HELP! Northwestern MMSS vs. UC Berkeley

BedHead
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:48:25 +0000

I’d say two issues point you to Berkeley:



-I identify with Berkeley’s environment more.

-I live in the midwest, so NW is a lot closer to home



If you were coming from the California, I’d tell you to go NW in a NY second. But coming from the Midwest, I’d say just as fast: go to Berkeley. It is different, and yet at the same time you identify with it. Go with your gut on this one, and seek change.



I’m OOS, so Berkeley is more expensive since NW gave me some grants.

-I’ve heard that Berkeley is very competitive, but I’m sure I’d end up working just as hard a NW.



Berkeley is competitive, but if you focus, you’ll do just fine. There are some really hotshots from in state, from the very large state of California, but coming from OOS, you’ll be in an upper echelon at Berkeley 'cause it’s guaranteed your really good or you wouldn’t have gotten in (it’s more uneven, being a state school). Just be savvy and work hard and you’ll get into Haas.

Now, at the end of the day (I hate that cliche), either one of these choices would serve you very, very well and would be just fine. In the West – and I would say in most other parts of the nation – NW’s Kellogg School is prestigious but other than that I don’t think it has as much profile or prestige as Berkeley. But rather than debating this point with people who perceive it otherwise, I’d point out that I don’t think it really matters at all. As I said, both will serve you fine.

If you are dead set on consulting or i-banking, check out the recruiting/placement success of both places. My guess is that Haas has a larger smattering or where grads end up – including Silicon Valley tech firms – than those coming out of a rarified program at NW.



Haas is more of a risk than NU. Cost is roughly the same. In the US, reputationally, those two are roughly equal, particularly in general industry. Cal obviously has a prestige edge over NU in the pure sciences and Engineering, but not in Business. I say go to NU since it is less of a risk.



I agree with Alexandre: Haas is more of a risk. But for me, that cuts the other way since you said that you prefer Berkeley’s style. I say: swing for the fences; you’ll end up feeling better about it. Furthermore, I really don’t, for the reasons I said, think it’s that much of a risk for you.

Good luck. Congratulations on your acceptances. Oh, and if in case you haven’t already done so, try to visit. Of course, if you visit Haas at this time of year (especially), you’ll never want to leave.

Don’t look back, once you’ve made your choice.