I have seen that people have made posts similar to this one in previous years, and I have even contacted some people here for individual advice, but this decision is so hard and I figured I’d make a post of my own. At the beginning of this month, after four long weeks of deciding between Berkeley and another school, I finally chose Berkeley and was even set to go to a CalSO day. Then, last week I got a call from Emory telling me that I had been admitted off of their wait-list, and the decision making began again.
I’m interested in business, but I may also tack on a minor/second major in math to add a little more meat to my degree. Of course, both Berkeley and Emory have exceptional undergraduate business schools and I don’t doubt that the quality of education in this regard will be roughly the same (with the exception that Haas has a lower acceptance rate than Goizueta, and in the case I wasn’t admitted my backup is math). I’ve been interested in the ultimate field of finance, but I suppose it isn’t impossible that this would change.
In my mind, Berkeley and Emory are even but for different reasons. Emory has small classes that allows for easier interaction with professors/advisers and less students overall that would prevent an individual from being lost and swallowed whole. Berkeley has more students which allows for more clubs/organizations, it seems like there’s a bit more to do/see in and around campus, and the prestige of the school (which I realize Emory also has, but perhaps not to the same extent? I only see this as being significant because it seems to be important in the finance field).
I’d like to know some other people’s thoughts. This decision is killing me D:
Location. Going to Berkeley gives you a better chance being recognized in the bay area and get a job within the bay area while Emery gives you a better chance being recognized in the Atlanta area. I actually like Atlanta better, but that’s just me and both places offer plenty of potential and things to do.
It might be even when you weight your criteria, but the school are very different. I really hope you have some time to visit both schools if you haven’t done so already and just go with whichever you felt more comfortable, because that gut feeling is surprisingly accurate.
Is the business major at Emory competitive admission? If not, that is a point in favor of Emory if business is your first choice major. If so, compare how competitive it is compared to that at Berkeley.
If you do math, the math department at Berkeley is larger and has more course offerings, without even counting the separate statistics and industrial engineering departments (there is also an operations research and management science major). The economics department at Berkeley also offers more math-heavy course options. Compare course offerings in catalogs and schedules.
Were u admitted to haas? In my opinion Emory goizueta is a great school. First of all Emory is very easy to do well at so you can get the high gpa to find work. Competition is also much less in the south than in California so you can find a job easier since Emory is the only good school I’m Georgia. even though Emory is nonexistent in Cali on the east coast Emory goizueta goes along way. I suggest u consider goizueta I will be attending there and I know I made the right choice personally.
@Goizueta17 I don’t know if I’ll be admitted to Haas, same with Goizueta (although, I realize my chances are much higher). Did you make this same decision as well? I only ask because this is the Berkeley sub-forum and you are clearly going to Emory.
@UpMagic He/she is probably only talking about for business.
How desirable is your alternate major of math to you if you are not admitted to the business major at each school? (Applied math or ORMS may be more applicable if your target is quantitative finance.)
From a major standpoint, it looks like it is more likely to get into your first choice major for business at Emory, but your alternate major of math is significantly weaker at Emory. How that matters depends on how much more desirable business is to you than math.
Even though it is true that emory has a weaker department in everything, the brand name goes along way. You may not realize it if you are in california because emory is nonexistent there but in GA emory is clearly miles ahead. Also since the departments are weaker it will be much easier to keep a high gpa, which is one of the most important factors in getting a job. What is next after the GPA, well it would be networking and Emory has a stronger network even though the network is smaller you have less people competing.
And yes emory is the only good school in GA if we are being honest.
I think an argument could be made that Georgia Tech engineering (particularly Industrial Engineering and the Co-op program) is ultimately a better feeder in to top Business schools than the Emory business undergrad program. It would be interesting to see stats on this. I have none. I do know my sister-in-law went straight from GT undergrad Chem Eng to HBS - which is highly unusual - most HBS students have worked first. Also, I had GT fraternity brothers who went on to HBS, Wharton and Kellogg.
Ok GA Tech is a solid engineering school, but it is nowhere near as prestigious than Emory. I believe this is the opinion in GA, especially among Emory students
I recently asked a UCLA pre-med student what the UCLA kids thought of Pomona, and his response was: “Huh? What? I don’t”
@Goizueta17 honestly, I think the attitude is the same in Georgia. These kids are going to college often tuition-free (vs. $200k for Emory), getting good jobs and enjoying a vibrant social life. That’s all that matters to them. And, FWIW, GT kids actually score higher on the SAT’s and ACT’s than Emory kids - and not just in math.
