What to Expect

Economics students know that the field is not just about percentages, confusing graphs and endless statistics. It's really about people and their behavior.

"I was fascinated that the basic interactions between people are the driving force behind the economy," says Kiran Mangat. He is a grad of an honors economics program.

Mangat says the program was demanding. But it was a great learning experience.

"I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on analytical, logical and critical thinking skills, which are very important in today's increasingly knowledge-based economy. I also liked the emphasis that was put on writing well."

Matthew Stewart also completed an honors economics degree. He had to go through an introductory year of courses in economics, business and math.

"I believe this is of great advantage," he says. "I always knew I was interested in economics. But until taking this course in first year, I never knew I wanted to pursue it as a major."

Stewart advises researching your school first. Do some background research on the professors, he says.

He says you should also look out for class size and the opportunity for close involvement of profs in students' work. His program, for example, had a good teacher-student ratio. "The program is as small as 20 to 30 [students] in third and fourth year, which allows the professors to get to know all students," Stewart says.

"The fourth-year thesis also encourages students to work closely with professors. This proved to be an immense learning experience."

How to Prepare

Get a good foundation in math, Mangat says. Economics majors should like numbers, he says, even if they're not mathematical geniuses.

"Math is very important for the study of economics. High school calculus is a must. And the more math courses you take in high school, the better."