<p>How strong is the economics department in Yale?
If compared to Columbia's economics department, which one is stronger?</p>
<p>Both are at the top and the difference is minimal. The differences won’t be noticed by an undergraduate – so if you’re basing this supposed gap on your decision to apply/attend one or the other, I suggest you look for other factors in choosing. If both interest you, then I suggest applying to both as both schools are wonderful.</p>
<p>That being said, Y is supposed to be > C.</p>
<p>Econ is a department in high demand, so top national universities in particular are pretty reliable for having awesome undergrad departments. I’d echo what T26E4 said.</p>
<p>If I can give a somewhat dissenting opinion, Yale’s department - like many - is somewhat traditional in approach, meaning that it’s not particularly math-oriented. I don’t know about Columbia, other than that it has specific tracks you can take. Many people take econ to go to law or business school but the real difference in programs - IMHO - is the extent to which they integrate and encourage math. I don’t know your interest but some places are more quant oriented.</p>
<p>But then again, you can make your experience as quant-oriented as you would like. Yale has been increasingly encouraging Econ majors to take more math courses. There are also the Math-Econ combined major and the Applied Math major with concentration in Econ. </p>
<p>I’m sure there’s similar paths at other colleges, but you can definitely forge your own road.</p>
<p>Yale’s emphasis has always been on pick your own but the department - I hear through the grapevine and not from current experience - remains fairly traditional. I would expect Columbia is similar, but with more of a finance track (because they’re capitalizing on NYC connections). Sorry for the pun.</p>
<p>If you are math oriented and are thinking of a possible career in finance, which major would you recommend: pure math, applied math or math & econ?</p>
<p>math and econ, you’ll get all the math skills neccessary for the job AND knowledge directly involved with economics. If you look at the courses required, the only things more you’ll get with the pure math major would be superfluous for such a career.</p>
<p>It really doesn’t matter. MANY history majors end up working for Goldman Sachs, just having interned for a bank one summer, and taken a few intro econ courses. If you take anything that is remotely connected to the field, you’ll stand a good chance of being hired. Just do what you’re interested in, and do well at it.</p>
<p>Thanks Guynameded & RedLion!</p>