01-LUSC- MA in Economics个人陈述

I chose to major in mathematics and economics because I enjoy working with numbers. More importantly, I am fascinated by the   "So what? "  question: the underlying insights behind the numbers. This insight-searching curiosity has surfaced to become the theme of my undergraduate study, as I have gradually dived into the core major courses since my sophomore year.

My nearly four years of training in mathematics and economics have given me a solid foundation of data interpretation, economic analysis and problem solving skills.  After having taken all levels of economics courses, I have learned how to observe the macro market trend by compiling a sea of numbers. Similarly, through mathematics courses such as Math of Finance (ECON 135A), I gained insights of how to work with data analytically and allocate resources for a maximal return on investment. The interconnectedness between all numbers (micro) and their collective impact (macro)  fascinates me on a deep level, and I am now hooked on this topic.

Not satisfied by only knowing what I can learn through classes and textbooks, I decided to learn how thee economic rules work in a real business entity. As an inter in the financial center at one of the largest oil production centers in China, I was responsible for collecting financial data through the entire production chain and analyzing the discrepancies between the actual spending and the initial budget. In order to better understand the financial data, I taught myself the micro economic aspects of the oil and gas industry: the value chain of oil production, the common practice of hiring, marketing, and equipment purchasing, etc, so I could maximize the outcome of my analysis through the financials. It came to my attention that the oil-exploring team was similarly productive compared to another peer oil production team based in China. However, the operating cost was much higher. In order to find out the reason, I reached out to the production department of the peer company via the introduction from my supervisor. It turned out we had the same practice but a different component in the drilling machine, which led a higher rate of replacement. I created a detailed report on my findings with a few better options from our vendor after I calculated the initial cost for the change and the following annual cost. My supervisor was amazed by my findings and told me that I was able to save over 20percent of the overhead cost .

Intrigued by the initial analysis, I dived deeper into the oil and gas industry to see where we can see further cost savings as well growth opportunities. I conducted a second-round research on the macroeconomic factors that will drive the growth for the next-generation energy. I summarized my thoughts and communicated them with my manager, who later invited me to work with the marketing department on an industry report for growth and risks in the next 20years. Together, we researched the macro trends in the oil and gas industry both worldwide and in China, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the company and proposed the possible areas that we could focus on to secure the baseline while seeking new revenue streams.

Not only has my academic study and internship given me the best learning experiences, but more importantly they have pushed me to think about where I am now in my career and what I want to pursue next for my career development. I  enjoyed thoroughly conducting studies and extracting insights from data and eventually helping organizations and their leaders find growth, mitigate risks, and navigate through the economic turbulence overall. The Master of Arts in Economics(MAE)program at University of Southern California (USC) will provide me an excellent opportunity to strengthen my skills by providing a targeted education: major areas of economics, hands-on experiences, and oral communication of economic ideas

The interdisciplinary nature of the program, the diverse backgrounds of its top-notch faculty and students, and the strong alumni connection will be the critical support system for my career acceleration. Therefore, my core motivation for the MAE program at USC is my belief that the contextualized focus of economic analysis decision making and organizational changes will bring my skill sets to the next level. In combination with my insight-searching curiosity developed from mathematical and economic undergraduate training, the MAE program will enable me to make a significant impact in the business world upon graduation, and I am very excited about this opportunity.