<p>I would like to be a consultant, analyst, strategist or advisor(ex. Boston Consulting Group). Would employers prefer it if I took the Math or Theory path at Berkeley Economics?</p>
<p>I'm a Spring admit, and if I were to take the Math path, I would take Mathematics 53 Multivariable Calculus during Fall 2011 at my local community college(only two people get As in classes of 36... at my CC). Then, Econ 101A, Mathematics 54 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations and a required Statistics course during my first semester at Berkeley... I would also be able to at least Minor(maybe even double Major?) in Math.</p>
<p>I would also like to attend Harvard Business School(#1 choice) after working 2-3 years in the corporate world. Would HBS prefer the math or theory path? I'm guessing they would like to see that I took mathematical Economics courses and minored in Math.</p>
<p>This is very urgent! I'd have to register for the course/contact Berkeley by May 15th, so all responses would be greaaatly appreciated.</p>
<p>If you’re serious about economics, you should take the math path. I don’t think you will be missing any theory or anything by taking the math path, you’ll just be taking the more mathematically intense and challenging courses. There are some upper div classes you can only take after 101A/B and Math 53/54 so you should probably keep those options open.</p>
<p>Do the “more math” courses (Math 53 and 54, Economics 101A, 101B, 141) for better graduate school and career options (e.g. quantitative finance, actuarial) than the “less math” economics majors have.</p>
<p>If you can handle the additional math, there is no advantage to choosing the “less math” courses (Economics 100A, 100B, 140). You may actually find some concepts easier to understand with more math.</p>
<p>If you want to be a consultant/analyst, then frankly, the answer to this question is: “Neither”. Instead, you should probably major in business administration at the Haas School, or if you are going to major in economics, then specialize in purely empirical and applied work such as econometrics - or perhaps even better, major in statistics. Mathematics and heavy economic theory are practically worthless if you want to become a consultant or policy analyst. {On the other hand, they are extremely useful - arguably de rigueur - if you want to earn a PhD in economics and pursue a career in academia.} </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Again, the answer is “neither”. MBA programs have practically nothing to do with mathematical economic theory. If you talk to MBA students about the Slutsky equation, separating equilibria, Kaldor-Hicks efficiency, or Walrasian vs. Hicksian demand, nobody will have any idea what the heck you’re talking about, nor will they care. Advanced economic theory - heck, even most basic economic theory - is essentially useless for managers because economics deals with markets and abstracts firms away, but managers actually have to deal with those firms. Granted, basic industrial organization theory might be useful to strategy consultants. But nobody is going around calculating Perfect Bayesian equilibria points. </p>
<p>About the only useful high-level economic theory that might be useful to MBA students is finance theory. But if you’re well tooled on that, then frankly, you’re probably better served with a MFin program rather than an MBA. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you want to enter the PhD program in business economics at HBS, then you need as much economics and mathematical theory as you can muster.</p>
<p>The math path seems to be better no matter what I chose to do… Thanks for the abundance of replies so far!</p>
<p>
[FALL 2011(CC)]
MATHEMATICS 53, Multivariable Calculus - 4 units at Berkeley(5 units at my CC?)<— what’s up with that</p>
<p>[SPRING 2012(BERKELEY)]
ECONOMICS 101A, Economic Theory–Micro - 3 units
STATISTICS 134, Concepts of Probability - 3 units(good for Economics, Math minor or Applied Mathematics towards Economics double major)
MATHEMATICS 54, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations - 4 units</p>
<p>That’s only 10 units… I’ll need a fourth class to bring me up to 12 units. Though, how difficult are the courses I’ve chosen so far?</p>
<p>Bah… scratch that… the professors at SMC(with grade distributions to prove it) and LAVC have terrible ratings, and I don’t want to risk being rescinded… so… I’ve completed up to Multivariable Calculus(need to take during Spring?) and would like to start my Spring semester on the Math track of Economics… what kind of Spring schedule can I have? I’ll be reviewing Calculus and teaching myself Multivariable Calculus with the aid of people on mIRC and free tutors, reviewing Economics using Greg Mankiw’s Principle of Economics and working an office job during Summer and Fall 2011…</p>
<p>[SPRING 2012(BERKELEY)]
ECONOMICS 101A, Economic Theory–Micro - 3 units
STATISTICS 134, Concepts of Probability - 3 units(good for Economics, Math minor or Applied Mathematics towards Economics double major)
MATHEMATICS 53, Multivariable Calculus - 4 units
MATHEMATICS 54, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations - 4 units</p>
<p>= 14 units… would this schedule be suicide?</p>
<p>Bah… I don’t know what to dooo… heh; I don’t think I’m allowed to take Economics 101A without taking Mathematics 53 first… even if I was allowed to, I would prefer</p>
<p>ECONOMICS 101A, Economic Theory–Micro - 3 units
STATISTICS 134, Concepts of Probability - 3 units(good for Economics, Math minor or Applied Mathematics towards Economics double major)
MATHEMATICS 53, Multivariable Calculus - 4 units</p>
<p>Yes, it is not visible how many of the students are double majors, and the career survey includes them in each of their majors.</p>
<p>However, it is worth noting that the “less math” Economics 100A and 100B courses typically have about three times the enrollment of the “more math” Economics 101A and 101B courses. It seems rather likely that most or all of the economics majors doubling with math or statistics are doing the “more math” courses, so it is unlikely that more than a quarter of economics majors are doubling with math or statistics.</p>
<p>Oh, and your proposed schedule: four math or math-like courses should be fine if you like math and are good at it, but it can be scary to those who do not like math or are not good at it.</p>
<p>ECONOMICS 101A, Economic Theory–Micro - 3 units
STATISTICS 134, Concepts of Probability - 3 units(good for Economics, Math minor or Applied Mathematics towards Economics double major)
MATHEMATICS 53, Multivariable Calculus - 4 units
MATHEMATICS 54, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations - 4 units</p>
<p>^^ i think that schedule would be a bit too much for someone who has never take a serious load of technical courses before. </p>
<p>My first semester i did Econ 101A/Stat134/Math 110 and a decal and i felt that was a pretty reasonable courseload to adjust to Berkeley.</p>
<p>^JetForcegeminix
I really appreciate your replies to my questions in various threads!</p>
<p>So, I have eight months until the Spring 2011 semester starts, and I’m going to prepare for/learn Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra and Differential Equations by…</p>
<p>I’d like to work on autodidacticism… I’ll be getting assistance learning all of this by utilizing mIRC, tutors and sitting in classes at my CC.</p>
<p>Oops I’ve been saying 101A is 3 units… it’s 4.</p>
<p>[SPRING 2012(BERKELEY)]
ECONOMICS 101A, Economic Theory–Micro - 4 units
STATISTICS 134, Concepts of Probability - 3 units(good for Economics, Math minor or Applied Mathematics towards Economics double major)
MATHEMATICS 53, Multivariable Calculus - 4 units
DECAL or something - 2 or 3 units</p>
<p>[FALL 2012(BERKELEY)]
ECONOMICS 101B, Economic Theory–Macro - 4 units
MATHEMATICS 54, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations - 4 units
and more of course that I will plan later</p>
<p>Will they allow me to take 101A and Mathematics 53 at the same time? What do you guys/gals think about this, especially JetForcegeminix hahaha.</p>