BFI’s Pre-Doctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) demonstrated exceptional placement success this application season, sending 33 research professionals to some of the nation’s most prestigious PhD programs. The cohort’s impressive results include nine fellows heading to University of Chicago, four to Princeton University, two to Stanford University, two to University of California, Berkeley, and one each to Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University—with the majority of all placements at top-ten institutions.
These numbers represent a significant achievement in an increasingly competitive landscape for PhD admissions, underscoring the strength of BFI’s preparation and mentorship model.
The Formula Behind the Success
According to University of Chicago’s Economics Department Chair, Professor Azeem Shaikh, who mentored several of this year’s successful applicants, the quality of PREP research professionals has been a key factor in these outcomes. “Working with students has been a great experience,” Shaikh said. “I’ve been impressed with not only how well prepared the students are, but also their eagerness and self-motivation. In many cases, they need much less direction and supervision than I would have expected. Because of this, they have often been able to make meaningful contributions to different projects.”
This hands-on research experience, Shaikh notes, gives PREP participants a distinct advantage in the application process. “I think a main benefit of PREP is that the students have the ability to immerse themselves in actual research in economics,” he explained. “There is no better way to familiarize themselves with what a career as a professional economist is like.”
Beyond the Numbers: Building Community and Rigor
While the placement statistics are impressive, Shaikh emphasized that PREP’s success stems from more than just research opportunities. The program’s structure creates a comprehensive environment for professional development. “Another key benefit is that students are not isolated, but become a part of the larger PREP community itself,” he said. “Finally, a nice perk is that PREP permits students to take classes as graduate students at large, and, needless to say, there are an abundance of fantastic classes that students can choose from.”
BFI supports these outcomes through year-round programming designed to prepare predocs for the application season, including faculty panels, application-focused workshops, and panels with current and former PhD students.
Juri Trifonov, who completed two years under Professor Shaikh and Assistant Professor Max Tabord-Meehan before securing his place at Northwestern, credits this comprehensive approach. “[The] opportunity to talk to the PREP administrative staff helped a lot to stay mentally stable during that very intense and difficult period,” he said of the application season.
The PREP Legacy
For Shaikh, the placement numbers represent more than professional advancement—they reflect the transmission of UChicago’s intellectual culture. “I think one of the hallmarks of the UChicago environment is the intellectual rigor and the desire to always get things ‘right,'” he said. “I hope this feature of the community here is something these students take with them, wherever their careers may lead them after they leave UChicago.”
The research professionals themselves echo this sentiment. “I honestly think that it was one of the best decisions in my life to become an RP at BFI,” Juri said. “All of my peers were probably the coolest people I’ve ever met in my life…we always had [an] incredible time, both at work and outside of work.”
As these 33 fellows begin their PhD programs at institutions across the country, they carry forward not only the research skills that secured their placements, but the intellectual rigor and collaborative spirit that define the PREP experience. “PREP did not just boost my career and place me in an incredible school for my PhD,” Juri added, “but also introduced me to the best people.”