LACs with great economics and math programs?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi,
I'm a rising senior and I'm beginning my college search. I am fairly positive I want to major in economics, but since the field is so quantitative I am also looking for schools with top notch math programs. I know many of the top national universities in economics, but I know very little about LAC programs. The colleges I am most interested in are Trinity University (Texas), Hendrix, Kalamazoo, Colorado College, and Reed (notice nearly all of these schools are from the Colleges that Change Lives book), but I will take any suggestions or opinions on these schools. </p>

<p>Thanks,
J</p>

<p>p.s. I'm not talking about prestige, I'm talking about opportunities for undergrad research, PhD production, study abroad, and the size of the department</p>

2

<p>Rhodes has an Econ/Math major. </p>

<p>I’ve had four students in that major work with me as research analysts. One is an associate economist in california - he presented his research at the state institutional research conference (only undergrad ever to do so). Another is working on her Ph.D. in econ at Texas A&M. She did a lot of work using stochastic frontier techniques to estimate students’ academic potential and presented research on chinese markets at an international conference. Another is working on her Ph.D. in social science at Caltech. She presented research on election systems in Las Vegas. The last is a rising senior who’s spending his summer working with NOAA developing some kind of models I couldn’t understand - something in a marine biology context.</p>

3

<p>St. Olaf is known for its greta math program, although I’m not sure how you feel about a religious school.</p>

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<p>Lafayette College in Easton, PA
Economics is the largest single major at LC. [Economics[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Having a strong undergrad engineering program requires a strong math department as well. [url=<a href=“http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/majors/mathematics.html]Mathematics[/url”>http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/majors/mathematics.html]Mathematics[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Research opportunities at LC: <a href=“http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/excel.html[/url]”>http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/excel.html](<a href=“http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/majors/economics.html]Economics[/url”>http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/majors/economics.html)</a></p>

<p>Study abroad: <a href=“http://studyabroad.lafayette.edu/[/url]”>http://studyabroad.lafayette.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I’ve heard great things about Middlebury’s economics department. In a presentation about student research projects one student who was only a sophomore, I think, had done extensive research with a Professor on the development of Keynes’ (sp?) theories over a some ten year period. (sorry I can’t explain it better!) He was thrilled with his experience.</p>

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<p>Hitch-I’ve already looked into Middlebury and I also am really interested; however, I already know how highly regarded their economics program is. I am trying to find information about lesser known colleges that still provide an amazing undergraduate experience that also have a lot of merit and financial aid</p>

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<p>Williams</p>

<p>nothing else needs to be said</p>

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<p>^ Unless maybe Williams would be a high reach for the OP (as it is for most students) and he would like some alternatives. Williams does not grant athletic or academic merit scholarships. If you can get in, it is excellent, and it does have a strong reputation for Math.</p>

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<p>Listings of the top 10 schools for PhD production in Math, Social Science, and other areas:
[COLLEGE</a> PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]COLLEGE”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>

<p>Schools on both Math and SS lists:
Reed
Chicago
Swarthmore
Harvard
Pomona</p>

<p>Reed, Swarthmore and Pomona are LACs. All are very selective. I believe none of them grant athletic or academic merit scholarships. </p>

<p>The fact that a school is not on one of this lists does not necessarily indicate that its programs aren’t as strong as any of the schools that are. Self-selection factors may be involved. But the fact that a school is on one of these lists suggests that it does have a solid program, one that effectively motivates and prepares students for advanced work.</p>

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<p>bump 10 char</p>

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<p>Princeton has superior economics and math departments, and is often praised for its undergraduate focus. It will give you both the LAC feel and a top-notch education.</p>

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<p>kwu-I know about all the ivies and top LACs. The point of this thread is to get a feel for lesser known schools. Plus I don’t think a 31 ACT will put me into Princeton</p>