Hi, right now I am a college student at the University of California, Merced and I am majoring in Computer Science Engineering. I have been around and used computers since a young age and went into the Navy as an IT. I was injured while on duty and am now going to school under the Vocational Rehabilitation program. I have since completed my associates at a junior college and have transfered to said University.
However, I find myself completely disillusioned here at the school. Not only am I frustrated that the coursework I am taking has nothing to do with the career, I find myself more interested in politics and economics. I spend more time reading economics news, political analysis, economics books, etc then I spend studying for my physics,programming, and calculus courses. Most of my friends and family ask me why I am not an economics major. I have even had professors make similar comments. They can see my passion and after thinking hard about this I realized the only reason I am not majoring in econ is purely a financial one. I know that I have a passion for the stuff, I just can't see this passion materializing into a job to support my future family.
But after reading this blot post today.. http://blog.mises.org/archives/009574.asp It dawned on me that I am doing a disservice to myself by not following my passion. I am now considering switching my major but I am uncertain on how to proceed education wise, is graduate school recommended? What schools should I consider? I would be happy to hear any advice and/or recommendations from those who would give it.
Thank you.
As an economics student I would advise you to not inflict that punishment on yourself.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
GilesStratton: As an economics student I would advise you to not inflict that punishment on yourself.
Staying with engineering or switching to econ?
Switching to econ. I don't know how it works in the states but I don't think it's any different. Although I'm only in my first year I've yet to do much economics. I've done one module in it and even that's not too great. The book is replete with fallacious thinking and the students are more or less told to accept the mainstream dogma. One teacher of mine referred to how economic books used to be written like "philosophy texts" and then claimed they were "ad hoc" and then proceeded to expound the virtues of mathematical thinking in economics.
In other words if you like lagrangian multipliers etc. it might not be a bad choice, if you like real economics stay with your current course.
kefka888: Staying with engineering or switching to econ?
Switching to econ I would guess.
I'm personally in undergrad poli sci, and I will tell you this: where you look for answers, you are likely to find nothing but new questions. It's stimulating but also quite infuriating.
GilesStratton: Switching to econ. I don't know how it works in the states but I don't think it's any different. Although I'm only in my first year I've yet to do much economics. I've done one module in it and even that's not too great. The book is replete with fallacious thinking and the students are more or less told to accept the mainstream dogma. One teacher of mine referred to how economic books used to be written like "philosophy texts" and then claimed they were "ad hoc" and then proceeded to expound the virtues of mathematical thinking in economics. In other words if you like lagrangian multipliers etc. it might not be a bad choice, if you like real economics stay with your current course.
I see, well I feel like I'm punishing myself right now with physics and programming. I have already completed my General education requirements. I have even taken Micro and Macro economics courses. I had fun in both and enjoyed debating with the professor. I can see where you are coming from though. I am certain I am going to be surrounded by keynesian theory but fortunately for me I already know that it's a load of crap and will happily debate the professor on it.
It's not so much that. I take no issue with learning other schools of thought, I'm highly in favour of it. But the fact of the matter is you end up investing large amounts of time learning mathematics that after your course you'l likely never use again. Once again, I can talk for the US in this regard so if anybody else would provide information I'd appreciate it.
It all depends on what you want to do and where the money is. If you want to end up teaching economics at a university there is no choice, change course. On the other hand, if you wish to gain an education in economics without wishing to teach it you can do that in your spare time and that's probably not a bad thing to do. If you intend on doing the latter go where the money is.
As painful, frustrating, and tiring as I find engineering curricula to be, I think you should still stick with it. It's one of the most worthwhile occupations to go to college for. As for graduate school, it depends on your major. I know that biomedical engineering generally should be followed by grad school or medical school, but for computer science engineering it might not be as useful. (Then again, I'm only a first-year student, so I'm in no way qualified to discuss this...)
Unless you plan on becoming an Economics professor, I would advise you not go for an economics degree. Well, it's also a good lead in towards law school. Economics is something you can study in your free time.
Engineering is a good degree to get as it actually has use. I would suggest just toughing it out. Focus on school and study economics in your free time when you can. Once you graduate you can devote a lot more time reading about economics and the like.
The best advice I could give is to switch slightly to something a little more related to economics, such as mathematics. You could also minor in economics, giving yourself the opportunity to take a decent amount of classes to see if your liking further materializes. I was in a similar situation, and loved how much economics I got, and am still getting. Honestly, going beyond the undergraduate level is an awesome experience, one I have yet to go through, but one I am preparing for.
Steve: Unless you plan on becoming an Economics professor, I would advise you not go for an economics degree. Well, it's also a good lead in towards law school. Economics is something you can study in your free time. Engineering is a good degree to get as it actually has use. I would suggest just toughing it out. Focus on school and study economics in your free time when you can. Once you graduate you can devote a lot more time reading about economics and the like.
Economics is the second highest paying major, and the one that tends to have the shortest work week on average by working professionals. If he is bored with engineering, his opportunity cost of staying in it is extremely high. Looking at this issue economically nullifies your point.
You make a good point. The problem I have now is that I know what a network engineer does and most of the coursework I have taken has nothing to do with it. Also, while I can do the work, I'm not as passionate about it as I am economics.
I have come to the realization that I would be much better off pursuing what I am interested in instead of only pursuing something that may have a larger payoff. I would be far more productive following economics then my current course which is why I am now of the mind to change to economics.
Switching to Mathematics would not be for me, I'm afraid, I have already taken a year of calculus and it is not my forte.
kefka888:I have already taken a year of calculus and it is not my forte.
Then you'd best stay away from economics.
Can you enlighten me on the level of mathematics required for economics?
Edit: I mean, I have looked around and all the math classes I see required I have already taken. What I am saying is that I wouldn't want to be a math major as I am not into math for maths sake.
kefka888:Can you enlighten me on the level of mathematics required for economics?
Not really. As I said, I'm still in my first year so I'm not the most informative person to ask. On the other hand I'm quite capable when it comes to mathematics, and what's more I usually quite enjoy it, and I still find the course very dull. Keep in mind that besides the math you'll have exceedingly fallacious economics textbooks that you'll be told to accept. Personally I'd go where the money is, I had similar expectations to you going into my course, I've since grown dissatisfied.
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