<p>Situation: I thought I was going to get rejected from Berkeley, but I got accepted. (I am very grateful and happy!) I also have been accepted to Marshall at USC.</p>
<p>Problem: Should I attend Marshall at USC or attend Berkeley?</p>
<p>I already started looking into USC and I was set on going there. I was really excited about the majors/minors offered, programs, etc.</p>
<p>Even though Berkeley has a better prestige, it is also known for an "uglier" campus and a public school (larger classes, classes fill up quicker, grades are lower, less attention in class). Also, if I go to Berkeley, I will have to apply to Haas, but I'm worried I'm not that great of a student - 2250 SAT, 4.1 WGPA.</p>
<p>On the other hand, USC, although it has great prestige and a great alumni body, Berkeley has a better business program. Also, so many of my friends have gotten into USC, making it seem not as "great" (it still is). And the biggest problem is the cost! I barely got any scholarships from there.</p>
<p>So I'm in a dilemma because this is possibly one of the biggest decisions of my life. I want to go to a school that I will be happy at and get a good education. I'm upset that I can't get "the best of both worlds". Any opinions here will be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Getting into Haas is quite competitive. Your grades will matter, A LOT, from the first day of school. That is a lot of stress. You need to take that into consideration.</p>
<p>You certainly are also less coddled at Cal than you would be at USC.</p>
<p>One big question is where do you want to work in the long term. If you want to end up living and working in LA, you're probably better off going to business school at USC. </p>
<p>For me, cost would be the overriding factor, and I'd go to Berkeley in a heartbeat. Of course, for me, Berkeley is my kind of place and USC is not. And that is also something you have to consider, they are hugely different in school culture.</p>
<p>Thank you Ken for giving reasons for both sides. I know that Haas will be very hard. I have 2250 SAT and I go to a difficult magnet school, where I got As and Bs. </p>
<p>I want to work for a big company where there are a lot of rooms for improvement. My parents already own their own business, but I'm interested in exploring other options. However, I can always return back to the family business.</p>
<p>Cost is a factor for me. It wasn't when I was applying because I saw the numbers as something not in reach for me yet. As in, why worry about cost when you haven't even gotten in? However, when I got into USC, I sort of felt bad for costing my family that much money. However, I am fortunate enough that my family is well off to pay for Cal. </p>
<p>I plan on visiting both campuses and deciding after. However, I still really appreciate the opinions of other people. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>Honestly, from what you just wrote, I think Cal will be a better fit for you. I think visiting campuses is the key, sit in on the classes, etc.</p>
<p>As far as school culture, USC is more of a privileged culture. The student body is from a wealthier background. The vast majority of Berkeley students went to public school. They are not from wealth. It is different in that way. Berkeley is also way more liberal, of course.</p>
<p>"Cal is know for having an "uglier campus"....."</p>
<p>SC is in the ghetto of South Central LA, which has the #3 highest crime rate in America. Wouldn't exactly call that "pretty."</p>
<p>Cal is just overall a better school, with a better academic reputation. That speaks for a lot. I like Cal's campus much, much better than SC's. It also has nicer people, and a friendlier atmosphere. I'd go there.</p>
<p>The schools are SO different. The students are SO different. I would really take your time and visit both campuses. USC will pamper you like a rich kid. Berkeley will not. Your introductory classes at Berkeley will likely be very large and sections will be taught by grad students. It is not the white glove treatment.</p>
<p>I had assumed from what you wrote that your family was successful, but not wealthy. If you are wealthy, and cost is really not an issue, I'd tilt things towards USC for you, especially since getting into Haas is FAR from a sure thing.</p>
<p>If it was a different major, I'd say something different.</p>
<p>Also, here's something else to consider: are you SURE you want to major in business? Because many kids change their majors. If you aren't positive, know that Cal has more top-10 ranked dept. than any other school in the country. It has stronger programs in more areas than SC. Just something to keep in mind...</p>
<p>Thank you VC, but I don't think it is that easy to say a school is better than another. For example, since Berkeley is a public school, classes are larger and professors probably give you less attention. Also the alumni network is supposedly larger at USC.</p>
<p>A personal issue is getting into Haas in the first place.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm pretty sure I want to major in Business. I really enjoy it and I have taken the path for business.</p>
<p>celsius: agree, there are lots of factors, Cal is just a better academic school. It has more well-known programs than SC, and isn't simply "regional prestige."</p>
<p>
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it is also known for an "uglier" campus
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</p>
<p>What? It has a gorgeous campus -- neoclassical buildings, Gothic buildings, etc.</p>
<p>
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larger classes, classes fill up quicker, grades are lower, less attention in class
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</p>
<p>Only about 5% of Berkeley's classes are over 100, and only 14% over 50. More than 60% have fewer than 20. Any large class is supplemented with a small discussion. These numbers are the same for USC and MIT (and very close to other top privates).</p>
<p>You can get plenty of attention from professors, grad student instructors, etc.</p>
<p>
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Also the alumni network is supposedly larger at USC.
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</p>
<p>Berkeley has over 450,000 living alumni. USC doesn't come close.</p>
<p>Usually, a private school is smaller but more expensive, right? USC has some 33,000 students, about the same as Berkeley. So in other words, you're getting a public school environment at the price of a private.</p>
<p>personally, i think berkeley >>> usc because it's so much more well-known, has more top-ranked depts, has fewer rich, spoiled kids (usc at least used to be known as the school for kids who couldn't make it into la, but went to usc because their parents could buy their way in), is in norcal (ok, i just really don't like socal superficiality). i'm not saying usc isn't a good school, but like vc08 said, it has "regional prestige" but isn't really known for academics outside of california. the only reason i ever considered applying to usc was because they give national merit semifinalists half-tuition. but in the end, i didn't bother applying, because berkeley costs about half as much usc (mooting the half-tuition enticement) and has a better reputation.</p>
<p>and getting into haas really isn't all that bad. as long as you work kinda hard (but not so hard that you don't enjoy yourself in college) for a year and a half, do some ECs/internships, and write good application essays, you should be fine.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your replies. The more I think about it, the more I lean towards Berkeley. I feel pretty bad because USC is so friendly and involved. While it does have a great business school, Haas is still better. Since I am going to college to learn and not just to make friends, I think Berkeley would be the better choice. Still, in the back of my mind, I am still quite concerned about getting into Haas. Because if I don't, I'm pretty much screwing myself over..</p>
<p>So I'm definitely still going to visit both campus. One day for Explore USC and one day for Cal Day. But as of now, I'm leaning towards Berkeley.</p>
<p>kyledavid80: Thank you so much for your post! Yeah, I always wondered how many alumni Berkeley had. Because USC claims to have a "rare" network of 60,000?, and that number is pretty impressive. It's pretty nice to hear that Cal has 450,000 alumni! (That's a lot!) However, are they as involved with their students in regards to job placement?</p>
<p>cenire: Thank you too for your enlightening post. I actually did not know that USC was only regional prestige. In fact, since I live in SoCal, everyone has a really high opinion of it. I want to pursue a career, in which advancement will be possible, not necessary stay in SoCal and work in a small business. That's another reason why I feel Berkeley may indeed be better for me. Are you sure it isn't that hard to get into Haas? How difficult is it exactly? Are you a current student? Because I know that the program is extremely self-selective so the admit rate may be misleading.</p>
<p>qkrdusdn: Haha, yeah I was wondering if anyone else was in my situation because it didn't seem like it was that hard to be. However, no one said anything so I decided to start it. That is pretty cool. Tell me where you decide going and your reasons. Maybe we should discuss our situation together.</p>
<p>If you ever want to leave Southern California and do prestigious jobs like IB, S&T, PE, or anything business related in the east coast for that matter, your USC degree will not hold a candle to a Haas/Stanford/Ivy degree; and if you do (somehow) make it to NYC or any other prestigious city outside of LA in business, you'll often be looked down upon by more than a few elitists. You better be damn sure you want to stay in your bubble SoCal if you go to USC, otherwise unless you (likely) land in the middle market or end up in some Podunk town for business, you'll be a laughingstock.</p>