UCLA Math/Economics

<p>I am considering doing this major in the fall at UCLA. I was wondering if anyone could talk about the difficulty of the courses. I'm currently earning around a 98-99% in Calculus 2, so I find it pretty easy, but was wondering how things change at the UC level. </p>

<p>I'm looking to go into finance, and was wondering if anyone has any insight regarding how this major prepares one for success in finance (PE, PWM, IB).</p>

<p>Any input appreciated.</p>

<p>Well from what I’ve heard at the UC level they do not let you use calculators, because of that most of the test problems will be more straight forward and come out to a clean answer instead of some algebraic hell.</p>

<p>As far as job prep math econ will probably look better than pure econ for most jobs in finance as you have way more technical skills. But be warned… math/econ is more math then econ, it’s not an easy back door to get an Econ degree so if you go that route I hope you like math.</p>

<p>As for your upcoming classes, linear algebra is pretty easy and multi variable + vector calc are mechanically easy but sometimes hard to conceptualize/visualize. After that I don’t know because I’m not there yet :smiley: /</p>

<p>I’ve never been allowed to use a calculator for any of my math classes (Saddleback/SMC) and from what one of my professors told me, she never used a calculator until she entered grad school. As far as Math/Econ, like UCeric said, the major is more math than it is econ and upper division math tends to be mostly abstract/theory/proof based math rather than straight calculations like presented in Calculus. Linear Algebra is a good class that starts to touch on the direction where higher level math is going.</p>

<p>You will have many prerequisites to complete before the department will probably accept you (lower division linear algebra, DE and calculus III).</p>

<p>Those lower division courses can either be easy or difficult depending on the rigor of your professor; more likely they will be easy since at UCLA you will probably be in a class of 100 students taught by a TA.</p>

<p>Afterward, you will begin upper division coursework starting with linear algebra and analysis, and that is when things will change completely, and you will be forced into deciding (you will have no choice) whether math is fit for you.</p>

<p>Well mainly my concern is being able to complete all my prereqs and major courses (only finishing up calculus 2 currently), but I do enjoy math, and I find calculus 2 very easy.</p>

<p>I want to know how Math/Econ people do when looking for work in finance, etc. as well.</p>

<p>Here’s a link to a topic made by someone who recently graduated from UCLA in Math/Econ:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/1114003-my-ucla-transfer-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/1114003-my-ucla-transfer-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;