In-State Berkeley vs Wharton Undergrad

superdomestique
Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:54:33 +0000

Quite frankly, at the higher levels, I think it makes as much sense to choose an undergraduate institution based on cost/affordability as it does to choose a spouse based on assets/debt.

Especially if you are interested in business, you have to think bigger. Fit and passion should be the primary considerations. You should not go to Wharton if you don’t believe that you will be financially successful.

If you are able to get into a school like Wharton and you have a passion for business you would be an idiot not to go. It will be a decision that will haunt you for the rest of your life, especially if you go to a lesser school only because it is more affordable. The education, connections, access and credentials you will get with an undergraduate Wharton degree are unparalleled on the global stage.

Saving a sum of money (low six figures) is not worth it if you have a long-term perspective. Wharton’s undergraduate program is so comprehensive, often an MBA is unnecessary/repetitive. The money you save by going to a lesser undergraduate program may eventually be needed to enroll in a top MBA program (which now cost more than $200K) to achieve your IB goals.

While my degree from Wharton is not from the undergraduate program (MBA), it was followed by a career in IB where the cost of my education was recouped in less than three years and my alumni network is one of my most important assets.
FYI, the jobs I had subsequent to Wharton did not recruit at flagship state schools.
All this being said, some caveats:

One of the most important elements to the Wharton experience is the people. Direct assess to the community of faculty, students (both Wharton and Penn), and the alumni network are much of what you are paying for and with Covid, it will be a lesser experience. I would not go/pay for an on-line Wharton experience.

In some ways an undergraduate experience is supposed to be broadening, whereas the Wharton undergraduate experience is very focused. You have to really know you want to be in business and want to narrow yourself this early in life. This is a big consideration and should be your primary decision. It would be an expensive mistake to pay up to go to Wharton if you are unsure of your commitment to a career in business.

As some of the other posters have said, it is pretty competitive to get into schools like Wharton and UCB, so you probably need to cast a wide net. When my kids were looking at schools, I was very impressed with the Sloan program at MIT. Both Wharton and Sloan, while excellent, were too focused/narrow for my kids for their undergraduate experience.

Honestly, Wharton is strongest in finance-centric disciplines like IB, PE etc. Not as strong in entrepreneurialism. Why not add Stanford to your list of reach schools? Could combine the best of both worlds.

I think what I learned at Wharton is to think bigger and that luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

While UCB is a fine school and has an okay undergraduate business program, you may be luckier at Wharton.

Just my opinion, I know others will disagree. Obviously, this is all moot until you know if you have been admitted. Don’t let cost be the deciding factor.