Irina Chen is an economics alumni. She is attending Western University for their Masters of Financial Modelling program this fall.

Q: Why did you choose to study Economics?
A: The reason I chose to study Economics is simply – it is useful and applicable in the real
world. Economics happen around us. Firm relies on micro models to predict necessary
production and consumption. Government uses macro models to examine the development of
the country. Moreover, economics analysis can be applied to many social areas such as politics
and health. In a word, the world will collapse without economics system.

Q: What was your favourite economics course at Waterloo? Why?
Answer: I love all my econometrics classes. But I would like to say Econ322 with Professor
Chaussé was my favourite. I learned lots of statistics and economics theories as well as
different validity tests, which were still useful in my third even fourth-year statistics classes. I
enjoyed writing the final paper the most because not only it trained us to write a formal research
paper but also provided various visualized R-packages. After taking his class, I realized my
passion and love to statistics, and decide to persuade a degree in statistics.

Q: What did you decide to do after graduation?
A: After my undergrad, I am going to continue my studies at Western University in
Financial Modelling major, which is under Statistics and Actuarial Science department. I am
thinking to take another Master’s degree in Economics after this one.

Q: Do you have any special or interesting talents?
A: I can concentrate on my favorite things (such as doing econometrics assignment) for
more than 8 hours.

Q: What would be the best piece of advice you would give students?
A: Work as hard as possible when you are young so you will never regret when you get
old.