<p>I'm self-studying Economics next year but I can't decide between Macro and Micro. Any advice?</p>
<p>doing both is not too hard. It really depends on what you like, big picture or the workings of an individual firm.</p>
<p>i thought micro was easier to understand than macro, but i’ve heard many people say the opposite. i think it is easier to learn micro and then use similarities to apply it to certain macro topics.</p>
<p>hmm… I think micro and macro are doable. you should study for both ;]</p>
<p>Macro is more about individual concepts that stand on their own and aren’t too difficult to understand. However, there’s more of them. Micro has more links between each subject, but (to me) it seemed like there was less to study. It’s for the more math-minded because you have to memorize graphs and what they mean, but it’s not too difficult if you’ve got a good study aide. Macro is more straight-on memorization~</p>
<p>According to my AP teacher, macro is just memorizing 7 graphs and the causes/effects for monetary/fiscal policy…and some basic math with the federal reserve system. I forgot some of the 7 graphs, but to name a few: the circular flow chart, the money market graph, the AD vs. AS graph, the Phillips Curve, the loneable funds graph, and like a couple more graphs. Every question is just an application of the graphs. Instead of memorzing what a supply shock is and what it does, just simply move one of the two lines on the AD vs. AS graph and then move the Phillips Curve, and you can physically see from the graphs what it is…so instead of memorzing individual concepts, everything is based on the graphs.</p>
<p>And our AP teacher must have been right because for the rest of the time (we learned everything we needed in the first 3 weeks or so), we practiced writing our own AP Free Response Questions + did some econ projects/made some econ videos + just hung out in class talking about the current economy + watching econ videos, and his average AP test score is above 4 (I forgot the exact number, but I think it was 4.2 or so). I have to say he’s one of the best teachers I have ever had.</p>
<p>EDIT: I think another graph was the one which compared currencies (the one with appreciation and depreciation)…and I think the final graph was the one with interest rates.</p>
<p>Oh right, there are graphs for Macro! Sorry. The graphs follow the main concepts though, and you don’t really need them that much on the test. You just need to remember what they stand for and the actual curriculum they cover.</p>
<p>And man HiPeople, it sounds like you had a great Econ. teacher! I’m jealous, considering mine couldn’t teach that well. He did copy a ton of practice tests for us, but that was the extent of his usefulness… yeah I know I’m a jerk but trust me he was really unpopular with my (and many previous) senior class(es) :P</p>
<p>I agree with tan2007’s description. Micro requires understanding concepts. Macro also does but it’s more just memorizing things than understanding how they work. I found micro easier, but if I were you I’d just do both.</p>
<p>do both, there is an incredible amount of overlap</p>
<p>My S did both as self study through an independent study. He got the DVDs from The Teaching Company, textbooks and the AP Review books. For each he watched the DVDs straight through, then went back to the text book. He ended up with a 5 in Micro and a 4 in Macro. Both are doable and worth doing because many schools accept those AP credits.</p>