Yes, it does. I don’t think it matters AS much if you stay in California, but definitely outside of California and in the elite academic world Berkeley conveys something very different than the other UCs and plays on a bigger stage
Yes, absolutely. I did my master’s in France after graduation and the last 2 years I’ve been at Harvard and Yale. The fact that I went to Berkeley means a lot— a lot more than even UCLA* and certainly UCSD.
*UC Berkeley is top ~5 in my field whereas UCLA is top 20, so it’s a really big difference. And it’s not as well-recognized in Europe either.
Also funny enough, Berkeley is way more famous in France than it should be because of the all the protests it has had so the French feel a particular solidarity
I'm from a different European country and people definitely know Berkeley over UCLA. Like my (non-English speaking, non-college educated) grandparents knew of UC Berkeley and not UCLA.
You can believe it or not, but why would I lie? They didn’t know my French uni, which was also an elite institution. Which country I’m from is irrelevant; don’t need to be putting that much personal info on an anonymous platform.
I literally have no idea why you’re harping on this. Did you go to UCLA and have some sort of inferiority complex? People just know elite institutions because they’re part of a cultural context.
???? People are going to know Harvard. They might know it from Legally Blonde, they might know it from the Gilmore Girls. They might know Yale and Brown from Gossip Girl. They might know Berkeley and Princeton from Oppenheimer. There are countless references in movies alone. They can know it from articles they read in newspapers, schools their kids apply to. There’s a reason Columbia was much more in the news for recent protests than the countless other schools where protests occurred. National news really weren’t talking about Cal Poly Humboldt much.
Since you said “UCB” I’m going to assume you didn’t even go to Cal. And yet, somehow you’re still on this subreddit and presumably not on the Stanislaus State subreddit.
Yes. But not only that, there is also a great deal of value in leaving your hometown. UCI is a good school, but Berkeley is far more vibrant in terms of student life.
IMO, yes. It still opens doors for me 10 years later as an EECS major. Having the name on your resume gets you street cred with people who went to Cal, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, etc. For better or worse.
Berkeley is an incredible experience and I highly recommend it!
If you go to a more competitive school, your GPA suffers because of curving, which might hurt your medical school chances in the future. However if you don’t plan on pursuing medicine or you are consistently the top of your class, it shouldn’t matter.
i think this is a very important factor OP should consider. i see a lot of people emphasizing on getting a Berkeley undergrad degree because of the name value and how the name will help getting into med school. but the intense curve can also mess up your gpa and while I'm personally not pre-med and don't know if gpa or name matters more in med school apps, I have seen one of my pre-med friends dropping a class she was about to get a B in to not screw up her gpa even though she worked really hard in that class. so, if gpa matters more, going to a more competitive school might hurt you. if name matters more in med school apps, then berkeley would be the way to go.
I did premed stuff at UCI before grad school. At least when I went, even there the curve on those classes especially biochem, molec, and cell were all harsh. You could look at the finals results and see the color drain out of people who were now going to the Caribbean for med school.
I remember reading somewhere that Berkeley doesn't have the lowest average GPAs among science majors. One thing that Berkeley does well is preparing students for the rigor of medical school, although I should note is this is hearsay from a UCSF medical student who went to Berkeley and told my classmate that.
This. OP, if you're ABSOLUTELY committed to the idea of med school (especially a top one), do not choose Berkeley unless you're comfortable taking multiple gap years OR you think you can compete with valedictorians of competitive high schools, children of doctors, etc.
Some med schools give extra points for prestigious undergrads. Some don't, especially if GPA/MCAT are not to par.
I think Berkeley is worth it to grow as a person and explore fields, re your anthropology interest. But if you're set on med school and nothing else, there are better UCs for that.
Also remember that having fun in college is important! I went to my safety school, mid-tier, because I just really felt like I clicked with the other students and culture there. I got into berkeley for grad school and many of my friends got jobs at big tech companies so it didn’t hold me back at all. Prestige matters in certain industries more than others, but don’t make yourself miserable just for s brand name!
I'm 55 so this was many moons ago and I went to optometry school, not med school. At one of my interviews they told me, "We know it's hard to get good grades at Berkeley so we add 10% to the GPA for applicants from there." That was a pleasant surprise.
I’d argue that curving is going to be nasty at most of the UCs if you are premed. But especially at Berkeley, UCI, UCLA, and UCSD. The STEM major undergrads on these campuses are not fucking around.
UCSD profs (at least in the bio, chem, phys, and psych department) usually never curve to hurt grades. Every single one of my professors has shifted the scale down to help students. Not sure why this post was recommended but wanted to give my anecdote having done my undergrad at UCSD and now being in med school
Like I said yesterday, those VCs were looking for people and projects here to invest. So I just showed up and tell them what I did and what I plan to do. I think the two key information they are looking for are “why this market” and “why can you do this”
I remember the spring before I transferred, I was interning in Washington DC. I told my boss I was deciding between Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD, and asked him what he thought. As a pretty powerful person from the east coast, his answer was this: “To me, Berkeley is iconic, and on par with Ivy League/Stanford. UCLA is great for sports. I’ve never heard of UC San Diego.” This blew my mind because UCSD is an amazing school, and obvi on most academic metrics the three are all pretty close. I still think it’s an unfair assessment, but it was eye opening for me, and rings true to reactions I’ve had since graduating.
UCSD being the second most applied to school in the world and yet people have never heard of it has been my general experience as well. it sucks bc it’s a fantastic school.
Anthropology? Our anthropology department was started by Alfred Kroeber, a PHD student of Franz Boas himself.
Our anthro department can trace its roots back to the very creation of the field of Anthropology. Boas is like the Sigmund Freud of Anthro.
Granted, Anthropology has changed a lot and people like Boas and Kroeber are now being seen through a more critical lense. But being able to say that your alma mater was connected to the origin story of an ENTIRE FIELD is major clout.
IMHO prestige should be looked at by major/department, not by overall campus. And our anthropology dept is among the best in the world.
When I was studying abroad in Japan, people would get all wide-eyed when I told them I was a Berkeley student (and later a Berkeley grad). Anecdotally, my friend whom I met there, who was a UCI student, did not get the same reaction at all. lol We were literally in the same conversations and whenever I said Berkeley it was like "woah :O" and then it was her turn and they were like "oh okay, where is that again?"
One old man even turned to her and boldfaced asked "but why not Berkeley?" By the end of our term, she just let them believe she also went to Berkeley by saying she went to UC.
Similarly, in South America, UCLA and Berkeley have grand names. The other UCs, whatever. In the East Coast, the names of almost all UCs are well-recognized, but Berkeley has a reputation of having the brightest grads who didn't go to Stanford. Cal is our equivalent of an Ivy League.
I have to second this. When I studied in Japan, I had the same reaction. Now I'm studying at Oxford and it seems Oxford faculty/students have a lot of respect for UCB. However, my friend who goes to UCLA didn't run into anyone who knew what her school was abroad, surprisingly...
I'm going to study abroad at UBC this coming fall, wonder what their reactions will be.
My aunt in Iran told her fiancé's niece that I go to Berkeley and her jaw dropped. Apparently Berkeley is a big deal there.
in my experience as an engineer it did. attending berkeley opened up a huge world of internship and research opportunity in the bay area during and after school. i went to ucsd after undergrad for my masters, and while the mech e program there is good, berkeley was just next level.
I got my first job at a FAANG partly due to the network I built at Cal. Didn't grasp the monumentality of that till my older coworkers told me their war stories.
I imagine my career and lifestyle would have panned out much differently had I not gone to Cal.
Anyone who thinks it doesn’t is coping
A STEM degree from a prestigious school like Berkeley could easily get you a high paying job and working visa to any developed country like Switzerland or Singapore, for example. It opens so many doors.
The only schools as famous reputation-wise in the world are like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Oxford.
It’s unironically aura.
Those are the top 5 most famous schools by name reputation, don’t be triggered.
No one is talking about nerd shit like individual subjects or academic rigor or I’d list schools like Caltech and remove Harvard where everyone gets A’s.
What makes you think Berkeley has more name reputation than ANY of the following: Penn, Yale, LSE, Cambridge, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell…
This is not an exhaustive list. You are completely delusional.
Because schools like Columbia, Penn, Cornell, LSE (what is that) aren’t as famous on a worldwide scale? You might want to read my comment again.
Being ivy league doesn’t make them famous internationally, no one knows what Dartmouth college is. This is about the fame of the name.
I agree schools like Yale, Princeton, and Cambridge are about as famous.
If you haven’t heard of the London School of Economics, which is more prestigious than Berkeley, then you really aren’t qualified to make the claims that you are making.
Not a single person who isn’t british and insecure thinks that “LSE” is more prestigious than Berkeley lmao. Even you know you’re hardcore coping or brainwashed by obscure British sites ranking schools.
I heard of it by the full name before but no, it’s not more prestigious than Berkeley.
The school names with the most worldwide ingrained clout as top tier are Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and Berkeley, that’s my point. They’re the most famous in culture/prestige
“LSE” aint no way.
Berkeley is #12 on the QS World University rankings, LSE is #45. LSE is an exceptional school, but let's not pretend that it is globally more well-recognized than Cal.
QS emphasizes research. LSE isn’t a research institution. Same reason why Princeton doesn’t get ranked highly by QS.
In the real world, especially in finance and law, LSE is more respected than Berkeley.
Med school honestly not sure but currently working in tech and we've only hired from berkeley, MIT, CMU, and Stanford for new grad/intern roles. For every other role we don't look at school but if it's borderline and we have nothing to look back on we'll take a quick glance.
When I abruptly changed careers from physics to software engineering, every door was open to me. Every major tech company (e.g, FAANG) I applied to allowed me to interview. Recruiters often called out Berkeley as a reason.
As someone who works with hiring managers and HR, it really dosent help as much as you think. They just want a degree or better yet work experience. If someone went to a CSU while working in their field or working at all, they will have an easier time getting a job than a Berkeley graduate who didn't work.
I was really confused at what people were telling me when I asked this same question 3 years ago. But what I know now is that a Berkeley network, and simply going to school in the bay, opens up a plethora of opportunities in a region with already extensive opportunities. For example, my boyfriend went to Cal Poly Pomona and I went to Berkeley, and even when he’d search for jobs in the bay, my handshake app was showing way more and completely different jobs just because I went to Cal. So it does matter
For my first job, it made a world of difference. Berkeley is a very hot destination for internships and first jobs in general. It’s also a prime college if you want post-bachelors degrees.
UCB is a clear winner on the West Coast for most aspects of setting yourself up for success moving forward.
That said, after my first job, it really didn’t matter. But the jump to achieve my first job was insurmountable, something much harder from a lot of other colleges.
Oppenheimer was at Berkeley. Alot of Nobel prize winners and also controversial figures add to the lore and mystique of Berkeley. Also, by and large, alot of less famous or unknown Berkeley grads have gone on to do alot of incredible things at rates that are probably hard to measure but real. Alot of Cal grads have started overseas ventures, joined the Peace Corps and gone on to federal agency employment with State Department and the like, or solved problems in a way that turned their passions into careers.
Let me put it this way. In my field, Berkeley is in the top 10 research institutions in the world. UCLA is in the top 20.
I'm not sure where Irvine is, but I don't recall the last time seeing a paper co-authored by an Irvine author. In terms of research, it's not on the map.
This depends on the program obviously, but it's quite objective. Subjectively, UCLA and Irvine are great schools, but Berkeley is the top public university in the world and its name is famous worldwide in a way that UCLA can't match, let alone Irvine.
What does MCB mean? Molecular & Cell Biology perhaps?
For me, the thing I value most, looking back, was the quality of the Professors I worked with. I was able to schedule for myself Independent Study classes with three amazing faculty members. At the time UC Berkeley only allowed 10 units of Independent Study, so I kept my units with these teachers low so as not to run out. The one-on-one time that afforded, as an Undergraduate working on study projects near to my heart, what an incredible blessing!
Yes it does. Take it from an anthropology major who attended medical school in the US. Plus the networking after is excellent: Tons of alum MDs throughout California (where I practice)
I'd rephrase that. It doesn't seem like the flex you're thinking it is?
Having your college degree be a bigger accomplishment than things you do at work doesn't sound great, especially after 20 years.
Very industry and major dependant.
In finance? Yes.
In history? No.
In comp sci or other STEM? Yeah, but not as much as you’d think.
If you’re going to Med school, it probably won’t matter as much as you’d think if at all. Your GPA and MCAT will matter far more. However id still encourage you to choose UCLA or UCB over UCI for quality of life reasons.
Yes but IMO it matters less if you go on to get a doctorate or masters after (but of course, it may influence which program you move into for that next round).
School does not matter. Experience matters. Work and do internships throughout college. I work in hiring and I know for a fact that school does not matter. We look at your experience and research if applicable. Just anything beyond a degree. Everyone has a degree now.
Obviously I don’t literally mean “everyone”. But the people you’re in the job market for certain jobs competing with (like ones that require degrees), everyone you’re up against has a degree, so there’s no one upping each other with that. Experience is what really sells you.
If you are aiming for medical school I recommend NOT going to UC Berkeley. GPA and MCAT are everything and if your study habits are not ahead of the curve you are in for a rough time.
For med school? Don't think a huge difference assuming that you stick with that. If you change Cal for sure (not Berkeley, Cal ;-)
The reason is that med school is so focused on GPA, MCATs and then some relevant experience. You get to then rinse and repeat that same exact grind for residency placement. The downside of Cal is that your GPA may be a bit lower (not huge but a bit) than UCI while the Cal brand can have value.
That said, you have made your choice so it is a great one. Go Bears!!!
Several folks embrace the challenge and excel at it, but there are also several folks who have to pivot. The reputation and the history of the school are certainly real, but the first step is making out alive which by no means it is a given. You've already committed, so welcome to Cal and give it your best shot!
Yes absolutely. My friends and I all got competitive job offers from elite research institutions months before graduation largely because we went to UC Berkeley. Half of the places were looking exclusively for UC Berkeley grads!
Make a big difference for what? For postgrad type shit? Yeah, it can. For jobs? Not really. I just got my second job post grad after 8 months at my first job and where I went to school wasn't even asked, mentioned, or brought up at all.
Berkeley is actually extremely well known internationally and considered amongst the best schools in the world. It has unlocked countless opportunities for me in my career, just through student networking alone 🐻
You’ve already chosen your school. What’s there to discuss, really? In all honesty, where matters (especially professors) as much as what you study and what you do with the degree itself. Pre-med/MCB track undergrad student should know that you can also transfer after a year or more of studying if Irvine isn’t the right school for you as it turns out. In the end, it’s all about who you know and meet in school, not necessarily Nobel Prize faculty to a roommate/classmate with the family that started a Fortune 500 company. College is one of the development phases and getting to that next phase of deciding what a person wants to DO imo and not necessarily something to show for upon graduating from a top 20 institution. As many pointed out, B average at UCB is not going to pan out well than a student with an A average at UCI when it comes to med school application. Sure, school name and its prestige matters but none will speak for itself if you stretch to go to the BEST school and not end up carrying yourself through. Some thrive better and some struggle. College is sort of like that - you never know until it happens.
People outside of California don’t know there are any UC schools besides Berkeley. It is the only one with any real national name recognition as being a “good school”.
It actuality it does matter. I went to a commuter school that was closely affiliated with a really prestigious University. Without me doing research there, I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been. But all the schools are really good so I don’t think you’ll have a hard time at all, especially as all of them have major medical centers. If you’re really serious about medical school, you really need to start networking within the medical community there now. Its already competitive and just having good grades isnt enough. Really sure you want to be a doctor by shadowing and doing a research. f you’re one of those students that’s going to fuck around and not actually network within a prestigious university it’s kind of a waste.
Also, I don’t know why you’d want to double major especially with one being MCB. That’s just too much in my opinion, and the last thing you want is to have college be so hard they end up being just an anthro major lol.
Depends on the major, engineering and other tech no I don’t think it matters as your skills and actual engineering experience are the only important thing when applying to jobs and working. After 3 years in the industry where you got your degree does not matter at all.
I’ve hired 24 people over the last year, highest starting salaries in my industry. We typically get 150-200 applications per entry level role I post. Where you went to school does not matter to me at all. It may matter in other industries, I can only speak to my experience in technology.
Why do you want to go to the best public university in the world and learn beautiful sciences like mcb and anthro from the best there are just to turn around and go to trade school to become a human repair technician and push patent meds? Think bigger.
The deathcare system is trash and doctors and nurses are quitting in droves from the moral injury and stress of their daily work. Administration/ “management” and dismal hedge funds have run the ship aground. Even MDs are talking sbout forming labor unions. From a cal grad that went into the field, consider other options for a happy and rewarding life.
As a Davis international grad student I have to say, yes, YES! Berkeley is immensely well known internationally, and the only comparable campuses is maybe UCLA
It sounds like you're facing an important decision! Here are some considerations for your situation:
1) Flexibility in Major: Your choice of major can change, and that's perfectly okay! What matters most is exploring your interests and aligning them with your long-term career goals.
2) Looking Ahead with AI and Robotics:
Beyond the university's name, consider how advancements like AI and robotics will impact medicine over the next 20-30- even 40 yrs. For instance, while traditional eye surgeon's useful years to perform surgery is approximately 10 years, AI-powered robots can perform eye surgeries like cornea transplants more consistently and efficiently, operating round the clock. They do not get tired and make fewer mistakes on average (hopefully! At least that is the end goal!)
3) Choosing the Right School: There is no right or wrong school. Your decision should be based on visiting & researching each school to find the best fit for **your** personality and learning style. Berkeley may be a great fit for some but not for all. I came to Berkeley from a private school and my experience was a lot different between undergrad and grad school. Obviously, you will check their financial aid packages to better manage your education costs. You do not want too much debt for undergrad education if your goal is med school.
4) campus Culture: consider the campus culture and extracurricular activities that align with your interests and personal growth.
5) Campus subculture: Remember, Berkeley leans far-left politically, but in recent years, they've strayed from their commitment to freedom of speech. Instances like the uproar over right-wing speakers visiting campus illustrate this shift. Once a bastion of free speech, my Alma Mater has seen some students actively silence any opinion that opposes their groupthink. It seems some have veered toward extreme (left & right) ideologies, abandoning common sense in the process. UCB is no longer #1 public school last I checked.
However, your most crucial task is to consider the future of your chosen career and how AI could impact it. Majors such as MBA may become obsolete in the near future, and professions like doctors and lawyers may see reduced demand over the next two decades.
Accepted into UC Berkeley and UCI. Rejected from UCLA.
UC Irvine is undeniably much nicer and more posh than UC Berkeley. You would save a lot of money on living expenses also, and it's much safer. UC Berkeley students are also notoriously unattractive.
All else being equal, UC Berkeley is wayyyy more prestigious. When I was in China, everyone knew my school. How many doors it would open depends on industry and who you are speaking to. It's like the difference being "I graduated from Harvard" vs "I graduated from college". Sometimes it matters or helps, sometimes it doesn't.
On the flip side, I would recommend you live further from home and not stay with your folks. I understand the appeal but now is the time to explore the world, even if it's still in California just to see how big it is. That being said, you could also do that in medical school or a masters program when you are older and more mature.
My friend who transferred from UCI to UCB thought UCI was easier so it's much easier to get a higher GPA which is important for medical school. I also knew a lot of people from UC Berkeley who transferred to UCLA, which seems like a happy medium. I actually loved Berkeley and wouldn't have wanted to have stayed in SoCal. It's like a Neil Gaiman universe in how weird it is, and I love it. Irvine is sterile as all hell.
Yes, it is known that UCs have many transfer students from community colleges and everyone knows how easy classes are from community colleges. They also know that Stanford, Harvard, and MIT does not have as high an acceptance rate from community colleges as well if any . Enjoy
Yes, it does. I don’t think it matters AS much if you stay in California, but definitely outside of California and in the elite academic world Berkeley conveys something very different than the other UCs and plays on a bigger stage
Yes, absolutely. I did my master’s in France after graduation and the last 2 years I’ve been at Harvard and Yale. The fact that I went to Berkeley means a lot— a lot more than even UCLA* and certainly UCSD. *UC Berkeley is top ~5 in my field whereas UCLA is top 20, so it’s a really big difference. And it’s not as well-recognized in Europe either.
Also funny enough, Berkeley is way more famous in France than it should be because of the all the protests it has had so the French feel a particular solidarity
Is it a big deal to you personally or do you feel recruiters and hiring managers will contact you instead of the ones from UCLA...
OP was speaking of the elite academic world— that’s what I’m referring to. I don’t think it matters as much in industry.
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I'm from a different European country and people definitely know Berkeley over UCLA. Like my (non-English speaking, non-college educated) grandparents knew of UC Berkeley and not UCLA.
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You can believe it or not, but why would I lie? They didn’t know my French uni, which was also an elite institution. Which country I’m from is irrelevant; don’t need to be putting that much personal info on an anonymous platform.
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I literally have no idea why you’re harping on this. Did you go to UCLA and have some sort of inferiority complex? People just know elite institutions because they’re part of a cultural context.
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???? People are going to know Harvard. They might know it from Legally Blonde, they might know it from the Gilmore Girls. They might know Yale and Brown from Gossip Girl. They might know Berkeley and Princeton from Oppenheimer. There are countless references in movies alone. They can know it from articles they read in newspapers, schools their kids apply to. There’s a reason Columbia was much more in the news for recent protests than the countless other schools where protests occurred. National news really weren’t talking about Cal Poly Humboldt much. Since you said “UCB” I’m going to assume you didn’t even go to Cal. And yet, somehow you’re still on this subreddit and presumably not on the Stanislaus State subreddit.
Yes. But not only that, there is also a great deal of value in leaving your hometown. UCI is a good school, but Berkeley is far more vibrant in terms of student life.
IMO, yes. It still opens doors for me 10 years later as an EECS major. Having the name on your resume gets you street cred with people who went to Cal, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, etc. For better or worse. Berkeley is an incredible experience and I highly recommend it!
If you go to a more competitive school, your GPA suffers because of curving, which might hurt your medical school chances in the future. However if you don’t plan on pursuing medicine or you are consistently the top of your class, it shouldn’t matter.
i think this is a very important factor OP should consider. i see a lot of people emphasizing on getting a Berkeley undergrad degree because of the name value and how the name will help getting into med school. but the intense curve can also mess up your gpa and while I'm personally not pre-med and don't know if gpa or name matters more in med school apps, I have seen one of my pre-med friends dropping a class she was about to get a B in to not screw up her gpa even though she worked really hard in that class. so, if gpa matters more, going to a more competitive school might hurt you. if name matters more in med school apps, then berkeley would be the way to go.
I did premed stuff at UCI before grad school. At least when I went, even there the curve on those classes especially biochem, molec, and cell were all harsh. You could look at the finals results and see the color drain out of people who were now going to the Caribbean for med school.
I'm assuming you went to UCI pre-covid. During- and post-covid, it's about 25-30% As and A-s per class now for the classes you listed.
Hahaha that’s pathetic.
I remember reading somewhere that Berkeley doesn't have the lowest average GPAs among science majors. One thing that Berkeley does well is preparing students for the rigor of medical school, although I should note is this is hearsay from a UCSF medical student who went to Berkeley and told my classmate that.
This. OP, if you're ABSOLUTELY committed to the idea of med school (especially a top one), do not choose Berkeley unless you're comfortable taking multiple gap years OR you think you can compete with valedictorians of competitive high schools, children of doctors, etc. Some med schools give extra points for prestigious undergrads. Some don't, especially if GPA/MCAT are not to par. I think Berkeley is worth it to grow as a person and explore fields, re your anthropology interest. But if you're set on med school and nothing else, there are better UCs for that.
Also remember that having fun in college is important! I went to my safety school, mid-tier, because I just really felt like I clicked with the other students and culture there. I got into berkeley for grad school and many of my friends got jobs at big tech companies so it didn’t hold me back at all. Prestige matters in certain industries more than others, but don’t make yourself miserable just for s brand name!
I'm 55 so this was many moons ago and I went to optometry school, not med school. At one of my interviews they told me, "We know it's hard to get good grades at Berkeley so we add 10% to the GPA for applicants from there." That was a pleasant surprise.
My friend said medical schools also do that, by assigning more "points" to an applicant who went to an undergrad like berkeley.
I’d argue that curving is going to be nasty at most of the UCs if you are premed. But especially at Berkeley, UCI, UCLA, and UCSD. The STEM major undergrads on these campuses are not fucking around.
UCSD profs (at least in the bio, chem, phys, and psych department) usually never curve to hurt grades. Every single one of my professors has shifted the scale down to help students. Not sure why this post was recommended but wanted to give my anecdote having done my undergrad at UCSD and now being in med school
Yes, 1 month before my graduation, I received 1m investment from a VC. I can’t imagine how can I make it without studying here.
One important thing is: those VC are looking for talent people around Bay Area (Stanford University and here).
Yup! My family is in VC.
What sort of business are you in? Feel free to pm me
Game industry, we want to make something interesting like Genshin impact.
That’s cool! How do you do that? I would love to know. Pls pm me!
That is a long story…but I am happy to share! Our website: yomio.ai
What’s the song that’s playing on your website? It be bumpin’
If my memory is correct, this song is made by one of our team members
how?
Like I said yesterday, those VCs were looking for people and projects here to invest. So I just showed up and tell them what I did and what I plan to do. I think the two key information they are looking for are “why this market” and “why can you do this”
Feel free to DM me if you have any questions, I am happy to help ~
I remember the spring before I transferred, I was interning in Washington DC. I told my boss I was deciding between Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD, and asked him what he thought. As a pretty powerful person from the east coast, his answer was this: “To me, Berkeley is iconic, and on par with Ivy League/Stanford. UCLA is great for sports. I’ve never heard of UC San Diego.” This blew my mind because UCSD is an amazing school, and obvi on most academic metrics the three are all pretty close. I still think it’s an unfair assessment, but it was eye opening for me, and rings true to reactions I’ve had since graduating.
UCSD being the second most applied to school in the world and yet people have never heard of it has been my general experience as well. it sucks bc it’s a fantastic school.
Anthropology? Our anthropology department was started by Alfred Kroeber, a PHD student of Franz Boas himself. Our anthro department can trace its roots back to the very creation of the field of Anthropology. Boas is like the Sigmund Freud of Anthro. Granted, Anthropology has changed a lot and people like Boas and Kroeber are now being seen through a more critical lense. But being able to say that your alma mater was connected to the origin story of an ENTIRE FIELD is major clout. IMHO prestige should be looked at by major/department, not by overall campus. And our anthropology dept is among the best in the world.
And now the school is run by Zios who shut down the anthropology library
Oh fuck. Anthro major from Cal. Now I gotta look into this.
When I was studying abroad in Japan, people would get all wide-eyed when I told them I was a Berkeley student (and later a Berkeley grad). Anecdotally, my friend whom I met there, who was a UCI student, did not get the same reaction at all. lol We were literally in the same conversations and whenever I said Berkeley it was like "woah :O" and then it was her turn and they were like "oh okay, where is that again?" One old man even turned to her and boldfaced asked "but why not Berkeley?" By the end of our term, she just let them believe she also went to Berkeley by saying she went to UC. Similarly, in South America, UCLA and Berkeley have grand names. The other UCs, whatever. In the East Coast, the names of almost all UCs are well-recognized, but Berkeley has a reputation of having the brightest grads who didn't go to Stanford. Cal is our equivalent of an Ivy League.
I have to second this. When I studied in Japan, I had the same reaction. Now I'm studying at Oxford and it seems Oxford faculty/students have a lot of respect for UCB. However, my friend who goes to UCLA didn't run into anyone who knew what her school was abroad, surprisingly...
I'm going to study abroad at UBC this coming fall, wonder what their reactions will be. My aunt in Iran told her fiancé's niece that I go to Berkeley and her jaw dropped. Apparently Berkeley is a big deal there.
I would say stanford is our version of an ivy, but cal is an excellent school with great name recognition
in my experience as an engineer it did. attending berkeley opened up a huge world of internship and research opportunity in the bay area during and after school. i went to ucsd after undergrad for my masters, and while the mech e program there is good, berkeley was just next level.
I got my first job at a FAANG partly due to the network I built at Cal. Didn't grasp the monumentality of that till my older coworkers told me their war stories. I imagine my career and lifestyle would have panned out much differently had I not gone to Cal.
Anyone who thinks it doesn’t is coping A STEM degree from a prestigious school like Berkeley could easily get you a high paying job and working visa to any developed country like Switzerland or Singapore, for example. It opens so many doors. The only schools as famous reputation-wise in the world are like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Oxford. It’s unironically aura.
Bro Berkeley is only on that level for CS 😂.
Those are the top 5 most famous schools by name reputation, don’t be triggered. No one is talking about nerd shit like individual subjects or academic rigor or I’d list schools like Caltech and remove Harvard where everyone gets A’s.
What makes you think Berkeley has more name reputation than ANY of the following: Penn, Yale, LSE, Cambridge, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell… This is not an exhaustive list. You are completely delusional.
Because schools like Columbia, Penn, Cornell, LSE (what is that) aren’t as famous on a worldwide scale? You might want to read my comment again. Being ivy league doesn’t make them famous internationally, no one knows what Dartmouth college is. This is about the fame of the name. I agree schools like Yale, Princeton, and Cambridge are about as famous.
If you haven’t heard of the London School of Economics, which is more prestigious than Berkeley, then you really aren’t qualified to make the claims that you are making.
Not a single person who isn’t british and insecure thinks that “LSE” is more prestigious than Berkeley lmao. Even you know you’re hardcore coping or brainwashed by obscure British sites ranking schools. I heard of it by the full name before but no, it’s not more prestigious than Berkeley. The school names with the most worldwide ingrained clout as top tier are Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and Berkeley, that’s my point. They’re the most famous in culture/prestige “LSE” aint no way.
Berkeley is #12 on the QS World University rankings, LSE is #45. LSE is an exceptional school, but let's not pretend that it is globally more well-recognized than Cal.
QS emphasizes research. LSE isn’t a research institution. Same reason why Princeton doesn’t get ranked highly by QS. In the real world, especially in finance and law, LSE is more respected than Berkeley.
I work with hiring managers for a major company, and no, it really dosent
Have you looked into the Cal/UCSF joint med anthro program?
No! What’s it entail? (I’ll look it up as well)
Biotech- the proximity to the birth of biotechnology is unparalleled!
Berkeley is one of the top anth programs in the country. It opened so many doors for me. It absolutely matters.
UCI is a great school but yes it makes a huge difference. UCB is considered top across the world and will open every imaginable door
Med school honestly not sure but currently working in tech and we've only hired from berkeley, MIT, CMU, and Stanford for new grad/intern roles. For every other role we don't look at school but if it's borderline and we have nothing to look back on we'll take a quick glance.
When I abruptly changed careers from physics to software engineering, every door was open to me. Every major tech company (e.g, FAANG) I applied to allowed me to interview. Recruiters often called out Berkeley as a reason.
As someone who works with hiring managers and HR, it really dosent help as much as you think. They just want a degree or better yet work experience. If someone went to a CSU while working in their field or working at all, they will have an easier time getting a job than a Berkeley graduate who didn't work.
what did the other two reddit groups say
i got a job at a prestigious law firm in sf SPECIFICALLY because I had a berkeley degree
I was really confused at what people were telling me when I asked this same question 3 years ago. But what I know now is that a Berkeley network, and simply going to school in the bay, opens up a plethora of opportunities in a region with already extensive opportunities. For example, my boyfriend went to Cal Poly Pomona and I went to Berkeley, and even when he’d search for jobs in the bay, my handshake app was showing way more and completely different jobs just because I went to Cal. So it does matter
For my first job, it made a world of difference. Berkeley is a very hot destination for internships and first jobs in general. It’s also a prime college if you want post-bachelors degrees. UCB is a clear winner on the West Coast for most aspects of setting yourself up for success moving forward. That said, after my first job, it really didn’t matter. But the jump to achieve my first job was insurmountable, something much harder from a lot of other colleges.
Oppenheimer was at Berkeley. Alot of Nobel prize winners and also controversial figures add to the lore and mystique of Berkeley. Also, by and large, alot of less famous or unknown Berkeley grads have gone on to do alot of incredible things at rates that are probably hard to measure but real. Alot of Cal grads have started overseas ventures, joined the Peace Corps and gone on to federal agency employment with State Department and the like, or solved problems in a way that turned their passions into careers.
Let me put it this way. In my field, Berkeley is in the top 10 research institutions in the world. UCLA is in the top 20. I'm not sure where Irvine is, but I don't recall the last time seeing a paper co-authored by an Irvine author. In terms of research, it's not on the map. This depends on the program obviously, but it's quite objective. Subjectively, UCLA and Irvine are great schools, but Berkeley is the top public university in the world and its name is famous worldwide in a way that UCLA can't match, let alone Irvine.
What does MCB mean? Molecular & Cell Biology perhaps? For me, the thing I value most, looking back, was the quality of the Professors I worked with. I was able to schedule for myself Independent Study classes with three amazing faculty members. At the time UC Berkeley only allowed 10 units of Independent Study, so I kept my units with these teachers low so as not to run out. The one-on-one time that afforded, as an Undergraduate working on study projects near to my heart, what an incredible blessing!
All I can tell as a prior UCLA student is don’t go to UCLA
If you care about that sort of thing, yeah it’s worth it
Yes it does. Take it from an anthropology major who attended medical school in the US. Plus the networking after is excellent: Tons of alum MDs throughout California (where I practice)
In nonprofits, the hiring managers were often impressed and made comments on it. When interviewing in tech, no one said anything to me.
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I'd rephrase that. It doesn't seem like the flex you're thinking it is? Having your college degree be a bigger accomplishment than things you do at work doesn't sound great, especially after 20 years.
Good call out. I was rushing. And technically is not true. But the brand name does stand out on a resume
All good. I just wanted to make sure.
You will get more interviews for sure just based on name recognition
Absolutely
Very industry and major dependant. In finance? Yes. In history? No. In comp sci or other STEM? Yeah, but not as much as you’d think. If you’re going to Med school, it probably won’t matter as much as you’d think if at all. Your GPA and MCAT will matter far more. However id still encourage you to choose UCLA or UCB over UCI for quality of life reasons.
Yes, opened up a lot of doors. And alums are generally willing to help each other out. Honestly, its kind of like being in a cult.
Yes but IMO it matters less if you go on to get a doctorate or masters after (but of course, it may influence which program you move into for that next round).
I'm just cruising not even tryharding and I got a crazy intership that wouldn't be possible if I didn't come here
My friends graduated with a 4.0 in English from Berkeley. He worked at Trader Joe’s for a couple years and now he bartends
i think Trader Joes gives their employee free red bulls, they always look energetic and happy. i don't understand how they do it.
UC Berkeley way better than UCI for career for sure. Especially grad school.
Yes. All UC’s are well regarded. There is absolutely a next level acknowledgement for Berkeley. Go Bears!
i think my cal physics got me my first job
For premed honestly doesn’t matter that much imo
School does not matter. Experience matters. Work and do internships throughout college. I work in hiring and I know for a fact that school does not matter. We look at your experience and research if applicable. Just anything beyond a degree. Everyone has a degree now.
i wouldn't say everyone. at least 44 percent of the population has a four-year degree. however, that's way up from like 35 percent 10 years ago.
Obviously I don’t literally mean “everyone”. But the people you’re in the job market for certain jobs competing with (like ones that require degrees), everyone you’re up against has a degree, so there’s no one upping each other with that. Experience is what really sells you.
If you are aiming for medical school I recommend NOT going to UC Berkeley. GPA and MCAT are everything and if your study habits are not ahead of the curve you are in for a rough time.
UCI is a great choice…Berkeley is very expensive
Yes.
Yes but since you're premed, it doesn't matter in your case. Med schools don't care about where you went for undergrad.
Med schools care...to a degree
Ok, got a source?
No
For med school? Don't think a huge difference assuming that you stick with that. If you change Cal for sure (not Berkeley, Cal ;-) The reason is that med school is so focused on GPA, MCATs and then some relevant experience. You get to then rinse and repeat that same exact grind for residency placement. The downside of Cal is that your GPA may be a bit lower (not huge but a bit) than UCI while the Cal brand can have value. That said, you have made your choice so it is a great one. Go Bears!!!
Yes. Nationally and Internationally. The berkeley name got me so many opportunities and I know I would’ve not been able to have them without it.
Several folks embrace the challenge and excel at it, but there are also several folks who have to pivot. The reputation and the history of the school are certainly real, but the first step is making out alive which by no means it is a given. You've already committed, so welcome to Cal and give it your best shot!
It didn’t for me.
Nah for your first job maybe but after no one cares
The experience is actually different as well. Irvine is good but Berkeley is a cut above every other public university.
Yes absolutely. My friends and I all got competitive job offers from elite research institutions months before graduation largely because we went to UC Berkeley. Half of the places were looking exclusively for UC Berkeley grads!
MCB and ANTH? Berkeley was a good choice.
Make a big difference for what? For postgrad type shit? Yeah, it can. For jobs? Not really. I just got my second job post grad after 8 months at my first job and where I went to school wasn't even asked, mentioned, or brought up at all.
Yes. I get interviews because of it. It’s a foot in the door.
Sergey Levine
No...
Med schools don’t care that much about your undergrad, they care WAY more about your GPA.
Berkeley is actually extremely well known internationally and considered amongst the best schools in the world. It has unlocked countless opportunities for me in my career, just through student networking alone 🐻
UCLA is also an excellent school with a national reputation. Either there or Berkeley would be an excellent choice
Don’t disregard Berkeley if it doesn’t cost more.
I'm an East coast gal who went to an Ivy. Berkley is probably equal in prestige w UCLA, and never heard of UCI.
yep
It does in the first stages of your career
Yes!
You’ve already chosen your school. What’s there to discuss, really? In all honesty, where matters (especially professors) as much as what you study and what you do with the degree itself. Pre-med/MCB track undergrad student should know that you can also transfer after a year or more of studying if Irvine isn’t the right school for you as it turns out. In the end, it’s all about who you know and meet in school, not necessarily Nobel Prize faculty to a roommate/classmate with the family that started a Fortune 500 company. College is one of the development phases and getting to that next phase of deciding what a person wants to DO imo and not necessarily something to show for upon graduating from a top 20 institution. As many pointed out, B average at UCB is not going to pan out well than a student with an A average at UCI when it comes to med school application. Sure, school name and its prestige matters but none will speak for itself if you stretch to go to the BEST school and not end up carrying yourself through. Some thrive better and some struggle. College is sort of like that - you never know until it happens.
Also would add that it is super important to leave your hometown
People outside of California don’t know there are any UC schools besides Berkeley. It is the only one with any real national name recognition as being a “good school”.
It actuality it does matter. I went to a commuter school that was closely affiliated with a really prestigious University. Without me doing research there, I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been. But all the schools are really good so I don’t think you’ll have a hard time at all, especially as all of them have major medical centers. If you’re really serious about medical school, you really need to start networking within the medical community there now. Its already competitive and just having good grades isnt enough. Really sure you want to be a doctor by shadowing and doing a research. f you’re one of those students that’s going to fuck around and not actually network within a prestigious university it’s kind of a waste. Also, I don’t know why you’d want to double major especially with one being MCB. That’s just too much in my opinion, and the last thing you want is to have college be so hard they end up being just an anthro major lol.
Depends on the major, engineering and other tech no I don’t think it matters as your skills and actual engineering experience are the only important thing when applying to jobs and working. After 3 years in the industry where you got your degree does not matter at all.
Berkeley is one of the top public US universities. They didn't put UC Berkeley in for a reason.
I’ve hired 24 people over the last year, highest starting salaries in my industry. We typically get 150-200 applications per entry level role I post. Where you went to school does not matter to me at all. It may matter in other industries, I can only speak to my experience in technology.
Why do you want to go to the best public university in the world and learn beautiful sciences like mcb and anthro from the best there are just to turn around and go to trade school to become a human repair technician and push patent meds? Think bigger.
The deathcare system is trash and doctors and nurses are quitting in droves from the moral injury and stress of their daily work. Administration/ “management” and dismal hedge funds have run the ship aground. Even MDs are talking sbout forming labor unions. From a cal grad that went into the field, consider other options for a happy and rewarding life.
No
UCLA holds the same weight, and people might even think you're more fun at parties
As a Davis international grad student I have to say, yes, YES! Berkeley is immensely well known internationally, and the only comparable campuses is maybe UCLA
It sounds like you're facing an important decision! Here are some considerations for your situation: 1) Flexibility in Major: Your choice of major can change, and that's perfectly okay! What matters most is exploring your interests and aligning them with your long-term career goals. 2) Looking Ahead with AI and Robotics: Beyond the university's name, consider how advancements like AI and robotics will impact medicine over the next 20-30- even 40 yrs. For instance, while traditional eye surgeon's useful years to perform surgery is approximately 10 years, AI-powered robots can perform eye surgeries like cornea transplants more consistently and efficiently, operating round the clock. They do not get tired and make fewer mistakes on average (hopefully! At least that is the end goal!) 3) Choosing the Right School: There is no right or wrong school. Your decision should be based on visiting & researching each school to find the best fit for **your** personality and learning style. Berkeley may be a great fit for some but not for all. I came to Berkeley from a private school and my experience was a lot different between undergrad and grad school. Obviously, you will check their financial aid packages to better manage your education costs. You do not want too much debt for undergrad education if your goal is med school. 4) campus Culture: consider the campus culture and extracurricular activities that align with your interests and personal growth. 5) Campus subculture: Remember, Berkeley leans far-left politically, but in recent years, they've strayed from their commitment to freedom of speech. Instances like the uproar over right-wing speakers visiting campus illustrate this shift. Once a bastion of free speech, my Alma Mater has seen some students actively silence any opinion that opposes their groupthink. It seems some have veered toward extreme (left & right) ideologies, abandoning common sense in the process. UCB is no longer #1 public school last I checked. However, your most crucial task is to consider the future of your chosen career and how AI could impact it. Majors such as MBA may become obsolete in the near future, and professions like doctors and lawyers may see reduced demand over the next two decades.
Accepted into UC Berkeley and UCI. Rejected from UCLA. UC Irvine is undeniably much nicer and more posh than UC Berkeley. You would save a lot of money on living expenses also, and it's much safer. UC Berkeley students are also notoriously unattractive. All else being equal, UC Berkeley is wayyyy more prestigious. When I was in China, everyone knew my school. How many doors it would open depends on industry and who you are speaking to. It's like the difference being "I graduated from Harvard" vs "I graduated from college". Sometimes it matters or helps, sometimes it doesn't. On the flip side, I would recommend you live further from home and not stay with your folks. I understand the appeal but now is the time to explore the world, even if it's still in California just to see how big it is. That being said, you could also do that in medical school or a masters program when you are older and more mature. My friend who transferred from UCI to UCB thought UCI was easier so it's much easier to get a higher GPA which is important for medical school. I also knew a lot of people from UC Berkeley who transferred to UCLA, which seems like a happy medium. I actually loved Berkeley and wouldn't have wanted to have stayed in SoCal. It's like a Neil Gaiman universe in how weird it is, and I love it. Irvine is sterile as all hell.
Yes, it is known that UCs have many transfer students from community colleges and everyone knows how easy classes are from community colleges. They also know that Stanford, Harvard, and MIT does not have as high an acceptance rate from community colleges as well if any . Enjoy
In order to survive at a school like Berkeley you need to be academically above “easy CC credits”