2025 Undergraduate Student Spotlights Rishav Roy

Year in School: Senior

Interests/Hobbies:

Going to class, coming back from class, thinking about class, finishing work for class, class, class class class, class. I’m being facetious, but economics is a vast field—I truly do spend a lot of time pondering it and learning more about it! I’m in this for the love of the game!

That and movies/music, of course. Love a good Ethel Cain-The Brutalist-“The Productivity Slowdown in Advanced Economies: Common Shocks or Common Trends?” triple feature.

Involvements/Employment/Activities:

I’ve done stuff all over the place! Math competitions, union organizing, science bowls, electoral politics, fast food restaurant management (R.I.P. Sookie’s), philosophy clubs—for my fellow economists however, a special shoutout to our undergraduate journal, Equilibrium!

Where is your favorite place on campus and why?

I hate to drop the sauce like this, but my wisdom must be passed on: either the Cinematheque or Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

Our soul is sustained by nature, sun, and art. The Cinematheque (a free movie theater in Vilas Hall) has the art part covered. But man, how can I do justice to Lakeshore. The first time I ever climbed a tree wasn’t in my childhood; it was at Lakeshore, a day before a final! The Muir Woods by Sewell are the best study spot on campus, bar none.

What has been your favorite Econ course?

I’m lucky enough to have taken some PhD-level Econ classes. These classes have been stressful, harrowing, grating, exhausting—and vastly rewarding. I have grown so much as a student, a worker, and a thinker by enrolling in them.

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 was once, in a past life, doing Astronomy-Physics and then AMEP (Applied Math, Engineering, and Physics). But I ultimately chose Economics because what we study—the production, allocation, and consumption of goods/services—is nothing less than the material foundation of all human activity! The things we study (sometimes) matter!

I’ve also been lucky enough to major in Mathematics and Data Science during my time here. Math and programming skills are often essential to succeed in Econ, no doubt. But I enrolled in them mostly as a plan B in case I decided to have a life instead of an Econ PhD one day.

How do you manage your course load?

Goal-oriented scheduling and—this is going to sound pretentious—having a crystal clear idea of what you want from life. Of what you value. Of what matters to you.

Cuz that’s your rock. From there, you’re able get a clear perspective on what you must accomplish to live life in accordance with your values. What will it take to achieve these goals? What would it take for me to, right now, do what is most effective for my long-term happiness?

Does it involve me finishing this homework assignment asap instead of procrastinating so I can stop stressing out about it? Does it involve me going for a walk or a nap right now instead of studying more? Does it involve me putting down TikTok (or Xiaohongshu or whatever) and doing something more restorative, like going to the gym or talking with friends? Be clear, detailed, realistic, and honest about what it takes to execute your plan, to accomplish your goals, and to live life in accordance with your values.

Where did you intern/research, and did you have a good experience? Why or why not?

I’ve done research for a couple private companies and had a wonderful time! Flexibility and money leave a wonderful taste in the mouth. I have not, however, done an internship or academic research. I elaborate on why in my next response.

What advice do you have for students seeking an internship/research experience?

Start thinking about your thesis as soon as possible! Familiarize yourself with mathematics and data science! Enroll in classes where you get to read academic papers! Don’t be afraid to cold email professors and apply to things you’re not prepared for!

Economics is not a life science. We don’t get to pipette for 5 hours a week and call that research. Beyond menial data wrangling work, there aren’t that many opportunities to meaningfully contribute to research as an undergrad.

Your ticket to finding those opportunities, however, is cold emailing and applying. If you intend to pursue research in a graduate or professional capacity, invest time into your thesis and math/programming skills as well.

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?

Oh yeah, either a PhD, Master’s, or pre-doc—whichever one will accept me!

It’s ok to not know what you want! But life comes hard and fast sometimes. And it’s by investing ourselves into things we find meaningful, by being intentional and effective with our energies, that we’re able to prepare and anchor ourselves for the real world.