<p>Have not posted here in a while, but to Sakky, I should say I was interested in pursuing a possible economics PhD not because of the job prospects but more because of my interest in the discipline. When I entered my freshman year, I was rather enamored by my intro microecon course. When I find something I’m really interested in, I kind of want to learn as much as I can about it and master it so that I may be able to do something positive with it in my life. Moreover, I thought the prospect of working at a place like the IMF or academia would be very exciting and fulfilling. I don’t exactly know if that’s the way I feel about it anymore. My plan was always to take a year or two off after completing undergrad to just work and see how I liked things. Still pursuing economics with math as a minor or second major. Real Analysis will certainly be taken. </p>
<p>To Nauru, several undergraduate econometrics courses are offered at Penn, and I am indeed enrolled for the first this fall. It is a recommended course, but by and large, the choice of higher level economics courses is one left up to the students, although from what I have read ieconometrics seems quite important and is one most end up taking. I think for anyone wanting to pursue the Honors Thesis here (which is not required but of course anyone wanting to potentially pursue a graduate program in economics pursues it), econometrics is required. </p>
<p>On a side note, I am working as an intern at one of the federal reserve banks this summer in the research department under a economist. I’m doing it less for prestige, resume fodder, or research experience (although I guess it will be good for those as well) than to get an idea of how I might like working as an economist. Basically, I’m going to use it to see how I might like going to graduate school for an econ PhD, although I’m certainly in tune to the fact that as an intern I’d be doing more . . . ***** work, if you will. </p>
<p>I’m still pursuing math as I’m kind of still curious and interested in it, especially now that I can go into real analysis and abstract algebra, the real “meat” of the math courses offered. But I’m still kind of wondering what I want to do with my life. </p>
<p>I’m actually considering not returning to school this fall to just travel the world and figure out my life a little bit. I don’t know. . .I do great in classes, have good career prospects with or without grad school, but I’m kind of burnt out by school and all around rather confused in and outside of my school life. Oh well. Anyone ever taken a semester or two off in the middle of undergraduate studies? Any thoughts/suggestions?</p>