<p>I know this is kind of early, but as a sophomore, I'm interested learning more about some schools that might be good for my interests. I would like to major in economics and minor in computer science and I also love debate and non-profit work. I prefer schools that are somewhat smaller (under 20,000) and honestly have no preference for weather (although I live in an area with a warmer climate). When I study, I normally need absolute silence so I would prefer a school that's somewhat isolated but is perhaps near a location or city with wonderful things to explore. I also would prefer that isn't strictly religious as I was raised by two secular parents (although I definitely do not mind religious people). Moreover, I am ethnically diverse (Hispanic and Middle Eastern) so diversity is always welcome. Finally, I would also need a school that gives out financial aid as my parents have to support three children and their school's respective expenses. I do at the moment have a 4.0 GPA and pretty good test scores, but please try not to use how selective the institution is as a factor; rather, focus on a school that seems to fit the profile above. If you could list anywhere from three to five it would be much appreciated. If you need anymore information, please let me know. Thank you!</p>
<p>I am a rising junior by the way, so I want to start researching colleges I would like to apply to next year.</p>
<p>Future goals after graduation? These might affect which schools have the offerings you want.</p>
<p>If money is a big concern, look at these lists:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-2.html#post15889078[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-2.html#post15889078</a></p>
<p>@ucbalumnus–I probably want to get a Master’s in either Economics or Computer Science (whichever I like more) and then go to law school or obtain a PhD in either Economics or Computer Science. I’m not entirely sure at the moment but I would love to go into law (Intellectual Property/Corporate Law).</p>
<p>To prepare for a PhD in economics, you want to find a school where mathematical tools are liberally used in the study of economics, particularly microeconomics and econometrics. Look in the course catalogs to see if the intermediate microeconomics and econometrics courses specify math prerequisites more advanced than frosh calculus (i.e. multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and/or differential equations). In addition, good math and statistics offerings are desirable (e.g. real analysis and in-depth probability and statistics).</p>
<p>A good computer science department should have the following upper division offerings (check the course catalogs; also check the schedules to make sure that the courses are offered frequently enough):</p>
<ul>
<li>Algorithms and complexity</li>
<li>Theory of computation</li>
<li>Operating systems</li>
<li>Compilers</li>
<li>Databases</li>
<li>Networks</li>
<li>Software engineering</li>
<li>Security and cryptography</li>
<li>Computer architecture / hardware design</li>
<li>Electives like graphics, artificial intelligence, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you want to go into patent law, a computer science degree that is ABET accredited (see [Accredited</a> Program Search](<a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramSearch.aspx/AccreditationSearch.aspx]Accredited”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramSearch.aspx/AccreditationSearch.aspx) ) can be helpful in terms of qualifying for the patent exam. If not (or you only minor in computer science while majoring in economics), then check the course work needed to qualify (see pages 4-6 in <a href=“http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/GRB_March_2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/GRB_March_2012.pdf</a> ).</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus–Wow, thank you for the conducive and well-developed advice. At the moment, it’s very hard for me to decide whether I would like to major in Economics and Computer Science. Thankfully, I still have a few years to prepare and am already starting as I am taking introductory college-level courses in both subjects over the summer. If you could, I would thoroughly appreciate it if you could point me towards certain schools that you have great Economics programs and/or Computer Science programs just for the sake of versatility. MIT is the only one I can think of, but that’s quite the long shot.</p>
<p>Berkeley and Stanford also. Stanford is relatively generous with need-based financial aid. Berkeley is pretty good with need-based financial aid for California residents, but won’t cover the $23,000 per year out-of-state additional tuition.</p>
<p>University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is worth a look for a less selective and less expensive (for out of state) school. It has a significant number of mathematical economics offerings, though it seems to have them as the third level economics courses rather than the second level economics courses.</p>
<p>In the competitive big merit list, Duke appears to have math-heavy intermediate economics courses.</p>
<p>University of Chicago is another school with a strong mathematically-oriented economics department. It does have a large merit scholarship (some have reported the Stamps foundation scholarship as a full ride).</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus–Thank you so much for your help! I’ll look for a few other schools but now the only other thing to do is to figure out which of these meet some of the criteria I set up (smaller population, relatively quiet and isolated but near a lively location, etc.) </p>
<p>Also, in my senior year, I will be enrolled in Calculus BC. I know some students who, as sophomores, finished calculus. Does not being in more advanced courses put me at a disadvantage for math-oriented Economics programs? I’m not bad at math; I missed AIME by one question (I didn’t prepare for it). Nonetheless, I’m definitely not as advanced in terms of my course progression as some students are.</p>
<p>Check out the University of Miami. It is 10,000 undergrad, located in the suburb of coral gables which is 10 minutes from Miami, one of the most diverse schools in the entire nation (I think like 20% of the student body is Hispanic) and is very generous when it comes to merit aid.</p>
<p>@A227227–Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll definitely check it out.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not really. The prerequisite sequences for math and math-heavy economics courses are such that you can start calculus as a college frosh. Completing calculus BC as a high school senior is a bonus, giving you more schedule flexibility.</p>
<p>You have a 4.0 GPA and good scores; you want a small to mid-sized school in a quiet environment (and presumably with a fairly serious academic atmosphere); you need a lot of financial aid. All that suggests avoiding most OOS public universities and focusing on selective, private, need-blind, full-need schools.</p>
<p>Many of the schools listed on the following page would be good candidates:
[Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<a href=“Note%20that%20at%20least%20a%20couple%20of%20them%20-%20Lawrence%20&%20Beloit,%20I%20think%20-%20don’t%20really%20belong%20because%20they%20don’t%20always%20cover%20100%%20of%20demonstrated%20need”>/url</a>.</p>
<p>The University of Chicago is a good suggestion.
Also check out Northwestern’s MMSS program ([url=<a href=“http://www.mmss.northwestern.edu/program/program-overview.html]Core”>http://www.mmss.northwestern.edu/program/program-overview.html]Core</a> Curriculum, Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences – Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission]Need-blind”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)).</p>
<p>Any of the 8 Ivy League schools might work, or MIT, or Duke, or Stanford. All these are very selective, of course.</p>
<p>The University of Rochester might be a good “match”.</p>
<p>Consider your own state’s public flagship as a safety or as another match.</p>
<p>A LAC might work, as long as it has a reasonably rich selection of econ and CS courses (and the econ courses have the mathematical orientation ucb describes.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Be careful that the definition of “meeting 100% of demonstrated need” varies by the definition of that. For example, two well known examples of generous financial aid schools, Harvard and Stanford, give non-zero and different minimum net prices for students getting maximum financial aid (EFC = $0) on their net price calculators, because each has a different ESC (expected student contribution of work and/or loans) ($4,600 at Harvard, $5,000 at Stanford).</p>
<p>Note also that EFC may be calculated by federal methodology (using FAFSA only) or by the school’s (institutional) methodology. This may result in different EFC, and hence different “demonstrated need”, at different schools.</p>
<p>Some state flagships are good with in-state financial aid (NC, FL, WA, VA, CA, MI), but some are poor even for in-state students (PA, IL).</p>
<p>Here are some recommendations for preparing for PhD programs in economics and computer science at Berkeley (you may want to check other schools’ PhD programs for their recommendations):</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/grad/admissions/preparation[/url]”>Preparation | Department of Economics;
[Prerequisites</a> for Applying to UC Berkeley | EECS at UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Prerequisites.htm]Prerequisites”>Graduate Research Program Admissions | EECS at UC Berkeley)</p>