BS in Economics

Cory Jack, 2020

Cory Jack

How did you choose your degree program?

The summer before I started at Mason, I took Principles of Microeconomics with Dr. Thomas Rustici. He opened my eyes to the beauty of economics. It was in that class I decided that economics is what I would be studying.

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

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences alongside the Honors College provided me many academic opportunities to excel. The unparalleled knowledge I learned from the Department of Economics provided me sufficient understanding to apply economic theories to the real world. I used my learnings at the White House, as a Schumpeter Fellow, and most recently, at my tutoring business. I feel beyond prepared to move forward and succeed and it is in great part to Mason Economics.

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

I have two accomplishments that I am very proud of. The first one is that I will have finished my undergraduate degree in five semesters. The other is my time spent as a White House intern. One more recent accomplishment is my current experience as a Schumpeter Fellow with the Mercatus Center. There are some very bright minds in the group.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career? Please give an example of this impact if possible.

Dr. Jason Dunick helped me throughout my undergraduate career. I fondly remember every semester he would advise against overloading on credits and I would subsequently overload. In all seriousness, his upper level courses, and now Honors Thesis, have helped prepare me for my future and I think my economic intuition is much stronger because of him. My freshman year (if you could call it that) I took intermediate macroeconomics with Dr. Garett Jones. His class was the most educational, challenging, and rewarding class I have taken during my college career.

What advice would you give to any incoming first years?

Short-term costs for long-term gains. Work harder up front so it will be easier down the road. Remember your goal is to get the degree, so get it! There are loopholes, there are really good professors, and the advisors are there to help you.

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

Following graduation, I will be attending law school. I am also interested in pursuing a PhD in economics. Following higher education, I hope to practice antitrust law. Long-term, I think the political world may be fun.