<p>which major would have better job prospects/a better reputation?</p>
<p>Depends on where you want to locate for a job.</p>
<p>All things equal, I say:
Northwestern econ
USC biz
UCLA econ</p>
<p>Why not shoot for Cal Haas or econ. It’s better than any of those… 
* shameless plug*</p>
<p>Cal Haas is definitely an option…I heard Haas only accepts junior level students though? that and its location (Berkeley seems like a nice area but I’d love to study/live in Chicago/L.A.) make the above 3 my first choices (admittedly, my choices seem to change every couple of months!)</p>
<p>In terms of where I’d want to get a job: I’d like to work abroad (and can see myself spending a pretty large portion of my life abroad), so international reputation is important…in the US, the top cities I’d most like to live in (in order) would be:</p>
<ol>
<li>L.A.</li>
<li>New York</li>
<li>Chicago</li>
<li>Philadelphia</li>
</ol>
<p>You’ll apply to Cal as “undeclared-pre-business”. You then apply to Haas your sophomore year. Haas is a two-year upper-division program and admission is not guaranteed. If you don’t get into Haas, most students continue in Cal’s excellent economics department.</p>
<p>Apply to all and see which comes in cheapest for you. Once admission and financial aid offers are on the table, your decision will become much clearer.</p>
<p>If you are pretty strong in math, Northwestern has more than just econ for you. MMSS, Kellogg certificate, and Industrial Engineeering & Management Sciences are all excellent options that you can add to your econ. They are also harder than econ however and you should consider them only if you have strong quant skills.</p>
<p>If you’re considering NU, USC, and UCLA, I would presume you’re a strong student. Do you intend on applying to Penn? What about NYU Stern or UVA McIntire? Both have incredible placement in NYC and other cities in the east like Philly which is also on your list.</p>
<p>If your intent is to live in LA when you graduate, Marshall is hard to beat. The Trojan network in SoCal is impressive to say the least.</p>
<p>If you just want the best overall education, Econ at NU is the way to go.</p>
<p>Don’t you just love how the Berkeley fan club can’t help but interject Berkeley into any discussion?</p>
<p>@Sam Lee - I’m pretty good at math (good enough to major in Econ but not good enough to major in something extremely mathematical at a top college)…and I’m set on either Econ or Business because they interest me the most as subjects.</p>
<p>@jc40 - I intend on applying to Stern BPE program…but I’ve heard NYU doesn’t give a great college experience (apparently the way the campus is laid out makes it have less of a community feel) but it’s an option. I think UPenn might be a bit of a stretch…I’ll probably apply to Wharton for early decision, if I get in it’ll be my first choice, but the competition for places is meant to be insane isn’t it?</p>
<p>thanks to the rest for your replies.</p>
<p>The econ majors at UCLA are some of the most applied to, and hence, impacted majors that the university offers. Not being an econ major i can’t comment on the quality, but their admits, for transfers, have average GPAs of 3.9+ so i would imagine that the major is of high quality.</p>
<p>i should note that UCLA has no undergraduate business school. If you’re interested in going to an undergraduate business school, NU, or Berkeley + haas might be a better option. UCLA has a great campus, and the major’s probably great here too.</p>
<p>as long as you’re mentioning northwestern though, you shouldn’t rule out UChicago (they’re only like 8 miles away from each other IMS)</p>
<p>“The University of Chicago Department of Economics has fielded more Nobel Prize laureates and John Bates Clark medalists in economics than any other university.”</p>
<p>[University</a> of Chicago Department of Economics](<a href=“http://economics.uchicago.edu/]University”>http://economics.uchicago.edu/)</p>
<p>This would probably offer the best prospects and allow you to live in a city you’d like. Although i’d still take a look at UCLA’s department if you’re bent about living in LA.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Of course! Berkeley is the best university in the world. Anyone who chooses any other university, like Stanford, is out of their mind to do so. They’re clearly going to the inferior university ;)</p>
<p>NU and Chicago may only be a few miles away as the crow flies but they are a good 40 mins - 1 hour apart by any type of transportation.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, the only reason I brought it up is because it’s on the same app for UCLA…pretty easy to add Berkeley to the mix. And I said it was a shameless plug.</p>
<p>LDN,
Since you are interested in international business experiences Marshall may be a fine choice for you. The school has a global outlook, particularly in the Pacific Rim. Freshmen travel abroad in the LINC program. Recent LINC students have traveled to Santiago, Taipei, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong. </p>
<p>Another program which may interest you is the interdisciplinary joint program: Business and International Relations This program combines courses in Marshall and the USC School of International Relations. </p>
<p>Other Marshall programs offered which you might consider are the International Exchange Program, Global Summer Internship Program, International Experiential Corporate Learning Program and the new Marshall Indonesia Summer Internship Program.</p>
<p>The recent USC Global Conference held in Hong Kong was sold out. Marshall alumni work in 90 different countries.</p>
<p>I would go with Marshall if you want to work in SoCal but Northwestern is the way to go if you intend to seek employment anywhere else in the world.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Alums of every major school live and work all over the world; that isn’t particularly compelling.</p>
<p>Northwestern’s Economics program is exceptionally strong, and generally underrated on these boards - but not in the marketplace. As others have suggested, it is probably the best educational choice, as well as the best choice in terms of geographical reach and diversity of career options. An unequivocal vote here for Northwestern.</p>
<p>p.s. since UChicago was also mentioned, I am not plugging it here because of the OP’s stated interest in business. Chicago’s Econ program is more theoretical than most, and probably not the best fit for someone with a strong interest in business studies at the undergraduate level. A Northwestern Econ degree with the Kellogg certificate program sounds like a better fit for the OP.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>agree…</p>
<p>I appreciate everyone’s input! Plan on thoroughly researching the programs suggested and I’ve now got some valuable info on UCLA, USC and NU.</p>