<p>I am choosing between getting an undergraduate degree from Berkeley or Warwick and I would like some advice on which college would be the better choice in my situation. At Warwick, I've been accepted for Econ, which is one of their stronger programs, though probably not as well known outside the UK. If I go to Berkeley, I will either declare a major in Economics or apply to Haas (which I can't do till sophomore year). Also, I've been staying in the UK for the past 5 years and I am about to become a citizen there. If I go to Berkeley, I will most likely lose this. </p>
<p>I know that I want to go into banking after I graduate so I'd like some opinions about which college would be the better option to set me on the right track for that, in terms of:
1) Which college program will give me more rigorous preparation for banking?
2) Does being an international student at Berkeley put me at a major disadvantage in terms of getting a banking job in the US (especially in this financial situation)?
3) Is Berkeley a target college for banks and investment firms within the US?
4) Is Warwick-Econ a target degree for top banks in the UK?
5) Looking outside the UK/US, which degree - Warwick Econ or Berkeley Econ/Haas - is more highly sought after or recognized internationally? I have lived around the world and I want to have the flexibility to work in other countries (Singapore, Hong Kong, etc)
6) Do international companies recruit at Berkeley? What about Warwick?</p>
<p>NB: I'll be an international student if I go to Berkeley (which could be a problem in terms of the new visa laws), but a UK citizen if I go to Warwick.</p>
<p>I'd really appreciate all the advice I can get, so please tell me about your opinion even if it can't answer all my questions. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I would say Berkley is better in terms of rankings in social sciences. And apparently US is a much larger market than UK and UC berkley is probably the best public school in US. And if you’re thinking of doing an MBA in US then berkley would probably give you better chances. But like you said you would lose your UK citizenship so that’s the downside.</p>
<p>How important is your UK citizenship to you? I understand that you may not want to give that up. Would it help to postpone your enrollment at Berkeley for a semester or a year?</p>
<p>Go to Warwick- Warwick is more of a target than Berkeley-infact Warwick is a huge target while Berkeley is a phenomenal school, its just one of the many top schools. </p>
<p>And then your citizenship . . . infact just go to warwick</p>
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<p>I know in Singapore and HK- Warwick and Berkeley are highly respected especially in banks. Do a google search and you will see Warwick graduate all over the world. Same for Berkeley, but IMO, Warwick would be a better option if you want to be a banker. One of my high school classmate who went there told me that they hired about 6 student from Warwick at Mckinsey so go figure</p>
<p>Actually yeah I am thinking of doing an MBA in the US after working for a few years because it fits with the career path I want to go down. In fact, the name recognition of Berkeley was a pretty important reason why I was originally thinking that would be the better choice… so would a Warwick undergrad degree not be as well recognized in graduate schools in the UK?</p>
<p>I was actually thinking about the idea of postponing my enrollment at Berkeley for a year. It would work out pretty well because that way I can get my citizenship and leave the UK to study without any worries… But the thing is, are you allowed to defer entry after you’re admitted? I mean, when I originally applied to the university, I didn’t mention anything about taking a gap year so I feel like they might not be willing to defer entry now.</p>
<p>And my UK citizenship is basically important to the extent that it allows me to come back here and look for work after I get my undergrad degree. Honestly, my only biggest doubt about going to Berkeley is about getting a job in the US after that. I’ve heard that the immigration laws are getting much tighter, especially in banks, so that most companies will give first preference to US citizens. To the extent that even some Harvard undergrads who are international students are having problems getting jobs… </p>
<p>Is it true that it’s really that difficult for international students to get a job in the US??</p>
<p>Really? I didn’t know that Warwick was that big a target… That’s nice to hear though.
Same thing with its recognition in Asia. I mean, Warwick is a relatively new university so I wasn’t sure how well it would be known in other places. So are you saying that the job prospects in Asia will be the same whether I get a degree in Econ from Berkeley or Warwick?</p>
<p>Errm yes basically . . .I think Berkeley would carry significant international rep though. Warwick is very much a regional UK school like Durham and Bristol, it lacks the international rep that Oxbridge, Manchester, LSE, Edinburgh, UCL have. However, banks in Asia I am sure know how good the school is.</p>
<p>If you are interested in wowing someone on the street you might pick Berkeley. Both have good reps . . .just do very well in both schools. However, if you can defer your Berkeley admissions- which would be difficult- and you get your UK citizenship- I would highly recommend Berkeley Haas especially for an MBA. However Warwick is a top 6 for IB, and it would still get you into top business schools around the world.</p>
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<p>Depends on what you study and how resourceful you are. However dont come with the mindset that you would get a job. nevertheless come with the confidence that you will try your best to get one.</p>
<p>You’d probably have better chances of getting into IB coming out of Warwick than Berkeley (albeit only quite slightly), but I’d rather go to Berkeley if I were you to experience the American college life. Warwick is a great university and very-well regarded in Europe, but Berkeley is in California (one of the finest places in America) with loads of amazing, very intelligent people from almost all corners of the world. </p>
<p>There are also restrictions for internatioanl students to remian and work in the US that you will be dealing with, something that you won’t be facing if you’ll attend a university in the UK.</p>
<p>Both schools are recognised in Singapore. However, Berkeley may have a slightly better name recognition. Personally, I would choose to attend Warwick. :D</p>
<p>@ RML: Yeah that’s true, Berkeley does seem to offer a very great college life with its clubs, organizations, diversity of students, and breadth of academic opportunities. I don’t know too much about the student life at Warwick. I know it also has a lot of what they call societies and that it hosts the One World Week which is supposed to be big there. Does anyone know about how active the students are in the organizations at Warwick? And is the student life as diverse/interesting as in Berkeley?</p>
<p>Thank you for all the responses so far by the way!</p>
<p>In Singapore, a certain form of absurd elitism exists. Some have the annoying perception of National University of Singapore being a world-class institution. I guess a bigger and more well-known of the two would be Berkeley in Singapore. This is something that you might want to consider if you wish to work here. Heck, some people don’t even know what’s Warwick! </p>
<p>I’ve heard about how self-contained the Warwick campus is. Personally, I kind of like it. I would prefer studying in the UK too. Hence, my preference for Warwick. :D</p>
<p>On the contrary, a lot of my fellow schoolmates seem to think that NUS/NTU/SMU is their last choice - that some of them would rather go to a school ranked ~50 or lower than the local universities. I find that quite absurd as well - the local universities are in fact quite good universities.</p>
<p>The Berkeley experience is unbeatable. That’s at least, what my wife, who is a Berkeley alumna, often tells to people who would ask her about what her life was at Berkeley. She loves Berkeley to death and she donates to the school almost every single year. I, on the other hand, went to a famous university in England. Having said that, my previous visits to Warwick campus tell me that it is a very nice university and if you love economics and wish to join into IB someday, it is one of the best places in the UK to go to. </p>
<p>As for the school name, I agree that only quite a handful of universities can match Berkeley’s magnanimous international reputation. In fact, in many places that I have been to (and I have been to 6 of the 7 continents), Berkeley is very well regarded. In those countries, Warwick is not even heard of. But the OP wants a faster and surer way to get into IB. In this regard, Warwick might be the more ideal option. Unless the OP gets into Haas, but getting into Haas isn’t a sure thing.</p>
<p>Warwick is much better. Has a strong reputation for economics, you will do it one year, you avoid liberal arts and can get a job in your home country</p>
<p>keep in mind when people are talking of name recognition find out “who” are they talking about. If you are talking about recruitment at banks in Asia- they really would know the good schools and be able to separate them. However I feel in Asia berkeley would be huge. Its a top school for economics because of its research reputation. Warwick is not even at par at all, I don’t think it registers on the radar of economics research. Also banks in Asia would favor their graduates- some might turn their noses at NUS- but this would be the principal target for top companies. Yes people who attend NUS would be in equal shape to those who attended Berkeley and Warwick.</p>
<p>For an MBA, you can get in from any of them. However keep in mind- a Second class upper is considered sometimes as a 3.33 in the US GPA system. And a 3.33 is very mediocre especially if you studied economics.</p>
<p>IMO, the best thing is for you to do very well in both schools. Doing well is the most important thing. A 3.9 Berkeley and you can get a job anywhere you want.</p>
<p>I find the local unis to be just so-so actually. I think that’s the problem with a lot of Singaporeans. We tend to take these so-called rankings too seriously. #50+ =/= lousier than NUS/NTU/SMU. I think both Berkeley and Warwick are ranked lower than NUS in the THE QS Rankings. So OP might want to take note of that…</p>
I think that’s the problem with a lot of Singaporeans. We tend to take these so-called rankings too seriously. #50+ =/= lousier than NUS/NTU/SMU. I think both Berkeley and Warwick are ranked lower than NUS in the THE QS Rankings. So OP might want to take note of that…</p>