Aiming for MSFinance or M.A.Econ (double major w/ MATH or will a minor suffice?)

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi. I am going to be transferring into LBSU as a Business Economics Major. I currently have a 3.56 GPA (4.0 w/ 37 credits taken in my last two semesters) and am wanting to plan for my future. I would like to go to graduate school to to obtain either a MSFinance and work in Asset management for Banking or continue in the field of Econ, obtain a M.A.E. and try to get a job in the government sector.</p>

<p>The problem is I have only recently discovered I wanted to go to grad school and took the calculus for business majors, which sets me back practically a year. To minor in math, I will have to take a Pre-Calc course to even start the calculus track.</p>

<p>Under my current track, this is what my completed classwork will detail. Keeping in mind CSULB does not allow a student to take more than 16 units a semester (a complete joke honestly)</p>

<p>Business Econ Major
Sem. 1
ECON 310 Microeconomic Theory (3)
ECON 311 Macroeconomic Theory (3)
ECON 380 Economic Statistics (4)
Sem. 2
ECON 450 Public Sector Economics (3)
ECON 320 Money and Banking (3)
ECON 485 Econometrics I (4)
Sem. 3
ECON 471 International Finance (3)
ECON 470 International Trade (3)
ECON 486 Econometrics II (4)</p>

<p>DONE WITH MAJOR at completition of third semester (30 + 14 completed at CC = 44 units)</p>

<p>Math Minor
Sem.1
MATH 117 Precalculus Mathematics (4)
Sem. 2
MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
Sem. 3
MATH 122 Calculus II (4)
Sem. 4
MATH 224 Calculus III (4)
MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 310 History of Early Mathematics (3)
Sem. 5
MATH 361A Introduction to Mathematical Analysis I (3)
MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3)</p>

<p>(24 units not including PreCalc)</p>

<p>So if I complete the courses above, maintain a 4.0 (or as close as humanly possible) LBSU GPA, land an internship or RA experience, score very high on my GREs, will I be competitive for admission to a Top 25~ graduate school in either Finance or Econ?</p>

<p>Once I get to LBSU, I could also try to swtich my major to BA Economic w/ option Mathematical Economics and Economic Theory and minor in Finance. But i wouldn't be able to take History of Early Math (whcih is a throw away class anyway), Math Analysis or Differential Equations.</p>

<p>Any input would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to set myself up for the best possible future and the advice given would be invaluable at this point.</p>

2

<p>anyone? Is the above enough math for finance or econ grad school?</p>

3

<p>[Greg</a> Mankiw’s Blog: Which math courses?](<a href=“http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/05/which-math-courses.html]Greg”>Greg Mankiw's Blog: Which math courses?)</p>

4

<p>thank you very much for the above link. Very helpful</p>

<p>Do you think the same amount of math will suffice for a msfiannce?</p>

5

<p>That history of Math class is STUNNINGLY worthless for what you are trying to do. Based on your campus you need MATH233 in there before you can take your Analysis course (and you just need it anyway). I would also suggest taking second semester of Analysis if you have the time to do so - it’ll only help you with your math maturity.</p>

6

<p>ANDS! thank you for the reply and suggestion. I think you are absolutely right about the math history class being worthless. I just picked that class as it fit the minimum for graduation with a minor in math. I need to start ignoring the minimum and begin to excel far past it, or I don’t stand a chance.</p>

<p>I’ll most certainly aim for a second year in Diff Equations and Analysis if I am still on track 2-3 years from now. </p>

<p>Here is my revised schedule thanks to the imput provided in this topic. Again greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Business Econ Major
Sem. 1 [Fall 12’]
ECON 310 Microeconomic Theory (3)
ECON 311 Macroeconomic Theory (3)
ECON 380 Economic Statistics (4)
MATH 111 PreCalc Trigonometry (3)
MATH 113 PreCalc Algebra (3)</p>

<p>Sem. 2 [Spring 13’]
ECON 450 Public Sector Economics (3)
ECON 320 Money and Banking (3)
ECON 485 Econometrics I (4)
MATH 122 Calculus I (4)</p>

<p>Summer
MATH 123 Calculus II (4)</p>

<p>Sem. 3 [Fall 13’]
ECON 330 Game Theory (3)
ECON 470 International Trade (3)
MATH 224 Calculus III (4)
MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 233 Fundamental Concepts for Advanced Mathematics (3)</p>

<p>Sem. 4 [Spring 14’]
ECON 486 Econometrics II (4)
MATH 361A Introduction to Mathematical Analysis I (3)
MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3)
MATH 380 Probability and Statistics (3)
MATH 347 Linear Algebra (3)</p>

<p>Do you think this is close to being respectable for grad school? I know I’m missing Multivariable Calc and only have a single year of Analysis and Diff Equations…will the aforementioned classes hurt me a lot? Enough to warrant a 5th semester with just these classes?</p>

7

<p>Funny thing, but in England at least,I discovered that the MSc in Finance has no math prerequisites.</p>

8

<p>I will say that your final semester is going to be. . a pain. I would look into taking Linear Algebra during the summer (perhaps at a CC) and Calc II, and putting DE in the place of LA, so that it free’s you up in your second semester, because Analysis and upper division LA are a handful on their own. Tossing in first semester Prob (it looks like you only cover the first semester of what is general a two semester course - Prob first semester and then Statistics) means you’re doing that much more work (though it’ll likely be the class you study for the least). </p>

<p>Actually looking at your schedule, you might want to have a long talk with yourself about extending your time another year. I had to make that decision for myself, and it was the right one. There is quite a bit of bunching up, and some of those math courses are going to take quite a bit of time outside of the classroom - Analysis and Linear Algebra in particular. DE is fine, it’s just a bunch of memorization of integration techniques, and lower div. LA, while it will be your most “abstract” course to date, it is still pretty mechanical for the most part.</p>

9

<p>Again thank you for the replies vienneselights and ANDS! I will have to talk to the school counselor for specifics concerning the classes and grad admission, and summer possibilities. </p>

<p>I will also have to be honest with the amount of course load I can handle while still maintaining a high GPA and not being overwhelm, as my time in school progresses. </p>

<p>I’m really set on going after my goals, and if taking an extra year of school equates to the best possible chance of success, well then it is a no brainer. Maybe I’ll be able to double major with the extra year. Thanks again for the advice and helping me think this out.</p>

10

<p>The critical flaw in your plan is that Math 122 is a prereq for Econ 310/311.</p>

<p>Even so, that there is so little in terms of math prereq for the econ courses suggests that the content of even the upper-division econ courses must be rather light. I was very surprised to see that Linear Algebra was not a prereq for the Econometrics courses. They must be <em>very</em> applied.</p>

<p>If you have the ability, you’d probably be better off to major in Math and minor in Econ. These math-light econ courses are not going to contribute much to your future econ education as you’ll end up repeating them in more rigorous form anyway. They could provide some general background for finance, but they’d be of much less value than would principles of finance and/or accounting courses.</p>

11

<p>I did Math 115 as a pre-req for transfer, so I can take the ECON classes first semester. I’m thinking a double major is indeed the best course of action at this point.</p>

12

<p>Well, ROS isn’t suggesting you double major, but perhaps major in Math and get a solid grounding in Econ, but not so far as a major. I don’t know if I completely agree with that, since it’s fairly easy to remove the fat as it were from the math courses you aren’t going to need; if you go the math major route you’re more than likely going to be saddled with algebra, perhaps some geometry and number - courses which are pointless for what you want to do.</p>

<p>Perhaps if LB has an applied math track that might be an option (especially if any of the instructors have a math-finance background - as one of ours did).</p>

13

<p>It is interesting because there is an actual applied math minor that I can pursue instead of just math minor.</p>

<p>It would require me to take</p>

<p>MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
MATH 123 Calculus II (4)
MATH 224 Calculus III (4)
MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 323 Introduction to Numerical Analysis (4)
MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3)
MATH 364B Ordinary Differential Equations II (3)
MATH 380 Probability and Statistics (3)
A Computer Programming Class</p>

<p>I am just not sure as there seem to be so many ways to go toward the same goal?</p>

14

<p>If you added one semester of RA and upper div. LA to that you’d be in very good shape. Most likely would add semesters, but your profile I’d wager would look far more attractive to Math-Finance programs.</p>

15

<p>So I’ve had about a month to think over the whole situation and I have decided that I do not want to rush through. I want to do it right and learn the material that will help me excel in graduate school if I am able to achieve my dream of getting admitted into one.</p>

<p>I was lucky enough to get a pass on taking the PreCalc courses and CSULB will allow me to take [CALC I] in my first semester at the University.</p>

<p>Can anyone with a Math or Econ background look through my projected schedule to see if I am in over my head in any one semester, and if the classes I am taking properly prepare me for the GRE and the eventual rigor of Graduate School?</p>

<h2>FALL 2012 (14 units)</h2>

<p>MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
ECON 310 Microeconomic Theory (3)
ECON 311 Macroeconomic Theory (3)
ECON 380 Economic Statistics (4)</p>

<h2>SPRING 2013 (14 Units)</h2>

<p>MATH 123 Calculus II (4)
ECON 485 Econometrics I (4)
CESC 174 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving (3)
BLAW 309I - Consumer Legal & Economic Environment (3) <em>CAPSTONE #1</em></p>

<h2>SUMMER 2013 (4 units and RA/Internship)</h2>

<p>Internship or RA?
MATH 224 Calculus III (4)</p>

<h2>FALL 2013 (16 Units)</h2>

<p>MATH 247 Introduction to Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 380 Probability and Statistics (3)
ECON 420 Forecasting (4)
ECON 411 Advanced Macroeconomics (3)
GERN 400I - Perspectives On Gerontology (3) <em>CAPSTONE #2</em></p>

<h2>SPRING 2014 (14 Units)</h2>

<p>MATH 323 Introduction to Numerical Analysis (4)
MATH 364A Ordinary Differential Equations I (3)
STAT 381 Mathematical Statistics (3)
ECON 486 Econometrics II (4)</p>

<h2>SUMMER 2014</h2>

<p>Internship or RA?</p>

<h2>FALL 2014 (9 Units)</h2>

<p>MATH 364B Ordinary Differential Equations II (3)
STAT 410 Regression Analysis (3)
C E 406I - Project Cost-Benefit Analysis (3) <em>CAPSTONE #3</em></p>

<p>This will give me a B.A. in Mathematical Economics and Economic Theory w/ a Minor in Applied Math.</p>

<p>Do you think some of those semesters are too loaded? I could stretch it out another semester (to SPRING 2015) or maybe even 2 to spread the math out more. I could also stretch it out to add another semester of Differential Equations and upper division LA.</p>

<p>Going for another 1-2 semesters would also allow me to take an additional 15 units that are required for an Honors program. Would graduating with honors help me get into a better ECON grad school?</p>

<p>Any help and input on my schedule and prospects for graduate school would be greatly appreciated. ANDS!, ReallyOldSchool, and XaviFM have already been so much help I cannot thank you all enough!</p>

16

<p>I actually just read about the Honors program and learned that they would just be exclusive versions of the select capstone classes, so forget that part.</p>