Would Economics be a good degree to choose in this current climate?

crispoy_92

Hey guys, as the title says.

Would economics be considered as a good solid degree? Considering the recession is currently a huge talking point?

EGaffney

Hopefully, the global crisis and recession will be over by the time any aspirant student has graduated. So I wouldn't advise anyone to include current events in their decision. I'd judge the subject on its merits; research it and decide whether a social science heavily focussed on maths and stats is for you.

A degree is for life, not just for Christmas.

gamma23

In this current climate....grrrrrrrrrrr i hate the use of that phrase

andrew

gamma23 wrote: »

In this current climate....grrrrrrrrrrr i hate the use of that phrase

I agree. Current economic cluster-fúck is much better IMO.

tolosenc

Just because the economy is bad doesn't mean we're going to abandon the study of economics...

Cantab.

crispoy_92 wrote: »

Hey guys, as the title says.

Would economics be considered as a good solid degree? Considering the recession is currently a huge talking point?

What do you want? A qualification or an education?

Marvinthefish

I like "ITTET" or "In These Tough Economic Times"

OP -- Do what you LIKE

Thirdfox

Well, some careers are more attractive than others *at this point* - architecture, law, finance graduates are in dire straits...however - you need to look up to 7 years into the future and while some careers such a law seem to be undergoing a fundamental revolution most careers will have stablised or returned to growth by that point.

Do what you like OP, but I would add that you should also bear in mind what may be desirable in 4-7 years time. On the other hand, people change careers and direction even after a college degree - I know Chemistry students becoming tax analysts and law students taking forensic science courses.

And just to answer your question - economics seems to be a good grounder (though I can't comment on TCD's course) that you can take to other careers if needs be.

Spare a thought for some of the poor law students graduating this year who are either unemployed, emigrating or changing into a completely different course (and not by choice).

rugbyman

can anyone inform me of the points needed for the trinity economics course vis a vis ucd

regards, rugbyman

andrew

rugbyman wrote: »

can anyone inform me of the points needed for the trinity economics course vis a vis ucd

regards, rugbyman

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=economics+tcd
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=economics+ucd

gamma23

andrew wrote: »

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=economics+tcd
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=economics+ucd

now that is pretty cool, for boards anyway

The Walsho

Well Economics can be tough. And yeah with the current climate change with global warming and all, you might become disillusioned and just go outside to play in the sun.


LOLZ DOES EVERYONE SEE WHAT I DID THERE I DID A JOKE ON THE PRETENCE THAT I MISINTERPRETED THE USE OF THE WORD "CLIMATE" TO MEAN THE WEATHER ONE WHEN IN FACT IT WAS INTENDED TO REFER TO THE ECONOMIC ONE. I BET YOU WERE ALL HAD BY THIS CLEVER RUSE K BAI

Jegger

andrew wrote: »

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=economics+tcd
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=economics+ucd

epic burn

Jegger

The Walsho wrote: »

Well Economics can be tough. And yeah with the current climate change with global warming and all, you might become disillusioned and just go outside to play in the sun.


LOLZ DOES EVERYONE SEE WHAT I DID THERE I DID A JOKE ON THE PRETENCE THAT I MISINTERPRETED THE USE OF THE WORD "CLIMATE" TO MEAN THE WEATHER ONE WHEN IN FACT IT WAS INTENDED TO REFER TO THE ECONOMIC ONE. I BET YOU WERE ALL HAD BY THIS CLEVER RUSE K BAI

joke fail

Time Magazine

rugbyman wrote: »

can anyone inform me of the points needed for the trinity economics course vis a vis ucd

regards, rugbyman

Trinity's BESS programme's points hovers around 480. You can do Economics with an another subject, like English, with around 440 points. Unless you do Economics and Maths (~510 points), you're better off doing BESS tbh.

UCD's B.A. Economics programme's points hovers around 430, while entry through Arts requires about 350.

Babbit

Economics will be taught with scholarly standards in Trinity. You will get a fine education here. If you go to UCD you might as well do Leaving Cert. economics all over again. I've friends who do courses like Commerce in UCD and it just seems like a constant holiday with a bit of cramming round exam and essay time.

dan719

Babbit wrote: »

Economics will be taught with scholarly standards in Trinity. You will get a fine education here. If you go to UCD you might as well do Leaving Cert. economics all over again. I've friends who do courses like Commerce in UCD and it just seems like a constant holiday with a bit of cramming round exam and essay time.

Exactly like the early years of a degree in Trinity then yeah? :rolleyes:

Your a poor man's Cantab tbh.

Babbit

dan719 wrote: »

Exactly like the early years of a degree in Trinity then yeah? :rolleyes:

Your a poor man's Cantab tbh.

What?

Disciplines are taught with vigour and scholarship in mind at Trinity. In UCD people study with internet notes. 'nuff said.

dan719

Babbit wrote: »

What?

Disciplines are taught with vigour and scholarship in mind at Trinity. In UCD people study with internet notes. 'nuff said.

Is that why all the notes for all Economic Analysis courses at TCD are online?
Or is it only in UCD that 'vigour and scholarship' and 'online notes' are mutually exclusive?

Babbit

dan719 wrote: »

Is that why all the notes for all Economic Analysis courses at TCD are online?
Or is it only in UCD that 'vigour and scholarship' and 'online notes' are mutually exclusive?

You wouldn't stand much chance of a 2:1, never mind a first, if you only studied the notes online. In UCD its like learning out of a text book all over again.

EGaffney

Actually, the economics department at UCD has more staff and has therefore been rated more highly internationally.

manicmonoliths

Trinity snobbery aside, I've seen UCD economics papers for 2nd year, the material in stats in particular seems pretty basic compared to what BESS put up with in the first 2 years. I'm guessing it must step up a lot in 3rd year with the quant side of things but I obviously can't speak from experience or anything.

Time Magazine

Commerce [latex]\neq[/latex] Economics, though.

UCD's 3rd year Economics courses are roughly similar to Trinity's. The fact that BESS has a fourth year pushes the knowledge of the average Trinity grad beyond that of the average UCD grad. Also, being reasonably familiar with both programmes, it's my opinion that the median BESS student is academically more able than the median UCD Arts/Economics student, so there are some peer effects.