Along with his success in the classroom, Yiqun Ma is sharing his economics expertise with other international students and making the most of his time at Ohio State.
Ma, a senior graduating in 2026, chose to attend Ohio State due to the numerous resources and opportunities offered by a large university.
“[Ohio State] offers extensive and reliable academic resources, a broad curriculum and abundant opportunities for student involvement and development. Here, I have not only pursued my academic studies but also met many like-minded peers and future collaborators through the university platform,” said Ma.
Through his economic studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, Ma argues that his major is not designed to teach students how to make money, but how to think about issues that affect daily life.
“Economics provides theoretical foundations and practical analytical tools that encourage students to think critically about real-world issues and apply their learning in practical settings,” notes Ma.
One of Ma’s proudest experiences at Ohio State has been serving as the president of the Ingress Chinese Student Investment (ICSI) club, which provides non-business Chinese students the fundamental knowledge about stock market investment, financial institutions' roles and macroeconomic development along with helping them adjust to life at Ohio State and in the United States.
“I have organized specialized courses and research groups, holding lectures and discussions in university classrooms on weekends. The Office of International Affairs has also helped connect us with alumni to host career talks and professional sharing events,” reflected Ma. “Through Ohio State and ICSI, I have connected with over 200 peers, an experience that significantly strengthened my organizational, communication and leadership skills.”
Through leveraging the same alumni network that visited the ICSI, Ma secured internship opportunities in New York, which helped him gain clarity about his career direction. As he moves on to the next chapter of his career after graduation, he offers advice to other international students.
“For Chinese students interested in business-related and similar career paths, I would encourage them to broaden their perspectives early, actively leverage resources from student organizations, professors and peer networks and begin exploring different paths as early as their first or second year.”