If you are thinking of taking microeconomics next semester then you might be wondering how hard it will be.
This post will show you how hard microeconomics is and what you can do to make it easier.
So, is microeconomics hard? Introductory microeconomics is generally considered to be a relatively easy class at the college level. However, it will be necessary to study outside of class for exams and homework.
How difficult microeconomics will be for you will depend largely on a number of factors and there are a number of things that you can do to make it easier.
How hard microeconomics is
It depends on what you already know
How difficult microeconomics will be for you will depend a lot on what you already know.
If you did well in similar classes such as business in high school and you did well at math then you will likely be able to do well in microeconomics without having to put a large amount of effort into the class.
Some of the concepts, such as externalities can be difficult to understand at first. if you struggled with math or you haven’t seen similar material then you will have to put in more effort to do well in the class. With that being said, even without any prior knowledge, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to do well.
It depends on the professor
The difficulty of the class will depend a lot on the professor that is teaching it. The professor will generally dictate the pace of the class, what gets covered, what goes on exams and how much homework there is. Some professors will tell you to know everything from the book while others will give you a study guide.
Before selecting the class it would be worthwhile to see what other students have said on ratemyprofessors.com. Make sure to schedule your classes early since you will likely find that the classes with the highest-rated professors will fill up quickly.
It depends on your interest in the subject
It will also depend a lot on your level of interest in the subject.
If you have an interest in learning about how individual markets work then you will likely find the class to be easier since it will be easier for you to study.
Whereas, if it is not something that really interests you then you will likely not find the class to be as easy since you will have to motivate yourself more to study. With that being said, many students get A’s in the class despite not being very interested in it.
You’ll need to study outside of class
While microeconomics is generally considered as one of the easier classes in college at the 100 level, you will still need to study for the class.
Some of the concepts can be difficult to grasp at first, there will be a reasonable amount that you will have to learn and there will usually be quite a lot of homework to do.
Ways to make microeconomics easier
There are a number of things that you can do to make your time in microeconomics go more smoothly.
Plan the semester out as soon as you can
As soon as you get the syllabus, for each class, it would be worthwhile to plan out the due dates of every class. By doing so you will be able to when there will be particularly difficult weeks, avoid missing out on homework assignments and it will be easier for you to plan when to start studying.
Make sure to do well on any homework
The weighting that goes toward the homework can be high in microeconomics. Often, students don’t take the homework very seriously. This is a mistake since doing well on the homework will help you do better in exams and help to make up for poor exam results.
You can ensure that you do well on the homework by reading the book before starting it, avoiding waiting until the day before it is due and using resources such as Google and Youtube to study parts that you get stuck on.
Read the textbook before jumping to the problems
In an attempt to save time, many students will jump straight to the homework problems before reading the textbook. This is a mistake since the homework problems will be based on what is on the textbook and the professor might not have covered it all in class.
By reading the relevant chapter from the textbook before doing the problems you will be able to get through the homework much more easily and you will understand the material more thoroughly.
Get assistance when you need it
It is important to get help when you need it. Your professor will likely have office hours where he/she will be available to provide you with assistance. This would be a good time for you to get help on the areas that you are stuck on.
By doing so you will be able to avoid having gaps in your knowledge on exams and you will show the professor that you are putting an effort into the class.
Prioritize what the professor gives you
The material that your professor gives you will generally be the most likely material to be on the exam especially if they give you a study guide. This means that when you are preparing for your exams make sure to understand any material given to you by the professor.
Prepare for the class in advance
If you are concerned that microeconomics will be difficult then one option you have is to prepare for the class before taking it. By doing so you will be able to follow along with the professor’s lectures much more easily and you will have an easier time with the homework and exams.
You can prepare for the class by reading a self-study book such as this one on Amazon or you could watch a microeconomics Youtube series like this one (this series includes macroeconomics but it also covers micro).
