Best for Econ Grad School (ph.d)

JHS
Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:26:56 +0000

This is the last place you should be asking this question, if you have access to economics faculty and grad students at Chicago.

But, for what it’s worth, my strong suspicion is that, right now, for ANY top economics grad program you would be slightly better off with math, specialization in economics than with straight economics. If you do straight economics, make darn sure you are strong in math. But as between two students, one a math (specialization) major, and the other an econ major with lots of high-level math courses, about 50 other things will be more important than their major in determining which one gets accepted to a particular grad program.

I’ll tell you what is important: being engaged in what you’re doing, and excited by it, developing specific interests that you can express cogently, and having good relationships with faculty who will champion you. Do whichever major seems better for that. It will serve you better in the long run whether or not you get into a specific grad program.

(And, Miss Silvestris – do some research. Chicago’s math department is really strong.)