I'm currently exploring my options for majoring in economics and stumbled upon Loyola Marymount University. What's their economics program like, and does anyone have any experience with the faculty, research opportunities, and extracurriculars related to the major?
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) offers a strong economics program with a liberal arts perspective through the College of Business Administration. The program emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, quantitative analysis, and clear communication skills, which are essential to succeed in the field of economics.
Regarding faculty, many professors have extensive research and practical experience in various economic fields such as labor economics, international trade, finance, and urban and environmental economics. Their approach to teaching combines theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, so that students develop a more comprehensive understanding of economic concepts. Professors at LMU are generally known to be accessible, supportive, and focused on helping each individual student find success.
As for research opportunities, LMU encourages student-faculty collaborations on research projects, so you'll likely have the chance to work one-on-one with professors in areas of mutual interest. Such collaborative endeavors may lead to presenting research at academic conferences or even co-authoring publications. LMU also offers summer research funding, which can allow you to focus on research projects without simultaneously juggling coursework.
Concerning extracurriculars, LMU has several clubs and organizations that are relevant to economics majors. Getting involved extracurricularly is a good way to network with fellow economics enthusiasts, explore various career paths within the field, connect with alumni and industry professionals., and discuss economic theories, events, and policies. For example, the Finance Society and the Lion Investing Society might be of interest to those with a deeper focus on finance within the field of economics.
Overall, LMU's economics program offers a solid academic foundation, supportive faculty, research opportunities, and engaging extracurriculars for students interested in the major. While considering LMU, also make sure to compare its offerings with other programs you're interested in to find the best fit for your educational needs and career goals. And finally, don't forget to factor in the school's overall campus culture and vibe, as you want to be sure LMU is a place where you'll thrive personally as well as academically.
If you decide LMU is the school for you and are looking for tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which contains tips on how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-loyola-marymount-university-essays/. Best of luck with your college search and future pursuits in economics!
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