<p>Originally I was very confident that I was going to be a mechanical engineer. I wanted to help the world and I thought I could do that through mechanical engineering by designing and working with renewable energy sources, like solar panels. Unfortunately, I now think that a degree in engineering would simply make me a slave to a corporation. Even if that corporation is based in something I support, like renewable energy, it is still a corporation nonetheless and I will be just a tool used by the corporation in order to make a profit. I would go to work every day hoping I can come up with something radically creative and new that will set me apart from my peers and hope that someday I'll get a promotion.</p>
<p>I don't think this is the type of life I want to live. I want to know that my actions are directly impacting the lives of others. I have developed quite a passion for politics, economics, and law over the past two years. Now I think becoming a lawyer (and quite likely ending up in politics, eventually) is what I want to do with my life. At this point I believe I will specialize in civil liberties. The reason I want to switch to economics for my undergraduate degree is that these realizations I've had have really killed any passion I had for engineering in the first place. Now I am passionate about defending the ideals that the United States was founded upon. I think an in depth knowledge of economics would facilitate this passion much more than an in depth knowledge of mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>I am worried about job prospects and potential salaries, though. If my law school plans end up not working out, I understand that a bachelor's in economics will likely land you a job with a significantly lower starting salary than a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. This is really what concerns me. Does anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Note that a lot of economics graduates work at corporations, often in finance and banking. Of course, working at a corporation is a pretty common post-graduation outcome for people graduating in all majors who become employed (as opposed to unemployed or graduate school).</p>
<p>Note that law school is expensive, and law school prestige has a very large effect on the quality of lawyer jobs a law graduate is likely to get afterwards.</p>
<p>Why economics? Why not history, or political science, or sociology, or international relations ? It just seems your realized passion isn’t nearly as related to economics as these above subjects. Just because something involves math doesn’t make it “better” :)</p>
<p>If you think law school is in your future, use the search function to read the threads in the CC parents forum about law school (which also come with links to some great articles). VERY chilling.</p>
<p>I’ve read the threads and know what the current job situation is like. I am very confident in my ability to get into a top 6 school. I’ve talked to my dad about it and we can afford it, thanks to my grandparents. I am very thankful for that. The reason I chose economics is because I really do have a passion for economics too, especially macroeconomics. I didn’t really voice that in my original post I guess. I’ve already made the decision at this point, I just want to see what some opinions are.</p>
<p>“Economics” and “Civil Liberties” in the same post? Do I detect a Libertarian who’s watched too many Austrian economics videos on youtube?</p>
<p>How about going into applied math or something like that? You can minor in econ if you still want to take some econ classes, and the math will probably help you in your econ classes. Personally, I wish I had focused more on math when I was an undergrad.</p>
<p>Actually you could call me more of a democratic socialist. A progressive. Into green energy, civil liberties, massive cutting of defense spending, more taxes on the wealthy/corporations overseas profits, universal healthcare kind of person.</p>
<p>Ah, my mistake. Most of the time, when I hear civil liberties and macro economics mentioned in the same conversation, it’s coming from a Libertarian who’s way into Austrian economics.</p>
<p>I still think applied math would be an interesting alternative since it’s closely related to economics. Also, it will still allow you to work in science/engineering if you ever change your mind about that. At the engineering firm I used to work at, we employed a number of mathematicians.</p>
<p>Note that if going to graduate school in economics is a possibility, taking substantial math and statistics courses is recommended. This means the usual freshman and sophomore math courses for math majors, plus additional advanced courses like real analysis and the like. Indeed, a pure or applied math major with math-intensive intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics elective courses and junior level statistics courses outside of his/her major may be better prepared for economics graduate school than most economics majors.</p>
<p>Math and economics majors also tend to do well on the LSAT (so do physics, philosophy, and engineering majors).</p>
<p>^good point. Why not finish your eng degree then apply to law school? That would give you lots of options. Especially since Econ doesn’t fit really with your intended goal anyways?</p>
<p>Alternatively you can go to grad school in econ, or get a masters of public admin, or a host of other masters degrees. Also an MBA, viable thru any undergrad background. </p>
<p>Not sure why you’re worried about salary from Econ if law doesn’t work out. Most people espousing your passion- help the world and avoid being part of the corporate machine, seeking justice and fighting for civil liberties are not the lawyers rolling in dough and that is not why they went into it. Its very admirable and thank god we have such people, but you seems to be quite conflicted…want a practical well paying degree yet are supposedly passionate about something that is far above and beyond making the big bucks.</p>
<p>I’ve done a bit more research and I believe I actually will go for applied mathematics instead of economics. I have to take 64 units of classes not in the math department for that major and I can fulfill that requirement with economics classes. This way, if my law school plans don’t work out I’ll have a more reliable undergraduate major but I’ll still be able to take classes relevant to my interests. I really have no desire to be a mechanical engineer any more, now that I have a better idea of their day to day work.</p>
<p>I should also add that if you want to get job in science/engineering with an applied math background, you may still need to get an advanced degree (all of the mathematicians I worked with either had master’s or phds). But I still think this is the smarter choice because it gives you more options than a straight econ major.</p>
<p>I hope you don’t sacrifice your ideals and start working for Wall Street.</p>
<p>That’s a good decision. Economics is not as math intensive as an engineering major. That’s a wise choice if you enjoy math and find your strengths are in numbers. Personally, I couldn’t handle mechanical engineering and ended up in economics after a couple semesters of calculus. Best of luck.</p>