<p>I'm heading for college this fall. Basically I had already chosen UC Berkeley with the idea that I would apply to Haas B-school for the undergraduate program after two years. However I just got off the Yale waitlist, so I'm interested in knowing your opinion about which you would choose if you were in my position.</p>
<p>I'm hoping to start in I-banking (I know this sounds old, but I'm thinking of I-banking as a stepping stone to a good MBA program and other opportunities) and then head for management consulting after MBA.</p>
<p>Financial-wise both are offering me equal amount of aid, so that's not a factor. Berkeley appeals to me because of Haas B-school. Do employers look for applicable skills? (i.e. would a Yale grad in Econs lose out because of lack of business curiculum/classes). Am I wrong in thinking that the level of recruitment in both schools is about the same?</p>
<p>The calibur of both schools are about the same for future business prospects. But could you really turn down YALE?! Don't. It's an honor to be accepted and you will meet more people to network with. </p>
<p>Also, would you rather work in LA or New York? Yale will send you straight to Wall Street.</p>
<p>I would go to Yale, hands down. Yale's undergraduate advising is much better than Berkeley's. Your networking will be much better at a school at Yale than at Berkeley. If money's a problem, I would think twice though.</p>
<p>"I'm hoping to start in I-banking (I know this sounds old, but I'm thinking of I-banking as a stepping stone to a good MBA program and other opportunities) and then head for management consulting after MBA."</p>
<p>If you want to go into consulting don't do Ibanking first as after your MBA you'll have to take a step back position-wise...</p>
<p>If I were you I would go to Yale (better recruiting than UCB for mgmt consulting) then work as an AC for 2-3 years at a consulting firm then go get your MBA (firm will probably pay) then come back at a really good position in the firm (you'd come in 1 year closer to manager than if you went to banking which would force you to start a year below your consulting-->mba-->consulting counterparts)</p>
<p>You know it's funny how people say you only need 2 years of experience before you can get your MBA at a top school. My cousin worked for a bulge bracket firm for 2 years and now she's trying to get into Columbia. They told her that for her to stand a realistic chance of getting in, she'd need at least 4-6 years of experience with outstanding GMAT scores (not easy).</p>
<p>So I don't see how people say that i-bankers waltz their way into getting a Harvard or Wharton MBA with a just a couple years of experience. </p>
<p>It's as if you work for goldman or morgan stanley for 2 years, then get kicked out because you're not good enough to be promoted to assoc. - then you just figure you'll get your MBA at a top school with 2 years of exp. under your belt???</p>
<p>It's just such a misleading perception.</p>
<p>I can see if you survive the layoff round at the end of the second year where they only call back a few people but then again you'd be on your way to becoming an associate so it wouldn't matter whether or not you get your MBA.</p>
<p>Actually, it's not really a misleading perception, it just depends on what shop you work at what kinds of deals you worked on. </p>
<p>Plus there are a lot of other factors to b-school admissions, GPA, GMAT scores, activities besides your place of work, I believe it boils down to if you can find some way to stand out.</p>
<p>I think Yale is just a better choice because it's more elite than UCB and for the fact that you wont have to worry about getting into Haas or not (a lot can happen in 2 years). Plus coming from Yale could possibly give you more credibility when it comes to meeting with clients, etc -- consulting has been regarded as a pretty blue blooded industry so that might help.</p>
<p>If you wanted to go into the sciences, I would say Berkeley. But since you're about business, I think Yale. But either way, you have great options. Remember that you don't need to be in Haas for a business career, though I guess it would help.</p>