UC Berkeley - Haas or Econ?

[Gunnnn]

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@ocnative

Econnnnnn.

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<p>Any reason?</p>

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@ucbalumnus

Berkeley economics offers a more math-oriented option (taking Economics 101A, 101B, and 141 instead of 100A, 100B, and 140); if you are interested in math and statistics and their application to economics, that may be something to consider. Note that if you want to go on to a PhD in economics, taking upper division math and statistics courses along with the more math-oriented economics courses would be the path to take.</p>

<p>Note that UCLA’s math economics major is less selective for transfer admission than its economics or business economics major.

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<p>I suppose I forgot to add in my first post that currently I think that I’d like to go into equity research or repo trading at an investment bank (I’d like to stay at MS if possible, but certainly am not going to limit myself only to them) or something at the Federal Reserve. I don’t think that I’m at the point yet where I know what I’d like to do as post-graduate education goes. Someone in the industry suggested pursuing the CFA designation if my interest in the financial markets continues.</p>

<p>So I think right now I’m looking for whatever is going to give me the best possible preparation for getting into the field right out of undergrad. If I end up applying to Haas and by some miracle get in, I’m probably going to take on Econ as a second major, so that’ll be good for Fed work if I decide to go down that route. But at this point it’s all about whether to risk all of Berkeley applying to Haas or to play it safe and just apply into Econ.</p>

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@godot1

Berkeley Admissions: “Hmm, this application seems very promising! Good GPA, some great ECs. I think we might just ha-” <em>dramatic squint</em> “Wait a second. A ‘B’ in Financial Accounting? Into the recycling bin!”</p>

<p>Luckily, that probably will not happen. You’ve got great grades, in spite of the ‘B’. Don’t worry too much.</p>

<p>I would apply for Econ (cause that’s my major), but you got a good chance for Haas as well. But from what you have posted, you have a 4.0 in the major requirements for Econ, so that will be a big boost to your admission potential.

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<p>The thing that worries me is that after turning in my essay for the second semester of English which is a Haas prereq, I’m pretty much certain I’m going to get a B, which puts the GPA that I’m going to have after this semester at a 3.85 which is pretty much in line with the average. And that doesn’t make me feel very comfortable.</p>

<p>And really the reason that I’m worried so much is that I’m pretty sure I’d prefer Berkeley over any school to which I’m going to apply this year–even if it’s only Econ. The problem is that I can’t apply to both Haas and Econ as a safety measure. So applying to a program which accepts applicants at a rate of 19% for a total of 90 students per year while having only an average GPA among a sea of 3.9s and 4.0s terrifies me because I could be giving up my chance to attend Berkeley by applying into such a selective program.</p>