I heard that economics is useless unless you get a masters/PhD or go to a top tier school. I don’t go to a top tier school so will I end up working in retail or a job that isn’t related to my major at all? Should I switch my major to something that will have better job security like finance, engineering, nursing?
My school only offers a BA in Economics not BS if it matters at all?
Do you enjoy math or are you more the BA type? If math is your friend I would suggest the BS economics/systems analysis direction. Study linear algebra and look into the pending explosion of “big data” in the computer science. If this is your comfort zone, marrying math to computers to big data would really open doors. :bz
That depends on you brah
If your school only offers a BA then don’t worry about it. The name of the degree is not as important as the coursework you take. You can always choose to take additional math/statistics classes and note that on your resume.
In terms of getting a job, I would suggest that you go to career services at your college and talk to someone there about the employment history for economics majors from your college.
In terms of switching to another major you would need to see if an internal transfer is even possible, if you could graduate on time if you switch majors etc.
It’s a very employable degree, there is really a lot you can do. Try to do an internship and build some connections. Utilize you friends/family networks, odds are someone’s uncle’s cousin’s sister knows someone who can help you.
I know someone that graduated recently with an economics and public policy degree. I think the key is doing very well and lining up summer internships so that you have some experience before you graduate. You could probably find work with a consulting company.
Economics is probably one of the more employable degrees out there. What year are you in? Try to get some internships or co-ops before you graduate. If you didn’t get any experience before you graduate, try to find an internship after you graduate (although you also may need a part time job).
I’m a freshmen and for some reason everyone is telling me how I won’t get a job with just a BA in Economics since it is not as specific something like Finance or Engineering. At my college you can switch to any major, but if I can actually get a job right out of college with just a BA in Economics I’ll keep it!
Who is telling you that? Your parents? Some people do major in economics and finance. Another option is economics and public policy. It depends on what type of job you are looking for after you graduate. With a consulting company they provide new recruits with their own training before they settle down at a client site. To be considered for those types of positions you would need to maintain a good gpa. (B+) Start applying for internships for next summer to see what you can get. Depending on the school you go to it can be a challenging major.
I’m just hearing horror stories by people who majored in something like Biology(which is WAY harder than an Economics major) and working in a job not related to their degree at all(basically jobs that require just a degree in anything). So why would an Economics major, which is way easier than Biology, have better job opportunities?
Level of perceived difficulty does not equal receiving a good job. Degree worth is governed by supply and demand first and foremost.
Very few majors have virtually guaranteed results. If you are enjoying your major and doing well in it do not toss it out the window by chancing some major which is currently in demand. To reach your potential in a subject, it helps to have a strong interest in your chosen major. Try to excel. If you do very well in your economics studies, you will have opportunities even if they do not directly involve economics. If all economics majors bail out of the supply chain, but you hang in there and grow in your understanding of the world around you, something will work. Of course a good statistics course and some interdisciplinary understanding of behavioral sciences could not hurt. Your personal intellectual growth counts too!.
Remember, a big part of economics is choice theory!
:bz
I have an economics degree from a very average college. Have never been unemployed, own my own business and make an above average income. No matter what your major you have to get that first job. From there your career progression will be based upon job performance. Once you show up on the job no one cares what your major was.
The glut of bio majors is probably due to people who choose that major because they want to go to med school. When the vast majority of them don’t end up going to med school, they’re left with a degree that has far fewer available jobs for undergraduates than economics does.
At any rate, if as time goes on you find your school’s most challenging Econ course work “way easy”, do yourself a favor and up your game: take additional statistics or calculus, study related topics that interest you like maybe international relations, read graduate level economics theory, ask to do an independent study project.
You’re in a great field for job opportunities and there is no limit to the complexity and difficulty that can be applied to your studies if that’s what you want.
I think you are getting good advice here and I’m not disagreeing with any of it, but one thing to look in to since you said you want a job right out of college - at both of my kids colleges, they had career fairs and “meet the firms” events that were only open to kids in the business school. You should check into your career service department to see who is coming to interview Econ majors