<p>What is the social life like at WUSTL? Is it typically a liberal campus - well, I kinda figure that but what other campuses would you compare it to in regards to the overall experience and feel? </p>
<p>How is WUSTL Econ compared to other schools of similar reputation? I think I've asked this before and gotten a couple answers, but I'm really interested in what current Econ majors think or just current students that are familiar with the major.</p>
<p>Is an Econ degree from WUSTL worth 40k a year, and given the choice between 20k a year at UT-Austin for Econ or WUSTL for Econ, which would you say is the smarter move?</p>
<p>Yes, liberal, in basically all senses. For examples, PM me, I guess, because I'm not sure about the context in which you're asking. WashU is great if you like to party, but is also great if you're not into the whole drinking thing. That said, you can always party and not drink, as many choose to do. I'm not in econ, but with new hirings recently, WashU's econ department (which was already very good) will probably take a turn towards stellar. Regarding the choice between WashU and UT: what are you looking to do with econ later in life? What's your current financial situation like, and what will it be like in fifteen years? College is an investment, basically. Putting in half as much money to go to UT will probably get you great short-term returns, but WashU will probably get you much further in the long run if you have the money to invest in it now (or the cushy job to pay it off with later--and you easily could).</p>
<p>Econ programs at state schools (with exceptions of U Michigan and Berkeley) are usually not very high regarded on the undergraduate level. More kids who go to those schools major in business / finance (and UT is an excellent choice for that).</p>
<p>WashU will provide much smaller classes, great flexibility of majoring / minoring and econ department that is clearly on the way to top 15 (5 new hires this year).</p>
<p>Only you (as future economist) can make a decision on whether it is worth it.
Take a look at some other schools as well. These 2 seem like a strange "final" list.</p>
<p>Haha well it's not my final list at all. I have 8 schools on that list, but UT is the only public school for 20k a year and so it's the main "standard" by which I compare my other schools. Others which I'm applying to, including Chicago and Brown, have clear benefits that I have been made aware of...Chicago is the best for Economics around, and Brown is an ivy league school that fits what I'm looking for in a school in every aspect. I like WashU but I just wanted to see how yall felt about its Econ program compared to a place like UT (which I've heard has a very good Econ program). However, I'll be applying to McCombs (1st major) and Econ (2nd major) at UT so that may make a difference. Honestly, I can't stand Texas anymore and want out, so WashU already has the upper hand there. I was just interested in the feel of the school, which melanie has already cleared up for me with that first sentence.</p>
<p>I did check out the Course Bulleting for WashU and the professors for the Econ dept. looked stellar BTW, but then again I was wanting to see how it compares to other top schools as of now.</p>
<p>As for the whole partying but not a ton of drinking, WashU sounds far more like me than UT in that aspect. The fact that UT is such a major party school is one of the primary reasons I'm drawn away from it. WashU sounds pretty cool just after that description, Melanie, so I'll stick with the app.</p>
<p>Most of the colleges in top 20 will give you relatively similar career / graduate school opportunities. I would look for a good fit, because in a school where you are happy you will do better, have better GPA, etc. and are more likely to succeed after college.</p>
<p>On your list WashU and Brown have many similarities with WashU having a slight edge with better weather, friendlier student body. They are both unknown to common people (Brown's ivy "flag" does not help).</p>
<p>Chicago has a higher percentage of unhappy people, not very safe neighborhood, and inflexible curriculum. I would go there for grad school and take it off undergrad list. Have you visited any of these ?</p>
<p>When I was at Northwestern, we "made fun" of the kids at U. Chicago. We figured that many of them had the edge on us intellectually... but they were sadly lacking in the social skills that were going to be needed as they moved forward in life... </p>
<p>I think a U. Chicago grad is better prepared to become an economist in the background, or a professor, but not to work with other people, or manage other people. To stereotype... Northwestern breeds the CEO's, and U. Chicago breeds the behind-the-scenes experts. </p>
<p>As for the neighborhood, well... south Chicago does have it's issues, it isn't the safest of areas, and it's fairly far from downtown. But, it has it's beauty also. Chicago is a great city all around, and being close to the lake (even if it is too cold to swim in...) is wonderful.</p>
<p>...the "lake effect" has it's good points and bad points... More snow, but typically fewer extremes in temperature. Not quite as hot in summer as some places, not quite as cold in winter. Typically. There are always exceptions.</p>
<p>I was always fine with the wind rushing down Michigan Avenue when I worked there because I could always duck into some nice shops to escape it : )</p>