Econ is one of the most popular majors at Carleton. I'm not an Econ major myself, but from what I've heard, the department is very good, and lot of the upper-level courses are very challenging.
It's true that the percentage of kids majoring in the sciences at Carleton is among the highest you'll find anywhere and departments are very strong across the board. But that being said, almost 2/3 of kids major in the humanities, social sciences or arts.
Bio is usually #1 in popularity, but economics, poli sci/IR, psych and, of late, comp sci, jockey for the #2-5 spots.
Econ is generally regarded as one of the best departments on campus with a great history dating back to giants like Thorstein Veblen (think "The Theory of the Leisure Class" where he originated the concept of "conspicuous consumption"). The summer program in Cambridge sponsored by Carleton is one of the most popular on campus. Carleton College: Economics: Carleton Seminar in Cambridge
You hear stories of how most LIB ARTS schools' profs have a liberal bias that permeates text book selection, course content and delivery which results in a slanted view of the subject they teach. I read that the Carleton Seminar in Cambridge focuses on Keynes whose findings many (right or wrong) would classify as liberal big government economics vs other more conservative economists i.e. Laffer.
Any insights into how much liberal bias exists in economics department at Carleton?
Or in other departments?
I have no idea about the political leanings of the econ department, sorry. Carleton students in general tend to lean left, but I've taken quite a few Poli Sci/law-based classes and there were definitely a mix of conservative/liberal viewpoints among the students. I had one professor who was fairly liberal in her beliefs, but the rest of the professors I've had in those departments have been of indeterminate political beliefs. The bio department promotes evolution and sustainability, but you could say that about any biology department almost anywhere.
I have a good friend on the Cambridge program this moment, and he's fairly conservative himself, so I'll ask him and see what he thinks.
OK, asked one of my friends who is currently on the London program. Short answer - she said it definitely isn't a narrow focus, and that although there is a reading course on Keynes's life, they are also taking courses on Multinational Enterprises, Contemporary British Economy, and the Industrial Revolution. They've also visited alums who are investment bankers and independent businessmen/women, and in her opinion, the program and departments have a very broad focus on economics, and aren't limited to more liberal ideas. Hope that helps. PM me if you want her complete response (I paraphrased here).
Yes, Carleton will do a great job of preparing you for an MBA. And for recruiters, the critical reasoning skills advanced and academic rigor the school is known for are major selling points. But you should understand that most MBA programs value the quality and depth of your work experience above all else (all else being undergrad school quality, GPA, and GMAT/GRE scores). Typically 4-6 years in the workforce preceeds a full time MBA, longer if pursued part time or as part of an executive program. An MBA entering class at a top program may be less than impressive if looking at academic qualifications alone. In this, it differs significantly from other grad schools, especially law and medicine, where test scores and GPA reign supreme.
