<p>Hi guys I am a Chinese accepted by both Michigan and Berkeley. I haven't made the decision yet but I always have a great love for Michigan and probably Go Blue for the next four years. I enjoy Michigan's superior school spirit and want to live in a multicultural community like Ann Arbor. Further, I think I fit Michigan more since Michigan in my mind is more down-to-earth than Berkeley ( Berkeley is very forward-thinking? I heard students even fought against the police. That's kind of extreme to me)</p>
<p>I want to double major in Ross (Management + Marketing) and LSA (psychology) and hope to join a elite consulting firm after graduation( Ross > Haas in this perspective for sure). However, I was rejected by Ross (1490+3.97+ 9 AP + outstanding business ECs, did not know the reason, maybe because it has quota on international ?). I still lean toward going to Ross though since it's a three year program and I will have more business education.</p>
<p>However, my family has one concern--reputation. Berkeley has a big big name in Asia and China and people know Berkeley. Michigan is still great in Asia, but it's weaker than Berkeley and people's perception to these two school varies.</p>
<p>I will probably still go for Michigan, but please help me confirm my choice. Give me extra points on why Michigan beat Berkeley and how can Michigan benefit me more than Berkeley.Do I have the correct perception to these two schools ? I appreciate every input.</p>
<p>From a political perspective, both Ann Arbor and Berkeley are radical liberal cesspools, but you are right, Berkeley is far worse.</p>
<p>Cal may have a stronger reputation than Michigan among the not-so-educated, but among the highly educated and among employers, Michigan and Cal are considered peers. If you prefer Michigan, go for it, particularly if your goal is to work in Consulting. Ross is #1 in Management for a reason. </p>
<p>I attended UC Berkeley a while back (OK, 25 years ago!) and found that its reputation for radicalism is really overblown. Yes, there are small groups of students who are passionate advocates for some issues, and they may occasionally stage a loud protest or write articles for the school newspapers. However, most other students are focused on their classes and the typical activities and social aspects of college – and those students see the protests or activist newspaper editorials with only mild interest or amusement. “What are they getting all worked up about now? Oh, that’s kinda silly. Well, guess I better start studying for my exam.” </p>
<p>The majority of students choose UC Berkeley now because of its very strong academic programs and because they believe the school’s reputation will help them get better employment opportunities. They are not specifically seeking out a very liberal or radical college environment. There are plenty of students at UC Berkeley who are apolitical or take moderate or conservative positions on political and social issues. </p>
<p>So, you may read headlines about something like “The Naked Guy” who was attending classes at UC Berkeley in the nude until university administrators put a stop to it. However, you have to keep in mind that there were 25,000+ students who were thinking, “Dude, please put some pants on like the rest of us!” Keep in perspective the news stories about the most radical things that have ever occurred at UC Berkeley – those are not the experiences of most of UC Berkeley’s students. </p>
<p>Berkeley is still quite multicultural, but doesn’t have the same school spirit.
He’s a student from China with good stats and can afford to go to an American university. I’m sure his family is educated.</p>
<p>Berkeley is the #1 public school undisputed, but Michigan comes at a close second.</p>
<p>The difference between Haas and Ross is pretty small. Recruiting from both school are solid. However, Haas is in a much better economic climate. </p>
<p>I would personally choose Michigan. My brother attended Berkeley and he did not like it one bit. It was way too competitive, it was not nearly as fun party and social climate wise, and in addition for Business there were not nearly as many good contacts as you can find in Ross and Michigan. I would hands down choose Michigan. Who gives a ■■■■ about ranking? When job recruiters come it won’t make much of a difference for them, and you will have a much better GPA at Michigan.</p>
<p>“However, Haas is in a much better economic climate…” …and Michigan has a much better endowment that allows it stay academically sound. There are tradeoffs between these schools, but both are excellent. Go for fit!</p>
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<p>No, I was referring to opportunities for jobs and internships location-wise.</p>
<p>I would have gone to Berkeley if I was accepted #rejected2018. It’s whatever though I still love Michigan</p>
<p>
Michigan has a long history in China, second perhaps only to Yale. Here’s a good summary:</p>
<p>The University of Michigan and China: 1845-2010
<a href=“http://bentley.umich.edu/research/publications/bhlpub/bhlbulletin/56193_Bentley_English.pdf”>http://bentley.umich.edu/research/publications/bhlpub/bhlbulletin/56193_Bentley_English.pdf</a>
- Michigan and China: The 19th Century (p.7)
- Michigan and China: The 20th Century (p.10)
- Michigan and China: The 21st Century (p.15)
- Major Partnership (p.17)
- Prominent Chinese Graduates (p.20)
[Recent grads include: Martin Lau, President of Tencent; and Homer Sun, Chief Investment Officer and MD, Morgan Stanley]</p>
<p>President Coleman’s China Initiatives:
<a href=“http://president.umich.edu/init/initChina.php”>http://president.umich.edu/init/initChina.php</a></p>
<p>Michigan-China University Leadership Forum:
At the request of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Michigan hosted the first forum in 2005, and again in 2008, 2010 and 2012.</p>
<p>In Fall 2013, Michigan has 823 undergraduate and 1,511 graduate students from China.</p>
<p>Are you going back to China after graduation? </p>
<p>If your major were computer science or engineering I’d say Berkeley is a better choice. </p>
<p>Michigan Ross is equal to Berkeley Haas. If you decide Berkeley you’ll have to apply to Haas during your sophomore year after completing prerequisites. Admit rate is about 50% into Haas for continuing Berkeley students. </p>
<p>Haas is far removed up the hill from the occasional silly protests on Sproul Plaza. </p>
<p>“He’s a student from China with good stats and can afford to go to an American university. I’m sure his family is educated.”</p>
<p>Being educated and being knowledgeable of US universities is not the same. Employers and graduate school adcoms know their universities and do not distinguish between Cal and Michigan.</p>
<p>“Berkeley is the #1 public school undisputed, but Michigan comes at a close second.”</p>
<p>Agreed. But the difference is not significant. Comparing Cal and Michigan is like comparing Columbia and Penn or Chicago and Cornell. </p>
<p>“The difference between Haas and Ross is pretty small. Recruiting from both school are solid. However, Haas is in a much better economic climate.”</p>
<p>There is no difference. If one wants to work in the Tech sector or on the West Coast, Haas may be a better option. If one wants to work in Consulting/Banking or on the East Coast, Ross may be a better option. Overall, the two Business schools are roughly equal. There is no appreciable difference between Haas and Ross.</p>
My little brother is facing this same situation (Berkeley vs. Michigan).
I’m a Berkeley student (engineering), so my bias is definitely towards Berkeley. Nevertheless, Michigan is a school worthy of my respect—great academics and school spirit, frat life especially (from visiting my friend last year).
Berkeley, reputation wise, is indeed much more stronger in China and Asia. Haas is ranked 7th (MBA). Even though you’ll be an undergrad, employers (consulting firms) would know Haas as a business school. This would give you a edge if you intend on working in Asia. So yes, you’re parents are very right about how important reputation for school is — especially when it comes to recruiting.
As for consulting, Berkeley will give you an edge but I’m not too sure about Michigan. On the west coast, consulting firms are pushing really hard on Berkeley and Stanford. Initally interested to going to academicia, I received offers from BCG and Bain & Co in Asia (2 of the top 3 consulting firms) and accepted one of them to try out consulting. One of my BCG interviewers was ab MIT undergrad and Berkeley PhD and shared why he loved Berkeley. Berkeley has a reputation of being a renowned world class research institution (Harvard, Stanford and MIT level) and very academic — he said that in Hong Kong, the laymen perceive Berkeley students as geniuses. Sure, the more educated don’t believe this completely, but they do believe Berkeley students are hard working and are somewhat smart.
Good luck with your consideration.
alliance4177, Haas is an excellent business school (certainly one of the top 5 BBA and top 10 MBA programs) does not place as many graduates at major Strategy Consulting firms (Bain, BCG and McKinsey) or Investment Banks as Ross. From the data I have seen in the past, Ross places more graduates into BB IBanks and Bain, BCG and McKinsey.
https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/BusAd.stm
https://michiganross.umich.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/Community/pdfs/recruiters_guide_lr_f.pdf
This thread was almost a year old when it was reopened.
Good point rjk. Time to close it.