James Callahan is a current Pitt Master of Science in Quantitative Economics student and soon to be graduate in April 2023. He also completed his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh in August 2022 where he minored in Persian Language. James was awarded both a Gilman Scholarship as well as the Fulbright-Hays Fellowship to study Iranian language and culture in Tajikistan. In addition, James is a Veteran with the Air National Guard where he was deployed twice in Qatar and Guam and currently works as an aircraft mechanic. James is finishing up his data analytics capstone project with CGI this spring. Read more about MQE student James below:
What did you study as an undergraduate student and what were your academic goals?
I actually started at community college and was undeclared when I came to Pitt. Once I got caught up on math, I decided to study economics because it’s something I’ve been interested in for a long time. I was planning on doing the Bachelor of Arts, but once I got more comfortable with math and statistics, I changed my plan to the Bachelor of Science. I minored in Persian language because I’m also interested in Iranian history and culture. The experience of earning a STEM undergraduate degree was very rewarding for me and I owe a lot to the Pitt Economics Department in helping me become a competitive applicant for MQE.
Why did you choose the MQE Program and what makes Pitt’s MQE Program unique?
I chose MQE because I had heard really good things about it from members of previous cohorts. As well, I liked how career oriented it is. One objective for me in getting a graduate degree was to gain some practical economics experience, and the capstone seemed like the perfect way to do that. Being now 2/3 of the way through my capstone, I can say that it has been an amazing experience and gives me something directly relevant to talk about with prospective employers. Besides the capstone, what makes MQE unique is how many career resources it has available to students.
What has been the biggest surprise about the MQE Program?
The biggest surprise I encountered with the MQE program was how many networking opportunities are made available through the program. Career chats with professionals, corporate lunch-and-learns, and extensive networking opportunities with the program’s advisory board are just a few examples.
What would you tell others considering the MQE Program?
I would tell others considering the MQE Program to just do it! I find it crazy to think that just a year ago I was seriously considering whether or not I wanted to follow through with this graduate degree, but I’m so happy I did. My main reservation was that I did not feel like I had the discipline or smarts to hack it in the program, but I’ve found that my professors challenge me to grow and provide all the resources necessary to succeed. So yes, just do it.
How has the MQE Program impacted your future career goals?
My education has given me the confidence to aim high. I plan on working as an analyst in some capacity, but am hoping to use that experience to break into the field of consulting later. Using the skills learned in MQE, I hope to work in a more technical capacity than previously planned, and to be in a position to take on more responsibility and leadership duties.