Don't get a ba in econ - Page 2

toblerone · 05-19-2009, 07:54 AM

From my experience (I'm was an Econ major in undergrad myself), the department tends to be less career-oriented compared to other departments such as Finance or Accounting. This is only amplified by the fact that in some universities, Econ is part of Liberal Arts, and not part of the Business School, which excludes most econ students from accessing valuable interview opportunities.

Even though the professors were great, and the materials were very brain-stimulating at times, at the end of the day, career matters. So unless if you are willing to put in extra years to go all the way to a PhD, I'd recommend something like Finance. You still get a fair bit of theories (like in a lot of Econ classes), but you also learn quantitative things that are useful in the real world.

Japher · 05-19-2009, 12:38 PM

Philosophy Majors: Get a Job - BusinessWeek

cbreeze · 05-19-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Econ is part of Liberal Arts, and not part of the Business School, which excludes most econ students from accessing valuable interview opportunities.

Most schools' on campus recruiting (OCR) jobs are open to all students. At undergrad Wharton, all the jobs posted there are open to all students at Penn. I know many BA econ majors at CAS have been recruited for top banking jobs.

suitNtie · 05-28-2009, 03:00 PM

I disagree, although it may be hard to get a job with an econ degree i think it is important to show that you are motivated and that you have some experience. I know plenty of econ students who have gotten great offers.. i think the key is to get experience as early as possible for example, intern for an accounting firm for a bit..

Cmoss · 05-28-2009, 05:10 PM

what about a master of finance from an average school? same result?

aquamarinee · 05-28-2009, 07:30 PM

I disagree. Econ majors from NU get most of the consulting and banking positions. It's also how you market yourself though. You really should not have thattt many issues getting a job with an Econ degree...

Sligh_Anarchist · 05-28-2009, 08:31 PM

Do most of the economics majors at Northwestern who get consulting and banking positions take the 'mathematical economics' concentration or something similar?

aquamarinee · 05-28-2009, 10:18 PM

MMSS? I'm not so sure it makes a HUGE difference for banking. I know people who are just econ majors who have full-time offers from JPM and I believe GS as well. I also know quite a few people who got at least summer internships at the top few consulting firms without being in any special programs.

Sandro777 · 06-01-2009, 01:57 AM

I guess all my friends who took ******** marketing classes which consisted of making cool power point slides for fake products would be a lot more qualified than I because lets face it, the study of economics has NOTHING to do with business..... /sarcasm.

JPNguyen · 06-01-2009, 05:36 AM

Econ is no longer the pathway to finance in my opinion.

It is Math/Econ, Math, Physics, Engineering, and Accounting. All from a Top 20 school or Ivy. My kids are going to an Ivy, even if it kills them.

If I could redo my major, it would have been Math or Engineering.

commentcomment · 07-04-2009, 02:10 AM

most people who have a BA in economics end up working in Finance.

what gets you a internship are your grades and connections and school name

what gets you a job is your internship and job experience

major is just something they put on your diploma to look fancy.

bluebubbles · 07-04-2009, 07:12 AM

What about an econ degree and working for non-profits and research organizations? Banking and finance just ain't my thing.

openedskittles · 07-04-2009, 09:36 AM

I agree to an extent. Economics is more applicable to business than most degrees, but when there is a business school, those students will more often than not already have many necessary business skills.

aquamarinee overlooks the fact that NU is a top school without a business undergrad, therefore economics majors are the most in-touch with the business world. This is the case with lots of top schools and ivies and it's why economics majors' statistics look so good. Also, her comment about marketing majors is pretty irrelevant seeing as they don't usually get the high-paying business jobs and liberal arts majors easily do less-relevant work.

However, at schools that have good business programs, employers come for the business students. They may pick up some economics majors if the business students are in relatively short supply (such as at Wharton), but I know it's pretty common for employers to ask to see only the business students.

Employers go where they know they will get good people for the job. If it's a top school, the students are likely smarter, if it's a business school the students are likely more prepared. Lots of times an employer must simply choose one, but if you can say you're in both, I would say you've got the best shot.

Terp2014 · 07-04-2009, 03:10 PM

How do you decided an "average school"?

Is it a bad idea to get a BA in Econ from UMD-CP or UMBC?

[name] · 07-05-2009, 12:05 AM

I was considering majoring in econ before my uncle convinced me a math or business major would be much better when it comes to looking for a job after college. He graduated with an econ/political science major at Harvard.