<p>What are the best schools on west coast for economics?
I am currently in a california community college looking to transfer to prestigious university and am just exploring my options.</p>
<p>Stanford probably has best, but very hard to get into. Same with Berkeley; I'll have to see how my grades end up.</p>
<p>I would like to go to USC but I don't even know if they have econ, is it part of the marshall school of business? Is it any good? I know UCLA has good econ department but I like how USC has connections for getting a job. How about UCSD?</p>
<p>How do these compare to some east coast econ. like NYU or U of Chicago?</p>
<p>My goal is to go to east coast school after for MBA</p>
<p>The best schools for economics will include a heavy dose of math. This includes an intermediate microeconomics course that requires sophomore level math (check course catalogs at the universities; also take multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations while you are at community college).</p>
<p>Berkeley offers both a “more math” version and a “less math” version of intermediate microeconomics and some other economics courses. The “more math” courses (and additional math courses) are a good idea if you want to go to graduate school in economics, or work in a more quantitative field (quantitative finance, actuarial, etc.). UCLA has a math economics major that is worth looking into if this is your interest.</p>
<p>USC’s Economics department is good, but UCLA’s is better. In terms of employment opportunities, one will not be significantly better than the other. </p>
<p>Claremont McKenna also has an excellent Economics department (I would say definitely among the top 4 in the West Coast). Obviously, getting into CMC is very difficult.</p>
<p>Occidental also has a well reputed Economics department.</p>
<p>Amongt the UCs, Sand Diego and Irvine are both well regarded.</p>
<p>I have a former student who’s a Ph.D. student in social science (econ) at Caltech, and she’s been really pleased. They have an econ major for undergrads that might be worth looking into.</p>