<p>I'm a prospective economics major - well, that's what I put down for all of my applications but I am not sure that this is really what I'm interested in, seeing as I've really only taken one year of economics in school (AP micro this year - my school does not offer macro). I like it so far, but this material is clearly just the beginning of a very rigorous and complicated field. </p>
<p>For those of you who have experience with economics or who are currently majoring in it, when exactly did you know that this was what you wanted to study? was it in high school or in college, and if in high school, how much exposure did you have to the field?</p>
<p>I'm not majoring in economics, but I know what you mean when you say that you're interested in it based on your microecon. class in high school. I'd say that you really won't have a good idea of whether you really like economics until you've taken the intermediate microecon., intermediate macroecon., and upper level mathematics classes in college. I mentioned upper level mathematics classes because if you intend to do graduate work in economics, you basically need to take enough mathematics at the undergrad. level that would normally fulfill a math minor at many colleges. I say this because most graduate economics programs state that at the very least, students need to take classes in Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability, and Statistics. But then the stronger econ. grad school applicants will have done well in math classes like Differential Equations, Real Analysis, and Econometrics. </p>
<p>But if you don't plan on doing graduate work in economics, then the amount of math you have to take for your economics degree will depend on the degree requirements at the school you eventually go to. I don't mean to scare you with with my explanation. It's just hard to avoid the fact that economics is very mathematics based.</p>