When I first visited UC Berkeley during college application season, I was sure that I would not be attending. Coming from a small high school with less than 60 people in my graduating class, I imagined Berkeley to be too large and lacking the specialized study abroad programs and major I was looking for. All of that changed when my campus tour guide introduced me to the Haas Global Management Program, which she was an inaugural member of. After being accepted into this special program, I am now one of its biggest advocates. It is a truly amazing opportunity that most students don’t become aware of until it is too late to apply.
The Global Management Program (GMP) offers students the opportunity to gain freshman admission to Haas, complete a bachelor of science in Business Administration with a unique concentration in global management, and the opportunity to study abroad in London during their first semester. The program is designed to develop us into indispensable international business leaders with a global perspective and experience that fosters our cultural awareness and appreciation around the world. In order to gain acceptance, I had to select “Global Management Program (Haas School of Business)” under the College of Letters and Sciences, and then fill out the UC application as normal. A few weeks later, I was sent a portal to complete an additional application essay and recorded video interview, due early in January.
Gaining acceptance into this program is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and every day I am grateful that I chose Berkeley and GMP. Fresh out of high school, I moved straight onto the Berkeley campus with my cohort in the summer, taking breadth requirements in small classes tailored to my cohort and our experiences. For example, those who needed to take English R4A studied novels based in London to learn about its rich history and literature scene before we moved there. We could better adjust to the rigor of Berkeley classes together and develop close bonds, which was necessary because we would be relying on each other in London and traveling internationally together abroad. One of my favorite summer session memories is after our very first midterm together, when we all went to a Korean BBQ restaurant afterward to celebrate together. That is just one of the ways we value connection and create a supportive community in GMP.
Moving to London for the semester was a blast! We all took a group flight direct to London from San Francisco on the last day of summer sessions, right after some of us had finals. I can’t imagine navigating the quick turnaround and a ten-hour flight with anyone else. In London, we lived in lovely fully-furnished apartments near Tower Bridge, with beautiful views of the city! We developed valuable skills like budgeting for groceries, dividing up chores, and establishing effective communication to coexist effectively with one another in our shared living spaces. We had to figure out how to plan our tube travel to classes, sometimes at locations outside of school. My London Museums class was held at a different iconic museum every week, and in London: Theater Capital, we attended evening performances and took class field trips every other week. I loved one of the plays we saw as a class so much that I decided to go back and watch it again on my own!
One of my favorite parts about living in London was how many things there were to do in the city, and most were free! All museums in London are free, and many other activities like the theater, movies, and live music events had reduced fees for students. It was super easy to travel around the city, we had an Oyster card that gave us unlimited access to zones 1 and 2, the most dynamic zones in the city! My personal favorite spots to spend time in were Borough Market, Soho, and Greenwich. However, one of the greatest parts of my London semester was the ease with which we could travel around Europe affordably. Flights are as low as $20 USD if you plan ahead, and traveling in a group and staying in hostels makes it super fun and inexpensive when staying for a couple of days, as most travels had to be done on weekends to not miss class. My favorite trip was a short, sweet, and spontaneous one to Luxembourg on a free Wednesday with 3 of my classmates. Our flight was around $25, and we arrived there at 8 am and left the same day at 1 pm. During my time abroad, I visited 6 countries but some of my classmates traveled every weekend and visited 12!
All in all, I deeply believe that if global experience and business interest you at all, you should definitely apply for the Global Management Program. You get the best of both worlds at Berkeley: a small, specialized community you can rely on for support while also having access to the larger Berkeley community and its vast diversity and resources. This experience has stretched my worldview and pushed me to grow personally and professionally in so many different ways. It has truly changed my life for the better, and I would love for more people to get the chance to be a part of it.