"UC Davis has a multitude of programs and opportunities for students, and the economics department is no exception."

I graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with a double major in economics and philosophy. As a student, I was part of the University Honors program, as well as a Research Assistant and TA in the economics department. I always knew that I wanted to become a lawyer someday, so I came into UC Davis as an undergraduate with a clear goal in mind: get into law school. And it worked! I am currently living out my dreams at Stanford Law School, where I am studying a wide range of legal topics, from the legal underpinnings of Venture Capital to the ins-and-outs of Constitutional Law. I have also done research in Law and Economics, worked with Stanford's Religious Liberty Clinic, and spent my summer doing tax law at a firm in the Silicon Valley (an interest I first acquired in an economics course at UC Davis).

I am graduating this June from Stanford Law School. After that, I have accepted a job offer from the firm Fenwick and West, LLP in their Mountain View office. I'll be joining their tax law group, focusing my practice on corporate tax law, international tax law, and tax controversy.

What did you most value from UC Davis economics education?

My studies at UC Davis gave me a strong foundation to pursue and thrive in the legal profession. The theories I studied as an undergrad translate don't just teach you how to tackle problems in economics; they give you a new framework for handling just about any problem. Thinking like an economist has benefited me greatly in law school; from its distinctly utilitarian approach to hard problems to its logical and analytical rigor, studying economics was one of the best, most helpful decisions of my life. I have used the skills I learned from my economics courses almost every day in law school, and I am sure that I will use those same skills as I progress in my career. Studying economics at UC Davis can give you the tools you need to survive in a broad range of professions.

Beyond the classroom, the economics department is a wonderful place to be. As an undergraduate, I made connections with professors, grad students, and classmates which I hope will last my entire life. While it is a large department, the people in the economics department made it feel small and close-knit. You would be hard-pressed to find a kinder, more supportive group of people on campus. They helped me through some of the toughest times of my life, and I know they can do the same for you.

Any opportunities you found helpful or advice they would suggest for undergraduates in our program?

UC Davis has a multitude of programs and opportunities for students, and the economics department is no exception. Sometimes, it might even feel difficult to decide which opportunities to pursue because there are so many of them. My honest advice is to participate in whichever activities or opportunities you think will make you happiest. If there is a program you really want to be part of or a professor you really want to work with, ask! You will be rewarded for your hard work and determination. When I first started at Davis, I was surprised to learn that one of my TAs was an undergraduate. I was impressed by him and his story, so I made it a mission of mine to become a TA myself. By my fourth year, my hard work paid off, and I was given the opportunity to be a TA for the introductory economics courses. It was one of the highlights of my time at UC Davis.