UMich Ross vs Georgetown McDonough vs UC Berkeley Haas vs UT Austin BHP vs UCLA vs USC Marshall
Got into Georgetown McDonough, UMich Ross, UC Berkeley Haas, UT Austin BHP, UCLA, and USC Marshall for finance and I have no idea where to go. I’m trying to decide between them for IB/Consulting/PE—those are the main things I’m thinking about career-wise.
I’m not getting any financial aid even after appeals and I’ve only got $50k/year to spend, so money's a big factor
- Georgetown: $96k/year
- Ross: $80k/year
- UT BHP: $75k/year
- Berkeley Haas: $47k/year
- UCLA: $45k/year
- USC Marshall: $99k/year
My top 3 priorities are:
- Internships + Placement+Clubs (esp. for IB/PE/consulting)
- Community/people
- ROI
Here’s what I’m seeing so far:
Ross: Way more fun/social, insane b-school community, strong OCR, better business frats/clubs, has that semester abroad at LSE which is dope. Still pricey tho.
Georgetown: More prestige, better year-round internships bc of DC, smaller classes, great alumni network, solid pipeline to NY IB. Barely any social life. But expensive af.
UT BHP: Really smart/tight-knit crowd, best professors imo, solid recruiting esp. in Texas but also some NY stuff, great for consulting too. Still a bit above budget.
Haas: Cheapest by far. New 4-year direct admit program. Bay Area location, I’ve heard mixed things about culture but the ROI is hard to beat. Feels a bit more pre-professional and less “college-y” though. Don't love the city.
If anyone’s gone to these schools or is in finance/IB/PE/consulting and can speak to recruiting, the vibe, and what’s worth the $$ long-term, would really appreciate your help. I’m stuck and I need to commit soon! :)
First off not considering UT Austin at that price, also UCLA is inferior but will give you a fighting enough chance if you want to live in Los Angeles and not have debt (vs. USC). Also not considering Ross bc imo it's not materially better in any way than UCB.
This is going to be unpopular but if i'm reading this right you can go to UCB Haas and come out with zero debt vs. ~200k debt at USC and Georgetown? I personally wouldn't saddle myself with that amount of debt for a marginally better outcome at Georgetown. You could argue USC Marshall vs UCB Haas have similar placements and reputation, so unless you want to be in SoCal then I would pass.
So really it comes down to Georgetown and UCB Haas. Neither are the most fun on your list but i'd argue Georgetown is better in that regard. Will Georgetown yield you better outcomes in IB or PE recruiting? Probably. Does UCB Haas give you optionality to pivot to tech or tech focused boutiques? Also probably. Unless you really don't like UCB locationally or just the overall vibe then I would take it for free and run
Thank you so much! :) Yes it woud be UCB Haas and come out with zero debt vs. ~200k debt at USC and Georgetown and ~120k debt for Ross. Yeah, you make a lot of good points I guess I'm just lost and don't wanna make a decision I'll regret.
You don't think Ross is worth it at all even though it's a target school? (I've just heard really amazing things about it). And in the long run do you think gtown will be worth the difference in debt or probably not?
Ross is great I don't want to make it sound like its not. If you feel that you are going to be happier at U Mich socially then you will have to decide if that's worth $120k of debt, which if you are committed to a high paying career path like finance then you shouldn't have an issue paying off. I personally don't love the cold ass weather in Michigan having grown up there but all my friends who went to U Mich had a great time, especially if you love college sports and the frat side of college. I just wouldn't want debt hanging over my head if I really could avoid it by going to an equally strong school imo in UCB Haas.
Do you have time to visit some campuses? If you're considering taking on a few hundred grand in debt I would strongly advise spending a bit of money to travel around and tour some of your options if you can afford it.
Also, again I don't know where you stand on this but, if you're willing to be on the west coast in the short to medium term I am of the opinion that UCB Haas is truly only second to Stanford in terms of pipelines to top tech focused teams at BBs in SF/LA and tech boutiques like Q etc.
Saying this as bascially you're going to have a good enough shot from all these schools. Just decide if you are comfortable taking on debt to potentially have a more enjoyable college experience, which is important both for your happiness but also your ability to connect effectively with alumni. Also while $120k or $200k is a lot of money, and why I wouldn't take it vs Haas for free, some ppl on here (and they're not wrong) will say that you will pay that off quickly in finance.
Ross is far better than Berkeley for traditional finance
yeah you make a really good point. i guess if it's the same level of education why not go to haas instead of ross. I've actually visited most of the campuses but just always end up second-guessing myself when it comes to these big decisions haha it's something I'm working on. Thank you so much for your help!
These are all fantastic options. I've come across plenty of people in IB/PE from all of these schools and have close friends from all as well. I know it's hard, but don't overthink the job placement aspect and minor differences in ocr, etc... you'll be totally fine at any of these schools as long as you get good grades and network. It's 4 years of your life...where do you think you'll have the most fun? Where does the vibe fit what you are looking for? Whats the best financial decision?
If cost is really a factor, and you're otherwise mostly indifferent, I don't see how UCLA and Cal are not the obvious answers. None of the other schools have any significant advantages over those two and the cost difference vs the others seems like it would be material for you. Also, in case you are wondering, I've been in NYC my whole career and see lots of kids from top CA schools get hired out here, so east coast placement is definitely in play if that is what you ultimately want.
Good luck.
Thank you so much for your insight and that's a really good point and something I'm beginning to realize because a school name can only do so much (I've heard from many people that at some point it's up to how bad you want it). Do you think the debt for Georgetown or Michigan's resources/reach would be remotely worth the difference between the cost of Cal?
I do not. Honestly, I’m not even sure I think the reach of those schools is any better. Focus on the outcomes achieved by the kids who want to go into IB/PE, not the number of kids who want to go into IB/PE from each school.
I think it’s between UCLA and Cal. Congrats on getting into some great schools. You can make it into finance from any of these. Visit Berkeley and visit UCLA and choose based on where you feel you fit the best. You will do better where you relate best to your classmates and the alumni community.
Anecdotally I see way more Michigan, Gtown, and east coast grads here in NYC but it’s very possible with networking to get to NYC from the west coast. I personally went to a non target UC and made the jump from SF to NY without too much trouble. West coast schools, especially UCLA and USC are the best places you could go if you want to work in SoCal. Some prefer one or the other but I tend to view them about even when I see candidates.
If you choose based on fit you’ll enjoy the next four years much more than if you pick the most hardo finance club you can find.
wow that's pretty crazy going from a non target UC to NYC you must've worked rly hard. I really do want to work in NY as well but honestly don't really care as long as I'm happy. what's the biggest piece of advice you've channeled to stand out from everyone else? thanks so much for the help!
It all comes down to attitude. Make sure you’re making a good impression on everyone you meet. Seek genuine connections.
Hi, I went to Haas and was in a very similar position to you, so thought I would shed some light. Currently work in banking.
Candidly, I think USC and UT make no sense given their pricing. I also think that Haas > UCLA academically speaking/considering placements, so UCLA isn't really that relevant, unless you are looking for a more fun experience, which you will definitely get there. I can't speak too much about Georgetown, but it seems like it will objectively have better traditional finance/consulting placements compared to Haas or Ross. However, that's not to say going to Haas or Ross will have a huge negative impact on your career prospects - they are still great schools, but going to Georgetown might make your life marginally easier, especially if you are sure that finance or consulting is what you want to do. In my opinion, I don't think it really justifies the extra yearly ~16K on top of Ross and ~49K over Haas.
When it comes to Haas vs. Ross, I was in the exact same boat as you. I was also in state (from SoCal) and didn't really know what to pick. I had a lot of friend's parents that went to Cal and at the end of the day just couldn't justify paying out-of-state tuition to go to Michigan.
When it comes to placement, Cal knocks it out of the park for west coast tech / hc banking. I have buddies from school across pretty much all the major EB / BB banks in SF / Menlo Park, and a few in LA too. There are definitely a few kids (like me) who go to NYC every year, and it seems as if this is rising, but this is definitely going to be more of an uphill battle than if you went to Ross. If you are set on staying in California, Haas is the easy choice. That being said, I think Ross is objectively better, by a good margin, if you are sure you want to do traditional finance and go to NYC. While Michigan may be overall inferior academically compared to Berkeley, I do think Ross is better than Haas when it comes to banking placement. Academic culture-wise, both are large state schools, so I'm guessing culture is probably pretty similar, with Berkeley maybe being slightly more competitive. Recruiting largely relies on what clubs you're in, and getting into the clubs is an unnecessarily competitive process. Also, when I went to Cal, we had to apply to Haas, but given that it's now a 4 year program, so that's another level of stress taken off your shoulders, which is definitely nice. I'm also pretty sure Cal has an LSE study abroad program too if that's something you're interested in. Anyways, I think the major thing to consider is where you want to end up after graduating and what kind of finance you want to do - is being in NYC worth that extra ~132K over 4 years?
Socially, it's not even a question. Michigan is one of the most well-rounded schools in the country, and no other school (other than maybe Texas) is able to compete with its level of academics, social life, sports, etc. Michigan is by far the more "fun" option. Cal is fine, don't get me wrong - it's still a state school with a huge student body, so you will find all types of people. It's definitely not as nerdy as some people make it out to be, but it still pales in comparison to Michigan or Texas. You'll never get to experience that level of school spirit or a game in the Big House. If social life is a major factor to you, then I would take Michigan without a second doubt.
Also, if you are not sure whether you want to do finance, go to Cal. Cal is highly ranked in literally almost every field, and especially if you are considering something in tech, Cal is the way to go. While Ross is very strong and arguably better than Haas for banking, in most other fields, Cal is vastly superior.
Personally, I think you can achieve your goals at either school, but obviously West Coast is easier from Haas and NYC is easier from Ross. Candidly, I do regret not going to Michigan solely for social reasons, but at the end of the day, I am still in the same position I would likely have been in had I gone to Michigan. Happy to chat more over pm if you're interested and hope this was helpful!
Thanks a ton and a half for this—it's super super super helpful to hear from someone who’s been through the exact same situation living in Cali. I’ve been deep in the Haas vs. Ross vs. Georgetown spiral lately and this honestly clarified a lot. I’ve been leaning Cal but keep getting pulled back into the Ross and Gtown “what if,” especially with NYC recruiting in mind, so hearing your take means a lot.
Would love to PM and chat a bit more if you’re open to it! Appreciate you dropping all this insight
This was very helpful.. Im in the same boat deciding between Ross (instate) vs Haas-Speiker
How is UT BHP $75k a year???? Out-of-state tuition is $40k, and in state is $10k. How did you arrive at $75k?
That's the cost of attendance listed in my financial aid portal because tuition went up and housing is extremely expensive
"money's a big factor" easy answer -> go to Haas/UCLA depending on how serious you are about your career. If more serious go to Haas, they have a great program and tons of very strong student clubs on campus that compete with Northeast Target schools. UCLA will place a little worse than Cal as they don't have a UG Business program, but there are strong orgs there. Cost of School and ambition should be the driving factor, I've seen more ambitious/impressive kids from Cal in the past couple of years in interviews and ccs than UCLA tbf.
Veniam sapiente omnis modi iusto quasi delectus. Iusto nostrum reiciendis quidem eius aliquid odit. Ex ipsum praesentium quo at minima sed explicabo. Autem tenetur sit ad numquam. Est aperiam architecto soluta nobis vel eos.
Omnis similique eum eum perspiciatis. Perferendis laudantium labore a. Ad non temporibus consequatur et occaecati. Dolor eos iusto dignissimos atque voluptatum. Amet sunt excepturi nam tempora.
Repellat aut atque voluptatibus libero. Ea ullam accusamus recusandae alias. Aperiam sunt earum voluptas dignissimos possimus officiis asperiores.
Eaque voluptatum quis qui voluptatum recusandae velit porro. Libero voluptas maiores excepturi consequuntur non.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...