Economics is a popular major that offers a bridge between STEM and the humanities. To excel in economics, you need to be strong in math, including statistics, and in history. Critical thinking is a key part of the excelling in economics, and so when we work with our economics-minded students on an activity strategy for sophomore year, we know that developing and emphasizing critical thinking must be front and center.
We also like to keep in mind that there is a lot of time between sophomore year and moving into your freshman year dorm room for college. Your interests may deepen, or they may shift. So, we want to make sure that the strategy you are pursuing as a sophomore allows for flexibility without undermining the core aspects of a strong economics-minded student. Namely, teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking, mathematics, and a hunger for knowledge.
In this post, we break down what you need to be doing outside of the classroom as a sophomore to set you up for success with a particular focus on economics. This is a look behind the curtain of what we take into consideration when we work with students, but we aren’t able to get into the full process of what it takes to create an application activity strategy in a blog post. If you are curious about what your best route would be given your particular interests and experiences, get in touch.
As a sophomore, college can feel like a far distant future. It’s going to come quicker than you think, and we can help you be in the best possible position when it’s time to press submit. Learn more.
When we are working with sophomores on an activity strategy, it’s all about balance. You’re young, and you should be having fun — but if there are ways to have fun while also pursuing a strong strategy for college admissions that’s the best possible scenario. So, this is what you need to do:
CLUBS & TEAMS
First, if your school has a Model UN or Quiz Bowl team, you need to join at least one of them, but preferably both. If you have already joined, awesome. If not, join today. And if your school doesn’t have either, it’s time to start something. We recommend starting a Quiz Bowl team, as it is much easier to get going than a Model UN club. Starting a Quiz Bowl team begins with two things: first, a group of friends and, next, a faculty advisor. This is one key and very self-serving reason for why to cultivate strong relationships with your teachers above and beyond your transcript.
INTERNSHIPS & RESEARCH
There aren’t many ‘obvious’ internships for students interested in econ, but having at least one internship experience on your college application is important — so how do you thread that needle? There are two main routes.
First, we encourage sophomores to reach out to academics and professors at local colleges or universities asking if there are ways that you can support them in their research. This type of work is often objectively boring, especially at the beginning. You may be sorting through files, organizing books, or arranging notes, but all of this is good and meaningful. Not only are you learning from an expert simply by being in their vicinity, but you’re also laying a foundation for future opportunities during junior or senior year. By accepting a menial role early, you crack open a door that can be hard for other students to even find.
The other route that we advise students to pursue is securing an internship with a local company you are excited about, even if it isn’t obviously economics related. Ideally, this internship would be with a small business and give you a peek into how a business runs and pursues growth. These insights will help you to understanding microeconomics concepts, in particular.
As you pursue either of these routes, it’s important to mine your community for opportunities. This means brainstorming connections you may have that could prove useful. In the end, you have to deliver by doing a great job, but if a friend of your parents or family member can help you access an opportunity that is all not just fair game, but critical.
EMPLOYMENT
Parents are often confused when we advocate for getting a job. School and academic pursuits should be the sole focus, no? Well, while we understand their perspective, we also have to insist that getting a job as a sophomore, or as soon as you are able to by state law, is critically important to your college chances. This is true for all students, but especially students at private or privileged schools. At top high schools, top students can be indistinguishable from each other beyond transcript. It becomes an arms race for the best grades, and that’s a bad game to play when you’re already towards the top. Just like pursuing an internship, getting a job is a crucial way of differentiating from the pack.
But what does this have to do with economics? Good question. Microeconomics is all about households and individuals and, yes, business. So, getting a job, especially with a small business, is like jumping into the microeconomics pool and teaching yourself to swim. Look for a part-time or summer job that requires you to work with other humans, especially in a customer service capacity. Working for a family business is fair game, as long as your supervisor isn’t one of your parents, and aim for opportunities with collaborative or team-based experiences.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
One of the most popular summer activities for economics-minded students are academic summer programs, either virtual/online or in-residence on the campus on a college or university. These are often a great experience, like focused academics with a side of summer camp, but don’t assume that they are all the same. When we work with students who are interested in doing a summer program after sophomore year, we help them identify a program that will serve as a launch pad to future opportunities and outstanding outcomes.
The combination of clubs and teams, internships and research, a part-time job, and a summer program or two, when done right, are a powerful tool for pursuing an impressive future in economics at a top college. As a sophomore this can feel far, far away. But it isn’t. High school goes by quickly, and making the most of the first half truly is the difference between an exceptional sprint to the finish line and falling behind your lofty goals. To ensure that you’re on a trajectory that will take you towards your dreams, get in touch.
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