The MSc in Economics allowed me to bridge the gap between the broad introduction to the subject I received in my bachelor’s and the more advanced knowledge and technical skills required to begin a Ph.D. at a prestigious institution. The small cohort and the organization of the courses made it easy to interact with professors and fellow students. As I started exploring my research interests, I greatly benefited from my supervisor’s guidance and insights, as well as from the meetings and conversations with members of the Economic Theory reading group. Upon graduation, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant for internationally renowned researchers at the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance and LUISS. The coding skills I had honed during the master’s, in the courses in Python, Matlab, and Stata were instrumental in completing many of the tasks. These experiences helped me build a competitive application, and achieve my goal of pursuing a Ph.D. at Northwestern University.