Predator

Ok so I'm in engineering... I came in with like 35 or so AP credits.. my schedule for this semester is:

Engr 101
Cal III
Engr 110
Chem 210 (orgo) + Chem211 (orgo lab)

15hours.

Anyways, I'm prly doing biomedical engineering cause I might go to med school, but I also am really into the stock market and like the economy and stuff, most of the $ I made from my summer job into the stock market, and I'm doing alright. I love stock stuff and finance, but I HAVE to finish in 4 years (I have a 26k/year for 4 years guaranteed scholarship from engineering, and I'm out of state, from Texas). I don't know what to do. Should I go for a minor in economics?

Predator

Anyone with valuable advice? lol

tetrahedr0n

Take the classes you're interested in, learn what you desire to learn about finance and economics, and don't worry about getting a minor or major in the field.

The idea is to be competent and capable, not necessarily having a piece of paper that supposedly proves this. With an engineering degree and a strong class record in finance, you'll do fine when it comes to interviews.

Predator

But taking classes in finance, I'd have to do that at Ross wouldn't I? To take any classes at Ross, I have to apply and get in, correct? And if I do get in, can I take classes at Ross without the requirement of having to take a degree from there?

SBDad

You do not have to be in Ross to take Econ classes. My son, a math major, has enrolled in Econ classes with no problem. The Economics Department is actually part of LS&A, not Business.

dsmo

Are you a freshman right now? If you have it in your mindset to get the econ minor done now, it should be pretty doable. You're ahead of the curve in calc, what about physics? I'd recommend taking 101 and 102 regardless of AP credit, get good grades in them and it could boost your Econ GPA later.

Next semester I might recommend:
Engin 100
Econ 101
Any program prereq (calc IV, physics, etc.)
Any program prereq

If you have all of the prereqs done, start jumping into biomed now. FWIW, I'm an EE major planning on getting an econ minor. I have finished 101, 102, 6 credits of 300-level, and I'm currently taking 401. So I think after 401 I need to take 402 and a 400-level class. I should be able to do it because Econ 401 and the 400-level will count as flexible-technical-electives for EE. Check out if your major has flex-techs - at the least, Econ 401 will probably be a valid choice.

Predator

Hmm, ok. I also hear I have to meet LS&A requirements if I wanna take a minor? Like... having a foreign language?

dsmo

BS. An econ minor you need to have 101, 102, 401, 402 + something like 9 credits of 300+ level Econ courses...I think maybe 4 of those credits need to have econ 401 as a prereq (so essentially one 400-level class)

hoedown

If you determine that a major or minor in econ isn't feasible, there are some extracurricular activities that involve this kind of thing--ie the capital markets club, alternative investments club, the international development fund.

Predator

hoedown, where can I get a list of these clubs that are econ-related?

hoedown

If you go to the Maize pages, you can search by keyword--economics and business are both options.

You can navigate there from the U-M homepage and click on current students, then student affairs, then getting involved at Michigan, then Student Organizations (Maize Pages)

Predator

Some of the clubs have like...10 people. Is that a good or bad sign?

hoedown

Dunno. I was never an undergrad at Michigan so I don't know how to judge an org from its membership numbers. For some clubs, I'll bet 10 is the right size.

Based on general experience, sometimes all an organization needs to get bigger, or more active, is one gung-ho person with ideas or enthusiasm. So I wouldn't write anything off yet--maybe you could be that person and transform a club into what you want it to be. Or, you could start a new one.