Cristina Scofield (she/her) graduated from FCRH in May 2024, with a degree in Interdiscip Math & Economics (Honors Program). She was President of Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society, Co-leader of Queer Spirit Community at RH, and a part of the Fordham Club as well! Currently, she is working as a Research Assistant at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.
How did you find this opportunity? Is it related to your major?
Most Federal Reserve banks have research assistant programs, and so this a was somewhat well-known opportunity among people in the Economics world. I initially learned about the RA program from professors, and used fedeconjobs.org as my main source of information about the application and job roles specifically. (My major was in interdisciplinary Math and Economics, so the RA position is related to my major!)
What are/were you most nervous/excited about as you start(ed)?
I was probably most nervous for what I anticipated to be a pretty big learning curve in terms of technical (coding) skills and general contextual understanding— because each RA at the Board works in a specific section within one of the five Board divisions, your work is pretty specialized, and most likely not something you’ve directly had experience with. But, all that being said, it’s really exciting to be working on research that directly impacts monetary policy and I’m really grateful that I get the chance to work on projects with economists and policy analysts at the forefront of their fields.
What were your most valuable resources at Fordham?
Without a doubt, my professors and mentors were my most valuable resources at Fordham– I credit them with much of my success. To name just one, my research mentor, Mary Beth Combs, was instrumental in my undergraduate research career, and was always willing to help me talk out career goals and post-grad plans and guide me towards next steps (like this one!). So many others were also with me every step of the way, and these interpersonal relationships also allowed me to connect with like-minded people and speak to people who are currently in the roles in which I hope to be later in my career.
Did you do internships during your time as an undergrad?
I spent my summers (and a couple semesters) doing research— shout-out to the FCRH Undergraduate Research Program!
What advice would you give others for the job search and application process?
First, talk to as many people as you can (especially your Fordham connections). You never know whom someone might know, and at the very least, more information is always a good thing! For me, the two applications that turned into interviews were at places where I had spoken to someone who was currently working there. Second, be kind to yourself. With the job market as it is now, the job search and application process can be discouraging. It’s okay to take a break from working on applications and come back to them later— know that something will work out, and remember that you have your own unique qualities that will make you the perfect candidate for the right job.
In general, what are your future career goals?
As of right now, I’m deciding if I’d like to go on to earn a PhD in Economics. More broadly, I’m hoping to work in a job that allows me to use economics to be of service to the common good, and am currently working on exploring what that might look like!
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