Undergraduate School Confusion! Please help!

Hello,

Many people might think I am overthinking all of this, but I simply want to get insight on what is the best route for an MBA from a M7/T15 school.

I have narrowed down my list to the following schools:

UC-Berkeley
Major: Industrial Engineering/Operations Research
Tuition: $29k

University of Southern California (USC)
Major: Computer Science/Business Administration
Tuition: $60k

UC-Irvine
Business Information Management
Tuition: $16k

Money is not too much of an issue with any of these options, I am mainly worried about being able to maintain my GPs.

Questions:

  1. Basically, my concern is if I get around a ~3.0 GPA at UC-Berkeley would that hurt my chances of getting admission into an M7 school, as opposed to getting a 3.5+ at UC-Irvine?

  2. I am leaning towards picking UC-Berkeley, but what if I am unable to handle the academics and maintain my GPA at the same time is what my main concern is. How would a low GPA from UC-Berkeley look? How can I make up for that low GPA? I am mainly worried about physics and math that I have to take at UC-Berkeley.

  3. I am also considering USC because it has the major I want to purse, however I like all 3 majors equally. Does the difficulty of the major have an effect on MBA admissions?

  4. What is the best major to pick in order to pursue an MBA?

  5. Any other general advice on how to get into an M7/T15 MBA Program is appreciated, as I am very confused.

 
Best Response

Questions:

Basically, my concern is if I get around a ~3.0 GPA at UC-Berkeley would that hurt my chances of getting admission into an M7 school, as opposed to getting a 3.5+ at UC-Irvine?

The 3.5 is better in the sense that a higher GPA is better. However, you will have better jobs opportunities out of Berkley as it's a name brand school.

I am leaning towards picking UC-Berkeley, but what if I am unable to handle the academics and maintain my GPA at the same time is what my main concern is. How would a low GPA from UC-Berkeley look? How can I make up for that low GPA? I am mainly worried about physics and math that I have to take at UC-Berkeley.

Low GPA from anywhere looks bad. See above and below answers to your questions.

I am also considering USC because it has the major I want to purse, however I like all 3 majors equally. Does the difficulty of the major have an effect on MBA admissions?

Somewhat, but high GPAs are best. It's better to have a 3.7 in business than a 3.0 in engineering. B-school want people who have shown that they have previously been successful.

What is the best major to pick in order to pursue an MBA?

There isn't one.

Any other general advice on how to get into an M7/T15 MBA Program is appreciated, as I am very confused.

Getting into a top MBA is all about your path and story. It should make sense, don't try to game it.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

Just do what you can do best now. MBA plans when you are an undergrad is too forward-thinking. It's good to think about, but not good to plan about it yet.

Berkeley will give you an edge up in career regardless of GPAs. Probably a fact. USC UCI will be fun and likely less competitive

 

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