<p>The math requirements for econ majors vary by college, but at least three of the colleges on the OP’s list require multivariable calc. (Columbia only requires 2 semesters of calculus, but one must be multivariable. ) Moreover, whether or not math courses are required, I personally think you need to have substantial math aptitude to do well as an econ major. YMMV.</p>
<p>I may have overstated the case in saying multivariable calc is “usually” required. It is at the colleges I’m most familiar with and several of those are on his list. </p>
<p>My real point though is that if he hasn’t actually take at least AP econ he may not have that good an understanding of what econ involves. Thus, I don’t think the strength of the econ department should play a significant role in his choice of college.</p>
<ul>
<li>This young man live in NYC (so he’s in-state for BuffBing/Geneseo).</li>
<li>I believe he is a member of anurban squash program, but new to the sport.</li>
<li>Econ is an interest, but strong econ dept is not a signif factor.</li>
<li>The Maine schools (Bates/Bowdoin/Colby) are way ourside his 5hr radius.</li>
</ul>
<p>I know that his list is a work in progress and that he will adding/dropping schools, especially after he tours the campuses, but his mother is fixated on the Ivy League (her American dream - - she’s emmigrated from Africa), so his list will certainly remain heavy with reach schools. And, as 2college posted, with many of these school, it’s a crap shoot.</p>
<p>I don’t think he should apply to Columbia or NYU becasue if he’s that close to the city, his M will want him to live at home and help w/ younger sibs.</p>
<p>It’s wonderful that you’re helping this family through the college application process. The best thing you can do is to be the “reality checker” for them and keep them grounded as to which colleges are a true match for this student based on his academic record, SAT scores, finances, and social expectations. At this point and with the info you’ve supplied, the Ivy’s look like an impossible reach. Binghamton and Geneseo rejected kids this year with higher statistics than this young man. Please, don’t consider them as his safeties. There are SUNY’s out there for him and private schools as well. Loyola in MD may be one to look into. Marist College may be a good fit and the distance is manageable from NYC. Bates/Bowdoin/Colby will be very difficult for him to get into. They tend to accept kids with very high test statistics, academic records, and multiple EC’s. Columbia and NYU are also extreme reaches. He is definitely “college material” and there are many colleges that will love to have him as a student. It’s important that you help this family choose a college based on being a good fit rather than name recognition. Good luck.</p>
<p>Bates and Bowdoin are about six hours away, I wouldn’t say that’s WAY outside the 5 hr. radius, especially since they are both shorter drives than Buffalo. However, there are plenty of good choices not quite so far away.</p>
<p>Mom has to also keep in mind that at many elite schools the large number of African Americans are students who are the children of recent immigrants from Africa and the Carribean, so as a black student, even though overall are blacks are underrepresented, black children of recent immigrants are “overrepresented” and many schools are looking to reach out to students with multi-generational roots in the U.S. (because they are underrepresented).</p>
<p>Mom has to be realistic as far as what her son is bringing to the table. Unless they are low income (HEOP eligible) his numbers are on the low end. </p>
<p>If money is going to be an issue, he will definitely have to come down a notch or two to be in contention for the $$ in addition to casting a wide net. </p>
<p>One of the problems I see with NY kids (especially NYC kids) is that many are of the mind set that there is NYC and there is everywhere else.</p>
<p>He would definitely get more mileage if he raised is scores and looked in the midwest, and even venturing out to schools like Grinnell, Beliot, Tulane and Macalaster. He should also look at Randolph College (formerly Randolph Macon), which recently went co-ed. They are SAT optional, looking for men and his grades may put in in the running for some merit $$. While it is also out of the 5 hours radius, I would recommend tossing an application to Oxford College at Emory, where his ##s would place him in the mix and they have generous need based FA.</p>
<p>Ithaca College (NY)
Hood College (MD)
Lafayette College ¶
U of Rochester
SUNY Plattsburgh
Richard Stockton College (NJ)
Mount Saint Mary’s College (MD)</p>
<p>My daughter is an economics major at Cornell, and I do not think that someone with this applicant’s low SAT math score would thrive in that major at that college.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s true that at many colleges (including Cornell) economics majors officially need only one semester of calculus. But that’s because the economics courses themselves teach a lot of the math that econ majors need to know. Also, a lot of econ majors take much more math than is officially required. Econ is very mathematically oriented – much more so than any other social science.</p>
<p>Economics is difficult. It has a lot of math and requires skill.</p>
<p>The SAT is just a test and having taken the test myself, the math section is really annoying. I did better in math in Highschool than I did on that section of the SATs. It is unfair to not give this young man a chance to pursue Economics at Cornell just because of that score. If he is better in actual class grades, it is a different story. Also, the original poster mentioned that he will be retaking the SAT in October. Perhaps he will do much better. We should let the Admissions officers look at the whole picture and decide. I know that Economics at Cornell is hard but we should not write this young man off yet.</p>
<p>Add Syracuse to the list, and if he is economically disadvantaged, make sure to check out their HEOP programs. He would be a good candidate there, and economics is good. Two other options would be Skidmore and Lehigh.</p>
However, there are plenty of good choices not quite so far away.</p>