Economics Honours or Econ major

Hey guys, can you shed some advice on my dilemma:

I am: moving into 3rd year at Canadian target;

I got accepted into econ, where 2 streams are available:

  1. honours = calculus - based courses, including econometrics, etc
  2. Major = arithmetic - based econ courses

My current GPA is 2.8 (Hoping for academic forgiveness to get 3.0 +). So, is it worth it to take way more difficult honours courses and risk my GPA. Or take easier courses, and be confident of a GPA increase.

Are super-intense econ courses a big ace in my hands for: 1. IB analyst (or anything else decent - PE research is cool too) recruitment 2. MSF admissions.

Merci!

10 Comments
 

I'm sorry OP but no Canadian school is a target in Econ, even U of T. "target" is a word based on campus recruiting/ocr opportunities.

Second of all, honours (thesis included) is always an advantage because the level of difficulty is undoubtedly greater [and the entrance requirements for honours program are slightly higher]. Second of all, Honours Econ at UWO/U of T/ Queens/McGill is not hard enough that if you're qualified to be in IB, you should be getting ANY LESS than a 3.7 in ECONOMICS. I know people in all those econ programs and they'd all agree there are no "super-intense" undergrad courses in comparison to actual difficult quant degrees like pure math, stats, physics, engineering.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 
Best Response
Independent GestionI'm sorry OP but no Canadian school is a target in Econ, even U of T. "target" is a word based on campus recruiting/ocr opportunities.

Second of all, honours (thesis included) is always an advantage because the level of difficulty is undoubtedly greater [and the entrance requirements for honours program are slightly higher]. Second of all, Honours Econ at UWO/U of T/ Queens/McGill is not hard enough that if you're qualified to be in IB, you should be getting ANY LESS than a 3.7 in ECONOMICS. I know people in all those econ programs and they'd all agree there are no "super-intense" undergrad courses in comparison to actual difficult quant degrees like pure math, stats, physics, engineering.

So, i should get at least 3.7 in economics to be considered as an analyst in my current situation ? Also, would 3.7 in non-honours econ. not cut it for analyst position?

 
CanadianPositiveCarry
Independent GestionI'm sorry OP but no Canadian school is a target in Econ, even U of T. "target" is a word based on campus recruiting/ocr opportunities.

Second of all, honours (thesis included) is always an advantage because the level of difficulty is undoubtedly greater [and the entrance requirements for honours program are slightly higher]. Second of all, Honours Econ at UWO/U of T/ Queens/McGill is not hard enough that if you're qualified to be in IB, you should be getting ANY LESS than a 3.7 in ECONOMICS. I know people in all those econ programs and they'd all agree there are no "super-intense" undergrad courses in comparison to actual difficult quant degrees like pure math, stats, physics, engineering.

So, i should get at least 3.7 in economics to be considered as an analyst in my current situation ? Also, would 3.7 in non-honours econ. not cut it for analyst position?

Remember there are no firm hurdles that will get you a job. If you had a 4.0 in Econ and didn't reach out to alumni early, often and regularly you still wouldn't stand a chance. A 3.7 in Honors Econ at Queens/McGill/UWO/UofT will put you in a position where you at least won't be embarassed to contact alumni (Although unfortunately your pre-transfer 2.8 will still exist). You'll still have to work VERY hard reaching out to alumni at boutiques on Bay Street but you at least can have a certain confidence in the trajectory of your academic performance. In the Econ major program (which tends to be for kids who didn't get into the honours program) you'd really have to demonstrate TOP marks (3.9+) to catch my attention if I was an analyst/associate reviewing resumes. Make sure to get involved in your School's formal investment club (Western Investment Club or equivalent at whatever school you go to (I'm assuming Queens or McGill)). Reach out to Commerce/Management alumni and pitch it as if you PURPOSELY wanted to do econ and not comm. They'll know it's BS but they'll respect your hustle at least. You're gonna have a tough road but best of luck to you.

‎"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to become the means by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of other men. Blood, whips and guns or dollars."
 

Im new to the site. But im a senior econ major at a Philadelphia non target and was curious how you could gain a meaningful understand of economics without calculus? I feel like without calc you would just be listening to theory are not proving the concepts behind anything. Basically taking the teacher's word for everything. I'd say go with the Honors, seems better on papers and in my opinion you would learn the material better.

 
almost_thereIm new to the site. But im a senior econ major at a Philadelphia non target and was curious how you could gain a meaningful understand of economics without calculus? I feel like without calc you would just be listening to theory are not proving the concepts behind anything. Basically taking the teacher's word for everything. I'd say go with the Honors, seems better on papers and in my opinion you would learn the material better.

And you bring up a very good point actually.

 

Repudiandae beatae numquam consectetur ratione. Doloribus delectus dicta natus eum velit. Distinctio adipisci aliquid et praesentium quibusdam dolores eos. Est esse velit ut reiciendis aspernatur voluptas. Perferendis assumenda vel et possimus quod velit molestiae. In tempore omnis in consequatur odio.

Enim voluptates vel quas alias rerum ea et nesciunt. Vero similique qui minus atque dignissimos maxime voluptates at. Et doloribus pariatur omnis natus. Sit velit et in incidunt possimus. Voluptatem et perferendis nulla aut nam ullam.

Voluptatibus est voluptatem ex possimus dolore. Ducimus similique reprehenderit beatae nemo nostrum dolorem veniam. Aliquid voluptatem et dolorum voluptatibus enim earum. Repellendus eum ut sit alias adipisci qui. Consectetur dolor distinctio rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”