I wrote this will when I graduated in 2017 to help others. I am fortunate to have had many opportunities as an undergraduate. I added research assistantships and pre-doctoral programs in 2020. Please pay it forward by writing your own will and passing it on to others.
Apply for as many opportunities as you can. You will miss many, but all it takes is one great experience to break through. Tell yourself, "Luck is when hard work meets preparation."
I will never forget the advice from a friend's father who immigrated to America with nothing. He landed his dream job at NASA, but he had a vision. So, he quit to start his own company and is now a multi-millionaire.
"Opportunities are everywhere. They surround you, but you don't see it. Work hard, and a vision will come. As an immigrant, it was less difficult. Americans grow up surrounded by opportunities and lose perspective because it's ordinary. The American dream is real … you have to pursue it relentlessly."
Read emails and act on opportunities. My most significant breaks have come by way of my inbox.
Networking is essential.
If you are thinking about a program, apply to it. Think about whether or not you will go AFTER you're accepted.
Your major doesn't matter. Math, statistics, economics, and computer science majors are competitive applicants for any program.
Many programs and internships say they are looking for juniors or seniors, but don't be fooled. There is always an exception.
You'll receive more rejections than acceptances. Keep applying.
If you meet a pre-requisite, APPLY ANYWAYS! (Even if it’s only one.)
Why Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They’re 100% Qualified
** = participated, * = applied
Research Programs
American Economic Association Summer Training Program**
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program**
Big Data Summer Institute (BDSI) University of Michigan**
The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) (Big Ten Schools)**
The Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP)*
MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)
Expanding Diversity in Economics (EDE) Summer Institute, University of Chicago
Federal Opportunities for Undergraduate Students: https://stemundergrads.science.gov/
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp
Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC): https://www.predoc.org/
Mentorship Programs
Research In Color Mentorship Program**
The PhD Project**
Don Lavoie Fellowship**
Duke Pre-Graduate Fellows Program (November)*
Visitation Programs
Southern Management Association (SMA) Pre-Doctoral Consortium (October)**
Georgia Tech Focus (January)**
The Ohio State University Graduate/Professional Student Recruitment Initiative (October)**
NC State Scholars Visitation Program (February)**
Discover UChicago (October)**
Conferences
Emory STEM Research and Career Symposium**
Florida International University McNair Scholars Conference**
Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences (MID-SURE)**
Mid-Missouri American Statistical Association Research Symposium**
Missouri Valley Economic Association**
Ohio Undergraduate Research Symposium**
University of Missouri System, Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol**
Journals
American Journal of Undergraduate Research**
Issues in Political Economy**
Fellowships: NSF, Marshall, Fulbright, Gates Cambridge, Ford … (see your school's fellowship office).
UPenn fellowship list: https://www.curf.upenn.edu/find-fellowships
Research Assistantships
Federal Reserve Joint Website: https://www.fedeconjobs.org
San Francisco - Research Associate**
Board of Governors - Research Assistant*
Chicago - Associate Economist*
Boston - Research Assistant*
New York - Research Analyst*
Kansas City - Research Associate*
Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)*
Opportunity Insights*
Yale Tobin Fellowship*
Stanford Law School Empirical Research Fellowship*
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) *
Heidi Williams*
Matthew Gentzkow*
Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Research Associate
NBER Research Assistant Positions*
http://www.nber.org/jobs/nonnberjobs.html
The PhD Excellence Initiative**
https://www.phdexcellence.org/apply/
Harvard Research Scholar Initiative (RSI)**
https://gsas.harvard.edu/diversity/research-scholar-initiative
Hot Metal Bridge Program - University of Pittsburgh*
Stanford Graduate School of Business Research Fellows Program*
University of Michigan Ross Bridges
University of Virginia Bridge to the Doctorate
Columbia Business School Pre-doctoral Fellowships*
Columbia Bridge to PhD*
Washington University Olin Pre-doctoral Fellows
NYU Stern School of Business Pre-doctoral Program