<p>So I plan on majoring in Economics with concentration on Econometrics (I might possibly double major in Mathematics or Statistics). The three best UCs for economics are the usual top threes - Cal, UCLA, and San Diego. </p>
<p>Can any of you tell me which of these three UCs have the best econometrics program?</p>
<p>What you learn at the undergrad level in economics at the three programs is pretty homogeneous. However, it's arguable that the best econometrics program amongst the three is UCSD.</p>
<p>But which undergrad do you like the best so far? Go there. You won't get anything at UCSD at the undergrad level that you won't get at UCLA or Cal. Trust me. I'm doing some stuff right now that most undergrads don't touch on, and it's still not even PhD level work.</p>
<p>UCSD's strength really is in time series. Berkeley's strength is in microeconometrics. Beyond that the two are relatively comparable, IMHO. UCLA really isn't known for its econometrics. </p>
<p>That being said, you really can't go wrong with any of the three schools. At the undergraduate level, you're not going to seriously going to benefit from any departmental field strengths. Talk to depts, see where you're happiest, etc.</p>
<p>theghostofsnappy,</p>
<p>I'm so fortunate to get to learn time series here. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Ouch. Who's the instructor? (Well, not really ouch, but you know....)</p>
<p>I mean, to UCLA's benefit, I think they're working on correcting this a bit, and I recall there were a few new hires a few years back. I haven't heard much about them though.</p>
<p>Craig</a> McIntosh. He's a new hire over here at IR/PS, but he's also doing work over at the econ department on something...developmenty.</p>
<p>yeah, recent work is microfinance oriented. hmmm, well an interesting choice for a time series course.</p>
<p>better you than I. I've had nearly a year of the stuff. Can't stand it.</p>
<p>I'm almost done with my year of quant. methods, and I can say quite honestly that I'm pretty much ready to call it quits. There are tons more classes I could take here, but I just can't see my work ever needing much beyond OLS and LPM.</p>
<p>LPM?</p>
<p>I enjoy virtually everything on the microeconometrics side, especially panel data and discrete choice models. Well, not boostrapping, but other than that I'm happy. Time series on the other hand I've got absolutely no intuition for, and the math behind it is truly nasty.</p>
<p>Logit and probit models. </p>
<p>You're lucky that you enjoy panel data work. I don't, and it's practically the foundation of all the kinds of work I do...</p>
<p>Well, that and time series, which I also seem to suck at. </p>
<p>I just suck, it seems. :p</p>
<p>ah, gotcha. I'd never heard that reference before.</p>
<p>I have the sucking feeling often...something about graduate school, just can't quite put my finger on it. ;)</p>
<p>For me, it's the whole, "Grades don't really matter, but here's a bad grade anyway" thing.</p>
<p>hah, yeah, I know that one too. </p>
<p>Its big shift from busting my ass in undergrad to get good grades to an environment where grades don't matter. Its that whole conditioning thing between the ages of 5-22 where grades are what matters and thats it. Now the only thing that matters is passing preliminary exams and doing research. Still, grades are highly correlated with one's understanding. Seems as though they should matter on some level. But whatever. ...I guess.</p>
<p>I dunno, man...I get pretty average grades in my program, and I find that I get the material pretty well. I just don't like jumping through hoops any more, especially since this is going to probably be my last degree anyway.</p>
<p>I've got a GPA a little above average. Still, I can tell you that my understanding is often pretty far below the top scorers. For instance, our game theory exam, the class median was 21%, which I was around. The highest score was around 75%. That's not uncommon around here, seemingly. I mean, I'm no dummy, but I'm no superstar either, at leat at this level.</p>
<p>It's really incredible how much differentiation you can still get at the top of the top, huh?</p>
<p>Sucks to be us. :p</p>
<p>Heh, yeah, its is pretty brutal. Makes me yearn for easier days...or at least an A.</p>
<p>Ahh, the joys of a 20 point IQ differential.</p>
<p>A median that low though? I'm assuming undergrad.</p>
<p>20 points? I doubt it. More like a 20 hrs/week more studying differential.</p>
<p>Oh, and in this stuff, the median is often very low. It's not easy stuff...</p>
<p>A median that low though? I'm assuming undergrad.</p>
<p>Nope, sorry, PhD program.</p>
<p>More like a 20 hrs/week more studying differential.</p>
<p>heh, at least, but its a bit of both...that and somebody in our program already has a PhD in mathematical finance...makes it tough sometimes.</p>