Student Profile: Shiyao Wang, MSCAPP Class of 2026

Starting his educational journey at Renmin University of China, Shiyao Wang, MSCAPP Class of 2026, pursued dual degrees in mathematics and economics. “I wanted to make a real impact on people and society. I chose economics because I believe it relates to everyone’s lives, and I want to make a positive impact on other people through economic policies. And since math is the fundamental component of economics, I wanted to gain math modeling skills to better analyze the real world through economics.”

Wang complemented his academic pursuits with several internships to connect his interest in economics with creating effective policy.

"I feel fortunate that during my sophomore year, my first internship at IQVIA—a health information technology and clinical research company—was where I realized I could make some impact using theoretical knowledge and analytical skills." At IQVIA, Wang tackled a healthcare consulting project that analyzed the status of rare genetic disorders. "I analyzed policies and evaluated data to study the status quo of diseases to help the government decide whether to include a given disease into the insurance system so that people affected with a particular disease could get government help."

It was that experience, Wang said, that motivated him to further his policy and data analysis study and begin exploring graduate programs.

Additionally, other internships provided Wang with skills that he connected to his eventual goal of uniting economics and policy.

"For example," he said, "my experience at Wuhan Development and Reform Commission was an invaluable opportunity to enhance my communication skills, because I played a pivotal role in a land use optimization project that aimed to enhance the economic utility of commercial spaces. I communicated with stakeholders about how they were managing commercial land to put to use and discussed this with nongovernmental organizations to gain more information about this project. I even interviewed citizens to gain some personal data."

Then at Ogilvy China, Wang served on a brand consulting project. "I provided a top-tier tech firm with a new brand structure for the entire company, helped design their future strategies, and advised on how to make their brands do well in China. That internship provided me with the opportunity to navigate and influence complex corporate strategies and deliver actionable insights, which I believe will translate well in the world of policy-making and advocacy.

During these meaningful internship experiences, Wang was researching graduate programs. "The Master of Science in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) program aligned perfectly with my career aspiration: synergizing data analysis with public policy formulation. Every data point is related to a real issue—or person—in society, and I don't want to ever forget that. It's critical if you want to make good policy recommendations."

As for where Wang sees himself in the future, he said, “In five years, I envision myself as a data or policy analyst at a government organization or think tank. I want to make a real-world impact through data-driven work."