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<p>But the caveat here is that UG institution is very important for grad school admissions (not sure about professional schools). It varies by school and department as to how much UG name matters, but it’s incontrovertible that it does matter. When they can be certain of the caliber of your school, they’re more willing to admit you. When they know that the curriculum is rigorous and the professors you were exposed to are stars, it puts them at ease, esp. compared to those whose UG they aren’t familiar with. Harvard CS, for example, is very explicit about the importance of where you went for UG.</p>
<p>I didn’t go to Berkeley, but I do know the role that UG prestige can play post-graduation. Berkeley is definitely more highly regarded than UCI and I think that difference could matter, though it depends on what path you take after graduation. Like grad admissions, the role of UG prestige can matter in employment, varying significantly by the sector that you go into (e.g. many firms in finance can be very snobbish about where they recruit and for which positions), the company that you apply to, etc.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that this is the way it should be, or that many of these points aren’t debatable. But it’s definitely untrue that Berkeley and, say, UCR would be equivalent in post-grad opportunities. There are tangible differences, because there are tangible differences in the student bodies and the academic quality. Employers and grad schools are well aware of these differences, and there’s no shame in admitting this reality.</p>