<p>I am only a sophmore in high school but Hillsdale College is my dream college. It seems to be a top academic and fun college but is also the intelectual center of libertarianism, Conservatism, and Austrian Economics.
I want to be a Economics/Math major. However, as i still have 2.5 years of high school left, what are some ways to prepare and make myself a competive applicant?</p>
<p>Do you have class recomendations, Good tips, or anything that can help me prepare?</p>
<p>Thank You,</p>
<p>KypDurron</p>
<p>Kyp,</p>
<p>First of all, if you’re consulting with Exar Kun, stop. That will not end well. (Inside joke: Kyp’s handle is a character from a Star Wars novel.)</p>
<p>For serious: get excellent grades, take as difficult classes as you can (APs are great), have some fun with your extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Be a good, outgoing dude. </p>
<p>Relax, and enjoy high school. If you get in the habit about stressing about stuff so far down the road, I mean… Yoda had some thoughts about this. “Never his mind on where he was, what he was doing.” Just like college, you only get to go to high school once. Live it up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice.
Ive stopped my consulation with Exar Kun and decided to hang out with Streen and Dorsk 81. I like to chat with Kam Solsar every now and then. XD</p>
<p>I really dont stress out about it, however; ive heard that Hillsdale has become a lot more competitive then around 2-4 years ago</p>
<p>Dr. Wolfram constantly describes how students (even grad students) always KNOW of a mentioned famous work but have never actually READ it. When I first had him as a professor, I realized how right he was. So get acquainted with economists and their most famous works, like Bastiat (The Law), Hayek (Road to Serfdom, etc), Mises (Human Action, etc), perhaps even Henry Hazlitt–he’s discussed little at Hillsdale or elsewhere, but his “Economics in One Lesson” is a great short read for beginners. Don’t forget Hillsdale’s own, the late Russell Kirk (author of The Conservative Mind). Understand basic market forces, and compare/contrast with “other” views, from John Maynard Keynes to Karl Marx.
Go even further back and look into Locke and Hobbes; you’ll see how their thoughts within the realm of economics and human behavior DIRECTLY influenced the American Founders within the realm of history! I say this because Hillsdale is a disciple of the liberal arts, meaning that every subject is HEAVILY tied to every other subject, so if you think that you’ll get to become a pure, unsullied, standoffish “homo economicus,” think again!
On that note, for a definitive challenge, read (or at least skim) the-big-man-himself Adam Smith’s only two published books (sort of), The Theory of Moral Sentiments and, of course, The Wealth of Nations. Critics have long claimed that, between the two books, Smith changed his philosophy from benevolent to selfish. Hint: He didn’t. Find out why.
And to answer you about the competitiveness, yes, when I applied in 2009 (I highly recommend an interview), the acceptance rate was near 70%. It’s now 40%. When you apply, it will most likely be even lower–maybe 1 in 4. But I can guarantee that you’re a far better student than I was. Hillsdale showed me (and I hated the fact for so long) that there is no cutting corners in a solid education. Econ (especially with math) is a great discipline, partly because so few people in our society understand it, and it propels you to much greater things when you do. I’ll be gone when and if you come around, but I wish you the very best in whatever you do.</p>
<p>@Brother Atticus
Thanks for the help! I really enjoy reading Economic books. I didnt know Adam smith wrote another book. I read the the Wealth of nations last year and thought on how even though so much has happened in the last 250 years, the Book’s main theories and analogies are similar to today’s life and economies.</p>
<p>I have researched Hilllsdale when my Dad kept telling about the Constituion classes. Sadly, i have yet to watch those. I have one question, if i were to be admitted in the future, Simpson or Galloway?</p>
<p>Again, thanks for the help. I really appreciate you taking the time to mention all those books and authors that hillsdale uses. One thing i cant wait for when i (hopefully) visit nexct year, is the Ludwig von Mises library. </p>
<p>Thanks again,
Kyp</p>
<p>Anyone in history opposed to free enterprise, too, didn’t know (or didn’t want to know) that Adam Smith had another book. When “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” (1759, and I believe he personally considered it the most important of his two works) is made public, it really throws a wrench into their hypothesis that Smith was merely a narrow, manipulative, money-grubbing individual (again, a “homo economicus”) and we should ignore his arguments.</p>
<p>Simpson: Large, and houses many athletes. Across the street from math and science buildings. Somewhat loud, depending on which floor. I roomed there 2010-2011.
Galloway: Medium, and houses many social types–albeit, has a reputation of intentionally weird guys. Closer to food and library than Simpson, equally far from economics classes.
Niedfeldt: Small, and houses many studious, nerdy types. I roomed there 2011-2012. It is currently a women’s dorm, but it may be switched back as the need arises.
Simple odds are you’ll get placed in Simpson, but admissions is flexible.</p>
<p>The Mises library is nice. Just one room, yet full of profound mementos from the man’s life. Extremely well-furnished; I just wish it were well-acknowledged, too.</p>
<p>Glad to help!</p>
<p>This is an old thread but the advice from Brother Atticus on books is great.</p>