Sanskar Bista

Sanskar Bista

Sanskar Bista

How did you choose your degree program?

In my senior year of high school, I took AP Economics with Mr. Kim. His enthusiasm for the subject and how applicable the content was to our everyday life made me fascinated with the subject as well. From there, I knew economics was what I wanted to study.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Honors College gave me all of the tools and academic opportunities I needed to excel in my time here at Mason. The Department of Economics helped hone my understanding of economic theory and strengthen my critical thinking and analytical skills as well. I've used that knowledge in my internships, classes, and just my everyday life as well. The interdisciplinary courses of the Honors College helped me better understand the different perspectives of my peers and showed me how well the social sciences complement one another. All of this has prepared me very well for life outside of school and I couldn't be more grateful!

What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?

There are two accomplishments I'm very proud of during my time at Mason. The first one is getting the opportunity to intern with the Department of Education. That was my first internship ever and it was such an incredible learning experience. The internship helped me cultivate my data analysis skills and showed me how the intersections of data and public policy contribute to the creation of the legislation we see today. I'm always humbled to have had to opportunity to work with such incredible and inspiring civil servants! My second biggest accomplishment was being a Schumpeter Fellow. Getting the opportunity to discuss and debate ideas in political economy with such brilliant peers has greatly shaped how I view the world and has solidified my career ambitions.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?

Dr. Melanie Fedri has been my best mentor during my time at Mason. She's an incredible professor who will go above and beyond to help her students succeed! She's gone out of her way to help me fix my resume and has given me great advice on how I should think about my career and what I should do with my life once I graduate. I'll always be thankful for her support! These sentiments also apply to Dr. Ginny Choi, who gave me the opportunity to be a Schumpeter Fellow. My academic development can greatly be attributed to that program so I'm very grateful that she gave me the opportunity.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

Currently, I plan on working for a year or two while I prepare for the GRE. I intend on applying to graduate school with the intention of pursuing a degree related to Political Science or Public Policy. Afterward, I would love to work at a think tank and contribute to meaningful research related to progressive social policies.