<p>I'm was recently admitted to UCLA. I, like many other students, face the decision of choosing between UCLA and Berkeley. </p>
<p>As an intended Business Economics major, I'm calling out all current students/grads of the Biz-Econ department.</p>
<p>I just want to get your opinion on a few things. I've visited and studied both schools closely, and to be honest, Berkeley's Economics department (which I'd likely be majoring in) and undergrad business dept (which I'd possibly be majoring in as well) are both immensely renowned. Don't get me wrong, I think UCLA's economics department is great as well, but it is to my knowledge that recruiters seem to seek Berkeley Econ and Biz grads on an unparalleled level.</p>
<p>...It would make much sense for me to choose Berkeley. And while I like UCB for many reasons, I like UCLA's general campus feel and surrounding area a little more. I know many UCLA kids were also admitted to Berkeley, but chose UCLA for any number of reasons. </p>
<p>So my question is, as a business-oriented student, did you choose UCLA's Business Economics program over Berkeley's Econ and/or Haas Business? Why? Was it for academic or non-academic reasons?</p>
<p>Do you feel academic and career opportunities are comparable to what they would have been at Berkeley? And most of all, looking back, are you happy with your choice?</p>
<p>Can you please stop over-analyzing econ/biz econ and different schools? Going to Haas and doing business doesn’t guarantee a great job, just like doing econ at Cal State LA doesn’t guarantee you to be an underpaid pencil pusher in a small cubicle.</p>
<p>I think you’re over thinking the situation entirely. You seem pretty convinced you want to go to Berkeley so just go there and don’t look back. Maybe you feel bad about having to reject UCLA but it’s one or the other.</p>
<p>My personal opinion? After lingering around here awhile, I find all these rankings and what-not to be silly. Nearly every university is the same and it isn’t going to be career changing whether you went to Berkeley or UCLA or even a really low ranked school such as Riverside. After reading dozens of threads, I legitimately believe that there aren’t actually any more opportunities at Berkeley than UCLA. Berkeley students just really like talking up their school… and I believe there are plenty of opportunities even at low tier universities that will suffice for their less talented student populations.</p>
<p>I’m not going to say you can’t go wrong either way because I believe you can go very, VERY wrong. There is a risk in going to a public university. There is a risk (to your GPA) in going to a more prestigious school in comparison to a less competitive one. However, the two universities you happen to be choosing from are really similar.</p>
I don’t know why I should try to convince you otherwise; but where exactly did you develop this impression? Have you compared career fairs? Employment/salary statistics? Or is this knowledge simply from word of mouth from assertive Berkeley students?</p>
<p>It may interest you if you haven’t actually done any solid research. Another reason why I doubt Berkeley is really that much more sought after than LA is because, from my experience, most UCLA recruiters come from the LA area. UCLA is pretty much the best major university in LA (disregarding CalTech which is quite specialized and small). So whether its a big firm with an office headquartered in LA or a small firm with only 2 or 3 offices, its either recruit at UCLA (or USC) or skip out on free labor. A recruiter will not expect a student to drive 100 miles so there is no competition from faraway schools like Berkeley. Likewise, Berkeley is probably occupied mostly by local recruiters.</p>
<p>Still, I will repeat my opinion that the universities are pretty much the same; but, it won’t hurt you to go to Berkeley if you want to be “safe” in your personal terms.</p>
<p>missionewokzzz- Going by your OP, I think you’re already leaning towards Berkeley, and it is (slightly) higher ranked than LA, so might as well pick Berkeley? </p>