Long story short, like most freshman, I decided to switch my intended major halfway through second semester of this year. So I’m currently in multivariable calculus and doing quite poorly, may be able to scrape by with a C if I’m lucky. It’s not a prerequisite or a major requirement for Economics nor Political Economy and I was considering Pass/No Pass grading option for it in the event I fail it, but I’m not sure if down the line, this would really hurt me in terms of grad school, internships, jobs, etc. Any thoughts? Thank you!
(It appears that you are a student at UC Berkeley.)
An economics major intending to go on to PhD study in economics should take multivariable calculus and other more advanced math courses as described here:
https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/undergrad/current/preparing-for-grad-school
In addition, multivariable calculus (MATH 53) is a prerequisite for the more math-heavy option of intermediate microeconomics (ECON 101A) and econometrics (ECON 141).
However, if you do not intend to go on to PhD study in economics, you can choose a less math-heavy option (ECON 100A and 140) that does not require multivariable calculus.
@ucbalumnus Thank you for the course recommendations!
I am not currently thinking about pursuing a PhD, but more along the lines of an MBA. Would choosing more quantitative classes such as ECON 141 help me in this regard? If so, I may just No Pass it on purpose and retake it for a letter grade some time down the line.
MBA programs generally do not require any specific undergraduate major or course work. But if you want to work in quantitative finance between BA and MBA study, you will want to choose heavier math and statistics course work.
However, MFE (financial engineering) programs expect a heavily quantitative background.
Keep in mind that if you do this, some graduate adcoms/employers who mandate a college transcript will regard the no-pass move as a red flag and question your decision accordingly.
Can’t say about whether it will be important down the road but whether it will needed depends a lot on your college. I took the "humanities " economics sequence at MIT and some looking over my shoulder while doing the homework thought it was calculus homework.
Check your course catalog for what prerequisites are required for the classes you are going to be taking.
Econ is a good way to put your calculus to work and it will all make more sense together.
For MBA, the admission committee would not expect/require multivariate calculus. Pass/fail would not be an issue as well. You can always say that you wanted to learn the materials for your own intellectual interests, and you knew MBA does not require it, so you took it pass/fail and had fun with it, if they ask you at all. I bet, with 99% probability, the committee will not care a bit, given my experience as an MBA committee member at a few state flagship universities. Work on GPA, GMAT, quality work experience, ECs, essays, and interview instead.
Econ is going to make more sense, and you’re going to have a deeper understanding of it if you have that good strong foundation in math.