<p>My academic interests are: business, finance, economics... kind of a combination of all of them. </p>
<p>Money is not a factor.</p>
<p>Just looking for some input/discussion about the two schools and their different academic programs.</p>
<p>Let me just say they are equal and peers. It really depends on what you want.</p>
<p>I am more familiar with Northwestern's programs that may interest you and I'll let someone else cover Berkeley's programs. </p>
<p>Department</a> of Economics: WCAS this is the largest major at NU. Each year, about 200-250 students declare it as their major.</p>
<p>Northwestern</a> University - Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences a 4-yr dual-major program with economics is available. </p>
<p>MMSS</a>, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, Northwestern University this is a one of a kind program in the nation. it's rigorous and well-respected by some of the most prestigious recruiters (check out Current Recruiters and MMSS Internship Directory under Current Students page). apply if you are strong in math.</p>
<p>Kellogg</a> School Certificate Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University this program is pretty new but already very competitive to get in and highly quantitative and intense. again, you need strong math ability to get in and survive through it.</p>
<p>Berkeley grad and avid Berkeleyite here.</p>
<p>This one's relatively easy, IMO.</p>
<p>1) Most importantly, get to both schools and really look them up and down and all around. Talk to people. Hear all sides. Get a feel for the things you might be interested in. If you want to join a frat/sorority check these out at both places, for instance, etc. (assuming NU has frats/sororities - I forget). If you come out from an experience like this saying, "well, NU really felt like me" or "Berkeley seems like exactly what I want" then you are almost done. Whichever campus wins the feel test/fit test wins. At this point, you might want to keep testing assumptions and filling in knowledge gaps just to make certain, but you're ready to jump.</p>
<p>2) If however, you feel they are equal for your interests and tastes (which would be a bit odd since they are at least apparently quite different, but not impossible), I'd say go to Northwestern if you're from California or to California if you're from the Midwest. From other regions, I think you're going to have to just figure out which one you like better, even if it's just marginally better. And considerations like where you want to be when you graduate come more into play.</p>
<p>3) In the case of business school and the like, at Berkeley you should know that the Haas School (business) is one of the top-ranked undergrad business programs. But you should also know that you have to apply to it after you've gone to Berkeley for two years, so there's a risk you don't get in. My guess is generally speaking if you're good enough to get into NU, you're good enough to get into Haas undergrad business so long as you don't screw up royally any courses you took when you got to Berkeley...you shouldn't since you are good enough, if that's not circular logic. Also, as someone who has a lot of respect for Haas -- I think it's a school that gives rise to a lot of solid folks, I'd have to say I doubt for general recruiting NU wouldn't be damned good. And I am fairly certain Haas recruiting is damned good too, especially for California firms. So, getting some of the degrees mentioned at NU wouldn't put you behind a Haas grad in most places in the nation, and in some places might well put you ahead. You should do your own research regarding this.</p>
<p>My gut tells me you are from California. If I knew you well enough to know you are "Berkeley material" -- i.e. appreciating diversity, embracing a crowd and not getting lost in it, driven and focused and not easily distracted, fine with anonymity and big school feel, perhaps offbeat -- I would recommend that. Not knowing you, I go with the geographic recommendation: go to a great school -- i.e. NU -- that is out of Dodge.</p>
<p>If money isn't an issue, I would honestly advice to aim for privates. </p>
<p>Berkeley would be ideal for business, but at the same time you arent guarantee'd a spot in its business school until you're already to deep into the school.</p>
<p>Have you considered Claremont McKenna? Really well known in the business field, and although its not a major, they offer Economics, with a finance concentration.</p>
<p>BTW why is it only Berkeley vs northwestern. If you're Berkeley and Northwestern material, theres NYU for business and maybe maybe Penn which also have great undergrad business</p>
<p>haha Bedhead I actually live only 10 minutes from NU right now.</p>
<p>I am just trying to better understand their academic routes better, and the pros and cons of their different programs.</p>
<p>Everybodys advice about the actual schools themselves was great, I am planning on spending some time at both of them.</p>
<p>I guess I should've added that Michigan and Wash-U were two other schools I was considering, although I favor NU and Berkeley</p>
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Have you considered Claremont McKenna? Really well known in the business field, and although its not a major, they offer Economics, with a finance concentration.
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<p>Good school, but if you're favoring schools such as the kind you mentioned, small and, outside the classroom, not as stimulating.</p>
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haha Bedhead I actually live only 10 minutes from NU right now.
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<p>Well, I'd be a lot more inclined to tell you what I said: get out of dodge. Go to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Do you have any idea what you want to do in business? This might sway toward certain programs. Anything in tech, things creative, go to Haas/Berkeley. Of course, if you want to go to Wall Street, this would be good advice:</p>
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BTW why is it only Berkeley vs northwestern. If you're Berkeley and Northwestern material, theres NYU for business and maybe maybe Penn which also have great undergrad business
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<p>It's likely that, if Wall Street still exists in 5 years (tongue not pressed too firmly in cheek), that it will be bouncing back and you'd do better coming out of an NYU or Wharton. But since you didn't mention these schools, I'd say choose on the basis of what is driving you -- it doesn't seem to be a desire to get to Wall Street. Personally, I would've found business school at either place stultifying.</p>
<p>The big question is whether Berkeley is "worth" out-of-state tuition. Berkeley is a big public university, the vast majority of its students are from California. It's quite different from a fancy private.</p>
<p>BedHead, I cannot agree with your point about getting out of Dodge, at least in the instant case.</p>
<p>Berkeley is a public institution, and as such, is lean on advisory services. An independent, self starter can thrive at Berkeley or Northwestern. A person who traditionally has relied upon others (parents, mentors, college counselors at school) to help set their direction and strategy? Northwestern or even better an LAC, as at Berkeley a student would be cut off for the first time from those mentoring inputs. After all, how much can 18-19 year olds know about the options available in life? Mentoring is critical for most at this age.</p>
<p>I'm paraphrasing here, but a wise man on this board once said that Berkeley is one of the true, great world universities whereas Northwestern was one of the highly respected, competent universities in North America...but kind of plain vanilla. ;)</p>
<p>If you are not from California, Northwestern is the better choice. (Many OOS students have a slim chance of admittance into the UC schools) If you want to experience something new and different away from the West Coast, Northwestern is a good choice. Northwestern offers need-based aid to all incoming students (75% non-Illinois residents).</p>
<p>^ Correction: In point of fact, Berkeley's admissions rate is only slightly lower for OOS applicants than for California residents: for the Fall 2008 entering class, 22% in-state, 17% OOS, and 22% internationals. Those are long odds to be sure, but the fact is it's statistically harder to get into any of the Ivies (except Cornell where the overall acceptance rate is inflated a bit by the "contract colleges"), MIT, Stanford, Caltech, or WUSTL than it is to get into Berkeley OOS. You'll never see anyone on CC say, "Don't even bother to apply to the Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, or WUSTL because you have such a slim chance of admission." Yet we constantly see people on CC peddling that advice about Berkeley OOS. I don't get it, frankly. There may be things not to like about a Berkeley education, but the difficulty of acquiring one surely can't be one of them. Somehow what is always treated as a virtue in private schools---admissions selectivity---is treated as a vice in Berkeley.</p>
<p>22% in-state? Where did you get your stats? Berkeley is a public university and will always favor California in-state residents. 22+17+22 (=61%) doesn't even equal 100%. Where is the other 39% coming from?? Your math doesn't even make sense.</p>
<p>"haha Bedhead I actually live only 10 minutes from NU right now."</p>
<p>Assuming you are fortunate enough to have the choice of either, that alone would tell me to go to Berkeley. Not that Northwestern's not fabulous, but there's value in leaving home. BTW, if you'd said you live 10 minutes from Berkeley, I'd say go to Northwestern.</p>
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<p>Read what I said. I was talking about acceptance rates, not percentages of the total student body, about which I said nothing. These are the rates of acceptance from various parts of its applicant pool. Berkeley accepts 22% of its applicants who are Califronia residents; 17% of its out-of-state (US resident) applicants; and 22% of its international applicants. These figures come directly from the UC Berkeley Office of Admissions website:</p>
<p>Now of course it's true that Berkeley favors California residents; I never said otherwise. In fact, by law each UC campus is limited to a maximum of 10% of its student body being non-residents (which includes both OOS US residents and internationals). As a consequence, if there were a sudden increase in OOS applicants, Berkeley's OOS acceptance rate would have to go down to keep within that statutory limit. But the reality is, Berkeley presently just doesn't get very many OOS applicants, and last year it accepted 17% of those who applied---only slightly less, in percentage terms, than the 22% of California residents it accepted. An OOS applicant's statistical chance of being accepted to Berkeley is roughly double an applicant's chance of being accepted to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton.</p>
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I'm paraphrasing here, but a wise man on this board once said that Berkeley is one of the true, great world universities whereas Northwestern was one of the highly respected, competent universities in North America...but kind of plain vanilla.
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<p>Well, I am sure I have to agree with whoever gave that quote ;) , but some people like vanilla instead of greatness....</p>
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If you are not from California, Northwestern is the better choice. (Many OOS students have a slim chance of admittance into the UC schools) If you want to experience something new and different away from the West Coast, Northwestern is a good choice. Northwestern offers need-based aid to all incoming students (75% non-Illinois residents).
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<p>This post wins the award for not paying attention to the OP's post. ;)</p>
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Berkeley is a public institution, and as such, is lean on advisory services. An independent, self starter can thrive at Berkeley or Northwestern. A person who traditionally has relied upon others (parents, mentors, college counselors at school) to help set their direction and strategy? Northwestern or even better an LAC, as at Berkeley a student would be cut off for the first time from those mentoring inputs. After all, how much can 18-19 year olds know about the options available in life? Mentoring is critical for most at this age.
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<p>I think there is a point to be made. If you look at my post, I talked about a hands-down case for Berkeley and I reflected similar notions to what you have here.</p>
<p>The person seems to be narrowed down to:</p>
<p>Berkeley
Michigan
NU
WUSTL</p>
<p>You are suggesting, among other things, an LAC.</p>
<p>I am suggesting favor getting out of dodge, particularly for someone who lives 10 miles away from NU.</p>
<p>I have noted your disagreement, but suggest that the OP move away from NU for college. I stand by it.</p>