<p>Wonderful to hear, azn. Come back and tell us how it goes. Best of luck at UCLA and in your future plans. If you do decide to go into Investment Banking eventually, I think you'll find that a BA/BS in a social science field plus an MBA will take you further than an undergrad business degree. Just my opinion.</p>
<p>Take some time, since IB is what you seek, to learn what the IB recruiters are looking for when they come to UCLA. Many MBAs follow a path of college>>2 years apprenticeship in a grunt job at IB>> MBA>> much better job at an IB.</p>
<p>Yeah! (applause, applause). That's refreshing to hear! It sounds like admirable goals - and if that's what you'd written in the OP I would have been applauding all along. I must be getting tired and jaded, but after reading the 1000th "how can I make the big bucks" and "What job will make me the most money" I loose heart. Thanks for restoring my faith in young folk. ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
It is a sad day when kids plan their college careers soley on how much money they can make. Call me an idealist, but it strikes me as souless and sad.
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Going off on a tangent and maybe I'm too un-idealistic, but something seems different once it becomes "work". For example, "America's pastime" of baseball. I love playing it but I imagine the fun would be different if I were paid to do it with expectations and responsibilities. Also, most job openings arise from a profit-based need and not directly from a need to offer enjoyment.</p>
<p>Is your job something that you'd do anyway on vacation?</p>
<p>Inkbottle, they key in that quote, correct me if I'm wrong, is the word "solely." Money of course needs to be considered, but it should never be the only consideration.</p>
<p>The president of Tufts University told the students at matriculation last August to (paraphrased) "pick something to study and do it passionately. Experience everything you can in college. Don't worry about what you are going to be when you get out of school". He then listed several dozen very well known Tufts alum and what they majored in. None of them majored in anything closely resembling the career they ended up in. If you love Sociology, study it. Get a great liberal arts education, get involved, meet people...........you will get a job. </p>
<p>As for USC versus UCLA/Berkeley (lumped together because they are very similar)..............the biggest difference is size. UCLA and Berkeley are huge. USC has a much greater sense of "small family" feel. Also, the contacts you will make at USC will be a great asset if you go into business anywhere in southern california. Many business owners who are USC alum, will hire another USC alum, just because.</p>
<p>you could always work for 5-10 yrs as an investment banker, save up some money, and then become a social worker. That way you wouldn't be dependent on your income as a social worker. </p>
<p>Don't think you have to be either totally altruistic or sell out. In fact, having some financial stability might give you more freedom to do more things in social work and community service.</p>
<p>The thing that's confusing me is why you asked this question at all. Your basic analysis is great. You have two fabulous, affordable options to do exactly what you want to do, and one pretty good but clearly inferior option to do not exactly what you want to do.</p>
<p>So what's the problem? Why are you doubting yourself? You seem to be right on track. The only question you should be asking is whether it could be worth an extra $10,000 to go to Berkeley rather than UCLA. (I might do that, but you probably like SoCal more than I do. Also, I don't know anything about sociology at either school. And there's real value in having the Regent's Scholarship.)</p>
<p>As for job prospects, undergraduate sociology training is great background for business, and great background for business school. Period. You don't need to think about a "nonprofit MBA" if you don't want to.</p>
<p>(By the way, the only recent sociology major I know is a woman who immigrated from Korea as a child. After graduation, she did a fellowship at Oxford, then worked in TV journalism for a year. She started looking for jobs with marketing firms -- natural places for someone with sociology training -- but went to a lecture by a famous landscape architect and fell in love with the field. She is just finishing up a joint program in architecture and landscape architecture.)</p>