<p>I'm a junior in high school and I have taken a real interest in game theory. I enjoy rational, strategic decision making and would love a career based around this. I think I have an aptitude for the process since solving a few famous problems and not falling over the usual hurdles.</p>
<p>What sort of careers would I be able to use this sort of skill in? Also, what sort of classes would prepare me for this sort of role? I've seen game theory applied to econ, pol sci and even biology so I'm not sure how to go about preparing for such a career if one exists. Any help would be much appreciated because there isn't much info out there for potential game theorists!
go about</p>
<p>Bump!
I’m really interested in this so any help would be great!
What about something like a maths major with econ, pol sci and psychology minors?!
Or econ pol sci with psychology minor and game theory masters? I have no idea!</p>
<p>Poker player (what I did for a few years), Trader, econ PhD, some stuff in the business world, law (LSAT is basically a giant logic/IQ test but the practice of law for the most part isn’t). </p>
<p>Your specific undergrad major won’t matter much for most of the aforementioned careers. I don’t think there’s too much game theory intensive stuff you can do with just a 4 year degree. Poker or trading you can obviously do with a 4 year degree. If you have an interest in trading I’d strongly recommend a comp sci degree as more and more successful firms rely on programs more than floor traders. Even if you don’t do trading computer science is helpful in business, law (IP law for example), etc.</p>
<p>Mostly I’d major something you are passionate about eg, if you hate staring at computers def don’t do comp sci.</p>
<p>Thanks.
I play poker and chess quite a lot but probably wouldn’t want a career out of it (I think). </p>
<p>Currently I am stuck between economics and physics… The only reason I want to do econ is because I could get into some game theory though so I guess I should do physics. </p>
<p>Comp sci is an interesting option but seems a bit tedious tbh! </p>
<p>Thanks for your reply, I’ll mull over it :)</p>
<p>I’ve never taken econ, but I have taken physics and I get the feeling you’ll love it. I hung out a few times with a visiting game theory professor (I’m almost 30) who did research on corporate takeovers and game theory strategy. It was pretty interesting stuff and seems like it could pay pretty well if applied in the right way.</p>
<p>You sound like you know what you want and you still have tons of time to change your mind. Take a few random classes in things you are interested in during college (there’s time, at least in the USA) and you can solidify your path.</p>
<p>As you probably noticed, I am in the uk! I prefer the US tertiary education system by miles though.
We specialise too early in the uk. I want to explore different options and can’t realistically do that here :(</p>
<p>I am going to probably do a maths degree after thinking about what I am interested in. I could do some physics and stats/econ/game theory stuff along with the pure maths to help with any research. The only issue I am having is that there is no practical component. Labs for chem and physics are awesome!</p>
<p>Also, my interest in things like philosophy and chemistry means I may feel unfulfilled just doing maths.</p>
<p>I wish the transition to a more liberal university education had come sooner here. We have started but only a couple of universities offer such course structures.</p>
<p>I would say go to a reputable college, double major in math and econ (or just one major in econometrics if the school has it,) and then go PhD in math, law, or whatever (I mean you can still be proficient in it even if it’s not your career.</p>
<p>Hell, you could double major in Econometrics and physics, then become a physicist who dabbles in game theory. That sounds like an amazing career :)</p>
<p>If you like game theory you may want to check out Operations Research and Decision Analysis as possible majors … both approach problems in a knowledge based rational fashion.</p>
<p>I picked OR as my major after an engineering mini-course where one topic was playing poker using game theory … since I was busy flunking out of college playing cards I was sucked right in!</p>
<p>I second the recommendation to consider studying operations research. The stochastic analysis, optimization, and modelling that O.R. focuses on is the math that is most central to modern applied game theory. I see that the OP is in the UK. For students most interested in the game theory in the US, at least those considering physics or math as alternatives, I’d recommend saving economics for a graduate degree.</p>
<p>Unfortunately in the US, undergraduate economics degrees are most often taught using very little math. This is what the undergrads here have come to expect and most revolt if a professor tries to teach economics using math. It’s really sad. Imagine majoring in French literature without learning french or studying physics for years without using much math. That’s what a bachelors degree in economics in usually like in the US.</p>
<p>Many economists and game theorists in the US took only a few economics undergraduate and graduate courses while earning their bachelors degrees majoring in math, engineering, physics, etc. Many top graduate programs in economics focusing on game theory prefer students with such a background. In the US students can double major in economics and math or such. This is another popular approach.</p>
<p>Many fields are increasingly finding game theory useful, but it’s deepest roots are generally in economics and math departments. Mathematicians often focus on zero-sum games as mathematical toys. Their work is interesting, but with less application to interesting real-world problems. Economics departments employ many great game theorists who often focus on the math but also are working on making models applicable to economic and other real world problems. Poli-Sci, Business schools, Psych, Ecology, Computer Science, Immunology have growing groups of game theorists.</p>
<p>One way to tell is to look in the school’s course catalog and see if the intermediate microeconomics and econometrics courses list math prerequisites more advanced than frosh calculus.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus makes a great suggestion for students looking for mathematically oriented econ undergrad programs. Another is to see if Econ undergrads are required or encouraged, or allowed to take the same math courses as math, physics, and engineering students. Often they will take calculus courses offered especially for economics and business students which can be much less demanding.</p>
<p>^ hmm … it is certainly taught there … but OR can fall under a lot of different department names. Look for departments teaching game theory, linear programming, stochastic processes, queuing theory, etc. Lots of great stuff for the analytical geek types.</p>
<p>One of the people that I’ve talked to who’s getting her master’s in London for cognitive decision making is planning on going into a career in marketing. She’s really into game theory, so she majored in cognitive science while taking classes in economics.</p>
<p>Thanks for that iloverunning. Since I’m in the uk that sort of setup (taking classes from a different department) is not common so I wouldn’t be able to do that.
I appreciate your input though.</p>
