<p>Hi, I would really appreciate some opinions on this.
I'm a freshman currently enrolled in UNC and
I was thinking of applying for a transfer to Haas.</p>
<p>If I get a 4.0 GPA this semester which is highly likely,
I will end up with 3.94 GPA for my freshman year,
so what I can do is apply to both Haas and Kenan-Flagler this coming fall. </p>
<p>But the thing is,
Haas over the long run will leave me 65000, 70,000$ in debt when I graduate while Kenan-flagler will leave me only 40,000$.
Besides there is the stress + time for the harsh Berkeley transfer application process - while I also have to leave all the connections I made here in UNC.
If I do decide to apply, I also have to fill Berkeley course requirements which might need me to take summer school. </p>
<p>I'm debating because Berkeley is a renown school but wasn't sure if it was worth the effort and the money to transfer out of UNC to go there.
My thought process was that since I gave up NYU Stern bc of the high cost,
(I got accepted out of high school but I'd have been in 100,000$ in debt when I had graduated)<br>
it wouldn't be much of a difference going to UC Berkeley from UNC
because although it is higher rated than Kenan-flagler, Kenan-flager is still a good school.
And we are talking about Undergraduate BS degree.</p>
<p>In addition, the main reason I wanted to go to Haas was because of the
International Business program there and the connections UC must have in
the South-east Asia region.
(Bc I want to end up working in Japan) </p>
<p>I would suggest visiting Haas if you have not already. I'm guessing it's a pretty different atmosphere from UNC. Also I recommend you check out USC's Marshall School of Business. They are not quite as prestigious as Haas, but their undergrad program was ranked #9 by USNWR last year. They have an excellent international business program and plenty of Asian connections as well. I'm pretty sure they would offer more financial aid than UCB since USC is private. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Haas Berkeley is a perenially underrated business school in terms of the experience it offers, even though it does in fact tend to average about #8 on the national MBA rankings list. It is a wonderful school in a really nice setting. And it has a solid undergrad program. Additionally, it is a lot closer to things Asian, which you said is important.</p>
<p>I really like Berkeley.</p>
<p>Now, having said all that, I've never been to UNC and only am familiar with Kenan-Flagler by reputation. I would say, though, that there is not really going to be a benefit in transferring that will justify a $30,000 differential.</p>
<p>What do you want to do after college? I know you want to go to Japan. But I mean do you want to do accounting? finance? marketing? tech marketing? commercial banking? international trade? straight to Asia?</p>
<p>I believe you should work very hard at K-F and make it work for you. We're back to the old adage that college is what you make of it.</p>
<p>If you want to into tech marketing or have a shot at venture capital, I think going to Haas might be worth your while. It just doesn't sound like you have that kind of laser beam focus.</p>
<p>Oh, the other thing: what if you transferred to Berkeley and then didn't get admitted to two-year Haas? True, you can study economics and other things and do well, but that's not what you were planning, no?</p>
<p>Yes, you are very correct in that I don't have a laser beam focus as of now. I was planning to do an International Business concentration here in UNC but didn't decide anything else. </p>
<p>I guess I'm afraid that Berkeley's recruiting power would be far superior than UNC's - in terms of getting an International-Business related job in South-East Asia. </p>
<p>And I didn't know how to compare the 20,000$ debt differential to Berkeley's superiority.</p>
<p>And I was planning to apply during my sophomore fall so that I can get in to Haas my Junior fall.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I guess I'm afraid that Berkeley's recruiting power would be far superior than UNC's - in terms of getting an International-Business related job in South-East Asia. </p>
<p>And I didn't know how to compare the 20,000$ debt differential to Berkeley's superiority.</p>
<p>And I was planning to apply during my sophomore fall so that I can get in to Haas my Junior fall.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would concur that Berkeley's profile in SE Asia is greater and that this may help, especially in a region where that kind of prestige opens doors.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest, though, that you do your homework and find out the following:</p>
<p>are you better off going to SE Asia straight out of undergrad to look for a job or should you get some experience in a field you might be interested in and then move to SE Asia with some of that experience under your belt? Depending on what field you want to go into, getting recruited out of Haas vs. K-F could be a toss-up. If you want to go into accounting for instance. </p>
<p>Can I ask if you are from the US or from an Asian country? If you are from Asia, you'll have a better sense of what people in your own country will think. It's a fact that many Asians are very prestige-conscious so a Berkeley degree may get you and amazing amount of mileage.</p>
<p>If you were going to stay in the US, I would say almost for sure (unless you definitely want to work on the West Coast), stay at UNC which is a fine, fine school.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the repeated great feedback, BedHead.</p>
<p>I am actually a US permanent resident who came from South Korea at the age of 12. I know people in my country give immense credit to Yale, Harvard, and Berkeley (I'm not sure if they know any other ones ... sadly) </p>
<p>I decided, after thinking about what you said and what my parents said, that
Berkeley is probably not worth it.
To exchange $30,000 + effort/time + distance away from NJ (which is home) for the possibly higher chance of realizing my uncertain dream of working in SE Asia, seems to be illogical</p>
<p>The only other thing I'd say to you which could change your equation a bit. If you could get a kick-a** internship with a California company, somehow turn it into a job, and then keep it for a year while earning California residency, the costs of attending Berkeley could go way down.</p>
<p>However, what would your parents say about this plan? ;)</p>
<p>Bureau1124: One other thing. Don't stop right there. Don't take my word from some internet site. You don't know who I am. Research. Question. Think. Figure out what you want to do. And question. question.</p>
<p>You may decide in the end going to Berkeley is a good idea after all. However, you should have a much more solid plan behind the decision, IMO.</p>
<p>Before you get really into this whole Berkeley decision you should know how difficult it is to get accepted into Haas. The admit rate is 6-7%. And as an out of state student you are at a disadvantage. Many people get turned away from Haas with 4.0 GPAs and excellent extracurriculars. You have great stats but as an out of state student it will be fairly difficult for you to get accepted. To be perfectly honest it would not be wise to move all the way out to California to get California residency and then apply to Haas because the chances of getting accepted are tough even though you are an excellent applicant. Just apply to Haas see what happens and then make your decision from there.</p>
<p>Haas's acceptance rate is actually around 20%. Of the kids that apply, 2/3 don't even qualify because they haven't met the prerequisites for Haas. Their applications aren't looked at. So if i remember correctly, out of 1300 or 1400 applications, around 440 qualified and they took a little less than 100 kids.</p>