UC Berkeley vs Washington and Lee

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington & Lee University
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<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 provides even closer attention as there are few grad students). 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 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. ("California moderate"...I'm worried about being labeled a "hippie" and not fitting in. I'm not activist though and I'm pretty sociable.)</p>

<p>Berkeley graduates have a huge presence in top business schools: <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 aren't as fierce as a city like NYC or Boston as only two colleges are really competing for a lot of jobs. (W&L's lexington has virtually no jobs except at the university, although DC is about 2.5 hours away). 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.</p>

<p>I'm also considering NYU Stern.</p>

<p>NYU Stern is a 4-year business program that is slightly more selective than 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 (Robert E Lee Scholar), 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>

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<p>If you are planning on Grad school take the money and run and forget stern. You are going to be happy not to owe that money after undergrad. And remember Costs will rise at a state school and the aid will not. </p>

<p>Berkeley HAAS had 621 current students apply and 279 got offers with a average 3.68 GPA. Make sure you understand and feel comfortable with the prerequisite courses including 2 semesters of Calculus. </p>

<p>Both schools are great. Pick the one you think you will thrive the most at. </p>

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<p>Thanks a lot for the reply @dadofdaughter , I agree with what you said about Stern; my decision is almost entirely between Berkeley and W&L. Do you know anything about my social concerns at W&L? It sounds like a very fun school, and I loved the people I met at the Johnson weekend, but I’m reading a lot of things that seem pretty hostile to “outsiders” such as people from the West Coast. Because the school is small and “cliquey” and a lot of valuable experience comes from ECs within the school, the social aspect is something I feel I have to consider though my main goal is getting to grad school. </p>

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<p>Check the W&L website for the geographic breakdown of the student body. If I recall correctly, the percentage of students from Virginia is something like 10-15%, and the number of students from NY/NJ/CT/PA is significant. There are a LOT of frats; only a couple of them tend to make a point of looking for Southern guys. Most people aren’t really going to care where you’re from. I’m curious as to why you think you’d be labeled a hippie? </p>

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<p>You are right about only 15% coming from Virginia, @yaupon‌ . I went off a number I heard a couple times rather than researching. I guess I’m putting out all the negatives I’ve heard kinda blindly but I was scared about hearing that students care where you are from and I gathered that just being from California and not vocally conservative would get you labeled a hippie. I heard these kinds of things from older CC threads and on fraternity forums/ratings.</p>

<p>It looks like these are a minority of the students at W&L. Thanks a lot for your reply.</p>

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<p>I think you would do well at either place but my recommendation is IF you choose W&L, put on a Polo and pair of Sperrys and play the part. They are conservative and preppy. Think California Newport Beach and you’ll be fine… </p>