<p>Looking for good economics programs. Just getting started with the process. Not really an Ivy-type kid, but a LAC that's ranked a click or two down from Ivy might be an option--realizing that rankings aren't all they're cracked up to be! Some more reasonably-priced publics might be nice, too. (Not eager to spend $160,000, but acknowledge that it's almost impossible to put a price tag on a good education.) Currently in the suburban D.C. area and should probably should stay east of the Rockies for ease of travel, etc. Not necessary to stay on the east coast. Goal may be law school, med school or the business world; probably more significant expenditures before completion--NOTHING is definite in this kid's mind! (1380-1400 SAT/top 5%, varsity athlete along with good leadership skills.) Thanks for any help you can offer.</p>
<p>You might want to take a look at "Ruggs' Recommendations on the Colleges." It's NOT a ranking. What he did was ask students at colleges, usually those with Phi Beta Kappa Chapters--while some excellent colleges, e.g., Bryn Mawr, don't have chapters, the criteria for membership is such that you know that a college that you've never heard of which has a chapter has decent academics--which were the strongest majors at their school. So, the results do NOT mean if Ripon is listed under economics and Holy Cross isn't that Ripon has a better econ program than Holy Cross. It DOES mean that kids at Ripon think of it as one of the best majors at Ripon and Holy Cross kids don't. (These are entirely hypothetical; I haven't checked.) </p>
<p>This can be interesting and helpful information. </p>
<p>Don't be too carried away with his his "counselor's choice" recs though. For reasons too complicated to explain here, they are often just plain silly.</p>
<p>The list of solid LACs with good economics programs is probably a mile long, but I'll put in a plug for Denison. The economics department is very well thought of. It's a great school with a really beautiful campus in a very pretty little town right outside of Columbus Ohio. They offer great merit scholarships. I did a little write up about it awhile ago in the alphabetical section under Denison. Here's the link:</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. Any other thoughts?</p>
<p>why would anyone want to attend denison unless its the only choice she has. i got in with 32k grants and scholarships and i didn't even think twice before i turned it down.</p>
<p>Not having any luck finding a Rugg's guide in school guidance office, but the publication sounds really great. Counselor at school said he'd never heard of it. Curious if others are familiar with it? I'll continue to try to find a copy. I googled Rugg and found that he is clearly an expert in the field of college admissions, so it's surely going to be worth the effort. I've found one of the most challenging aspects of the college search is knowing where to start because there are so many good schools out there! Econ progarams are easy to find, but 'good ones', on the other hand? How does one know??</p>
<p>what kind of an economics program are you looking for? some programs are very math-intensive. others are more 'pre business' programs. others yet have more of a 'political economy' social science feel.</p>
<p>The short answer is we don't know! Maybe medical or law school, maybe directly into the business world. Thinking in terms of a good general education. I know this isn't much to go on---hence, our 'problem'!</p>
<p>Economics has many sub categories and specializations such as</p>
<p>Quantative, Qualatative, Macro Eco, Micro Eco, Econometrics, etc.</p>
<p>If there is interest in pursuing economics then a really good grad school in economics is more important. but since, there is some uncertainty (normal) then
I would think that the choice of which LAC is more important then the quality/ranking of the economics program.</p>
<p>trinity college has a great econ department</p>
<p>This is a cut/paste of one of my previous answers:</p>
<p>Your question comes up with great regularity on CC and the answers are quite predictable. After everyone posts his or her short list of favorites, you will be none the wiser. You'll find as many dubious opinions as well founded ones. </p>
<p>Some posters will speak with great authority and hide the fact they are simply speculating or rattling a list that has no rhyme reason. For instance, this is a gem of a post: "Your absolute best bets for undergrad econ these days would be Williams, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Reed, UChicago, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth or (surprisingly enough) Caltech." </p>
<p>While it lists a number of solid choices, it also lists Reed as tops in Economics. When is the last time that the poster read ANYTHING about Reed or visited the school or its website? The poster must have picked up on the much circulated list of PhD production and jumped to the immediate conclusion that Reed MUST be good at Economics. Well, they may be good, but they fall quite short in comparison to most of the schools discussed in this thread. So much for an absolute best bet! </p>
<p>This is the ENTIRE faculty: </p>
<p>Kimberly Clausing, Associate Professor of Economics
Denise Hare, Associate Professor of Economics
Noelwah Netusil, Associate Professor of Economics
Jeffrey Parker, George Hay Professor of Economics
Jim Stewart, Thormund A. Miller and Walter Mintz Assistant Professor of Economic History </p>
<p>Here's a link to the school Dept for Economics. <a href="http://academic.reed.edu/economics/%5B/url%5D">http://academic.reed.edu/economics/</a> </p>
<p>In the end, you would save yourself a lot of time by simply visiting the websites of all the selective schools. In the end, you'll find out that the Ivies, the best ranked universities, and the most selective LACs offer the best choices for Economics. It is, however, up to you to define your reasons to study Economics as the programs' flavor may vary from one school to another. With your own criteria established, check the faculty and check the classes they teach. This will help you decide which school represents a good fit for YOU.</p>
<p>It is important to make sure that the school you select fits YOUR criteria. The only way to do that is by scratching well below the surface. The Economics program at the University of Chicago may be quite different from the program at Harvard. In the same vein, the Economics program at Amherst, Smith or Wellesley may offer a direction and focus that is quite different from CMC. Trying to establish which one is "better" is exceptionally hard and ... subjective. </p>
<p>Here are links of some of the past discussions: </p>