How is UC Berkeley's undergraduate business program? (Haas)

<p>I'll be starting school in the fall, and I want to major in Computer Science or Business Administration. In the future, I see myself in Business, especially in consulting or finance (IB, VC, Hedge Funds etc), and not as a programmer, nor a full-time academic. Yet, I still want my undergraduate degree to hold some 'hard' substance, and Computer Science is something I am very passionate about, and it could allow me more future business options in the tech world. I'm interested in Artificial Intelligence, just as I am interested in finance/business. After graduation, I would for Google in a CS position, just as I would work for Goldman Sachs as an analyst, and I don't want to cut either option <em>just yet</em>. I'll be a freshman this fall.</p>

<p>I'm curious about your opinions. What do you think about the Haas undergraduate business program? Is it worth forgoing an undergraduate CS degree from Berkeley, for someone who is (mostly) interested in a business-oriented career?</p>

<p>In addition, a top MBA is something I would definitely look forward to, and I feel that perhaps and undergraduate business degree and an MBA would be redundant. Yet, looking at Berkeley Career Surveys, I don't see any CS graduates in Investment Banking.</p>

<p>One guy from Berkeley who graduated with a degree in computer science just this year is one of those few Californians that was invited at GS. There are a number of IBiers at Citi from Berkeley CS too. I’m sure a few of them are at other major banks. In short, the report found on Berkeley website is incomlete. A lot of their graduates failed to report where they are now, especially those who got a job outside of the US like those who are now in Europe, latin America, Middle East, India, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia or Manila.</p>

<p>caltanner, I see you bounce between Berkeley forums and here asking mainly business-related questions. I’ll tell you that I was in a similar position to you. I went into Cal as pre-Haas but I also wanted to have a degree that holds a lot of weight in case I didn’t want to do business or didn’t make it into Haas. </p>

<p>What I found out was that even if you’re a CS major, you still need a pretty decent GPA to get those types of business jobs. Getting a decent GPA as a CS major is not an easy task. I will tell you that if you major in CS, there is a bigger chance you will end up in a CS job rather than a business job just because the top business jobs are scarce for major other than Haas. The pro to this is that you will be nearly guaranteed a comfortable software-related job after your CS degree as oppose to competing with students for those top business jobs. </p>

<p>The pro side to Haas is that you will be nearly guaranteed SOME kind of business-related job after you graduated, although it might not be consulting, ibanking, etc, and you also don’t have to work as (relatively) hard as a CS major. </p>

<p>To sum it up: consulting, ibanking, and other high-end business jobs are competitive to get, even while you’re in Haas. But, being in Haas actually gives you the highest percentage to get these jobs.</p>

<p>Thank you guys so much for these replies.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I realize that the top business jobs are extremely competitive… and I was hoping that perhaps a high GPA in CS would carry some weight, even for business jobs, if I finally decided on that route. I also realize the risk… I am almost certain that my Business GPA would be higher… but that probably goes for everyone.</p>

<p>RML, it’s extremely comforting to hear the CS anecdote you brought up. Seriously, it was just perfect haha.</p>

<p>I have a great connection into the finance industry through my Uncle, and our families are quite close. He was a VP for either GS, Citigroup, Deutsche, or UBS (I’m not going to specify, for privacy), Global Director of Mergers & Acquisitions, the CEO for their Asian division, and currently COO for Europe. I realize this doesn’t mean I can make poor decisions for future employment, and that his help might only be marginal. I still feel completely responsible for forging my own path. However, do you think his help could allow me more “leeway” in studying CS, and forgetting about Haas? I’ve heard that having a connection often means you are more “free” in studying what you want in college, though that could easily be bull ****. I’m secretly hoping that his help could “make up” for Haas, allowing me to remain in CS, since I currently cannot decide between CS or Business. What do you think? :)</p>

<p>If you really like CS and you think you can hack it, I suggest that you take the route. I think that having a CS degree would make you more flexible and more competitive in job placements. A lot of CS grads are now entrepreneurs too - many of them are involved in start ups. CS grads, on average, actually make more money than Haas grads, if that makes sense to you. Now, if you really want to go into banking, you can always opt to enroll in a top graduate business school where after earning an MBA, your salary scale would increase significantly.</p>

<p>If you can cut it, I’d always recommend Math, CS, Engineering as a major instead of business (this is coming from an accounting major). The thing is, if you want to go into the high finance fields, often times GPA & Prestige of school are the two biggest factors. You should do decently on the prestige front since you’re going to Berkeley, so now you have to prove how smart you are by dominating (3.7+ if not more) your much more difficult classes and demonstrating finance interest. If you think you can do it/are more interested in CS, do it over business, otherwise, if you have any doubts, you might be better off sticking to a business degree.</p>

<p>As for Haas, I’d say its tied with UMich and is only behind Wharton, Sloan, and Stern for best UG biz program, so its very legit.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. For now, I’ll stick with CS and work for a 3.7+ GPA.</p>

<p>I have decided that majoring in CS at Berkeley would not ultimately truncate the possibility of NYC investment banking if I change my mind in the future, therefore it makes sense to attempt CS first.</p>

<p>If, by graduation, I have a CS degree, but I am more interested in a banking job, perhaps I could land a west-coast IB position with the CS degree. I will always keep myself current with the financial world, and it seems that some CS graduates are able to take top investment banking jobs.</p>

<p>And, whichever job I take at graduation (CS or banking), I will invariably work towards attending a top MBA program on the east coast (HBS, MIT…), which would allow for more Wall Street opportunities.</p>

<p>In addition, I will take the necessary Haas prerequisites, even along my CS program, and I will apply to Haas during sophomore year like everyone else. If I get in, and I dislike the CS program, I would switch over to Haas and complete their undergrad business curriculum. For some reason, I hope this doesn’t happen.</p>

<p>If there are any significant faults in my logic, please correct me!</p>

<p>The only negative I can see with attempting CS first, is the risk of a lower GPA.</p>

<p>The problem here is - we don’t know you - or - we only have very little knowledge about your intellectual capabilities and college preparedness. On this message board, it’s only you who know who you really are. But judging on your previous posts, I can sense that you’re a very higly intellectual person (or you wouldn’t get onto CS at Cal) and unbelievably quite determined. if you can set your focus straight, you will achieve what you want. What’s important is that you are in a school that would open doors for you as it is clearly a target school for banking and finance jobs. </p>

<p>About getting an MBA, I think you can strongly consider Haas as it has a national prestige. Wall Street offices do often visit Haas to recruit MBAs. And, if you can see yourself as a management consultant someday, which is an awesome job, btw, McKinsey do recruit at Haas for NY and international posts. McKinsey did get 27 Haas grads just last year alone, I’ve heard. And if you really love numbers that much, Haas has a one year MFE program, which is one of the very best on this specific area in the whole universe. [Master</a> of Financial Engineering Program - Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley](<a href=“http://mfe.haas.berkeley.edu/]Master”>http://mfe.haas.berkeley.edu/)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>