<p>My major is business administration and I got accepted to Haas School of Business at Berkeley. I'm pretty sure i'll be accepted to USC Marshall School of Business. Which should I choose? (Consider the quality of both programs, prestige of the programs, prestige of the universities, opportunities for jobs, and opportunities for grad school)</p>
<p>Id go to Haas over Marshall</p>
<p>Are you a transfer student? If you are and you are already admitted to the Haas school then you should go to Berkeley.</p>
<p>If you look at US News Graduate School for MBAs, there is a category called recruiter assessment, what companies think of your school.</p>
<p>UCLA and UC berkeley got scores of 4.0 and 4.1 or something like that. I remember they were in the low 4.0s with 0.1 difference. USC on the other hand got a recruiter assessment score of 3.0.</p>
<p>UCLA and Berkeley are respected in the eyes of recruiters. When you move out of the USC alumni network, things aren't as bright for Trojans. The alumni network will help you land a job, but after that it is determined by your job performance.</p>
<p>Berkeley..</p>
<p>my friend turned down Berkeley for business because of the business pre-major. she's sharp, but the competition there (or at any college) might diminish her chances at getting a sure shot at the business major...the risk of her going to college for 2 years and not getting the major she wanted was just too unattractive. albiet, many universities are like that, but Marshall took freshmen admits, and after the half-day Preview, she was in love with the programs and opportunities they offered.</p>
<p>Personally, I would rather take the chance with Cal/Haas than go to a guanranteed USC/Marshall. I think an Econ degree from Cal is at least as good as a Business degree from USC, and Cal is such an awesome university, I would not turn it down for USC. But that's a personal preference. Marshall is an excellent Business school and if you are very serious about majoring in Business, it is a fine choice.</p>
<p>I think JSR is a transfer student with guaranteed acceptance into Haas. Why else would he post in May about decisions?</p>
<p>Even for someone who isn't admitted to Haas undergrad, the Operations Research/Management Science undergraduate program is superior to the Haas undergraduate business degree, in my opinion as a Haas MBA and an OR undergraduate. Much better path. A whole lot of flexibilty, breadth and quant rigor in that curriculum, less "unproductive competition" but with the highest academic standards, unparalled exposure to China and the rest of Asia, just a great base in a great environment. Very nice gateway to a top MBA.</p>
<p>I appreciate all your imput. Continue letting me know what your opinions are. To be more specific: yes I do live in California (Los Angeles), I am a transfer student, and I got accepted into Haas. I'm leaning toward staying in California after i'm finished with my education, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't go anywhere if the opportunity is lucrative enough.
I'm planning on doing an MBA/JD program after I finish my undergraduate degree. I want to apply to Stanford, do you think that either school (USC or Berkeley) would improve the probability of my admittance there?</p>
<p>..........</p>
<p>Both schools have the reputation that they will not hinder a graduate application to Stanford, but it's not like either is in a whole different league than the other so neither will help you more. They both provide a good basis for you to do well. Although several ranking services have USC ahead of Stanford (your goal grad school) for business, so you coming from Berkeley to Stanford would be a step up, coming from USC to Stanford would be more equal, or even possibly a step down.</p>
<p>I'd go with USC. The Trojan family has done well by me and I'd recommend it to anyone (within certain fields).</p>
<p>Are you kidding???? There's a place that ranks USC above Stanford for Business? What was the criterion, better parties? USC to Stnford anything is a big step down.</p>
<p>Business Week recently released an mag titled "50 Best B-Schools in the nation". I suggest you look at that. I can't seem to find my copy, but I looked online and they listed the top 5:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>WHARTON</p></li>
<li><p>NORTHWESTERN</p></li>
<li><p>HARVARD</p></li>
<li><p>MIT</p></li>
<li><p>DUKE</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Something I thought you might find interesting, given your interest in stanford:</p>
<p>Schools Worst at Responding to Student Concerns:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Stanford</p></li>
<li><p>Harvard</p></li>
<li><p>Carnegie Mellon0</p></li>
<li><p>Georgia Tech</p></li>
<li><p>UCLA</p></li>
</ol>
<p>"Getting the Most For Your Dollar:" The greatest DECREASE in MBA Satisfaction:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Chicago</p></li>
<li><p>Yale</p></li>
<li><p>Carnegie Mellon</p></li>
<li><p>Stanford</p></li>
<li><p>Dartmouth</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Worst Placement Offices [ie for recruiters, for getting connections to jobs after grad]</p>
<ol>
<li>STANFORD</li>
</ol>
<p>Recruiters overwhelmingly rank it least effective, but grads still getting jobs</p>
<ol>
<li>PENNSYLVANIA</li>
</ol>
<p>Recruiters frustrated and students say it's not aggressive about placement</p>
<ol>
<li>TEXAS-AUSTIN</li>
</ol>
<p>Grads like independent job search help; recruiters say office is not effective</p>
<ol>
<li>MARYLAND</li>
</ol>
<p>Still struggling to please recruiters. Students rank it lowest</p>
<ol>
<li>GEORGETOWN</li>
</ol>
<p>Scores low with grads and recruiters, new placement director may reinvigorate</p>
<p>The link for the shortened articles are here [<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/archives/2000/b3701002.arc.htm?campaign_id=search%5D%5B/url">http://www.businessweek.com/archives/2000/b3701002.arc.htm?campaign_id=search][/url</a>] but I'd recommend you go out and buy the actual magazine, because it has ALL 50 schools, along with a table w/their stats, and lots of articles on the top few and why they're good. V. worth your while.</p>
<p>That is year 2000, you're 6 years behind schedule.</p>
<p>USC is an institution on the rise and a university that is absolutely intent on becoming one of the preeminant schools in the country. Between their 28 new buildings, their increased living quarters, the campus beautification, the Trojan Network, the quality of social life, the sports programs and the sheer pride that Trojans have in their university as well as the improving reputation of Marshall alongside the general sense that USC is a "business school" I'd really have to recommend USC over Berkeley for undergrad. It's about a holisitic experience and in the next few years I wouldn't be surprised to see USC nipping at Berkeley's heels in the rankings anyways. </p>
<p>Just my 2 cents</p>
<p>Unless working in LA is your end goal, I would go to Cal. Especially since you were already accepted to Haas. </p>
<p>Haas is generally regarded as the better program. Marshall might be more laid back compared to the environment at Haas though. It all depends on what you want.</p>
<p>It's strange, i've never seen USC ranked higher than Berkeley in any rankings. Isn't Berkeley considered one of the top universities in the world? Just throwing something out there. Keep your comments coming.</p>
<p>Makemehappy, that's for MBAs, isn't it?</p>
<p>So basically, you can go with the school with the better reputation, better faculty, better academics, better campus, better environment, cheaper tuition or you can go to USC.</p>
<p>Take your time.</p>
<p>I agree with 8 1/2. Outside of Southern California, the USC degree is nothing compared to a Cal degree. Heck, people in the rest of the US, especially on the East Coast, think of the University of South Carolina when they hear USC.</p>
<p>Look at the recent (2006) Business Week rankings, if you care about rankings. Haas is 12th, Marshall is 21st. </p>