My Interest in the Applied Economics Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota

As per our Tibetan Buddhist tradition, I was named Kunchok Sangpo, when I was still in the womb of my mother. Born and raised in a Buddhist family, I received my high school education from a Tibetan School, graduated from a Hindu University and completed my postgraduate education from a Christian University. Immersing in different cultures/tradition/religion has helped me look at life from different perspectives.

I was awarded a special distinction for securing the highest grade on the national high school standard board exam, amidst all Tibetan School in India and was able to secure admission into India’s top college for commerce, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, to complete my three years undergraduate studies in Bachelors of Commerce (Hons). I further specialized in the field of Finance and Economics during one year Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from International College of Financial Planning, Delhi and one year Masters of Arts in Development Economic from Warsaw University, Poland.

During my undergraduate years, I was exposed into different areas of commerce, where I developed a special interest towards economics and this motivated me to focus my strength and abilities for my postgraduate. This motivation was further enhanced when I was gifted a book on microeconomics “Banker to the Poor – An Autobiography of Dr. Mohammad Yunus”. This book gave me an insight into an economic theory that concentrated on the poor people and taught me how a small amount of money can help elevate the poor out of the poverty through their own initiatives. A personal initiative by Dr. Yunus, an economist, transformed him into an entrepreneur by applying his knowledge in economics. I have always wished and still wish to...

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..., along with my interest in economic development has ushered me to pursue a graduate program of Applied economic, which is concentrated on resource and development. I believe, we are in the era of innovation, production, trade and investment of billions of dollars, but we don’t have sustainable resources to feed these trade and further proliferation of profits. For example, the current revolution of Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling of oil and gas has given vast opportunities to boost oil market in the United States, and the benefits are abundant, but there is a set of environmental challenges of resource sustainability among various other affects. The Applied Economic graduate program at University of Minnesota is the one I would like to pursue and I believe this program will widen the horizon of my knowledge and be a turning point in achieving my goal.