Saattvic Saattvic
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I have worked as an economic consultant focusing on antitrust issues since 2009, which has exposed me to the inner workings of a variety of industries. As a consultant, my work was directed by my clients' needs, and there was not much opportunity to independently pursue questions I found inherently interesting. Pursuing a graduate degree will not only give me cutting edge tools, but will allow me to pursue questions of my choosing.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC ticked a lot of my boxes. The university itself, and my program, are both very highly ranked internationally. The faculty includes several established and young researchers with interests closely connected to mine. The financial support (even absent the SSHRC scholarship) is generous. The campus itself is pretty, and Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
A very low student-faculty ratio allows me to get more time from individual faculty members than would be possible in a traditional Economics program. Also, working in a business school allows me to interact with researchers in closely related fields like information systems. Lastly, my department has some extremely celebrated researchers in my areas.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best surprise about Vancouver is being able to hike in snow-clad mountains and relax on a sunny beach - on the same day!
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I would say my work as an antitrust economist, and a good masters degree helped me prepare for my graduate program.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Make lots of new friends, especially with people from other departments. Make sure to look outside your department and enjoy the variety of intellectual stimulation the University has to offer.
