Education: Bachelor's Program, Department of Economics, National Dong Hwa University; Master's Program, Department of Economics, National Dong Hwa University

Dear fellow students in the Department of Economics, I am your senior, Yu-Heng. Whether you are a new member of the NDHU Economics family or a student who feels uncertain or confused about whether to continue your studies in a master's program, I hope my personal experiences and suggestions can be helpful to you!

I was a transfer student. During the winter break of the first semester of my sophomore year, driven by my love for and longing to live in Hualien, I made the firm decision to apply for a transfer from the Department of Economics at National Taipei University to the Department of Economics at National Dong Hwa University. At first, I had actually considered giving up economics altogether. I thought I would simply grit my teeth, get through college, and graduate as soon as possible. However, the encouragement and guidance from the professors, the enthusiastic assistance of the department staff, the courses that were intellectually substantial without being overly difficult, and the friendly and harmonious atmosphere among students in the department all made me very grateful that I had chosen to transfer. These experiences also strengthened my desire to stay at NDHU and continue studying economics.

The Department has a strong faculty and a well-designed curriculum, allowing students to acquire comprehensive knowledge in various fields of economics, such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics. One of the required courses is “Independent Research,” which is extremely useful for academic research. Students can choose a research field and methodology according to their interests, such as microeconomics or macroeconomics, theoretical modeling, data collection, or regression analysis, and then find suitable group members and a faculty advisor. During the semester, each student or group completes an independent research project and gives a presentation on the designated date. I believe that after completing this course, students will strengthen a wide range of abilities that are valuable both for future academic research and professional careers, including data collection, theoretical model construction, and oral presentation skills. For me personally, this Independent Research course sparked my passion for economic research. As a result, in the second semester of my junior year, I decided to apply for the 3+2 five-year bachelor's-master's program and continue into the master's program. The 3+2 program allows students to take first-year master's courses during their senior year, without having to pay additional credit fees as regular master's students do. In addition, professors offer “Guided Research” courses alongside the regular coursework. Students can use these courses to explore research areas that interest them and find a professor whose expertise matches their interests, thereby laying a solid foundation for writing their master's thesis in the second year of the master's program. Therefore, to those of you who are still considering whether to join the 3+2 program, I would say: go ahead and apply with confidence! At a time when master's degrees are increasingly common, choosing the 3+2 program in NDHU Economics can effectively save you one year as well as credit fees, while also allowing you to graduate with a master's degree that can strengthen your qualifications in the job market. It truly is a win-win opportunity!

As for me, because my career plans involve staying in Hualien, I chose to continue my studies in the doctoral program. At the same time, I have also served as a teaching assistant for several required and elective courses in the Department. The greatest benefit of being a teaching assistant is that teaching and reviewing course material help me understand concepts that I may not have fully grasped before. I also gain a great sense of achievement from seeing the moment when students understand a problem. Therefore, if you happen to see me in a department course or around campus in the future, please do not hesitate to approach me. You are always welcome to ask me any questions! I believe that for students who aspire to pursue advanced studies in economics, the Department of Economics at National Dong Hwa University is an ideal choice. It can certainly provide everyone with an excellent learning environment and valuable opportunities for future development.

In conclusion, choosing the Department of Economics and the 3+2 program will definitely not disappoint you. Trust me: your time here will become a wonderful part of your life and, at the same time, a solid foundation for your future development.

Your senior, Yu-Heng Lee 2024.02