BRYCE SPAFFORD
economics grad '24 outstanding grad

WHY WEBER STATE?   

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I started school during COVID - I was in a place where I was waiting, and needed something to do, and was unsure of what I wanted. But I liked the flexibility of Weber State, especially during that time when classwork needed to be done online. I took classes virtually, some in-person, and took summer classes, which enabled me to finish my undergraduate work quickly. While my educational path wasn't exactly conventional, it was great, and I loved how flexible it was. It worked for me. 

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WHY ECONOMICS?   

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I always knew I wanted to do something with math. I love math. Originally I thought I might want to be a teacher, but I got a job early on in education and came to realize that it might not be the path for me. I found that what I wanted was a job in business. I came across Quantitative Economics, which combined both reasoning and math. It's concepts are applicable across multiple fields, and when you go into econ you can make a difference almost anywhere. It's pervasive - there are economic analysts in all fields.

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FACULTY IMPACT   

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I loved Keinsley's classes. He is amazing at providing lectures that are entertaining and insightful, straightforward and fun. The Economics department is full of wonderful professors. They all go above and beyond in helping students. They all wanted me to succeed.

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ADVICE   

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Take summer classes. They are typically lower-pressure than other classes, and smaller. But no matter when you take your courses, try hard to understand what the professor wants you to know and work to learn that material.

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CAREER ASPIRATIONS   

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I've been hired by Morgan Stanley as an analyst. I'm both nervous and excited about this next step, but it's a dream entry level job. My plan is to do a Masters or PhD eventually.

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