<p>Hey everyone. I'll try to make this as short as possible.</p>
<p>Next year I'll be attending the Cornell College of Engineering. I was pretty sure that I would like engineering because I thought the idea of making things and solving problems sounded cool. I was particularly interested in electrical & computer engineering. However, after taking a pretty rigorous physics this year, I realized I'm not as into science as I always thought I was. I just really don't see the appeal in manipulating numbers. Yeah, there are some pretty cool ideas that stem from physics (relativity, parallel universes, etc.), but I've realized I'm more interested in the concepts than the numbers and how we get there. Then I thought of computer science, which might be interesting, but I'm still not sure.</p>
<p>I've never taken an economics course in my life, but it seems pretty fascinating. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like it deals a lot with studying human interaction and the flow of goods and services. It seems like it has some aspects of psychology and game theory, both of which I think are enjoyable.</p>
<p>I'm contemplating switching to Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences and studying economics. However, I'm not too sure what exactly economics majors do. I sorta wish I had taken AP Economics now. So, what's the major like? What happens after the major in terms of jobs and salaries?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I would probably take the intro to macro or micro economics as an elective (or maybe it’s required for your core requirement?) and see from there if you like it or not. I love the subject myself, for the same reasons you mentioned.</p>
<p>I’m hoping the job prospects are good, but I don’t know for sure. Myself, I’m planning to minor or dual major in computational math so I can go into economic and market research at a firm and/or in the university. But I think you can go into the business/management side of things to if you take the according electives.</p>
<p>Traditional economic theory is comprised of a lot of formulas, graphs and number-crunching. There is a small area called ‘behavioral economics’ that deals with psychology and game theory. Even though that area is growing, the majority of the field is still very quant-heavy.</p>
<p>I guess the difference is I think I’d be able to relate more to this economics number-crunching. I think predicting a product’s price has a greater PERSONAL significance than, say, calculating the force of friction necessary to prevent a block stacked on top of a block stacked on top of another block from falling backwards.</p>
<p>Then again, maybe I’m just suffering from grass-is-always-greener syndrome. If an economist doesn’t end up working in banking or trading, what other jobs might he take? And how hard is it to get into banking or trading?</p>
<p>If you want to be able to estimate future prices you should get a strong background in statistics.</p>
<p>An undergrad degree in econ is most useful when you take econometrics and statistics electives, since that coursework prepares you best for what you’d be doing as a “research analyst” or “research assistant” after you graduate. And with some extra math, comp sci, or finance courses you’d be well qualified for i-banking, consulting, and several other types of jobs. </p>
<p>However, to get any job with the title “economist”, you absolutely need a masters degree at a minimum, and more often than not a PhD. That said, the economics in grad school is not the same as in undergrad. In most cases, you need at least a minor in mathematics to be well prepared for a top econ PhD program. </p>
<p>“Economists develop methods for obtaining the data they need. For example, sampling techniques may be used to conduct a survey, and various mathematical modeling techniques may be used to develop forecasts. Preparing reports, including tables and charts, on research results also is an important part of an economist’s job, as is presenting economic and statistical concepts in a clear and meaningful way for those who do not have a background in economics. Some economists also perform economic analysis for the media.” </p>
<p>Check out the BLS page for more info. [url=<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos055.htm]Economists[/url”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos055.htm]Economists[/url</a>]</p>
<p>ugh, i hate economics. most people do. </p>
<p>although maybe your the type of person that would like it. intro economics courses are relatively easy. i hear that the upper level courses can get much more math heavy and very analytical, but i’ve never taken them. </p>
<p>i’ve always though of an economics degree as not very practical because my HS ecomics teacher always lamented that he majored in economics without thinking it through. so I always thought economics was just one of those majors where everyone went on to get their phd’s, go on to teaching economics, or got a general management job. </p>
<p>but i know nothing really. You could probably take alot of econ and engineering courses in your 1st two years to see what you like better.</p>
<p>Your HS econ teacher must have gone to a pretty crappy school</p>