<p>I declared Financial Engineering as my first choice major on my app and Economics as 2nd. But they are both equally likely to be selected by me. What's the difference here? I want to work in the New York Finance and Business scene after graduation and eventually get an MBA later. Anyone else in the same situation? Also, if I went the Fin. Engineering route, are the BSE Core Requrements different/harder than the AB requirements? And one more thing, is Chemistry requried of all BSE students (even Fin. Engineering which has nothing to do with chem) because I'm awful at chem but I can really pound out physics and calculus?</p>
<p>BSE requirements are different than AB. BSE requires 36 classes over 4 years (vs. 31 for AB) which means you'll have 4 semesters with 4 classes and 4 semesters with 5. As a BSE, you don't have a foreign language requirement, but you do have a computer programming requirement (1 semester), a chemistry req. (1 sem.), physics (2 sem.), and at least a couple semesters of math. You can typically fulfill a lot of these requirements with AP credit, though (4-5 on most exams should work). </p>
<p>Most consider BSE harder than AB, but it really depends on what type of student you are. I much prefer working on 30 math problems than reading 300 pages of history and writing a paper on it. I wouldn't worry about chem at all. I was never too good at chemistry and the intro chem classes aren't too hard at all--at least compared to math and physics.. </p>
<p>It probably won't hurt to start out ORFE. You can always switch to econ if you feel like you're wasting your time with the engineering aspects.</p>
<p>A BSE requires one semester of chemistry, two semesters of physics, a semester of computer science, and math through linear algebra. It is possible to place out of the chemistry requirement with AP chemistry. An AB has more extensive distribution requirements, and requires proficiency in a foreign language. I imagine either could lead to a career in New York Finance and Business with high enough grades, although I imagine financial engineering would give you an edge because it is more mathematical. It is easier to switch from BSE to AB than vice versa.</p>
<p>IF BSE requires more classes than AB does, does that mean there is much less electives for the BSE students? For example, once you met your math, physics, and chem requirements, are all your other classes taken up by the classes for Financial Engineering, or is there plenty of open electives to take music etc. classes? Also, why are there more required classes for BSE? do they tend to have a small workload?</p>
<p>There are more required total classes for BSE to permit for more electives, because BSE has more required classes. For the AB, a thesis does not count as courses, but for a BSE a thesis counts as two classes. BSE classes are definately do not have less of a workload, in fact they often have a heavier workload. BSE classes generally have a problem set due weekly, and many include a lab. There is plenty of room for electives for a BSE, although there is more room for electives as an AB. A BSE requires a minimum of seven classes in humanities and social sciences. I personally took thirteen, which is probably a bit more than average. I took 36 total classes.</p>