TLApeyandlucas14

Admitted and Visitted both schools & interested in business admin program. here are my thoughts so far.

Berk is ranked #3 and USC #9ish (flexible depending on what standards). USC is double the cost but it is not guaranteed to get into Berk's Haas school of biz for jr/sr years. berk is notorious for its "competitive" students--is this a real issue or mostly myth? both have good study abroad programs & same recruitment/job opps after graduation (IF u are admitted to haas).

USC campus is gorgeous b/c of buildings, friendly atmosphere, great weather. Seems hard to get around tho outside of the school b/c of LA traffic and area (although i am unfamliar with it b/c im from norcal)...seems u need a car to get around from USC. but the campus was amazing. lots of students studying and tanning outside, enjoying the warm weather.

Berk is older bldgs, more trees, not as friendly appearing. Area around it is nice (berk has lots of cool food places & u can hop on bart to go san francisco to hang/shop/club). dorming is all OFF campus so it will be difficult walkin to school every morning. campus is very spaced apart too making it difficult to get from one end to the other (barely any parking for students).

HELP. any thoughts on cal or usc for business undergrad? id also like to know if ppl know how USC kids get around LA, how difficult is it getting into haas (stats/examples maybe?), and if berkeley is at all a fun place to be? i may be biased but it just seems like a dull campus. not enough of a good social scene.

cantstopdancin52

hey im in the same situation
replied on teh cal board though :-)

azhao525

To be honest, I would choose USC's Marshall... but of course I would say that because we are on the USC board right now. I actually had the same dilemma about a month ago and I know several who have chosen Cal over USC. I live quite close to Berkeley and my school sends on average 60 seniors to Cal every year... So in my opinion, the place is worthless. Their business is outstanding, but I have also heard it's incredibly difficult. The competition is tough as hell, and as a Cal student, you only have around 50% chance to get into Haas... remember you're competing against some of the smartest kids around the country (yea even more hardworking than some HYP kids because berkeley is the best public). These people study day and night, and the competition is.. well. it's there. Trust me.

Berkeley's area really isn't as nice as you might expect. But of course, maybe this is just a biased opinion because I live 20 minutes away in a rich asian suburban area. Cal's surrounding, in my opinion, is actually scarier than USC's. USC seems to have its own campus atmosphere whereas Berkeley has a campus of some classes and everything else is spread out around it. I have asked many current USC kids about the car issue, and almost all of them told me that you really don't need a car there. A lot of people drive cars, so you can always find a friend with one... and if you can't, no car really isn't gonna kill anyone. Most clubs and organizations have planned trips that all have rides.. no doubt. Also, according to the admissions office director, USC is actually building an underground transit right to the heart of LA from the center of the campus. The construction is proposed to finish in 2010. How sweet would that be, right?

It really is your opinion, I think. Do you want more of a social relaxing scene while getting an excellent business education with a (oh my god) fantastic alumni system? Or would you rather go to a huge public school with more than necessary competition for a.. slightly better business program... and well, let's face it, a lot less beautiful people

I choose USC. But this is also because I pay less to go to USC than Cal.. HAHA amazing, isn't it. Fight on Trojans!

bessie

If business is your top field of study, then choose the business school you were accepted to: USC. There is no guarantee that you will get a spot in Haas two years from now. See how you like USC and, if you decide you should have gone to Cal, then apply for Haas as a transfer student after your sophomore year. A bird in the hand and all that.