<p>So I've reached the point this summer that I've decided that Im going to switch out of engineering after wasting 3 years (2 and a year off) of basically doing the requirements for Chem E/Polymer E and not having the grades I want because I can't stand those classes (particularly the notorious weeders as I feel that they shouldn't be as bad as they are). Right now I'm sitting at a 2.8 gpa and with this recent turn of events in my Thermo class, I figure with me being a rising senior needing to do a 5th year, I might as well do something that I enjoy or at least can get better grades in. </p>
<p>So I was considering Econ since I took a micro class and enjoyed it very much. I felt like I was learning something that I could actually use in the real world (not to say that you dont us the pre reqs of engineering, Im NOT saying that). It just felt like something I would enjoy and wouldnt loath. I had considered this for a long time but didnt due to my other obligations. I'm also considering pure math for a couple reasons: 1) I figure it would compliment the "think logically" part of econ and 2)It seems doable in 2 years given that I have up to Diff Eq done for the engineering requirements. The problem is that I dont know too many math majors at my school or even really know what I would be learning. I heard that it wasnt exactly like calculus but it still seemed interesting.</p>
<p>Since I still have 3 weeks till I start school and still on my current engineering schedule, I was wondering what you guys thought.</p>
<p>If you are looking for “applicable”, pure math is definitely not the way to go. Linear algebra, multivariable calculus and differential equations are the last ‘directly applicable’ courses you’d see in a pure math majors for quite a while. Next in the sequence are real analysis, abstract algebra and some electives (topology, complex analysis, algebraic number theory…). What many of these courses have in common is that they build up a theory about abstract structures and use them to prove more abstract nonsense theorems. </p>
<p>Take “groups” in abstract algebra, for example. You’d try to answer the question: what do sets with an addition-like binary operation look like? A few examples of algebraic groups: the integers with regular addition, the integers with addition modulo an integer, the 3d-rotations of a polyhedron or a set of invertible matrices under matrix-multiplication. What do all of these have in common? </p>
<p>Or take point-set topology: it derives a concept of “nearness” and “shape” without assuming that you are able to measure distances. You’d even see examples of “spaces” that have a well-defined notion of “nearness” but where it’s impossible to define distances between pairs of points in a consistent fashion. (Those spaces clearly cannot live in our 3d-universe, since we can measure distances in Euclidean space.)</p>
<p>If stuff like this gets you excited, welcome to math! If you decide to stick with the econ route, I’d recommend that you take at least a first course in real analysis. Real analysis derives the theory of single-variable calculus from scratch. The level of rigor might be a good experience, especially if there’s a possibility that you might go to graduate school for economics.</p>
<p>That sounds really…boring. It just seems like a whole lot of uselessness. Glad you saved me from a bullet there. I wanted to double up with something and thought that math would have been the way to go but I guess not. Is there anything else that would compliment it?</p>
<p>Also, Im just having a hard time with just switching as it just doesnt feel right but i know I need to. any advice on that?</p>
<p>I don’t know how much time you have or if you’re interested in it, but would you consider taking CS classes? Or did you take programming classes during your engineering curric. and decide it wasn’t for you?</p>
<p>I had to take a Java course as part of the Engineering core and I wasnt too fond of it mainly because of the assignments being more in depth than what we did in class.</p>
<p>Do you need a second major? It might make more sense to add a combination of statistics, computer science, business or political science classes to your econ major. Or you could start working towards a second unrelated major. This way, if you decide that econ isn’t for you after 1 or 2 more classes, you’d have a backup major to fall on without having to spend yet more time in school.</p>
<p>Thats what I was thinking. but I’m not too sure about where to go since I’m not exactly the best or most patient computer programmer in the world. I like to work with numbers (which is why I thought Math) and considered doing applied math, however that would take me another 4 years to graduate since its one of those majors at my school where you take certain classes at certain times. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what else to consider. Also, I’m having trouble deciding whether or not to tell my current department that I’m switching. My department chair and advisor have been so nice to me and we had high hopes of doing well but I feel like this is something i need to do</p>
<p>I see no reason not to tell your current department that you’re switching. They’ll find out anyway when you fill out a change of major form and would probably be able to tell you what other students in your situation have done.</p>
<p>Higher level economics can involve a lot of advanced mathematics, but not necessarily pure math. I know that when my university encourages its top economics students to add a math major, the pre-approved major combination includes the mathematical statistics track rather than the pure math or applied math tracks.</p>
<p>In academia I think pure math is more respected than applied math. </p>
<p>Personally, I have taken (meant for math and majors beyond the standard Calc+Linear sequence) 1 applied and 1 pure math class. Not a great sample but my experience was that I was thinking in the pure math class, and I was memorizing algorithms for solving specific problems in the applied math class. That wasn’t because I’m an idiot or anything, that’s how the class was taught, just to memorize algorithms. </p>
<p>In the econ classes I’ve taken (only 1, but I’ve sat in partially for 2 others) they do the same. They just teach you to memorize algorithms to solve specific problems. Some concepts are in the mix to, but in terms of solving quantitative problems, they way they teach it is just to memorize algorithms. </p>
<p>Because of that, I think it would be a better complement to do pure math and econ rather than applied math and econ.</p>
<p>I agree with B@riums idea of maybe choosing a 2nd major that is unrelated to Econ. so you have something to fall back on. Honestly that’s a good idea for anyone considering a double major.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for you input and keep them coming.</p>
<p>I think I will go ahead and switch my current schedule over to that of an Econ major because I’m sure its what I should do at this point.</p>
<p>@b@r!um
I wanna back up on that math thing. I wouldnt be able to take real analysis yet since its not offered until spring. Would you suggest I go ahead and try the Introduction to abstract algebra, just to try it? Though I’m not completely sure what it is…</p>
<p>I have degrees in Applied Math and Econ, and for my money i would either take macro, micro, or econometrics…take your pick.(Macro is my favorite tbh)</p>
<p>Those are enjoyable classes which you can excel in. (having a math based background makes Econ a snap)</p>
<p>the general consensus I’m getting is that 1)To go for it since I could do well in it and 2)math (pure or applied) isnt a bad idea. so I guess that my question is that since pure and applied math has to take the same core math classes at my school, should I go ahead and try the intro to abstract algebra?</p>
<p>Sure! If you are still toying with the idea of majoring in (pure) math, abstract algebra might be the single best class to help you make that decision: it’s very unlike the math courses you have seen thus far and relatively similar to other advanced math courses. If you like it, you can be pretty confident that you would excel as a math major. If you hate it, you can drop the math major without looking back.</p>
<p>cool! so i think ill consider giving that a whirl. Another question I have is that I’m currently signed up for Macro econ and Behavioral Econ and Psychology. would it be wise to go ahead and add Intermediate Micro theory?</p>
<p>Why not do the econ major+math minor? Doing both seems like a lot of work in the amount of time you said you had left. Assuming as an engineer you’ve taken calc 1-3, linear, and diff eqs, you’ll probably need some intro to proofs class, and something like algebra or analysis and maybe an elective to complete the minor. I’d go with analysis in the spring since that would be the most useful if you decide to do grad school for econ. Also, you should look into taking calc-based probability and statistics since that is needed for econometrics later on.</p>