Recent Grads: Where are they now?
One question we often hear from prospective Economics majors is, “What can I do with an Economics degree after I graduate?” Our answer: Pretty much anything.
Students in Princeton’s undergraduate Economics program are taught to tackle problems analytically and are trained in the data analysis and technical methods needed to do so. While many students put these skills to work by joining firms that specialize in consulting or finance, many others pursue paths in public service, academia, or tech.
To get a better sense of what recent Princeton Economics graduates have done with their degree, we asked a few of them to share where they are now—and how they got there.
Sydney Eck ('24), Trade and Quantitative Studies Section at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Since graduating in 2024, I’ve been working at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in the Trade and Quantitative Studies Section. The majority of my time is spent analyzing trade policy, such as tariffs and trade deals, and their impacts on the economy to help inform monetary policy decisions. The work is fast-paced, reacting to new trade policy as it is announced.
While at Princeton, I interned twice on Capitol Hill in both the US House and Senate as a legislative intern. After my freshman year, I worked for Senator Hickenlooper’s office, focusing on his work on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. After my sophomore year, I worked for Representative Perlmutter’s office, focusing on the following portfolios: Financial Services, Science, Space & Technology, and Natural Resources. Between my junior and senior years, I was an SINSI intern and worked for the Enterprise Risk Management team at the Federal Reserve Board, conducting initial assessments and providing guidance on AI use at the Fed. I was also a Princeton Novogratz Bridge Year student and spent a year interning at an education and sustainability NGO in India called Shikshantar Andolan before starting my freshman year.
My time at Princeton prepared me to approach these novel questions creatively and rigorously, always considering new techniques and opportunities to improve our work. The resources and mentorship available to me as I pursued my independent research were critical to my success in my current position, helping me produce high-level research and dive into novel policy analysis. Every day, I use the technical skills I have developed and the understanding I have gained from thorough, meaningful research.
Shirley Ren ('24), Ph.D. Student at Princeton University
I was captivated by economics during my undergraduate experience at Princeton, which motivated me to return for a Ph.D. My time here exposed me to compelling economic questions and helped me build a strong foundation in analytical thinking. The diverse set of courses, including those offered by the Bendheim Center for Finance, introduced me to macro and finance concepts that I hope to explore further in grad school and beyond. As an economics major, the junior paper and the senior thesis process solidified my interest in pursuing a research career. I especially appreciated how accessible and supportive the faculty were, and the department's generous support in seeking opportunities outside the classroom.
Oliver Zhong ('25), Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates
I'm currently an Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates, a macro hedge fund. I'm working on our Macro team to develop our understanding of what drives conditions in different economies and how we can turn that understanding into systemized trading strategies. My favorite part of my job is taking time every morning to read the news, Substacks, research articles, and even just scrolling through Twitter, since almost every headline is relevant to macro investing, and unique insights needed to beat markets can come from anywhere.
There are courses I took at Princeton as part of the Minor in Finance that helped prepare me for macro investing, like ECO 492: Asian Capital Markets, which taught me to connect theoretical macro phenomena to actual market action, and ECO 342: Money and Banking, which helped me understand how to identify and model self-reinforcing dynamics. The internships that helped shape my career and interests included a PSIP (Princeton Startup Immersion Program) internship my freshman summer, a summer analyst internship at Nomura my sophomore summer, and a summer analyst internship at Bridgewater during my junior summer.
Alvaro Goncalves ('25), Analyst in the Strategic Transactions Group at Barclays Investment Bank
I am currently an Analyst in the Strategic Transactions Group at Barclays Investment Bank, based in New York. My role involves financial modeling, structuring deals, and preparing presentations and final documentation for transaction execution. What I enjoy most about the work is the intellectually stimulating environment and the close collaboration with multiple teams on transactions that have real impact, within a supportive culture that makes Barclays a truly rewarding place to work.
Princeton played a central role in preparing me for this path and gave me the opportunity to explore my academic and professional interests. It was during my sophomore year that I discovered my passion for Economics, driven by the excellent faculty, my involvement with Tiger Investments, and the strong sense of community fostered through friendships and networking opportunities. As an economics major with minors in finance and computer science, I developed a strong analytical and quantitative foundation. Economics sharpened my understanding of how markets function, finance gave me practical exposure to valuation and corporate decision-making, and computer science strengthened my ability to approach problems logically and work with data. These are skills I use regularly in my current role.
During my time at Princeton, I also had the opportunity to complete summer internships at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Boston Consulting Group, and Barclays Investment Bank. These experiences allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real-world settings, explore different professional environments, and ultimately solidify my professional interest in finance.
Living and working in New York has been especially rewarding. It is a thriving city I have always enjoyed, and being surrounded by many friends from Princeton has made the transition to post-graduate life both exciting and familiar. Looking ahead, I am excited to attend upcoming alumni celebrations and return to Princeton, a place that has played such a meaningful role in my personal and professional growth.