visualizing data by replicating key elements from previous research papers. I’m excited about the opportunity to create my own paper and gain more hands on research experience next year.
What advice do you have for students seeking an internship/research experience?
My advice is to talk to economics advisors, TA’s and professors during office hours, they are some of the best resources for learning about internships and research opportunities. Additionally, if you know someone who has had the opportunity you’re interested in, reach out to them to learn about their experience and the application process. Finally, get involved in a campus club that aligns with your interests and be an active member, it’s a great way to build connections and gain experience!
Do you know what you want to do after graduation? If yes, what? If not, what advice would you give to another student who may not know either?
I have a general idea of my plans after graduation, but I’m still open to change if a better opportunity comes along. Right now, my plan is to apply for graduate school or jobs that involve economic research. However, I’m still figuring out which area of economic research interests me the most. To explore my options, I’m taking as many econ electives as possible before graduation. My advice for students who are still unsure about their career path in economics is to join an econ club and attend career trips. In my experience, these trips have exposed me to different fields within economics by allowing me to network with student alumni working in various industries and get a sense of what their workday looks like. Through these experiences, I’ve learned about career paths I hadn’t even considered, like sports economics analyst.