UC Berkeley Haas vs USC Marshall (World Bachelor in Business)
I am very grateful for being able to have two great options both in California. Just having a hard time deciding which school would take me further.
Context: I have an operations partner/role at a boutique investment bank. Currently building my own firm on the side. I'm looking to expand my network to push both my firm and the boutique I'm working at. In the future I'm also open to working on Wall Street, but I don't mind staying in California for work here. Overall I'm very flexible career and location wise (consulting on the table).
I don't plan on staying in IB for long term, planning on exiting and I want to get into PE, HF, or VC either through building my own fund with my connections or trying to apply/get recruited. Potentially may get MBA depending on performance at school GPA wise.
Biggest thing for me and making important connections/networking for my long term goals.
Cost: UCB ($120k total), USC ($210k total) Finances not a large determining factor, could pay for either school.
For Berkeley I got in for Business Administration for the 4-year Spieker Undergraduate Program about 200-300 students.
For USC I got in for the World Bachelor in Business Major (Business Administration). I will be attending USC, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Bocconi University. I would receive 3 degrees from each school in business admin.
Berkeley Haas Pros:
- I had an amazing time when I stayed there for a week for Cal Day
- I already have friends there, don't need to worry about dorms/housing situation as I have roommates
- Bay Area connections, close to SF, Silicon Valley so great for Tech, Startups
- More Prestigious
- New Chancellor Rich Lyons has Wall Street connections
- Students seem very driven
- I can double major (I may do something technical depending on difficulty, maybe not)
- I feel like I would work harder here
Berkeley Cons:
- Cutthroat culture
- Depressive nature (I could feel it in the library)
- Clubs are extremely competitive here, lower acceptance rates than getting into the school
- Grade deflation
- Courses/Classes known to be more rigorous
- No handholding, basically PVP against other students. Some advisors for Haas, but spread out over the cohort.
- Weather is cold and gray
- Most likely will not travel, maybe study abroad
USC WBB/Pros:
- Stayed there for a week, liked how close everything was (I'm from socal)
- Would allow me to work in Europe or Hong Kong in Asia after graduating
- Cohort of about 40-45 students
- Unparalleled one of a kind experience (First year USC, 2nd in Hong Kong, 3rd in Milan Italy, 4th I will return to USC)
- I think I would have much more fun here just because the social scene is larger
- USC Alumni Network is insane, I also have access to HKUST Network and Bocconi Network/Resources
- My GPA would probably be higher here, classes less rigorous than Berkeley I assume
- I would have specialized WBB Marshall advisors specifically for the cohort (more handholding)
- I get to actually travel and explore the world while I'm also at the other schools.
- Great for consulting since I would get real world experience helping a company in another country
USC Cons:
- Major is very rigid and not flexible, I cannot double major and at most can minor if planned out properly
- Less prestigious, not as well known on the East coast
- Clubs are also competitive
- Risk of not liking my cohort and needing to stick with them for all 4 years
- Out of my comfort zone, many different peoples for different backgrounds
- Dorming/Housing situation not really good, no roommates yet and low priority since I haven't submitted suggestions.
Thank you for your time for reading this all the way. I truly feel like I'm 50/50 on the choice and I can't go wrong with either. I know the difference is probably marginal, but I would just like to hear some insights from you guys.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown to help you decide between UC Berkeley Haas and USC Marshall (WBB):
UC Berkeley Haas (Spieker Undergraduate Program)
Pros:
Cons:
USC Marshall (World Bachelor in Business)
Pros:
Cons:
Key Considerations for Your Goals:
Final Thoughts:
Both are excellent options, and your decision ultimately depends on which factors align more closely with your personal and professional goals. Good luck!
Go to UC Berkeley for sure
I am not a good representative on what the most tactically optimal undergrad program is in the current moment (traditional answer is probably Haas) - but I will say as someone older now, that WBB program looks incredible and the kind of thing you will appreciate more when you're 10+ years into your career.
I have huge respect for Haas as well, but when you get further into your career being interesting and having your own perspective starts to actually become important and getting a cool global experience with cool global friends early on sounds like a great way to start.
I'm an established professional now and would definitely be more envious of a kid that got to do undergrad in LA + HK + Milan than a kid that went to Haas.
Congrats on both options though of course.
That's great to hear. I was considering the long term affects because I feel like this opportunity really only comes once. At this point I'm just thinking about the startups and Silicon Valley networking opportunities I'll miss out on if I were to go to USC. But of course there's pros and cons at both. I'll have more life experience being out of the US.
Do people in WBB end up where you want to be in the future?
For HS student, sounds like you've got this extremely figured out. I'm not too sure of the above answer, I suspect it may be a bit more difficult recruiting to trad finance from WBB. But, you can afford it, WBB is sick, go live your life as a kid.
There's people both in WBB and Berkeley Haas that have gotten internships at the top banks. But its hard to say since WBB is relatively a newer program within the last decade. I've thought about wanting to get into tech/startups as well which is better at Haas and I would have more opportunities there, but of course there's that opportunity cost compared to WBB where I think I would grow more in life as a person.
If it were me, no question i'm taking the USC offer. Everyone one of my friends who either go to USC and aren't in the global program or have done the global program love it and wish they were in it (if they weren't). Placement is marginally worse at USC at best and you will open doors in Asia and Europe that will only be cracked open if you go to UCB. Oh and you'll have a fucking blast
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