<p>Working at a Big 4 vs. H&R Block is not comparable to attending UG. I don’t know how old you kids are, but for the most part, it doesn’t matter “too much” where you went to UG (there is a difference between going to DeVry and UCLA, but that’s another topic. The gap between UC Irvine and UC Berkeley is almost negligent for UG). The most important things are your work experience and GPA. I can tell you right now that I personally attend UCLA, and contrary to all the stuff I heard coming in as a freshman, a UCLA name on your resume means nothing. I’d rather be a UC Riverside alum with a degree in Computer Science with a 3.5 GPA than a UCLA alum with a degree in History with a 2.3 GPA.</p>
<p>As for the Big 4, if any of you are familiar with accounting, the Big 4 is the best thing to have on your resume for an entry level job. A lot of people I know that are successful in accounting start off working a few years at a Big 4, but they usually quit and move on to a smaller firm. It’s easier to get a job once you have that Big 4 name on your resume. Also, the Big 4 is one the easiest ways to get a job if you’re good for it. For crying out loud, they do on campus interviews. You don’t go to them, they come to you!! If you are fortunate enough to get a summer associate position, you make around $25/hr in the summer, and you get to go to “training seminars” in Disney World. Starting salaries are between 50k-60k with a nice signing bonus too. I say this is REALLY good for a 21 year old.</p>
<p>But that’s the thing…it is really good…and one school, at least IMO, offers a better chance of getting it. And even if you don’t get into a Big 4, still having an accounting degree is extremely marketable. Yes, you could end up working at that lousy H&R Block, whereas if you have a regular economics degree, I say good luck trying to find any relevant job.</p>
<p>But that’s my opinion for my friend (and obviously this thread isn’t about my opinion, it’s about yours and I want to hear what you all say). The only thing I think is heresy is the fact that my friend is choosing Irvine over Cal. I told my friend had she been another major, especially an easy humanities major, she should have totally chosen Berkeley. But like I said, when taking into consideration her major and her career goals, the risks associated at Cal are greater than Irvine.</p>
<p>Negatives about Irvine: less prestige, arguably not as “fun” (but that depends on what friends you make), you might reminisce about how cool life would have been like at Cal.</p>
<p>Negatives about Cal: no matter how “fun” it is, it won’t be fun if you get rejected from Haas and are struggling to get a B- on in your econ classes, more stress since there is no assurance you will get into your major, even more stress if you don’t get into your major and have to consider alternative career plans (holy crap…), you might reminisce about how you would have been more relaxed and less stressed had you chosen Irvine and if it was really worth it to come to Cal</p>