🎓 Academic Program
University of Rochester Department of Economics — historically famous for the 'Rochester School' of macroeconomics with alumni including Lucas Rapping (Nobel-adjacent) and modern rational expectations. Undergraduate degree: BA Economics or BS Financial Economics (STEM-designated). Faculty include Mark Bils (macro), Yongsung Chang (development), and Ronni Pavan (labor). Cross-registered with the Simon Business School — Simon offers a BS Business Administration with Finance/Accounting tracks that pairs with Econ. Take Five Scholar program provides a tuition-free 5th year for personal interest study. Open Curriculum lets students design their own cluster.
🎯 Admissions
📊 Exam Requirements
📅 Deadlines
💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships
📑 Scholarship requirements
- CSS Profile required
- NEED-AWARE for international
- Rochester International Scholarship: merit-based, holistic (up to full tuition)
- Davis Leadership Scholars Program for community impact
- Handler Scholars (economics-focused)
- Apply by ED I for best chances
🔄 Scholarship maintenance
Annual CSS Profile renewal. Need-based aid recalculated each year. Merit scholarship requires good standing.
⚠️ Conditions & restrictions
- NEED-AWARE for international
- Some loans may be included
- Outside scholarships may affect institutional aid
- Aid recalculated based on family income
📝 Application requirements
- 1-2 teacher recommendations (2 recommended)
- Counselor recommendation
- Common App essay
- Rochester supplemental essays (Why Rochester + short responses)
✍️ Supplemental essay prompts (2025-2026)
- See Rochester supplement — Why Rochester essay (~200 words) + short responses on interests; prompts change annually
⭐ "Why Us?" — Essay hooks & school personality
University of Rochester has a distinctive place in economics history — the Rochester School (Robert Barro, Robert Lucas influences) pioneered rational expectations macroeconomics. The BS Financial Economics is STEM-designated (24-month OPT extension eligibility). Open Curriculum means Econ majors can build a personalized cluster combining data science, math, and psychology. The Take Five Scholars program is unique — a fully tuition-free 5th year for any topic of personal interest, ideal for building an Econ + Data Science double major or completing a Simon Business minor.
🏆 Unique advantages
#36 US National universities. Handler Scholars program specifically for economics students. Take Five Scholar = bonus year of study tuition-free. BS Financial Economics is STEM-designated (rare among econ programs — enables 36-month OPT total). Simon Business School cross-registration.
💼 Career outlook
Strong Big 4 recruitment (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG). Wall Street access (Rochester-NYC flights). Simon MBA feeder for finance careers. Median starting salary $70-85k. Strong Econ PhD placement (Rochester alumni populate top-20 departments).
⏰ Work while studying
F-1: 20 hrs/week on-campus. Work-study available. Take Five Scholars get free 5th year. Handler Scholars often assist with faculty research.
🎯 Essay Hooks — "Why Us?" эссэд ашиглах specific anchor-ууд
Ерөнхий "great library" биш — тодорхой campus culture, program, alumni хэсгүүд. Тухайн сургуулийн уникаль зүйлсийг эссэдээ дурдснаар "чи маш их судалж, зөвхөн бидэн рүү зорьж байна" гэсэн сигнал өгнө.
- BS Financial Economics is STEM-designated — 36-month post-grad OPT eligibility (rare for Economics)
- Take Five Scholar program provides a tuition-free 5th year for any subject of personal interest
- Open Curriculum lets you design a personalised cluster combining Econ with Data Science, Math, or Psychology
- Handler Scholars program provides funded research opportunities specifically for economics students
- Simon Business School cross-registration for finance electives
📝 Application effort estimation
🎯 Backup plans
- Apply ED I (52% acceptance vs 39%)
- Strong essay about 'Why Rochester Economics' essential
- Case Western Reserve Economics as STEM/business alternative
- Brandeis or Boston University Economics as alternatives
🔗 Official sources
- enrollment.rochester.edu
- rochester.edu/college/eco
- rochester.edu/financial-aid