Qixn Lin

Program: Masters in Computational Social Science (MACSS)
Year: Second year
Concentration: Sociology

What type of research are you interested in?
Labor and employment, inequality and social disparities, and computational sociology.

Why did you choose MACSS?
It's a program that can arm me with both quantitative skills and theoretical knowledge.

What is your thesis about?
My thesis focuses on the labor market, job opportunities, and skills.

What support have you used to help you with your thesis?
The support and guidance from my advisor.

Who are you working with to write your thesis?
My advisor, James Evans.

What was your favorite course in the MACSS program?
Large-Scale Computing for the Social Sciences - the course was challenging, but looking back I realize I learned a lot about large-scale computational methods.

What is your favorite thing about the MACSS program?
My peers! We worked together, helped each other, and supported one another.

What has been your biggest challenge in the program?
Finding a balance between enjoying Chicago life and studying - Chicago is so much fun!

Why did you choose UChicago?
I appreciate the spirit and academic rigor of UChicago - and maybe also because I'm a bit of a nerd?

What’s it like living in Chicago?
Low living costs compared to Boston or California; great summers and crazy winters; so many activities and neighborhoods to explore (and high tax rate).

What are your career aspirations upon graduating from the MACSS program?
To pursue something I'm passionate about, but not necessarily limited to academia.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about applying to UChicago?
Show your passion and love for what you want to do in UChicago ;)

What is one invaluable experience you feel UChicago, and MACSS provided thus far?
The connections with alumni have been truly helpful - I got my summer internship opportunity with the help of our great alumni, Jeff Pinzino.