A degree in economics

ledd zepprix

I've just started my BA in economics. Just wondering what my career prospects will be in about 5 years(planning on doing a masters). I'm a little sceptical about the whole thing. Thinking of dropping out and doing commerce next year as I have the points. I'm thinking maybe job prospects would be better but I dunno really.

So can anyone enlighten me?

Time Magazine

What do you want to do with your life? There's no point in having the great career-in-accountancy prospects Commerce provides if you don't want to be an accountant.

Why did you choose Economics?

If you don't know what you want to do with your life, why are you planning on doing a masters?

What university are you in? Could you transfer to Commerce now instead of dropping out and starting next year?

Julesie

If you aren't hating the college course I would stay where you are. At bachelor degree level there really isn't much to choose between a Commerce and an Economics degree from the point of view of most employers.

Personally I graduated with a degree in Economics & Finance from UCD. There were only 25 others in my year and I think that is a definite advantage in comparison to the Commerce situation where there are literaly hundreds graduating at the same time as you with exactly the same qualification

Unfortunately a degree is almost a pre-requiste these days and is unlikely to set you apart in the job market. Sure you'll be picked ahead of Anto who dropped out of school before his Junior Cert but that's not who you will be competing against.

My strong advice would be to get good results in whichever degree you choose but that isn't the be all and end all of it. Get involved in extracurricular stuff, definitely do internships, do anything that could set you apart from all the other thousands of graduates that will graduate in 3/4 years time.

Only do a Masters if it is the only route into your chosen career path. For most careers that isn't the case and the year or two would be better spent on a graduate scheme with the company of your choice. During this time you will learn real business skills, earn a bit of money and have the opportunity to see if this is what you would like to do long term. If not at least you aren't out of pocket from an expensive Masters and feeling pressurised into staying in a job you hate.

nesf

a) Only do a course you enjoy doing, there's no point in doing a course you hate just because it is rumoured to have good career prospects (life is too short, etc)

b) Whatever course you do put in enough work to get as good a grade as you are able. It looks much better early on when you're looking for jobs to have a First or a 2.1. Though, to be honest, after enough time in the workplace, no one will care how you did in college or the LC.

c) Enjoy yourself! College is a place to have fun, meet new people and such. But don't let c) prevent you from achieving b), you can and should do both!

Poor_old_gill

I completed a commerce degree, its a waste of time.
Its an arts degree with business subjects- 2 general and you will need to do a specialist masters
Interestingly I am doin a masters in economics now- I would recommend economics to anyone

pugwall

I've a single hons degree in economics and I'm a qualified accountant. A commerce degree is not a prereq to become an accountant. In fact - they can be very general degrees.

Daithio

If you get good results and use your summers properly (getting good work experience through internships etc) then you will have great career prospects. In reality the differences in career prospects between a commerce and an economics grad will be pretty marginal, and I really don't think it's worth wasting a year over. That is assuming you like your course though. If you hate what you're doing than you should change before it's too late.

mariaf24

I have an Economics Degree from UCC and i'm asking myself the same question. All i can advise is, stay away from Heath Economics in 3rd year.
Far, far away. You have been warned.

I chose Economics because Geography was full.
True story.

mariaf24

Health Economics, lol

mariaf24

mariaf24 wrote: »

I have an Economics Degree from UCC and i'm asking myself the same question. All i can advise is, stay away from Heath Economics in 3rd year.
Far, far away. You have been warned.

I chose Economics because Geography was full.
True story.

I'm in first year of Economics and like it. I will probably choose it as one of my subjects for 2nd and 3rd year. What did you not like about Health Economics? I'd actually consider doing a masters in it!

gerry87

Take as many maths modules as possible, tough but definitely worth it and strengthen your degree. All the other subjects are built on the math ones.

bigjigwig77

I'm in my second year of economics now. Couldn't find anywhere that was taking on interns or the like over the summer. Hopefully it might pick up by next year because I love economics and really want to get a job relevant to it.

meeayz

mariaf24 wrote: »

I have an Economics Degree from UCC and i'm asking myself the same question. All i can advise is, stay away from Heath Economics in 3rd year.
Far, far away. You have been warned.

I chose Economics because Geography was full.
True story.

Hey im currently in 2nd yr. economics in ucc and thinking of doing health next yr ? Just wondering why you advise ppl to stay away from it ? Was the work load heavy or what ??

mariaf24

Meeayz,Maybe I'm not the best person to be giving advise as i did struggle with Economics. I think it is very much a personal choice and i wouldn't like to influence someone too much.All i remember is loving second year, We had Robbie, Seamus and Daniel and were very much babied and looked after!Health was very vague and very macro orientated.I remember one lecturer assured us one module would not involve much maths and pretty much the entire course was involved calculations. I think over all there is too much thrown in, which makes it impossible to cover in one year. As far as i can remember the work load was ok, each module required a 2,000 word essay during the year but the final exams were very tough, all 3 hours long and the standard was much much higher than 1st and 2nd yr in relation to marking schemes. The Lecturers themselves were actually all lovely as individuals, but definitely lacked the class spirit we had previously.Obviously then there are students who loved it and those were the ones who intended to do the Masters. In fact now that i think of it the course was very much aimed towards the MA.Hope this helps?