UC-Berkeley vs. NYU Stern

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone, I’ve recently been accepted to UC Berkeley and NYU Stern, both of which are great choices. I’m having a VERY hard time deciding where to go. I’ve visited both. Nothing in particular about the schools themselves is significant enough to make me decide, so now I’m more concerned about the external social environments of the schools.

The big problem here is that I’m not sure about what I want to do (I just applied to Stern because of the prestige, and I honestly don’t know how I got in since I’m not serious about business.) However, I’m sure that I want to do something math-related. More specifically, business or CS. I will try my best to double major.

The costs of both schools would be roughly the same after scholarships. No need to mention finances in your posts.

I’m a Chinese international student with no permanent residence in the US.

Here are the major pros and cons of these schools from what I’ve learnt:

UC Berkeley:
Pros: Much wider range of options. Very impressed by the strong CS programs. Proximity to Silicon Valley. Large Asian population in CA (I’m Asian).
Cons: Gigantic class size. Had to drive for some time before I can get to the Silicon Valley. Less prestigious business programs compared to Stern, but Haas is still a great choice. The GPA requirement for declaring CS major within L&S. I still have to apply for Haas. (So basically nothing is guaranteed)

Stern:
Pros: Location is definitely the greatest for business/finance. Very high prestige. Smaller class sizes. Can apply for more scholarship the coming year, though I may not get it.
Cons: Careers options are kind of limited. Though stern has a lot of Asians, the high end of the east-coast finance industry is still traditional and white-dominated. Lackluster CS programs compared to UCB.

Some questions about NYU Stern:

  1. I’ve always wanted to start my own little company. CS is definitely easier in that sense. I do know that Berkeley is more liberal and entrepreneurial. Does NYU in general encourage start-ups? (I know it would be really difficult if I only major in business, but what if I double major in CS?) Of course, I can still settle for a traditional job depending on the situation.
  2. How well is the job placement for international students at Wall Street (in both the tech industry and the finance industry)? I know it can be a lot more difficult than domestic students. Are international students paid less?
  3. Can I end up with a high-paying job without going to grad school? Is MBA still that valuable for Stern undergrads?
  4. What’s the undergrad research environment at NYU?

Some questions about Cal:

  1. My biggest concern is the GPA requirement for CS after I heard a couple of my friends had given up because they can’t meet that requirement. And I know they are smart and hardworking. So how difficult is it? I know CS is tough. From your personal experiences, what proportion of students who came in intended to major in CS actually successfully declared?
  2. Do you do internships mostly during the summer or school year? Do you have to find housing near the company you intern at? During my visit, I noticed it wasn’t a very short drive from Cal to the major companies like Apple, Google, etc. How do you manage this?
  3. If I fail to meet the GPA requirement, how much does a minor in CS worth in terms of job prospects?
  4. How is the job placement for international students in the tech industry?
  5. When applying to Haas, what GPA is competitive for international students?
  6. If I were denied admission to Haas, how different is an Econ major in terms of job prospects?
  7. How much would double majoring in business/Econ and CS help if I want to start my own tech company?
  8. How is the job placement for international students majoring in business or Econ?
  9. About what fraction of Cal students actually start their own company? Is Cal really supportive of young entrepreneurs?
  10. I feel like the campus is a little unsafe?
  11. What does it take to get a research opportunity? I know Cal is a really big schools and it’s hard to get individual attention.

Questions in general:

  1. Green card/permanent residence is a big concern for me. Which side (east coast or west coast) is relatively easier for me to get it? Or which industry? Business or Tech?
  2. If I end up changing my plans during college, is it difficult to move from NY to CA, or from CA to NY?

Factors such as weather, campus size, food, housing, transportation, sports, party environment, etc. are insignificant at this point.

Long post any input would be appreciated! it’s great if you can add something to help me know better about the schools and make this tough decision :slight_smile:

2

Pick whatever school has a better reputation in China - because odds are you will not be able to stay in the US after graduation and your 1 year of OPT. So neither NYU nor Cal are better in that regard.

Let me answer some of your questions about Cal:

1 - Very difficult to get into the CS major. Fierce GPA competition. Prepare to work hard, and even harder if you actually get into the major.

2 Most students do summer internships only, especially if the jobs are based in SV. There is public transportation to SV (Bart, train) and some of the big companies have their own buses. Some of the big companies arrange housing.

3 For you, getting a job with CS minor will be almost impossible. Companies aren't going to pay a lot of money and time trying to get a visa for a CS minor.

4 Very difficult, after the 1 year OPT. Lots of information about it online. Google.

6 Economics and finance are both OK for internships. For an international, it will be difficult to get a a job in these fields. Too many Americans with the same background.

7 Too many variables to be able to say.

8 Very, very tough.

9 Use Google

10 No, the campus is not unsafe

11 You have to be very outgoing, assertive and an excellent student to get undergraduate research opportunities at Cal.

Transferring from NYU to Cal might be difficult. California gives priority first to California community college transfers.

If I were you, I’d pick Stern, since you’re already in the business school. Focus on finance, accounting, investments etc., areas where you can get internships.

Accept the fact that you will likely have to go back to China, so try to major in, and intern in, areas that are respected in China and have job opportunities.

3

For what it’s worth, I’ve known two international students at a califormia community college who have gotten software internships. For Cal students it’s probably easier.