So, I guess I've decided to become an Economist...

[bicentennial_baby]

Or at least attempt to. :P

I'm going to follow through and apply to Econ Master's programs. I just joined two professional organizations, the AEA and CSWEP (American Economic Association and the Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession).

I was considering going in other directions after I graduate, like Public Policy or Political Economy, but...Economics is my first love, so I'm sticking with it. Despite the fact that I've always said I never want to teach.

:scared:

[flvegan]

1. Any idea what field you want to get into?

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Possibly Heterodox/Experimental Econ, or Development Econ

I suppose that will become clearer once I'm in Grad school. :hi:

I'm also interested in Environmental Economics, which may be the wave of the future, so to speak.

[flvegan]

6. Green Economics IS going to be big in a few years.

It's a mandatory shift, much of the big dollar corporations don't know it yet.

Had I stayed in my original field, I like to think I'd be working for the Green Century or Winslow family of enviro mutual funds. I'd have been more strict, but it would have been nice.

You'll be great.

[bicentennial_baby]

9. I'm taking Environmental Econ right now, and next semester

I'm taking Natural Resource Econ. My mentor specializes in the field...Also, UMASS Amherst has a top notch Enviro Econ Graduate program. It's a definite possibility. :)

Thanks :pals:

[flvegan]

11. My mom went to UMass Amherst.

Excellent school. Good to hear they're offering that. Buncha hippies. :thumbsup:

[bicentennial_baby]

12. Their Econ Dept is badass...

A lot of my Professors' former Professors teach there, including some Harvard refugees whose radical tendencies were not appreciated here.

Sniffa is a UMASS Amherst grad :D

[NMDemDist2]

3. I never knew that was in doubt

I always figured that's what you were headed for, seemed to be a love of yours :shrug:

you'll be awesome! and environmental sounds like the way to go for sure!

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I just wasn't sure I wanted to make that commitment, as

it means a LOT more math for me to learn. And, I wasn't sure I wanted to go all the way to PhD.

Thanks pal :pals:

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Well, if it ever becomes too much,

I know economists in recovery. :D

You can be an economist in public policy and a few other nonacademic positions, you know. Most interesting positions do require at least a master's and the best are for Ph.Ds.

[bicentennial_baby]

7. True, true...and, I'm planning

on going all the way through PhD. Alas, I'll be freaking old when I get that degree, but I look young for my age and 60 is the new 40, so 40 must be the new 20, correct?

:P

[Mrs.Matcom]

20. Woohoo!

That makes me almost 25!! :rofl:
Series, good for you! I'm pulling for you and you will do just great! :hug: :*

[bicentennial_baby]

21. Yes, yes you are!

:rofl:

I'm with you :toast:

Thank you sweetie. :hug:

:loveya:

[applegrove]

8. I find economics fascinating - though I was never graduate school material

I try and keep up.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. I think I'm insane to be going for it, as I am

past traditional college age (31), but...I gotta do what I gotta do. :)

[applegrove]

13. That is still really young. You have lots of time to study and then get

a good job. 31 is nothing!!

[ghostsofgiants]

14. Eww.

I hated it enough after the intro to micro and intro to macro courses I did that I can't imagine it being anyone's first love, haha. But hey, if you're crazy enough to do it, that's awesome. :P

[bicentennial_baby]

15. Micro will sour anyone...

:rofl: You should see Intermediate Micro. That class almost gave me ulcers, and I'm an A student. :o

And seriously, once you get past those core courses, it actually gets interesting, I swear! :rofl:

:hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

19. Haha, I'll take your word for it.

But I even did a sociology course on the market, and the economics aspect even made THAT lame, haha.

[Shakespeare]

16. Yay!!

Ivory tower here you come!! :toast: :loveya:

[bicentennial_baby]

17. Nooooooo! I'z a radical!

:rofl: Seriously, I am. They need more of us.

Two things spurred this final decision:

1) The fact that only 8% of Full Professors in Economics Depts in the U.S. are women. (And did you know, my school may have the highest number for the whole country?! We have 9. It might be a ratio thing, but still...)

2) An email I received from my mentor today all about her experience as an Econ Grad student and then as a female Econ Professor. It was really enlightening and needed. I needed a kick. She's teh awesome, seriously. She's only 4 years older than me! :rofl:

[ghostsofgiants]

18. There was an intersting, albeit short, article in March/April's Adbusters...

On...let's say less-than-mainstream (read: radical)...economists who should have won the Nobel Prize in plae of the likes of Friedman (and comments on why Friedman and a couple others should have their prizes revoked, haha.) Good times.

[The Inquisitive]

22. I'll be seeing you at the battlefield!

I'm currently working on my undergraduate degree at Union College, but will be transfering to either Boston University or NYU for my Junior year. Be sure to continue taking lots of mathematics courses, Calculus 1,2,3,4, Probability, logic and set Theory, Linear Algebra etc. If you have the time try and grab a minor in mathematics. Every economist I've spoken to highly recommends it.