Econ major promises success after college
Forbes lists economics among top ten "Most Lucrative College Majors"
By: April DeJarlais
Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: News
A quick scan of the Forbes "Top 10 Most Lucrative College Majors" list, while disappointing to many an ambitious English major, shows that financial success lies in knowing about finances. An economics major came in second on the list, with the median income for zero to five years of experience being $48,100. But for many Macalester economics majors, the labor is for love, not money.
Josh Paulson '10, vice president of the Economics Honors Society and co-chair of the Macalester Investment Group, realized his passion for economics before coming to Macalester. He credits the Macalester classes and professors, however, for making him "love…the department."
Paulson is completing two senior capstones, one studying the impact of credit markets on child labor in developing countries and another on "price bubbles," a market concept concerning inflation. The credit market project relates to his study abroad experience in Bangladesh, where he observed microfinance and rural credit programs first-hand.
Paulson has interned with both a non-profit organization and Travelers Insurance, a Fortune-100 company in the Twin Cities. The non-profit, Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF), employs 40 workers and helps small businesses to develop through loans.
Paulson preferred the more personal atmosphere of CRF to Travelers Insurance, with a workforce of over 30,000. He did, however, appreciate the corporate experience's role in helping him "develop professionally."
Paulson's decision to establish himself in the corporate and non-profit world is a wise one, according to associate director of the Career Development Center John Mountain. He said employers were more likely to discriminate based on major if an applicant simply sends in a resume. Networking and demonstrating skills are more likely to reel in job offers, more than if "you're just on paper."
The experience Paulson has gained will likely prove helpful after graduation. He expects to either become an investment analyst with the Macalester endowment, or employed with Piper Jaffray, a Minneapolis investment bank. The prospect of working with Macalester is one he calls "an amazing opportunity."
Josh Paulson '10, vice president of the Economics Honors Society and co-chair of the Macalester Investment Group, realized his passion for economics before coming to Macalester. He credits the Macalester classes and professors, however, for making him "love…the department."
Paulson is completing two senior capstones, one studying the impact of credit markets on child labor in developing countries and another on "price bubbles," a market concept concerning inflation. The credit market project relates to his study abroad experience in Bangladesh, where he observed microfinance and rural credit programs first-hand.
Paulson has interned with both a non-profit organization and Travelers Insurance, a Fortune-100 company in the Twin Cities. The non-profit, Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF), employs 40 workers and helps small businesses to develop through loans.
Paulson preferred the more personal atmosphere of CRF to Travelers Insurance, with a workforce of over 30,000. He did, however, appreciate the corporate experience's role in helping him "develop professionally."
Paulson's decision to establish himself in the corporate and non-profit world is a wise one, according to associate director of the Career Development Center John Mountain. He said employers were more likely to discriminate based on major if an applicant simply sends in a resume. Networking and demonstrating skills are more likely to reel in job offers, more than if "you're just on paper."
The experience Paulson has gained will likely prove helpful after graduation. He expects to either become an investment analyst with the Macalester endowment, or employed with Piper Jaffray, a Minneapolis investment bank. The prospect of working with Macalester is one he calls "an amazing opportunity."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
eleanor Nevins
posted 3/14/10 @ 4:07 PM CST
You neglected to mention that the study in which economics and engineering came out on top referred to starting salaries, but tracking students 15 years out, degrees such philosophy and music tended to do better. (Continued…)
Post a Comment