#GraduateStory | Wyatt Wu: Three Years of Measuring the World Through Economics

Hello, I am Wyatt Wu from BAID's G12C2, Class of 2026. I have received an offer to study Economics at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. I enjoy applying economic ideas and contributing to community projects, and I approach research analytically.



Part 01 Using Economics to Make a Difference

Economics is my main field of interest. I hope to pursue investment and consulting, as well as entrepreneurship, particularly innovations that improve everyday life and address social problems. My interest began during childhood visits to businesses, when I learned how changes in raw material prices affected workers' incomes across a supply chain. I wondered what determined prices and why equally hard work could produce different outcomes. In middle school, Poor Economics deepened my understanding of the subject as a way to examine people's decisions and solve practical problems, improving efficiency and fairness.

At Beijing Academy, I explored that interest through study and practice. I achieved strong results in AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics, Behavioral Economics and Advanced Economics, and Statistics. These courses supported later research and participation in the John Locke Essay Competition. I also co-founded the campus Beluga cafe. Pricing and operations, together with team management, gave me opportunities to apply theories of supply and demand and consumer behavior. The cafe broke even in its first year, and we donated a fixed share of revenue to charity projects. Applying analytical thinking to help others is what I want to continue doing.







Part 02 Maintaining Confidence During Applications

I made several important decisions during application season.

• University choice: I chose the public University of Michigan - Ann Arbor over some highly ranked liberal arts colleges offering fewer practical opportunities. UMich's emphasis on applied economics suited my career plans.
• Major: I chose economics because I see it as a foundation for business decisions. I wanted a coherent understanding of economic reasoning before specializing in finance or management.
• Essays: I centered my essays on exploring economics, using a few experiences to explain how my initial curiosity developed into practical work. I presented my uncertainty and discoveries, together with my enthusiasm, honestly.

My Early Decision results brought the most memorable emotional change of the process. Before they arrived, I constantly imagined the excitement of acceptance or disappointment of rejection. Eventually, I received a rejection. While friends celebrated offers from their dream universities, I was still revising Regular Decision essays and began doubting myself:

• Were my activities substantial enough?
• Had I achieved strong enough grades?
• Should I have exchanged charity and entrepreneurship projects for more competitions and exam preparation?
• Had I chosen an excessively competitive university?

People told me, "If you had aimed a little lower for ED, you probably would already have an offer." Applying early to an Ivy League university required courage. I hesitated when the rejection arrived, and I still value having pursued the possibility with everything I had.

My College Counselor, Ms. Li Hui, encouraged me to trust my abilities and believe I would find somewhere suited to me. Her insight lived up to her name. She reminded me that continuing to work diligently and enthusiastically would allow me to make a significant contribution to society, whichever university I attended.

Part 03 Taking a Longer View

Over three years, I became less focused on immediate advantage. That change developed gradually through repeated experiences.

In Grade 10, I often asked whether an activity would improve my application. My interest in economics and desire to help others genuinely motivated the cafe and accessibility projects. I also hoped they would distinguish my application.



Some might find those motives compatible. For me, however, the constant calculation gradually weakened my enthusiasm. For a while, I became preoccupied with immediate returns and rejected commitments that seemed unlikely to benefit applications.

Working attentively on actual problems helped me reconsider. A friend with a visual impairment completed a journey successfully; classmates relaxed and talked in the cafe, feeling cared for. I recognized the direct effect of our work on others. Gradually, my fixation on applications eased. Focusing on doing good work helped me develop practical problem-solving and empathy, together with stronger commitment to my interests.

Early ventures often have little room for error and limited time to establish themselves. Prompt implementation and evaluation can help develop a workable approach. I learned this through Cultural Wings, our cross-cultural exchange project.

At first, we struggled to find participants and considered giving up. Ms. Wanyu, who taught Glocal, and English teacher Ms. Gao Mengchan helped connect us with potential participants and provided free venues for in-person gatherings. Their support helped us persist. A project that had nearly stalled has now continued for three years, and I am deeply grateful.

Part 04 Advice for Younger Students

For most applicants with limited time, I believe improving TOEFL and SAT results, along with AP performance, offers the greatest benefit. In my view, these deserve higher priority than activities and competitions.

I would remain committed to economics if I could repeat high school. I would also independently study two or three AP courses during Grades 10 and 11, which I believe would strengthen my applications.

My advice about applications is:

1. Choose summer programs that offer substantive learning. Programs with little academic value are unlikely to strengthen applications.
2. Allow realistic time for essays. Your personal statement may receive repeated revision, while supplements often have to be completed more quickly. Begin early once your standardized exam results reach the required level.
3. U.S. admissions can be extremely competitive. Consider applying to several countries if that suits your preferences.

I recommend Zhao Lei's I Remember. I love folk music, and this song about family helps when I feel anxious. Its gentle melody calms me and reminds me of my parents' support. I hope it can offer reassurance to others who feel uncertain.

Part 05 Acknowledgments

I thank my parents and Ms. Liang Xiao, our Head of Grade, my College Counselor, Ms. Li Hui, and Ms. Shuai Junyu, who wrote a subject recommendation. Thank you also to my Homeroom Teacher, Ms. Liu Siyu, and my classmates and friends. You witnessed my growth, offered generous help, and encouraged me whenever I doubted myself. I feel more gratitude than I can express.





I also appreciate the opportunity applications gave me to express myself. Everyday conversations rarely allow time for serious reflection about our experiences. Essays encouraged me to examine and describe what I had actually felt, including my earlier hesitation and the growth that followed exploration and setbacks. Whatever influence that had on admissions results, I value having used the space to share those experiences honestly.

Notre Dame's rejection letter expressed confidence that another university would benefit from my presence, that I would contribute to its community, and that my abilities would help me succeed. I agree. There is much ahead, and admissions decisions are one part of our lives. I hope to bring my enthusiasm and gratitude to that future and, as I wrote in my essay, contribute and grow.