Economics in CAS and Stern?

hellodocks
Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:19:46 +0000

Yeah, the only thing I would add to the discussion that’s evolved is that no Stern degree will force you to take classes anywhere except Stern. The only potential exception would be the BEMT minor, Business of Entertainment, Media, & Technology which is between Tisch-Steinhardt-Stern. That’s a minor, however, not a major.

I’d also speak to the difficulty many CAS kids have finding positions on the Street. Econ in general is theory. Employers don’t look for kids who learn theory. They look for smart, active, intelligent, motivated people who have proven how well they can learn anything, how hardworking they are, and how well they can balance a heavy workload. Stern forces that on its students in spades, which is why we’re recruited from so heavily.

Most of the CAS kids I’ve spoken with know more about econ than I do. Cool. I’ve only taken one class in it and will only have to take one, at tops two more before I graduate. They, however, do not have what I have. They do not understand accounting–the fundamental language of business–, valuation, financial metrics, or any of the other myriad of technical topics that come up in 2nd round interviews. Most, consequently, can make it past the 1st round fit/behavioral interviews but choke on the 2nd and don’t receive a superday invite.