USC vs. Berkeley (2010, employment, transfer)

[mr.bond]

Theses are the 2 top universities I am looking into for my undergraduate studies. I plan to dual major in business and Japanese or major in business and minor in Japanese. I hope to get a certificate in International Business as well. I want to know what people think of the Haas and Marshall schools of business in undergraduate studies. I've read a lot about each but I wanted to hear people's experiences. What are the ups and downs? Thanks

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

It's January. Are you thinking about enrolling in the fall of 2009 or 2010? If the latter, take time to visit each, do some research and apply. You don't have a choice unless one (or both) admits you.

[mr.bond]

You're right. I've done all the research I can do, all I really have left to do is visit which I will be doing this summer hopefully. However I am curious of what people think.

[vdy1985]

Both are good. Haas has a better reputation though. Marshall puts you near LA business. I'd choose Haas.

[skywalker400]

Unless you are real dead set on working in SoCal after school, I'd go with Haas. Im assuming you're applying as a freshman, so you'd be "pre-business" at cal. You re-apply again your sophomore year and there's like a 50% admit rate, but as long as you dont seriously screw up freshman year, you should be fine (join clubs, pretend to care about comm. service). Definitely visit Berkeley though, a lot of SoCal kids often feel miserable up here and if you're looking for a more football/fratty environment, USC would be a better bet.

[edwardius]

What do you want to do with your degree?

UCLA offers a business economics program that is pretty comparable to the business degrees offered by both Berkeley or USC. That should save you on tuition over USC.

If you are trying to work abroad, generally employers are going to recruit international students with technical skills rather that US residents for overseas positions. If you are GE looking for a financial analyst in Hong Kong, GE is going to hire a HK student educated in the US over a US student educated in the US because the HK student has a lifetime of cultural experience regarding the norms of living in HK, knows the language better than the US student and is a lot less likely to want to leave the position later to come back to the US. Additionally there will be less issues regarding getting work permits etc.

In terms of grads working abroad from both programs, generally its the international students who end up working internationally.

As for double majors, contact the schools. At Berkeley the undergraduate program is in its own seperate college. That makes it more difficult to do a double major. At UCLA, the business economics program is in the college of letters and science - its much easier to do double majors there vs Berkeley.

[vdy1985]

Originally Posted by edwardius

What do you want to do with your degree?

As for double majors, contact the schools. At Berkeley the undergraduate program is in its own seperate college. That makes it more difficult to do a double major. At UCLA, the business economics program is in the college of letters and science - its much easier to do double majors there vs Berkeley.

UCLA has undergrad business? Or is the degree your talking about econ. Haas is a world above most BA business degrees in the world. You are guaranteed a job with nice pay at a posh company.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by vdy1985

UCLA has undergrad business? Or is the degree your talking about econ. Haas is a world above most BA business degrees in the world. You are guaranteed a job with nice pay at a posh company.

Then everyone would do it. Nothing is guaranteed in life no matter what you do.

[mr.bond]

Originally Posted by edwardius

What do you want to do with your degree?

UCLA offers a business economics program that is pretty comparable to the business degrees offered by both Berkeley or USC. That should save you on tuition over USC.

If you are trying to work abroad, generally employers are going to recruit international students with technical skills rather that US residents for overseas positions. If you are GE looking for a financial analyst in Hong Kong, GE is going to hire a HK student educated in the US over a US student educated in the US because the HK student has a lifetime of cultural experience regarding the norms of living in HK, knows the language better than the US student and is a lot less likely to want to leave the position later to come back to the US. Additionally there will be less issues regarding getting work permits etc.

In terms of grads working abroad from both programs, generally its the international students who end up working internationally.

As for double majors, contact the schools. At Berkeley the undergraduate program is in its own seperate college. That makes it more difficult to do a double major. At UCLA, the business economics program is in the college of letters and science - its much easier to do double majors there vs Berkeley.

I think it's very much possible to work overseas if you're a US resident. Especially if I can get some summer internships abroad in over the summers. Besides, I plan to go to graduate school in Japan or Hong Kong if things work out right.

I really want to do business abroad especially in Japan and Hong Kong. However I want to do business in LA too. I guess USC might be the best way to go for me. But what is this talk about UCLA? I thought they didn't have an undergrad business desgree. Is the economics program like their version of the business degree? Tell me more.

[edwardius]

In theory anything is possible. But are there US undergrads at Cal in the business program who are working overseas? How many? Historically the largest recruiters for undergrads at Haas are accounting firms and most find employment in California.

Who you need to contact is undergraduate advising.

Undergraduate Program - Pre-Admission Advising - Haas School of Business

The second thing you should ask about is the logistics of a double major. Normally people aren't admitted into the business program at Berkeley until their junior year. If you apply as freshman you aren't assured entrance into the program. The other thing you want to find out is the logistics of a double major. That means dealing with two different colleges at Berkeley, Letters and Science for the language major and the Business school for the business degree. If you are juggling both of those programs, are you still going to have enough units to spend a semester abroad on an internship? Will pursuing a double major reduce your chances for admission into the business program because it will delay your graduation date?

Do you have the grades to get into both programs?

Talk to the undergraduate business adviser.

For what you are trying to do, is it easier to do at UCLA? The economics program at UCLA is in the letters and science college as is the foreign language programs. Generally that means less infighting between the programs. It should also be easier to use the same classes to satisfy the degree requirements for both majors since the degrees are being offered by the same college at UCLA.

UCLA Business Economics Program

you might try the academic advising number here. If you live fairly close to UCLA it might make sense to go over their and speak with someone in person.

Business Economics B.A.