Where do you get your Micro/Macro credits?

[fall09]

I'm sure a few of you have received the same charming note that you need to have completed a micro and macro course before enrolling at your school of choice. I already have micro but still need macro. Can anyone recommend an effective, professional, recognised online course (that won't cost the world)?

[pizzatime]

I was going to do macro online through the University of Massachusetts, they have a pretty extensive offering of courses and the fee didn't seem outrageous.

Disclaimer: I'm from Massachusetts so obviously I'm comfortable with the school. If you are not, you might try your local state university, they are generally cheaper than private schools. I know that UMass online doesn't have a residency advantage, so the cost was the same for in state and out of state.

[90sNickelodeon]

Definitely try to do the in state thing. I tried an online econ class and it was an epic fail cos I just couldn't keep up with the work. We underestimate how much going to class helps us stay on top of things. So an online degree is not for me.

I'm taking mine the old fashioned, evening course way at a local, prestigious university during the summer. The only way I can afford to do this is because I have employee discount. Profit.

[redrover]

I'm actually working on my econ prereqs through UMass' online education program. The cost is about $900 per three credit course...not too bad. I would have liked to take the courses in a physical classroom setting but my current location prevented me from doing so. All in all the course has gone smoothly with no technical difficulties. I'm working on my finals right now, and will have finished the course in 10 weeks. No bad. I don't recommend the online route if you want your feet held to the fire -- there are various mechanisms in place to ensure interaction with your professor and fellow students (i.e. chat room, discussion boards) but you're pretty much on your own to keep up with the readings and problem sets. In terms of results, you reap what you sow.

[redrover]

I should add that Harvard has a reputable extension school but I think the tuition is quite high. Finally, you should double check with your program to see if they offer an online program for admitted students to satisfy their prereqs...I know SAIS is offering online econ courses between now and September for this very purpose.

[georgia82]

I would say take a class at your local community college if you have the time. If not, look for a state university online. Either way, you should do it very cheaply b/c there are a lot of viable options out there.

[ebee]

I took micro in undergrad, but I also took a micro class through the USDA Graduate School. A lot of DCers use them, but I think they also have some online offerings and satellite classes. You may check to see if that's the case.

[stilesg57]

I took a combined micro and macro class in undergrad, but felt I needed more quant to get into some good programs and not have to take required courses before enrolling so I took three classes online at the community college near my parents' house (Denver CC) because it was a cheap way to get some quant-related As onto my transcript. I took micro, macro, and stats.

The classes were ludicrously easy. I took one online test in Boise - four beers deep and working on number five - while at a house party with my old college bros and got a 97% on it. It was the only exam in any class that I didn't get 100% on. I don't think I really learned anything frankly, but it did give me credentials.

Community college certainly isn't prestigious and probably won't even teach you very well, but judging on the fact that I got into every school I applied to and none of the schools I was accepted at required me to take any additional courses before enrolling, I do believe they help.

[Cornell07]

I'm going to do my Macro course at a local community college -- Nassau Community College. As far as CC's go, it is respectable enough and, because of having an in-county mailbox, it will only be about $450 (if I remember correctly).

[fall09]

Thanks everyone! I am based outside the US so the community college option doesn't work for me. I guess I could go back to my former university to do it there but that requires changing country which seems a little excessive.

I do agree though that online courses are a bit tricky especially as I am one to ask many questions and like the classroom environment. Only one of the schools I am considering Goergetown SFS is requiring me to take the course, SIPA, my other option, is not. I wonder if this should influence my school decision. On the off chance that I don't get the required grade ( I'd be in serious trouble, having rejected all other options. Does anyone know what the procesures are if one does not meet the required grade (by, say, half a grade)?

[pepper84]

I live in DC so it made sense to go here in person, but I'm pretty sure the USDA (yup, US Dept. of Agriculture) grad school offers online courses as well. I took micro and macro here and felt like I learned something.

http://www.grad.usda.gov/

[fall09]

I live in DC so it made sense to go here in person, but I'm pretty sure the USDA (yup, US Dept. of Agriculture) grad school offers online courses as well. I took micro and macro here and felt like I learned something.

http://www.grad.usda.gov/

Yes, Georgetown actually mentions this (it is the only online resource they recommend). Thank you.

[lbjane]

I did mine online through a local community college. It only cost a couple hundred dollars and the course was pretty flexible. I would definitely recommend working w/ a community college, since it's likely to be one of the cheapest options.

[Cornell07]

Yesterday, I drove over to the local community college and signed up for my three-credit macro course. It's about $40 for the application fee and $150 per credit for in-county residents; hence I get away with a sub-$500 course, which is awesome. It meets for 2 hours per day, four times a week, for one month.

I happened to be wearing my new Yale sweatshirt, which, while I was walking around campus, occasionally provoked a catcall on the lines of "Hey, buddy! Do ya think ya go ta Yale owah somethin'?" To which I, of course, replied, "Yes..."

[washdc]

I happened to be wearing my new Yale sweatshirt, which, while I was walking around campus, occasionally provoked a catcall on the lines of "Hey, buddy! Do ya think ya go ta Yale owah somethin'?" To which I, of course, replied, "Yes..."

Wow, you make community college students sound like absolute idiots. Hopefully Yale will expand your horizons.

[Cornell07]

No. They are not all idiots. Just the ones who think it is funny to catcall someone for wearing a Yale sweatshirt

[stilesg57]

With all due respect, the majority of community college students I worked/dealt/talked with were absolute idiots. Even most of the profs were far from Mensa candidates, and I only met one with a PhD.

Not to be rude, just calling it like I saw it.

[younglions]

Wow, you make community college students sound like absolute idiots. Hopefully Yale will expand your horizons.

Seems to me that Cornell07 was just trying to replicate the working class dialect of the Northeastern United States. You're the one who called them absolute idiots.

[deechi]

With all due respect, the majority of community college students I worked/dealt/talked with were absolute idiots. Even most of the profs were far from Mensa candidates, and I only met one with a PhD.

Not to be rude, just calling it like I saw it.

Says the person who was a student at a community college....

[stilesg57]

Says the person who was a student at a community college....

I said "majority"

In all seriousness though, coming from a rigorous small liberal arts college the pathetic state of the community school literally shocked me. I mean, I'm smart and certainly an above-average student, but I'm not a genius by any means. So when I never even had to crack a book to get perfect or near-perfect As in three different courses (which were my weakest subjects in undergrad - hence why I was taking them) while the class averages hovered in the low B to high C range, you can tell something is up with both the student body and the material/courses/teaching. See my earlier post as well. It's funnier

[washdc]

Seems to me that Cornell07 was just trying to replicate the working class dialect of the Northeastern United States. You're the one who called them absolute idiots.

Wrong- which is why he agreed, only ones who catcall him are idiots. Nice try though.

[younglions]

Alright, maybe you're right... but i think you're confusing his judgment on people who take specific actions (catcalling) with a judgment of their manner of speech and what that says about them. I'm not Cornell07 though, so I can't say exactly what he meant. I can only infer meaning from what he wrote.

I don't see any judgment passed in the first post. That's how a lot of working class people talk in the region! This is an admittedly bad example, but just listen to Matt Damon and his pals in Good Will Hunting--I'm pretty sure nobody would conclude that Damon's character is a stupid idiot, nor his sharp-witted friends, based on their Southie dialect.

[Cornell07]

People, transcribing someone's accent/dialect does not inherently constitute a passing of judgment on someone's intelligence. They spoke with working class Long Island accents and I transcribed what they said accurately.

[fall09]

I said "majority"

In all seriousness though, coming from a rigorous small liberal arts college the pathetic state of the community school literally shocked me. I mean, I'm smart and certainly an above-average student, but I'm not a genius by any means. So when I never even had to crack a book to get perfect or near-perfect As in three different courses (which were my weakest subjects in undergrad - hence why I was taking them) while the class averages hovered in the low B to high C range, you can tell something is up with both the student body and the material/courses/teaching. See my earlier post as well. It's funnier

"Something's up with the student body"? You mean either they are just born with inferior intellects or individual students are bullied into performing poorly due to some form of peer pressure? Please don't venture into education or welfare policy. Please pretty please?

[stilesg57]

"Something's up with the student body"? You mean either they are just born with inferior intellects or individual students are bullied into performing poorly due to some form of peer pressure?

Yes.

Please don't venture into education or welfare policy. Please pretty please?

Okay.

[/thread hijack]