UC Berkeley vs. Washington and Lee vs. NYU Stern for Business

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm finding it really hard to compare these schools because they are total opposites. I want to major in business. Berkeley requires an application to get into the program (starting junior year), but I think I will get in and I like that it will show continued motivation to move up that grad schools and companies recognize. </p>

<p>Washington and Lee doesn't have a graduate business school on campus, but professors and resources are focussed on undergraduate students. The student:faculty ratio is half of Berkeley's and actually is even closer attention as there are few grad students (only one small law school). Connections to faculty are emphasized here and individual attention is extremely valuable. Making connections with other students is a primary path business majors take here and I'm worried that not being from the South will hurt me. Fraternities especially seem to only take Southern students and at this school Greek Life is huge (85% of students involved). (Majority of students from Virginia, supermajority from the South). W&L is traditionally conservative, and I'm much more moderate. </p>

<p>Berkeley graduates have a huge presence in top business schools, as do NYU students: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-school-mba/1224650-top-feeder-colleges-to-america-s-elite-b-schools.htm"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-school-mba/1224650-top-feeder-colleges-to-america-s-elite-b-schools.htm&lt;/a>
I'm a little worried about getting into B-school from W&L as there isn't as a huge a presence at graduate schools as Berkeley or NYU, but W&L is a well-respected institution in academia and the corporate world and it's the most selective university of the three I'm considering. Washington and Lee has social single-dorms which I really really like.</p>

<p>I've been to Berkeley and W&L and the campuses suit me well.</p>

<p>Berkeley has the 2nd highest rated undergraduate business program by most rating agencies, I would fit in there I believe, and competition for San Francisco jobs/internships won't be as fierce as NYC (W&L's lexington has no jobs except at the university, although DC is about 2.5 hours away). I don't need to be in a frat there but I was wondering if it's a good decision for a non-athlete. Rumors of cutthroat competition in business program (not a total turnoff).</p>

<p>Berkeley, being public, won't give as careful care to individuals to insure success like W&L would and NYU would to a degree.</p>

<p>NYU Stern is a 4-year business program that is slightly ore selective as NYU as a whole. It's the most complete undergraduate business education and I may not need to go to grad school immediately or at all after graduation. NYU has the best location. I'm worried about moving away from contacts and experience. I don't think I want to live in Virginia for my career, but New York and San Francisco would be great</p>

<p>Expenses (including some transportation and all food, room, books, tuition, fees (not frat fees if I choose to do that)): I have virtually a full ride at W&L, a manageable 8k/year for UC Berkeley (in state) and a 23k/year cost at NYU which is after a very generous institution grant but still rather painful (minimal parent contribution at any school).</p>

<p>Thanks for any help you can offer to help me decide!</p>

2

<p>NYU for sure. If your parents aren’t financially able to offer you financial assistance, you’ll have a lot of internships honestly at Stern. So with internships, and a 23k/yr cost, you should end up with ~60-70k of student loans. If you consider that most people from Stern, if you include bonuses, make around 70-80k/yr to start, that is a manageable debt. And in the future, you’ll have great connections and will get great experience in NYC to not only get a great job, but experience all NYC has to offer. Plus, for finance, Stern is probably a good deal better than Haas, and you dont have the NYC internships available with Haas. Also, I dont think W&L has a major presence on Wall Street unlike Stern and possibly Haas. I think Stern is a great choice honestly, so much to offer.</p>

3

<p>pick a coast.</p>

<p>Haas is awesome, and will serve you well, particularly if you want to remain on the Left Coast.</p>

<p>Stern rules NYC.</p>

<p>But with minimal parent contribution, you should not take out $100k in loans just to “experience NYC.” Do the ROI calc’s!</p>

4

<p>With a minimal parent contribution at any school and the possibility of an unfunded graduate degree in your future, the offer of “virtually a full ride” at a top 20 LAC seems the smart business decision.</p>

5

<p>Even if you didn’t get into Haas, Berkeley economics would do well in SF.</p>

6

<p>W&L is great - most of D’s friends are from outside the south and are in fraternities, but if you’re not interested in greek life then it might not be best fit. Academics are strong. Several of D friends have also had internships in NYC. Honor code is nice, especially since students get to self-schedule un-proctored exams. W&L will prepare you for graduate business school. I have another relative who went there that just finished her MBA at Harvard and works at major consulting firm - if definitely won’t deter you from being competitive. But Lexington VA is very different from NYC.</p>

7

<p>In terms of ROI according to payscale.com:</p>

<ol>
<li>UC Berkeley Haas (in-state)</li>
<li>UC Berkeley Haas (OOS)</li>
<li>UVa (in-state)</li>
</ol>

<h2>4. Washington & Lee</h2>

<h2>-</h2>

<h2>-</h2>

<ol>
<li>NYU</li>
</ol>

<p><a href=“http://www.payscale.com/college-roi/full-list/by-major/Business”>http://www.payscale.com/college-roi/full-list/by-major/Business&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>Thanks everyone! I visited Cal last weekend and I’m visiting NYU next week. Hopefully that will help me decide, although Cal is looking good.</p>

9

Hey there, I’m interested in learning which school you decided on because I’m in a similar pickle now (and I’m also from California)! Thanks. @Jake774