I’ve been here three years now, and the first question from freshmen is always, “Which should I take, 14.01 (Microeconomics) or 14.02 (Macroeconomics)?”  Short answer, it doesn’t really matter.  Long answer, it doesn’t really matter.  If you, young freshman, are in for the long haul and are going to stay as a course 14 major, you’ll need to take both classes fairly early on, usually within a semester.  The level of work is not really any different and there’s no order, contrary to what the numbers would have you think. If you’re interested in questions of individual choices, firm-level decision making, and game theory, take 14.01.  If you’re interested in big-picture questions of labor, capital, trade, and GDP, take 14.02.  I would say find an intermediate class you would like to take afterward and then take the intro class that is a prereq.  There’s no trick here, just take what you think you’ll enjoy.  In economics, 2 does not necessarily come after 1.