What about my future placement?

[bravedreamji]

Hello, I'm new here and wanna know about job opportunities in the US as a econ graduate. I'm from China and earned my bachelor's in econ in a moderate school. Now Buffalo, U Oregon and CGU have accepted me to MA program. I choose MA as a transitional degree because it would leave me some chances of switching to other majors if econ is not my cup of tea. Also, I hear many complaining about the poor job opportunities for econ majors(especially MA). Any ideas on the placement situation? What do the graduates do except being a college teacher?Are they well paid?
Thx!!

[EconMist]

With an MA in econ, you can find decent research positions in the private sector. There are lots of opportunities. Of course, if you are not really interested in research at all, then going for an MBA might be more reasonable. But econ is broader, i believe. You can even go into the world of finance and make some money if you desire. Most MAs actually don't teach...they end up in the private sector.

Hope that helps!

[illiniguy]

Warren Buffett got an MA in Economics, and look where that got him :P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett

[econdreamer]

With an MA in econ, you can proceed to econ PhD or finance PhD, if you want. As Buffalo, Oregon and not top schools, I think the best strategy for you is to do well in the master's program, get good LORs and go to a top school's PhD, before you make the decision of going to academic or private sector.

[bravedreamji]

Thanks econdreamer! I wonder how difficult it is to apply a finance phd with an econ MA degree. It seems finance is easier to get a job in the US, right? Generally, what position could a Econ MA in such universities secure in a private sector?

[RonnieT1283]

I am currently getting my PhD at a program of similar ranking that is specifically known for its masters program so here is my two cents about your private sector opportunities.

Getting your MA econ ALONE from any school other that the top in the country (NYU, BU etc.) will give you no distinct advantage for a better job in the private sector over a person with a BA econ from a good school. What will give you an advantage at the schools you have listed is if you can get SAS programming experience and learn as much applied statistics as you can.

My program funds some of its students (me included) through internships with local companies who have students do a lot of SAS programing. It is these students who get the best placement and typically do things such as database marketing analysis and credit risk analysis making from $60-$65k. The students who do not have this experience make $45k on average.

Therefore, given you have a foreign degree, accepting an offer from one of these schools is definately in your best interest. However, in order to maximize your options upon completion get as much SAS experience, stats, and if you want to go onto a PhD in econ or Finance pure math as possible. MA programs are typically flexible with electives so look to the stats and math departments to fill these electives.

[bravedreamji]

thx so much! Sounds great that I pick them up now rather than after the classes begin. Indeed i've heard a lot about the importance of those programming. Hope they're not so tough..My maths is Ok but not great.