Hey guys, I’m stuck lol. (btw I am from CO so OOS for both)
I have been admitted both to Michigan’s Ross School of Business as well as Berkeley’s Global Management Program at Haas. My parents want me to go to Cal for the global reputation as well as how hard GMP is to get in (which I completely agree), but I personally think I would fit in at Michigan more (less extreme on the political spectrum, more diverse)
Furthermore, accepting my GMP decision would mean I would have to cancel a super cool internship I have right now. It’s a two-month internship in Shanghai for a small global mgmt consulting company, and I’m the only high school senior working with Penn, Stanford, and Harvard students (8 penn, 3 stanford, 1 harvard). I honestly don’t know if I am able to cancel this as I have confirmed everything with them but I also haven’t mentioned this acceptance and my situation either. The internship costs around $4,000 as well. For this decision, just assume that I can cancel it.
The costs are nearly the same, however ross is $5,000 more expensive in junior and senior year.
Please give me some insight on my situation and what you would choose and why.
The internship COSTS you money? It’s not worth it. Not a real internship.
Ross and Haas are about equally reputable - Haas might have the edge with immediate jobs because SV is such a hotspot, but Ross also has a similar global reach.
So the internship involves traveling to two locations for one week in South East Asia and china (for me, Thailand and Chongqing) and it covers housing lodging and food. I found out about it while doing my Penn and Stanford apps because those schools offerred it as an opportunity for their students. It’s not a big company so I assume it’s a way for them to earn some money as well but I think it’s definitely legit and a unique experience
I do not know who is giving you advice, but paying for an internship is never necessary. You are going into business (and by the looks of it: consulting or finance), even unpaid internships are very uncommon in this industry (and usually illegal in the United States) these days. Paying for an internship? Hard pass. You should not even be worrying about internships as a HS senior, by the way. If you want to do it for the life experience, go for it. But do not expect it to be taken seriously by future employers if you intend on leveraging that experience.
It was offered through Penn and Stanford? I am confused because you said it was also offered by a company. Is the company working with Penn and Stanford. You might need to elaborate. If it is approved by your schools, it might have more credence.
The company goes through specifically those schools to get their interns. Here is the link on both schools websites:
https://solo.stanford.edu/opportunities/keru
https://passport.upenn.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10121
I wouldn’t have applied if i didn’t see it on their websites lol and my dad was also pushing me to find something to do in the summer.
@asianfu
But Penn students will have between 50 and 100% of their costs covered by the school and it looks like Stanford students will actually be getting paid instead of them paying. Once again, if you want the experience, go for it. But do not expect it to be taken seriously by employers like a real internship would, if that is what your goal is.
Is your point that the internship only is legitimate if you don’t have to pay for it? Or would you say the same to the Stanford and Penn students interning as well that employers won’t care
First of all, I think you need to understand that employers view any internship before you start college with a grain of salt. Almost certainly, you got that internship from a family connection or with your family is paying for it - so much more so because of your privilege instead of your merits. This is not the case for every pre-college internship, but it is true for the vast, vast, vast majority of them. Employers know that. I would say that to any student at any school.
Getting a non pay internship will still give you experience that could lead to connections for future leverage but at least experience that you would gain this summer. Go for it. Plus it sounds cool.
As far as which school… Money doesn’t seem to be a concern so go to the school with the best fit for you. Both programs are equals. Congratulations on getting into both.
I only got the internship because I reached out after learning about it and went through the interview process and everything. The company still receives the same money from each intern, whether it’s from my family or the school the students are at, so I don’t think I got this position because I am paying out of my own pocket versus Stanford is paying for their students to go. It’s no difference for the company.
I do definitely agree that the connections made through this experience would be priceless and might very well help me in my academics and career. The experience would also definitely get me a leg up when I apply for school clubs and things like that, but then again, so would being in the selective global management program at Haas.
I have to agree with @yikesyikesyikes. My kids were PAID as interns. It wasn’t the other way around. This means you’re paying them to work for free.
Also, the “serious” internships were done in junior and senior year of COLLEGE. Their wages were, very good, considering the fact that they weren’t done with school yet.
As for your choices for unis it may come down to travel concerns, weather, real internships, etc.
A “pay for play” internship as a HS senior is not nearly as important as your next four years. Ross and GMP are not equal. Cal hands down. My son has many offers and chose GMP - no contest. @asianfu
There is nothing, “hands down” better at Haas over Ross.
Yep, agree guys. I think it was how much I invested myself into Ross after getting accepted that made me create a lot of excuses in my head why I should go to Ross over the GMP. I recognize now that the close and selective group of 30 in the GMP far outweighs being one of 500 students at Ross.
“I recognize now that the close and selective group of 30 in the GMP far outweighs being one of 500 students at Ross.”
“Far outweighs?” OK, if you think so. Best of luck at Cal!
@rjkofnovi asianfu is actually right! Even by your own words “” No undergraduate school is worth a $100,000.00 dollars debt”. Suppose he is from CA and he gets State tuition, Ross would cost 100K more than Haas and Ross is certainly not an Ivy. Next, Haas is ranked higher than Ross on US News, and in the World Ranking Haas 6, and Ross 15 (https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-business-degrees). Haas is next to Silicon Valley and Ross is next to what? What about the weather? GMP is basically right off the bat gets you international exposure by going in the fall to London and Ross? UC Berkeley and Haas has a world wide reputation pretty much like an Ivy and Ross? Far outweighs is pretty much right on the money.
That’s essentially my line of thinking as well. Although I am OOS for both, cal is cheaper by a bit as well. Ross is an absolutely amazing school and I definitely would choose Ross if it weren’t for the think tank and family of the global Management program (and of course guaranteed haas admission)
@asianfu. I am not getting into whose school is shiner talk. Congrats on your decision. Now go out and make us proud.
Consider your housing costs in your decision. Apartment rentals are more than twice as expensive at Cal, averaging around $3100 for a 1 bedroom.
We are in the same situation. Is there a way for us discuss privately?