What is UC Berkeley's reputation/level of prestige in SoCal? (Compared to UCLA & USC)

Hi all,

I got Regents Scholar invitation from UC Berkeley and UCLA. I also got an admit from USC.

At USC, I was admitted into their UG business program (Marshall). At Berkeley, I'd be pre-Haas, with economics as a backup. At UCLA, I'd be doing business econ. My goal is investment banking/finance.

I've lived in SoCal (Orange County) my entire life, and felt that Berkeley was the best "fit" for me out of the three. The fact that it's the highest ranked is icing on the cake. However, I got a pretty big scholarship from USC to the point where it's reached parity with Berkeley and UCLA with tuition (it's slightly more expensive).

The issue, however, is that while I'd love living the SF Bay Area for four years in UG, and I'd love experience somewhere outside of SoCal and broaden my horizons, post-UG, I have no desire to stay in NorCal. I love Berkeley as a school, and would love "escaping" to NorCal for college, but would want to pursue employment in the Greater LA Area or SoCal upon graduation.

There's too much good going on with LA -- the pretty girls, amazing weather, beaches, palm trees, sunshine, etc., that I love. I'd also love settling down in San Diego or SB too. I don't want to be "locked into" the SF Bay Area upon graduation, if that makes sense.

If my explicit desire is to work in LA after college, and I have no interest/desire to work and stay in the Bay upon graduation, would going to UCLA or USC be distinctly better for my career prospects and geographical preferences?

While Cal is his "best fit" on an emotional level for me, I'd be willing to attend either UCLA or USC if those would be best for SoCal jobs -- I've heard USC's alumni network is incredible down south, particularly compared to Berkeley's (where I assume most Cal alumni stay in the Bay/NorCal/Silicon Valley).

Does Cal have a good rep and alumni network in SoCal? Or would going to Berkeley not hinder me relative to UCLA and USC kids in the search for an LA/SoCal-based job?

 

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