<p>I just got off the waitlist at UC Berkeley so I'm somewhat confused what to do. I want to study econ/philosophy/political science and eventually go into finance or consulting after college.</p>
<p>There's definitely more representation in finance for Berkeley (especially in San Francisco), but I think that's just a result of it being so big. I've talked to alums at Amherst and they said that everyone who wanted banking got positions. There's virtually no competition compared to Berkeley. Adjusting for size, Amherst kids get way more positions compared to Berkeley kids. </p>
<p>Anyways, if you guys have any insights please share.</p>
<p>That’s hogwash. Even Harvard and Wharton grads compete vigorously for top banking positions. No school will assure you of top banking job. Everyone will have to apply and fight for it. Unless you’re Donald Trump’s son, lol. </p>
<p>What is your net cost to attend each school?
In my opinion, Amherst is worth some price premium over Berkeley.<br>
How much of a price premium? That depends on what you can afford.
Berkeley at in-state rates (~$30K) would be a good value compared to Amherst at ~$60K.</p>
<p>Amherst is a pipeline school to business and finance. It’s and excellent institution on its own, but it’s also part of a five college consortium. There’s an awful lot going on in that relatively bucolic area.</p>
<p>RML, it’s not that I believe that Econ is any ‘better’ at Amherst, its just that I am agains paying OOS fees for a typical liberal arts major. The big U’s are great at many things, but they are a 180 experience from a LAC. Anything from housing hassles, to food, to counseling – which at the UC’s is just awful, and that is being charitable.</p>
<p>Econ is pretty commonplace. For roughly the same money, I’d take a top private any day.</p>
<p>But for the OP, it’s Berkeley at $35k vs. Amherst at $60k (assuming no financial aid). But, depending on aid, Amherst could be less expensive out-of-pocket. (My son attended an Ivy for less cost of a UC at instate prices.) Amherst at a discount from sticker is a great deal, IMO.</p>
<p>bluebayou, I think you are stereotyping with the statement the UC’s is just awful, that is not what my kid would describe her experience at her UC and I am sure many kids would say the same.</p>
<p>to each their own, Doc. The facts (aka availability) are posted online.</p>
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<p>But for my $55k in OOS fees, I’d rather have access to some warm bodies a little sooner, and more than THREE hours a day for appointments. If you happen to have a campus job or research project during those times, you are essentially SOL.</p>
<p>btw: the above quote was from Cal’s website. Think about the same factors at UCLA, which is on the 10-week quarter system. Essentially, the add-drop period is over by the time one can make an appointment. Of course, there is always drop in, and kill a day waiting.</p>
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<p>And, I’d rather spend my money obtaining class/major advice from an adult, not a teenager.</p>
<p>But its all relative. Do UC campuses provide counseling? Sure they do. Do UC campuses provide as much as private colleges? Not even close. For those students that know what they want to do, it is not a big issue.</p>
<p>But my point is broader, and counseling is just one example: well-endowed private colleges just offer more student services. Period. </p>
<p>(As an example, Yale has a whole dedicated staff who do nothing but assist students to apply for national fellowships, like Rhodes, Fulbright, etc.)</p>
<p>Some of D2’s advisor made mistake too but she found out quickly who to believe, especially regarding credits for her study abroad, but she will say it’s not awful, I think that is a blanket statement that UC’s is just awful. </p>
<p>Blue this person is in state. I asked my daughter and she said you can easily drop any class online up to the 4th week. You can drop with a W up to the 9th week but you need to see a counselor. D2 has not met her academic advising yet, but why do you need one, everything is online.</p>
<p>Yup. (But I was responding to RML’s question why I did not think UC was worth the OOS price. At instate prices, its a much different value prop.)</p>
<p>However, some “top privates” have a greater math emphasis in economics than others (note: Berkeley offers students a choice of more math and less math options). In other words, they are not all the same in this respect – a student looking to go on to PhD study in economics would prefer the math-heavy schools, while a student not wanting to do heavy math (e.g. choosing economics with a business emphasis, or in combination with other social studies) would prefer the math-light schools (note that most schools are math-light in economics, since most students apparently prefer economics that way).</p>
<p>Bluebayou, are you saying then that Berkeley is good ONLY for those students who can’t afford a top private school? Please clarify your statement. </p>
<p>not too sure what in all of my posts is unclear: with rare exception, I do not believe that any UC is worth the OOS fees. Period. Just my opinion. (And how I invest my $$.)</p>