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I want to major in Economics, and so many schools have econ as a major, so which schools are the better ones for Economics preferably only in CA, or the surrounding states.? How are the UC's?

Thanks.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 09:59 pm: Edit

UC Berkeley and UCLA are both great for Economics- however, if you're from out of state they are nearly impossible to get into.

Besides the UC's, Claremont McKenna College, Stanford, and Pomona are excellent for economics.
Another possibility and somewhat less competitive to get into is Occidental. Other less competitive possiblities:
Whittier, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara U., California State U Northridge, San Diego State University.

In surrounding states, Whitman College in Washington has an excellent economics department.
Other possiblities: Willamette and Reed, both in Oregon.

By Alex00087 (Alex00087) on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 09:43 pm: Edit

What about the other UC's like Davis, Irvine, and Santa Barbara.?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 12:18 pm: Edit

UC Santa Barbara does have a very good economics department and is somewhat easier to get into, although last year's admissions were pretty tight at UCSB and I suspect this year's will be as well. I checked in Rugg's Recommendations of the Colleges for you and UC Davis and Irvine do not list economics among their strongest departments - that doesn't mean the econ. departments aren't decent, just that they aren't considered their strongest departments. I'd suggest you very carefully look at the course descriptions and course availability as well as talk with some of the professors in the economics departments at both schools to guage them for yourself.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 12:59 pm: Edit

Carolyn, can you give a description of Ruggs's Recommendation and a pointer to it, if it's on line? I've never heard of it and there are some departments that I'd like to check out.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 02:07 pm: Edit

Rugg's Recommendations is a book used by high school guidance counselors to find recommendations for schools that have specific programs/majors. It's basically a book of lists of different majors with schools that have strong programs in those majors. The schools under each major are divided into three admissions categories: most selective, very selective, and selective so you can find what would best fit a student's stats. The lists do not attempt to rank the schools at all. 925 colleges are included - Rugg's surveys college students and high school guidance counselors each year - they also allow the schools themselves to identify the departments/programs they feel are strongest. It doesn't provide any detailed information about the schools but tt's a terrific book for quick research to find which schools are strong in different majors. You can usually buy it used on Amazon.com for less than $10.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 03:12 pm: Edit

Thanks.