Name

Kyle Fluegge

School

Ohio State University

Degree Program

Fourth year PhD student in Economics with a specialization in Health Economics

Previous Degrees

Master of Arts in Economics from Ohio State University, 2008; Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Michigan, 2007

Dissertation Title

Essays in Behavioral Economics

Research Interests

Health economics, personal health decisions

Advisor

Ian Rowe

Advisor’s Research Focus

Behavioral economics

Hobbies

Creative writing, running, tennis

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I chose to attend Ohio State University to get my PhD in economics because the school offered me substantial financial assistance and the research goals of the program faculty seemed to align with my own. My family’s struggle with illness also influenced my decision. I wanted a program that would help me understand the access people have to healthcare and the ways they make decisions about it.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

To prepare myself for graduate school, I made sure that I had strong GRE scores and essays, and that my academic transcript reflected my hard work in school.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, my application required GRE scores. My program accepts candidates who score in the 75th percentile or higher, although they occasionally accept candidates with lower scores who have relevant backgrounds. The university also used my GRE scores to determine the financial assistance it would give me.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

My personal statement essay included information about the faculty teaching at the school. I referenced previous conversations with a faculty member and tried to show that my research interests were a good fit for the program. I tried to write my statement in such a way that the admissions committee could see how serious I was about pursuing my doctorate degree.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I chose to approach faculty who taught the classes in which I was most successful. I steered away from personal references entirely because I think they carry less weight than academic or employment references. Therefore, I chose to ask for letters from 2 professors who knew my academic strengths. For my third letter, I chose to ask someone a person that I had worked with previously who could speak to my strength as an employee.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in economics?

Yes, I think students considering applying to graduate school in economics should focus on the 3 or 4 schools they most want to attend and write a broad essay they can use for all 3 or 4. I took a different approach, because I applied to 10 different schools, which required a great deal of my time and money.

I also think students can start preparing themselves for graduate school early by taking as many math classes as possible. In particular, I recommend that students take econometrics. Econometrics can be described as statistics for economists, and it teaches skills and tools that are very different from those taught in standard statistics courses.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My economics doctorate program takes 4 to 5 years to complete and it includes both coursework and dissertation components. The first 3 years are devoted to coursework and a 1-year internship designed to help you apply some of the information you learn in class. Following the internship, you take a candidacy exam that you must pass before you are allowed to start your dissertation. I think most people take 2 years to complete their dissertations. The final part of the program is a dissertation defense. Once you finish your dissertation, you have to defend it before a committee who will ultimately decide whether you get your degree.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

For my dissertation, I am writing a series of essays relating to the way that people make financial decisions. I am exploring how biological stress responses affect a person’s decision to play it safe or to take a risk when there is potential for substantial financial gain or loss.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

My process for researching and writing my dissertation has been challenging and time consuming. It requires as much as 48 hours a week since the faculty members in my economics program push students to finish their dissertations in 1 to 2 years. So I spend a lot of my time collecting data, and I work in 4- to 5-hour bouts of writing when I can. Another challenging part of my process has been obtaining the experts I need for my research. I have overcome this hurdle by offering reciprocal services, such as helping experts with their research projects in return for their assistance.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor plays a very significant role in my education because he has allowed me the freedom to choose a dissertation topic that is important to me. He routinely provides feedback for me and has helped supply me with data. Also, he has been very willing to engage in different forms of communication with me. For example, we might meet in person or talk on the phone to discuss an issue. And when an idea comes to me in the middle of the night, I e-mail him.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my doctoral program requires students to pass a candidacy exam before they start their dissertations. The exam consists of both an oral and a written component. For my exam, I outlined my research agenda and the topic I will defend at the end of my program.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

I would estimate that my PhD program costs around $30,000 a year, although I am not sure since I have funding through my department.

How are you funding your education?

I am funding my education through financial aid from the university. When I applied to this program I had to have a certain GRE score to qualify for funding, and now that I am in the program I have to maintain a strict grade point average in order to keep it..

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in economics?

The time commitments for a PhD in economics are steep, especially during the first few years of coursework. On average, I spent 12 to 15 hours a week in class and 20 hours a week studying outside of class. Now that I have entered the dissertation portion of my program, I find that my research and online classes require about 48 hours a week.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

Graduate school affects my personal life by leaving me exhausted. Although my program requires commitment and passion for the research area, I often forget to take breaks and unwind now and then.

I try to balance my research with my personal life by asking a relative to stay in touch and let me know if I am working too hard. In my experience, friends can also help students feel less lonely. I was new to this area when I started my program and did not know anyone, but the people I have gotten to know at the university have made me feel more connected to the community.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I hope to be working in an academic institution as a researcher or faculty member.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in economics?

I think students interested in pursuing a PhD in economics should know the importance of an analytical and inventive mind. An analytical mind will better comprehend the mathematics of economics, and an inventive mind can look at metrics and discover ideas that nobody has considered before.

A thick skin is also critical for economics students. People criticize my ideas frequently, but I cannot allow their criticism to hurt me or make me afraid to share my ideas in future.

One particular insight I wish someone had shared with me is that doctoral economics programs overwhelm their first-year students on purpose, to set a fast pace. I could never have finished everything my program threw at me in my first year, and the professors never expected me to. Slowing down to a more manageable pace would have helped me avoid burnout.