Creative Projects
08. Creative Projects Strategy — Priyanka Sharma
Priyanka, your strong academic foundation (GPA 3.86, SAT 1480) and intended major in Economics position you well to design creative projects that demonstrate analytical depth, data fluency, and intellectual independence. The committee emphasized that your portfolio should not just reflect classroom mastery but also your ability to apply economic reasoning to real-world data and communicate insights effectively. The following plan outlines three complementary projects—each scalable, data-driven, and aligned with your target institutions (Amherst, UC Berkeley, and Pomona)—along with technical execution details, documentation strategy, and a month-by-month timeline.
Project 1: Local Economic Data Visualization Dashboard
This project will serve as your anchor piece—a tangible demonstration of econometric thinking and technical skill. The goal is to create an interactive dashboard that visualizes economic indicators for California communities (e.g., employment, housing, small business trends). The committee specifically encouraged a small-scale econometric or data visualization project using open-source datasets, which this idea fulfills.
- Objective: Analyze and visualize local economic data to uncover patterns in income distribution, unemployment, or small business growth.
- Data Sources: Consider US Census Bureau, Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), or California Open Data Portal.
- Tech Stack: Python (Pandas, NumPy, Seaborn, Plotly), Jupyter Notebook for analysis; Streamlit or Tableau Public for interactive visualization.
- Deliverables:
- Interactive dashboard hosted on GitHub Pages or Streamlit Cloud.
- Accompanying 2-page research memo summarizing key findings and policy implications.
- Clean, well-commented Python notebooks demonstrating reproducible analysis.
- Admissions Value: Demonstrates quantitative reasoning, coding literacy, and the ability to translate data into policy insights—skills highly valued by Economics departments at your target schools.
Documentation Tips: Use GitHub to version your code and include a README.md file explaining your data sources, methods, and insights. Aim for clear, public documentation that an admissions officer could browse in under three minutes.
Project 2: “MicroEconomies” — A Podcast Series on Local Economic Issues
The committee suggested publishing a podcast series analyzing local economic issues supported by quantitative data. This project will highlight your communication skills and ability to contextualize data-driven insights for a general audience—an important complement to your technical work.
- Objective: Produce a 4–6 episode podcast exploring economic stories in your local area—e.g., small business recovery post-pandemic, housing affordability, or youth employment.
- Format: 10–15 minute episodes combining interviews (teachers, students, local business owners) with short data segments from your visualization project.
- Technical Setup:
- Recording: Use a smartphone or USB microphone with free editing software (Audacity or GarageBand).
- Hosting: Anchor.fm or Spotify for Podcasters (both free).
- Graphics: Canva or Figma for cover art and episode infographics.
- Deliverables:
- Podcast website or landing page linking episodes and data visualizations.
- One-page “show notes” document summarizing each episode’s data findings and sources.
- Admissions Value: Demonstrates initiative, interdisciplinary curiosity (economics + media), and the ability to communicate complex information clearly—qualities Amherst and Pomona especially prize in liberal arts applicants.
Documentation Tips: Include your podcast link on your résumé and in your application’s “Additional Information” section. Upload transcripts or summaries to your GitHub repository for cross-reference with Project 1.
Project 3: Microfinance Research Brief & Infographic
To round out your portfolio, create a concise, research-based deliverable that shows your ability to synthesize academic literature into accessible visual communication. The committee recommended a short research brief or infographic summarizing findings from microfinance research—a perfect opportunity to demonstrate intellectual maturity and policy awareness.
- Objective: Summarize key findings from 2–3 peer-reviewed papers or World Bank reports on microfinance outcomes (e.g., effects on women’s entrepreneurship or rural credit access).
- Format: One-page executive summary paired with a data-driven infographic.
- Tools: Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or Google Slides for design; Excel or R for chart generation.
- Deliverables:
- PDF research brief with citations and concise analysis.
- High-resolution infographic for inclusion in your portfolio website or GitHub repository.
- Admissions Value: Highlights your ability to interpret academic economics and communicate findings visually—a skill set valued in research-focused programs like Berkeley’s Economics department.
Documentation Tips: Include a “Sources” section with proper citations and a short note on what future research you’d pursue if given university resources. This conveys scholarly curiosity and awareness of research ethics.
GitHub & Portfolio Integration Strategy
To unify your creative projects into a coherent portfolio, establish a public GitHub repository titled “PriyankaSharma-EconPortfolio”. Structure your repository as follows:
📁 PriyankaSharma-EconPortfolio/ ┣ 📂 econ-visualization-dashboard/ ┣ 📂 microeconomies-podcast/ ┣ 📂 microfinance-brief/ ┣ 📄 README.md ┣ 📄 LICENSE ┗ 📄 portfolio-summary.pdf
- README.md: Provide an overview of each project, technical tools used, and key takeaways.
- Version Control: Commit incrementally with descriptive messages (“Added regression model for unemployment data”).
- Portfolio Summary: A 1-page PDF linking all projects, formatted cleanly for admissions upload or hyperlink inclusion.
If you have not yet created a GitHub account, do so early in the spring semester. Keep your repository public and professional—avoid unrelated personal content. This transparency signals to admissions readers that your work is authentic and self-directed.
Quality and Presentation Standards
- Clarity: Avoid overly complex econometric jargon; emphasize interpretation and implications.
- Reproducibility: Provide code and data references so others can replicate your analysis.
- Design: Use consistent color palettes and typography across all visuals and infographics.
- Reflection: At the end of each project, write a 150–200 word reflection on what you learned—these can later inform your essays (see §06 Essay Strategy).
6-Month Creative Project Calendar
| Month | Focus | Action Items | Target Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | Project Setup |
|
Repository established; dataset identified. |
| March | Data Visualization Development |
|
Working prototype of dashboard; first episode draft. |
| April | Testing & Refinement |
|
Public dashboard beta; podcast launched. |
| May | Microfinance Brief |
|
Completed research brief and infographic. |
| June | Integration & Presentation |
|
Unified, admissions-ready creative portfolio. |
Final Guidance
Priyanka, these projects will allow you to demonstrate both technical and conceptual mastery in economics—qualities that resonate strongly with Amherst’s emphasis on intellectual curiosity, Berkeley’s data-driven rigor, and Pomona’s interdisciplinary approach. You have not provided details on current extracurriculars or prior coding experience; if you have not yet begun programming, start with Python tutorials through DataCamp or freeCodeCamp to build comfort before launching the dashboard. Each project should reflect your authentic curiosity about how data and policy intersect in everyday life. By documenting your process transparently and reflecting on your learning, you’ll create a portfolio that feels both rigorous and deeply personal.