Splintercell50

I heard that econ majors have a pretty difficult time. On average, is it hard to maintain a 3.7+ GPA as an econ major?

Also does economics deal solely with math or is it a combo of math, and other qualitative matieral, such as history?

Thanks for the info.

CayugaRed2005

A 3.5 is pretty easy to obtain. A 3.7 can be obtained with a pretty good work ethic. The people who really want to succeed have no trouble getting a GPA between 3.7 and 4.0. The major hurdle is the probability and statistics sequence, 319-320, or the applied econometrics course, 321. I took those courses as an ILR student, and had absolutely no problem with them.

These courses were what was referenced by a poster in a different thread when he said that the courses at Cornell are harder than the one's at Harvard. That may be true, but in my interactions with Harvard students, I have found that the serious students at Harvard take the graduate metrics sequence. Which is the same case at Cornell. A fair number of undergrads at Cornell take 619-620.

A full listing is here:

Courses of Study 2007-2008: College of Arts and Sciences

But if you're willing to study 3-5 hours a week on the subjects, you will have absolutely no problem.

Honestly, there are so many different economics courses at Cornell, you can take the degree in many different directions. Some students double major with math, others take a lot of consumer and labor economics courses through PAM and ILR. Still others double major with history and economics. If there's one problem with the social sciences at Cornell, there are too many good courses to take, and they are a bit spread out across the colleges.

patlees88

this obviously depends on your level of effort, intelligence, and aptitude/interest for the subject of economics. assuming that you have all 3, it won't be too difficult.

donjuan78

Ok, i dont understand why splintercell asks so much about AEM, ILR, and CAS Econ. Why dont you pick a major already?? Why are you so insecure? Do you think ILR is not prestigious enough for you or something?

gomestar

yeah, he doesn't think ilr is prestigious enough

Splintercell50

Just asking questions. That is what this board is for. And if you are serious about me picking a major already, then you are being very foolish. I am a high school senior who is looking at all the prospective majors and oppurtunities that lie ahead for me. How could I possibly pick a major at this state. But hey, at least I am sticking to the business world and not like jumping from pre-med to business or something.

Oh and as far as the prestige factor goes, I will say that while it may not be so important to you, nor is it that practical in this day and age, I actually value prestige and social respect. It is becuase of the way and culture I have been raised in.

Furthermore, no matter how much people deny it, prestige is still important in today's world. Maybe prestige is not so important in the job market (it still is though to a certain extent), it is still important in society. A lot of people will not respect you if you take an impractical major or go to a community college/state college.

I am currently debating where I stand on this issue, as concerning ILR/Cornell.

So next time you decide to lash out at me, take all this into consideration. If you don't like my topics/questions, then don't respond to them or open them.

norcalguy

The problem is that you think you will get more respect once you transfer from ILR to CAS Econ. Honestly, it's not going to matter. No one on campus (or elsewhere) is going care what school you go to. One of the things I like about being a college student is that things like SAT's and acceptance rates don't matter anymore. In HS and on College Confidential, you get credit for high SAT's and getting into selective colleges but as you mature, you learn to respect people for what they've accomplished, not what school they go to. I meet people from a variety of undergrads at my med school interviews, from Harvard to Michigan to Cal-State Fullerton. I never once think that I'm better than someone because my name tag says "Cornell University" while theirs say "Oakland University." If we're interviewing at the same place, we both must've done something amazing whether it be getting good grades or saving an African village. I know the SAT scores of practically all my HS friends. I know the SAT scores of only a couple of the friends I've made since college.

CayugaRed2005

Keep in mind, it's a two edged sword.

I, for one, don't have a lot of respect for people who assume an air of superiority towards others who may take an impractical major (whatever that means) or attend a community college/state college.

Right out of college I worked in an office with Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Colgate, Tufts, Oberlin, and Mount Holyoke alums. You know who was the brightest and most diligent worker in the office? A University of Connecticut graduate. Coincidentally, the Harvard and Dartmouth alums were the least impressive.

We have gone out of our way to help answer your questions and appease your concerns about Cornell. Repeatedly. And for all of the issues that you concern over, between CAS or CALS or ILR, we repeatedly assure that there is no meaningful difference in the student outcomes in these programs. And yet you return and return, again and again.

Like anywhere, the only thing that matters is the way the student applies him or herself in the programs. Just being at Cornell offers immense opportunities and seemingly boundless resources that are the envy of most of higher education.

Life is mostly about the social interactions you have with the people around you, and how you react to the opportunities and setbacks that you are presented with. If I were you I would take a couple of deep breaths. Maybe go on a long walk. Or smell some flowers and listen to the birds chirp for a while and reflect on life and the world. It will do you a lot of good. If you were to have an unfortunate accident tomorrow, would you really want to have spent your last 24 hours stressing over the minute differences between pretty similar academic programs at the same university?

Because if you don't change your attitude, I would venture to guess that you won't get all that much out of your college experience, no matter where you end up attending.

Food for thought.

binghamtonrocks

If you honestly feel that your diploma, college, or major determines who you are and the level of respect you receive, then either a) your hanging out in a dumb-ass social circle, b) you're ****ing stupid, c) you are desperately seeking anyway possible to be respected (b/c, judging by your behavior, you're not exactly very likeable), d) you have absolutely no social intelligence and the only way you can back up your arguments is by showing off a fancy degree or e) all the above.

I know that I am only a senior in high school, but you will not get very far in life (professionally or socially) if you think a "name" will carry you to wherever you want to be. Just be yourself. If you were smart enough to get into Cornell, then, rest assured, you are talented enough to be respected without the aid of a "prestigious" alma mater.

Oh and sorry if I don't make any sense. Just got back from the Rangers game! and I am way too excited/ rushed for time to put much effort into making my point. Hopefully I will get to see Cornell Hockey in 2009 (I'm a GT)!

I prolly shouldn't have mentioned my GT status... splinter cell won't heed my advice b/c as a GT, I am not prestigious enough to have a legitimate opinion.

CayugaRed2005

Let's hope that Riley Nash is still playing for the Red in 2009. I fear he may be called up by Edmonton, though.

For anybody interested in following Cornell sports, I would recommend the eLynah Forum, over at elf.elynah.com. No Ivy fans are more loyal or more knowledgeable about their teams than Cornell fans.

gomestar

i bet splintercell is going around to all of his high school classmates and telling them how he is immediately going to try to transfer to CAS so they think "more highly" of him.

CayugaRed2005

Whatever. A Rhodes Scholar graduated from ILR two years ago. If that's not prestigious enough for him, I don't know what is.

Splintercell50

What is this Rhodes scholar you speak of?

norcalguy

Through the magic of the internet:

Rhodes Scholarship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/...st.rhodes.html

TheGirlsLoveMe

How hard is it to double in CAS with Econ and Bio? Is that do-able?