UC Berkeley vs Washington and Lee

Jake774
Fri, 04 Apr 2014 00:44:05 +0000

I’m finding it really hard to compare these schools because they are total opposites. I want to major in business. Berkeley requires an application to get into the program (starting junior year), but I think I will get in and I like that it will show continued motivation to move up that grad schools and companies recognize.

Washington and Lee doesn’t have a graduate business school on campus, but professors and resources are focussed on undergraduate students. The student:faculty ratio is half of Berkeley’s and actually provides even closer attention as there are few grad students). Connections to faculty are emphasized here and individual attention is extremely valuable. Making connections with other students is a primary path business majors take here and I’m worried that not being from the South will hurt me. Fraternities especially seem to only take Southern students and Greek Life is huge (85% of students involved). (Majority of students from Virginia, supermajority from the South). W&L is traditionally conservative, and I’m much more moderate. (“California moderate”…I’m worried about being labeled a “hippie” and not fitting in. I’m not activist though and I’m pretty sociable.)

Berkeley graduates have a huge presence in top business schools: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-school-mba/1224650-top-feeder-colleges-to-america-s-elite-b-schools.htm
I’m a little worried about getting into B-school from W&L as there isn’t as a huge a presence at graduate schools as Berkeley or NYU, but W&L is a well-respected institution in academia and the corporate world and it’s the most selective university of the three I’m considering. Washington and Lee has social single-dorms which I really really like.

I’ve been to Berkeley and W&L and the campuses suit me well.

Berkeley has the 2nd highest rated undergraduate business program by most rating agencies, I would fit in there I believe, and competition for San Francisco jobs/internships aren’t as fierce as a city like NYC or Boston as only two colleges are really competing for a lot of jobs. (W&L’s lexington has virtually no jobs except at the university, although DC is about 2.5 hours away). Rumors of cutthroat competition in business program (not a total turnoff).

Berkeley, being public, won’t give as careful care to individuals to insure success like W&L would.

I’m also considering NYU Stern.

NYU Stern is a 4-year business program that is slightly more selective than NYU as a whole. It’s the most complete undergraduate business education and I may not need to go to grad school immediately or at all after graduation. NYU has the best location. I’m worried about moving away from contacts and experience. I don’t think I want to live in Virginia for my career, but New York and San Francisco would be great.

Expenses (including some transportation and all food, room, books, tuition, fees (not frat fees if I choose to do that)): I have virtually a full ride at W&L (Robert E Lee Scholar), a manageable 8k/year for UC Berkeley (in state) and a 23k/year cost at NYU which is after a very generous institution grant but still rather painful (minimal parent contribution at any school).

Thanks for any help you can offer to help me decide!