REU Tour

REU Tour

A story about our trip to the Russian Economic
University! We, a group of first-year students
from the Moscow State University of
Economics, Finance, and Law, were finally
taken on a long-awaited tour of the Russian
Economic University, the famous
Plekhanov University. To be honest, we were
filled with anticipation and a slight sense of
awe. It's notevery day that you get to visit a
temple of economic science.

The first thing that struck us was the scale. Our college is cozy and intimate, but this is a whole student city in the heart of Moscow. The main building on Stremyanny Lane greeted us with high ceilings, wide staircases, and a special, "academic" echo. The history was evident, permeating the
very walls.

We were greeted by a very energetic tour guide, a master's student. She immediately started joking that we, the "junior colleagues," had come to conduct an audit, which immediately eased the tension. Instead of a dry recitation of facts, she led us through the most interesting areas.

We visited a huge amphitheater lecture hall where a whole class is taking classes. We imagined what it would be like to listen to a lecture surrounded by hundreds of other students. Then we visited specialized laboratories where future analysts work with real data on powerful computers. We at MPEK are just starting to get acquainted with these programs, but here they are already making predictions.

Then we entered the student cafe. Suddenly, the "Pleshka" from the huge and somewhat cold institute became understandable and close. The same hustle, laughter, smell of coffee, students who discuss a project between a couple or just relax on their phones. It became clear: yes, they study at a legendary university, but they are the same people as us.

The return trip on the subway was spent in discussions. Someone said, "Now I have something to strive for." Someone else was thinking about applying after college. For myself, I made a main conclusion: our education at MPEK is not something secondary. It is a solid foundation, the first and very important step. And now I know for sure that this step can and should be continued.

This trip has blurred the boundaries for us. It has shown us that the big world of economics and serious science is not far away, but right here, right next to us. And the doors to this world are open for us. All we have to do is want to enter.

Thanks for your attention!