Expert: Sarah Sanchez Date: 3/16/2004 Subject: UC Berkeley vs. UCLA
Question How do you feel about the undergraduate Economics major at UC Berkeley, or even the Business major for that matter? Do you know anything about it? Are you familiar with it, and if so, can you give me some insight into their program, and why or why not it is a good/great program? Also, how does it compare with UCLA undergraduate Business or Economics major?
Also, how does UC Berkeley compare with UCLA, and if I get into both schools, which one would you recommend or advise me to go to, and why?
Answer I do not have direct experience with either of these two programs, but I have heard from lots of people that Economics and especially Business are supposed to be very hard to get into and also have very difficult classes. I do know that the competition between business majors is uncomparable to anything you will experience anywhere else. So don't go to Berkeley as a business major and expect to have study groups and get help from other classmates. There is a strict curve at the business school and people will go out of their way NOT to help you.
I dont know anything about UCLA's programs, but as far as between the two universities as wholes Berkeley is by far the most perstigious. If you want to increase your chances of getting a job as soon as you get out, then go to Berkeley. This is not saying you wont get a job if you go to UCLA, its just that other schools (if you want to apply to a graduate program) and employers know that Berkeley is the top rated public school in the country and if you are of the quality to get in and graduate from there they will be much more impressed.
UCLA has its good poiknts as well. The cost of living off campus will be lower than in Berkeley, and the competition between students might not be that tough (but I can't guarantee that).
I can speak from personal experience. I only applied to two schools and I got into both (UC Davis and Berkeley). I only applied to two because I really wanted to go to Davis and had since I was little, and I knew I could get in. My mom made me apply to Berkeley because she really believed I could get in.
So I got into both. Then my mom sat me down and told me how much more prestigous Berkeley was than Davis, and she took me to Berkeley and had their counselors tell me that as well. I wanted to go to Davis because it was much more like the small hometown I was from and I wasn't prepared for the craziness of Berkeley.
I eventually listened to everyone telling me Berkeley was the best. I am so glad that I did it. It ended up being the best thing and I am glad that I made that decision. But this decision is yours to make. You need to weigh the pros and cons and decide from there. In case you can't tell I lean towards Berkeley, but you have to decide what will be the best fit for you. If you aren't happy at the school you won't do well and if you don't do well you wont get a job or into graduate school no matter which one you go to.
