Hey guys. Looking to pursue a career in investment banking and/or consulting. I got Regents at Berk but no Regents at LA. LA is a better fit for me in terms of weather, social atmosphere, more laid back, LA area (I’m from Nor Cal). Also, I’m not guaranteed for Haas at Berk, but if I get in, I know the name carries prestige. Can anybody speak to recruiting for i banks and/or consulting at LA? Is it better to go to Cal for future career opportunities or go to LA cause it’s a better fit? Is not taking Regents at Cal a bad idea? Thanks!
As a future banker who has read CC, you probably know the first questions: What would each cost? Would loans be needed for either or both and if so how much?
UCLA would cost roughly $35k for all four years. Berk––I don’t know. I was getting a near free ride, but that amount is no longer guaranteed because of a mistake in the financial aid process (?) I went into Berk’s FA office, and I was notified I won’t know my aid till after May 1. 
Here is an older post about investment banking recruiting at Berkeley:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/14204944/#Comment_14204944
UCLA doesn’t have undergraduate business right? So it would be econ. And I’m guessing if you don’t get into Haas it’s the same at Berkeley?
@ucbalumnus Thank you for the reply. Business fraternities, Goldman internship placement, management consulting people in the biz frats are confident signs for Cal. I attended Cal Day and networked with some of the clubs mentioned. I was pretty impressed with the clubs’ alums in top consulting firms and the preparation they offer for club members’ careers. I also have good friends at Cal involved in consulting clubs, who have offered to help me through the process. @philbegas UCLA is “Business Economics,” which is basically economics plus some accounting/management classes at Anderson, UCLA’s business school. Yes, no Haas means econ.
I would imagine UC berkeley would place better into SF/silicon valley and UCLA would place better into LA area
Berkeley Regents.
Berkeley Regents. I don’t really see the downside.
If you really like the LA area, go there on Spring Break and look into internships there??
@philbegas Yup. People on WSO emphasize Berkeley for a career in SF/SV and UCLA for a career in LA. Hi @MYOS1634. I haven’t considered that possibility yet. What are your reasons for Berkeley>LA?
Well LA sucks, so there’s that 
Lol what do you have against LA? I recently visited UCLA and USC, but I’ve cut out USC (Marshall biz school) from my choices. My only complaint was gridlock, but the traffic didn’t even seem that much worse than the Bay Area’s.
Consulting firms recruit heavily from both schools.
I’m going to be contrary. Go where your heart is – and if that’s LA, then go to UCLA. Tuition aside, there is no measurable disadvantage by picking UCLA over Cal… and if you want to develop some business contacts in NorCal you can focus on getting summer internships in the Bay Area.
@magtf1 How do you know they recruit from LA? @katliamom Thanks for the reply
@futurebanker – and just so you know, I have a pre-med niece who was in a similar position – Cal offered her money, she picked UCLA (which disappointed her Cal grad parents.) She never for a moment regretted her decision.
With Regents, you get 4 years of guaranteed housing, priority registration for courses, scholarship money and more. If you are into business, you must realize the ROI, and that this is a no brainer.
Hi @magtf1 how do you know this?
My main reason is Regents at UCB (which you don’t have at UCLA), but also the fact that if you fail to get into Haas at UCB you’ll be doing Economics, which is what you’d do at UCLA, so I don’t see a downside to UCB.
@MYOS1634 Gotcha. UCLA would be Business Economics, which is econ + management/accounting courses.