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Hey guys, my cousin advise me to pursue a business career, she said that's where all the money goes, especially Invesment Banking..... So, I was wondering if there's any good business schools in CA (besides Pepperdine - yikes!).

I know UCI has no business school, nor does UCSD. I'm so lost here. HEELLLPPP!! Thx!

By Zevdebee (Zevdebee) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 01:58 am: Edit

USC

By Zero (Zero) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 01:58 am: Edit

cal poly
sdsu
usc

this is from what i've heard

By Im_Blue (Im_Blue) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 02:09 am: Edit

undergrad business rankings:
3. Berkeley
11. USC
53. Santa Clara
64. Pepperdine, SDSU
83. University of San Diego
117. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Loyola Marymount, SJSU, USF

By Scubasteve (Scubasteve) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 02:10 am: Edit

you're missing the best one... haas @ berkley

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 02:21 am: Edit

Clearly Stanford is best although it doesn't have a business major. To be an investment banker you will need an MBA from a top school and you will have the best chance of landing in one from Stanford.

By Lazieeryceboi (Lazieeryceboi) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 02:54 am: Edit

Wow.. thx a lot u guys!!

One Question: I heard that it doesn't really matter what ur undergraduate major is, it only matters when u get ur MBA. Is this true?

I friend of mine majored in English for her undergraduate studies and then she went to UCSF for pharmacy school. Can I do that for business?.. Cuz I want to major language and get on some of the UC Education Abroad Programs.

By Im_Blue (Im_Blue) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 03:35 am: Edit

Top MBA programs generally don't take fresh college grads. The typical student has at least a few years of work experience. It doesn't matter what you majored in, but it might affect your first job.

By An0n (An0n) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 05:21 am: Edit

USC has a program developed entirely for business (set curriculum throughout the 4 years). Berkeley is another school I know of with an undergraduate business program, but you have to apply at the end of your sophomore year i believe. Besides, LA is USC's playground, can't do wrong with a business degree from USC!

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 07:17 am: Edit

Public:
Berkeley HAAS, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU

Private:
Stanford, USC, Pepperdine, USD

But if you truly want to be an investment banker you should be fine with an undergraduate business degree from HAAS or Stanford, possibly even USC. The other schools will be more difficult due to the fact they don't have as large a reputation nationally. MBA's are just for people who didn't know what they wanted to do as an undergraduate, or chose to study something else. Getting an undergrad business degree and then an MBA would be stupid and repetitive, just in my personal opinion.

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 10:21 am: Edit

If i banking is what you really want, do consider leaving CA for college if Stanford isn't a reality. Top banks hire from very, very few schools and I've met few from USC and UC's, Pppperdine, USD and the others. Undergrad major does not matter. i banks remain clubs for ivy leaguers and top lac grads, as do top B schools.

By Tdizzo (Tdizzo) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 11:46 am: Edit

you're missing Claremont-Mckenna from that list. excellent undergrad business....AMAZING if you're interested in IB. Also (unlike many of the schools listed above) you will be taught by actuall prof. instead of TAs and maintain extremely small class size

By Lazieeryceboi (Lazieeryceboi) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 04:56 pm: Edit

So do you think I should go straight to a undergrad. business school or should I go to a UC and major in Linguistics, then get my MBA from one of the top colleges?

Im_Blue "But if you truly want to be an investment banker you should be fine with an undergraduate business degree from HAAS or Stanford, possibly even USC. The other schools will be more difficult due to the fact they don't have as large a reputation nationally."
-- Reality is that I will probably not get accepted into Stanford, Berkeley, or USC for my undergrad. so my chances of landing a good IB job is definitely going to be slim.

Or should I just transfer from a UC to Berkeley at the end of my sophomore year?
--An0n:"Berkeley is another school I know of with an undergraduate business program, but you have to apply at the end of your sophomore year I believe."

Mom101: I'll definitely consider leaving California for my MBA, but I would kind of rather stay within CA borders for undergrad. for family sake.

Tdizzo: Claremont-Mckenna is not even ranked according to US News.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/mba/brief/mbarank_brief.php
Do you think I'll have a good chance of getting into IB with a degree from Claremont? Because I heard that IB is a very competitive career.

Sorry for the long post, guys. Thx so much! you guys are the best! I feel so welcomed.

By Bunmushroom (Bunmushroom) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Stanoford Biz is one of the best if not the best in the nation. Ranked #2 behind Harvard and ahead of Wharton. But it has the lowest acceptance rate of any biz school

By Tdizzo (Tdizzo) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 05:49 pm: Edit

Think I might have been confused by the question...Claremont-Mckenna is solely undergrad with no attached graduate program. However, I personally know at least 15 people who graduated from Claremont who were either hired directly by IB firms or have defered employment contracts signed

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 05:58 pm: Edit

Claremont is a fine choice for undergrad, but if you can't get into USC it seems like that would be a long shot too. Top B schools do take kids from all over if you distinguish yourself as an undergrad, so there's hope there. As for whether to get an undergrad biz degree, it seems to be on the upswing. It's going to be very competitive for your generation out there, and some believe that specializing early is important. I notice that Donald Trump sent all 3 of his kids to Wharton undergrad.

By Afterhours (Afterhours) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 06:18 pm: Edit

"Hey guys, my cousin advise me to pursue a business career, she said that's where all the money goes, especially Invesment Banking..... So, I was wondering if there's any good business schools in CA (besides Pepperdine - yikes!)"

My friend just graduated (undergrad) at USC (Marshall School of Business) and is now working at Goldman Sachs as an I-Banker.

If you're looking for a business program in the southland, USC is the place to go. If you're up north go to Haas @ Berkeley.

By Im_Blue (Im_Blue) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 06:32 pm: Edit

If you must stay in California, my advice would be to get a high GPA and try to transfer to Berkeley or USC.

By Kevin720 (Kevin720) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 07:23 pm: Edit

Strictly from a "prestige" standpoint, I'd go with either Berkeley or Stanford.

From a value standpoint, you would certainly get your money's worth from attending Berkeley's Haas, since USC, Claremont, and Stanford all charge a ridiculously pretty penny. I probably wouldn't have chosen to attend SC's Marshall and pay over $42,000/year had I not received the substantial scholarship, since I could've attended Haas or UCLA's BizEcon program for half the price.

However, having the proper connections is as important in business than just about any other field. If you're hoping to seek employment straight out of ug school, not many schools in the nation can match up to the tremendous alumni base of USC, especially in southern Cali. It is arguably the biggest selling point of this school.

It is true that where you receive your MBA pretty much overshadows where you received the ug business degree, so majoring in language in ug school is not a bad idea.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 07:48 pm: Edit

mom101 if you want to be an investment banker near and around wall street, going to an ivy league is probably a good idea. Me + mom101 have this private vs. public rivalry going on, it's fun.
Although, if you want to become an investment banker anywhere else, you can always as Kevin said, major in another language, then get an MBA, then you'll be set for international investment banking.


But if you want to make money and live on the west coast, the options trading floor is located in San Francisco and the bond market is huge in San Diego. Lots of money can be made in options and bonds, you don't need to be an investment banker. You just need some capital.

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 12:27 am: Edit

OK saved, you're right on some stuff and wrong on others. Options trading is unto itself, not what most people are talking about when we think typical i banker. In i banks there are corp finance people (where the ivys have a stronghold) and traders, where they have typically been more open to more schools but lately has become more ivy, too. The problem with USC is that it's a just on the rise school, not a school that has minted bankers for decades and has a powerful base on the street. You are very right about languages as this is a totally global business and knowing a few will be a huge advantage. Do I even need to comment on Cal and i banking?

By Ubercollegeman (Ubercollegeman) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 02:40 am: Edit

If you want to Berkeley's Haas program, know that you cannot just apply to it directly as a freshman. You must apply to the Haas school after your SOPHOMORE year at Berkeley. So if you plan on going to Haas, prepare to work fairly hard for it (3.70+ GPA, which isn't so easy when an A- is 3.5 already).

By Im_Blue (Im_Blue) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 02:48 am: Edit

I thought A- = 3.67 or 3.7 at most places. Some have AB = 3.5.

By Ubercollegeman (Ubercollegeman) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 03:46 am: Edit

You know what, you're right. A- is a 3.7, and a B+ is a 3.3.

Still, it's hard .

By Lazieeryceboi (Lazieeryceboi) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 07:08 pm: Edit

Okay, Thx for the help. I think I've made my decision already. I'll go to UCI, then transfer at the end of my sophmore year into Haas. Does this sound logical? Or should I go to a community college then transfer, that way I'll most likely will get a high GPA when I transfer.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 07:11 pm: Edit

Trust me, mom101, i know a pretty good deal about investment banking. I was just informing the OP that mega bucks can also be made in the options game and the bond game, you just have to be good at what you do. You can have an IVY diploma but if you're not cut out for the I-banking job you're out. It's all about pitching companies, introducing bonds and taking the crumbs. Although the crumbs account to millions of dollars. It's actually quite funny how many kids our age want to become investment bankers, yet they have no idea what I-bankers actually do. They just know the money is good. Be warned you'll be working 18 hour days for a good 8 years straight.

Perhaps all the times i'm "wrong", i'm just looking at things from a different perspective. Everything you say may be correct from your perspective, although things may also be correct from my perspective. Just out of curiosity what do you as a career, you seem to be really interested in all the "business" threads?

By Im_Blue (Im_Blue) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 07:31 pm: Edit

You should go to UCI, not community college. You never know if you'll change your major or career aspirations.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:03 pm: Edit

I'd say you should apply to UCB in the first place if you want to go to Haas. It can be very, very difficult to transfer from UC to UC, especially into a highly selective program like Haas. Good luck!

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:35 pm: Edit

Saved, I was a consultant and am now a Ph.D. candidate (education). My husband is the i banker as are his three brothers and my own brother. It is amazing how many of you youngsters want to be i bankers, and it does appear it is for the money. Think hard guys, it really isn't for everyone. The hours are long, stress high and many don't make it.

By Lazieeryceboi (Lazieeryceboi) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 12:25 am: Edit

Yikes! You guys are scaring me!
Saved: "Be warned you'll be working 18 hour days for a good 8 years straight."
Are u serious?!! Are u exaggerating?

So you guys are saying that not only do you have to work your a** off to get into a top school, you still have to 18 hrs/ day for 8 years afterward?!! Not to mention that there's a high chance that you won't make it?!!! OMG! Is IB reallying that tedious? I'm having doubts already!

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 12:38 am: Edit

Not only do you have to get into a top college, but you really must go to a top grad school. And you have to do very well at the grad school too. I should also mention that there are i banking qualities which you will need to have to land a job, especially at a bulgebracket or highly reguarded private equity firm. Then you start working the 18 hour days.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 05:30 am: Edit

Yeah, there was no exaggeration in what i said. If you want to see if I-bankig is cut out for you, read the book Monkey Business, it does a pretty good job of depicting the I-banking world. Although, I have family members who are I-Bankers and enjoy what they do. Be warned you may have to move to other countries for short periods of time and the first 8 years aren't very steady, especially since our economy is moving from a domestic one to much more of a global economy. The money is good, the work however is volatile. So mom101 i'm assuming you live in the heart of New York, probably manhattan?

Although it seems my family member now at the age of 32 has it much easier, he can "vacation" for a month during the summer. So perhaps all that hard work can pay off in the long run.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 05:33 am: Edit

Landing an excellent I-banking job is more dependent on who you know in the business, as opposed to what school you went to. The reason going to a top school is important is merely for connection purposes. If you made the proper connections as an undergraduate, don't bother going to a great grad school, many times if they see you have great potential and stuff, they'll take the liberty to send you to a grad school and pay for it etc. From what i've been told, typically upon your interview, they'll know if you're I-banking material or not. They love to recruit from the top schools such as Harvard, Wharton etc. But if you don't have excellent "social skills" you're out, it doesn't matter how high your IQ is.

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 09:31 am: Edit

Saved, I could not disagree more about what B school you go to. In my experience it is crucial to go to a top school. You simply don't meet i bankers often who did not. Most i banks and related businesses recruit only at very top schools. Even an important clients kid from an average school does not stand a hope. I do agree that many like this work. This is an important note. Read the thread on corp. lawyers; there are many high paying jbs people hate consistently. And I live in Silicon Valley though we did stints in NY as well. The last thing I note is your comment about living in other countries/ This is very true, but we are not talking for a few months, and generally it will not be by choice. One of my brother's in law has, in the last 10 years with a major bank, lived in NY, London, Sydney, Toronto, London. With kids and a wife with her own interests, this has not been easy. Another got sent to London years ago from NY and is still there. He has responsibilities in Asia and is there much of the time. I have been luckier in choosing lifestyle as my Husband started his private equity firm, but we've still moved around more than most would choose to. I enjoy it though and my kids have had amazing exposure and will never be afraid to go anywhere.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 10:45 am: Edit

Yeah my family member who is an IB, was in Tokyo and London. I live around silicon valley as well, i'm not sure if you're familiar with Lamorinda...lafayette, moraga, orinda. I've heard from a very very high up person at a certain bulge bracket firm, that work experience is just as crucial if not more crucial than the "name" of your degree. But anyways, I'm just curious as to what ethnicity you are? You sound very much like most asian mothers I've talked to. Asians have an incredible work ethic when it comes to school.

By Kevin720 (Kevin720) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 05:02 am: Edit

A solid education is essential in all fields of business, but more so in some than others. I-banking, like law and medicine, just happens to be a field where an ivy league-like education is weighted pretty heavily. This is partly because, for one, it's inherently more technical than most other business professions, and also because NY is the center of the i-banking world. Coming from the northeast, top private firms of Wall Street definitely have traditional predilections as far as alma maters.

However, the initial topic of this thread is "Good Business schools in CA," not "Good i-banking schools." About 99% of the rest of the jobs in the world of business simply don't weight this ivy league criteria as heavily. Financial consulting is a perfect example; a bachelor's degree isn't even needed in this field. What is needed are excellent interpersonal skills and connections. Here, a Harvard degree won't be very advantageous if the communication ability is inept and the clientele weak.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 05:37 am: Edit

If your going to take anything with you in the business world these qualities are very very important. Kevy kev couldn't be more on the MONEY......


What is needed are excellent interpersonal skills and connections

By Mom101 (Mom101) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 09:38 am: Edit

I do agree with the asian parents on a few things educationally, my kids always seem to be competing with theirs for top honors at school, but alas, I'm wasp.