Computer/Chemical Engineering vs. Mathematical Economics

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>Hi there guys and girls. God be thanked, I was just accepted to two of my top schools. One of them has a good program in mathematical economics; the other has a great program in chemical engineering/computer engineering. So out of these three fields, which should I pick?</p>

<p>I particularly enjoy applied mathematics. I also enjoy computer science and learning both the theoretical and applied aspects of computing. But I also enjoy doing labs (particularly in thermochemistry and electromagnetism!). But I also enjoy economics! Like the Arrow's Impossibility Theorem and Coase' Theorem! They blow my mind away!</p>

<p>So I like all these subjects and that makes the decision only the more difficult. So I simply do not know what to do! I just want to do something I won't regret, but assuming that there is a right answer, I have a 50-50 chance of making the right decision and not regretting that decision (assuming that I will be able to unequivocally judge my decision years from now).</p>

<p>To anyone who has or is majoring in these fields, what is your opinion of these subjects and the coursework they entail? What about employability? Is an economics degree with mathematical emphasis as useless as people say it is? Or is it as useful as people say it is? Can I learn the material just by reading a book? Obviously for engineering I need hands-on experience, but what about economics?
I am appreciative of the time you take in replying to my concerns. Hopefully others will also gain insight from this thread.</p>

<p>Thank you.
NP</p>

2

<p>It sounds like you haven’t really made up your mind about what you want to do; in that case, I would advise against using which school is better at what as your selection criterion. Which school do you think you would enjoy more?</p>

<p>By the way if you want to get a PhD in economics it’s probably better to major in math undergrad than econ, unless you’re going somewhere that doesn’t run from math at every turn like MIT.</p>

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<p>I see. Thanks for your response. The engineering school is really small and packed inside NYC but the other is medium sized and has lots of space (it’s in a small town in upstate NY). </p>

<p>In those terms I prefer the LAC.
Why do you suggest I major in math to go to grad school in econ? What courses would you learn in a math undergrad that cannot be picked up during an econ undergrad? </p>

<p>I am hoping to do the undergrad in mathematical econ, but self-study any math I may need, like analysis or topology, but do you even need them in economics?</p>

<p>NP</p>

4

<p>I don’t know about topology, but measure theory is important. You may not get to any analysis that’s actually directly useful for economics during undergrad, but you’ll have the relevant background required to learn more applicable things.</p>