SPRING 2013 RUSH IS HERE.
Rush is a series of events open to all prospective members. Held at the beginning of every semester, rushees are able to meet the brothers of Beta Alpha Psi and find out more about what our organization can offer you. From this pool of rushees, we select a group of individuals to undergo our pledging process.
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Apply Now
WHY JOIN BAΨ?
Join the brotherhood of a lifetime
We firmly believe in quality over quantity. The smaller membership quota fosters a close-knit brotherhood that is more loyal than any other organization on campus.
Network with those who matter
Meet and network with professionals and head recruiters from the leading firms in various industries through the events we host for members.
Put yourself a step ahead
Gain access to exclusive information about summer internships, job experiences, and get top advice from members and alumni of Beta Alpha Psi.
Discover your potential both academically and professionally
Gauge whether or not Haas School of Business is truly for you while learning which industry fits your passions and interests.
Learn and grow while reaching your potential
Develop leadership skills and enhance your presentation and communication capabilities through our comprehensive pledging program.
ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS
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Michael Chang, 2012 | Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley
The pace of the world has dramatically evolved in recent years. From technology and healthcare to the way people interact with each other in business and school, industries and human interaction is developing at an ever-increasing speed.UC Berkeley Beta Alpha Psi is a driver of progress in all these arenas.
In order to remain competitive and successful, I joined a brotherhood that sought to exceed expectations and deliver results. You will find that there is no other organization in UC Berkeley that prepares you for life during and after college as well as BAP. I underwent business development through case training and in-depth preparation for career development through a variety of mock materials all while participating in extracurricular activities held by the fraternity. All of this development is applicable to whatever you may choose to do in the future. Although I took the investment-banking track, many of my brothers pursued other careers that had meaningful impacts upon their lives and the lives of others.
This is what is particularly unique about us. Our diversity means that you have many options.
From exploring technology giants like Facebook to investment banking at Morgan Stanley to healthcare at Leerink Swann, I was able to gain significant exposure to many different industries. More importantly, I was able to work at these places to gain real experience rather than just reading about them. The options that are available to you are not only bountiful but also top-notch in every industry. Since joining as a freshman, my journey in Beta Alpha Psi has been one of life-long friendships, lots of fun, and top-notch job offers. I strongly urge those who are looking for life-long friends and success in their careers to join an organization that has it all.
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Sagar Gupta, 2010 | Associate at KKR
How do you define “success”? And how do you go about achieving it? As you enter and navigate through Berkeley, you’re embarking on a journey of self-discovery. For me, Beta Alpha Psi was a vital part of this process.You will be most successful in where your true interests lie. Forget the fads and drop the hype. What do you want to do with your life? That is the most important question at hand, and this is what we at BAΨ will continuously stress at Rush events. We aim to provide the platform for you to learn about all aspects of business thus enabling you to find your passion. We have consultants, artists, entrepreneurs, financiers, and engineers. Being able to closely interact with a diverse group of talented people not only broadens your worldview, but helps you establish lifelong friendships—an unparalleled network of fun people doing amazing things all over the world.
Early on, with the support of my alumni mentor and broader fraternity, BAΨ helped me discover my passion in finance. Members would spend countless hours teaching and training me, and alumni would provide invaluable insight on the inner workings of their respective firms. The fraternity then helped me secure internships at Citi, Blackstone, and a full-time job at UBS in their technology investment banking group. I currently work at KKR, a global alternative asset manager that specializes in private equity and hedge funds.
Looking back, BAΨ has had such a tremendous impact on my life. Joining the fraternity was by far the best decision I made at Berkeley and to this day I am very proud to call myself of brother of the Lambda chapter.
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Elaine Mao, 2010 | KPMG IARCS Advisory Associate
It isn’t easy to put into words the impacts Beta Alpha Psi can have. The experience is vastly different for each brother, but few organizations boast so many unique and powerful stories and I urge you to discover each one.This fraternity does not simply give you the skills needed. Instead, it caters to you–nurturing your creative and professional interests while shaping character to ensure success in any future endeavor. The experience will be how you define it: The more you invest, the more you will gain. The brothers I met in Beta Alpha Psi are a few of the brightest and most driven people I know. I’ve seen first hand the ways this fraternity and its members help develop and polish each other’s talents to help one another actualize our goals in both professional and personal arenas. The commitment I found here is unparalleled to that of any other organization I encountered on campus, and it inspired me to be fully invested in my work with these brothers as well–even now after I have graduated.
BAP did not just hone my business knowledge and leadership skills, it provided me the resources and network to translate them into real-world results. While the professional development has been critical for me, I am even more thankful for the ways my brothers challenged my limits to ensure my personal growth. It did help me land a number of internships and full-time offers, but the impact that Beta Alpha Psi had on me goes so much further beyond that.
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Eric Rodriguez, 2009 | Advisor at Copilot Labs
My primary motivation for joining Beta Alpha Psi was my desire to become a smarter, more ambitious, and stronger person. The best way to accomplish such a goal is to surround and engage oneself with smart, ambitious, and genuine people. I have been involved in Beta Alpha Psi for six years now, and have observed countless stories of brothers achieving the same goal as mine.I can credit Beta Alpha Psi for giving me the confidence and skills to accomplish ambitious and unconventional goals. For example, I decided to enter the Bears Breaking Boundaries competition in 2009 with a proposal for a new class that I felt Haas should offer. Through perseverance, the class became a reality in 2010 and is now taught as “Strategic Philanthropy” (UGBA 192-N) in spring semesters.
Beta Alpha Psi also gave me the confidence to take the leap into the restaurant industry, which is extremely uncommon for a Haas graduate. While a student, I worked at Restaurant Gary Danko and learned the restaurant industry for two years. This experience came in handy for my transition into restaurant-oriented start-ups. I eventually went on to co-found Copilot, which raised VC funding and is successful to date, and I am now founding another start-up.
It is no coincidence that I am still actively involved with Beta Alpha Psi six years after joining. The fraternity dramatically changed my life for the better, and this is my way of demonstrating appreciation.
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Michael Heinrich, 2005 | Management Associate at Bridgewater Associates
I wanted to provide not just your standard testimonial of “everything is great because of one organization,”–no, it really depends on you.Everything is as good as the energy you put into it. Be realistic with yourself and if you are passionate about something, do it. It’s your responsibility to let happiness and creativity unfold in your life and the lives you touch. Don’t worry about what others think or what type of firms they say you should be in, there are many paths to success.
I was passionate about exploring the business world and Beta Alpha Psi has certainly prepared me well. After joining BAΨ, I received internships at Microsoft and at the JP Morgan New York mergers & acquisitions office. I’ve also received a research engagement at the Harvard Business School and a post-graduate associate consultant position at Bain & Co. After two years at Bain & Co. I was offered a position at Bridgewater Associates, a $72 billion macro strategy hedge fund. While at Berkeley, I led a group of fabulous BAΨ’ers to win the 2005 Cisco-Deloitte case competition.
I didn’t enjoy the pledging process that much, but I did have some great memories and it’s essentially a business boot camp: if you are rusty in interviewing, presenting, defending your position, slide and model creation, you’ll learn quickly. I was impressed with all the support the alumni gave and how quickly I was able to refine and polish my social, interview and networking skills. Skills I have seen lacking even from many Haas graduates.
The social circle at BAΨ is quite tight-knit and I keep in close contact with my fellow brothers. The best advice I can give is “know thyself” (inscribed at the entrance to the Oracle of Delphi), let life unfold, and let go of your ego. Try out crazy things, explore, live a fulfilled life. I have tried transcendental meditation, yoga, tai chi, kung fu, writing poetry, driving my car on a racetrack, have studied abroad in Florence, have visited amazing places, etc. It’s easy to forget the deep totality of life when you are sitting in your cube working on a pitch deck at 3am in the morning on a Sunday, burning away that last ounce of quadruple shot Starbucks you just had. Ask yourself if that is what you want out of life. Maybe you want to join or create a start up, maybe you want to invest in start ups, maybe you want to try a completely different industry like clean tech, or maybe you want to join a non-profit, or maybe you want to go to Business school right away, or maybe you do want to have a high energy investment banking position…there are no set-in-stone answers and you can certainly find people with multi-varied paths at BAΨ and a lifelong network. Have fun and if you so choose, make BAΨ part of that expression…
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George Chen, 2002 | Vice President at Deutsche Bank
Berkeley can be a chaotic and intimidating jungle. The same can be said of the business world, but with the help of Beta Alpha Psi I have had success in waging these battles. When I pledged Beta Alpha Psi, I was a teenager with a desire to be challenged, but not even sure if I wanted to stay at Berkeley and had applied to transfer to other universities. Despite being accepted to other prestigious undergraduate business programs, Beta Alpha Psi helped me decide to pursue my studies at Haas and get my foot in the door of Investment Banking. As an alumnus living outside of the Bay Area, I still stay involved in the Chapter’s progression and would strongly recommend Beta Alpha Psi as a valuable tool in your voyage into the daunting jungle.
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Bryan Cheung, 1999 | Manager | IT at Trek Equipment Corp
Joining Beta Alpha Psi is guaranteed to be some of your most prominent memories of your college career. The experiences of rushing will not only develop you professionally and personally, but you will also create bonds of brotherhood within the family of Beta Alpha Psi that will last long after you graduate. As an alumnus, I have had the opportunity to observe many semesters of pledge classes; I have watched the progression of timid rushees develop the skills necessary to succeed and become the leadership of the fraternity as officers and cabinet members, and eventually graduate into the workforce and to the ranks of the alumni. Additionally, the Beta Alpha Psi experience continues as the alumni return to reciprocate the knowledge and experiences we have gained over the course of our involvement and continue to make the fraternity stronger. As every experience is unique and personal, and I encourage you to come out and see for yourself what Beta Alpha Psi can offer you.
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Rada Brooks | Lecturer | Walter A. Haas School of Business
Becoming a part of Beta Alpha Psi is a great opportunity to learn about careers in financial information and public accounting careers. Beta Alpha Psi hosts a number of events where members get to meet practicing professionals and to develop skills needed for success in the profession. I was a member of Beta Alpha Psi as an undergraduate and that is one of the reasons I decided to become a CPA. It gave me the chance to meet staff from the different accounting firms at Beta Alpha Psi events and I found that I really enjoyed the people who eventually became lifelong friends.
FAQ
What is the proper attire for rush?
Meet the Chapter: Business Casual
Mixer: Campus Casual
Personal/Group Interviews: Business Professional
Campus casual refers to everyday clothing. Business casual typically consists of slacks in a dark color and a nice sweater or dress shirt. Ties are not required. Closed toe shoes are preferred, but nice sandals are suitable for women. Professional dress includes a dark suit, a dress shirt or sweater, and a tie for men.
What makes BAΨ different?
Along with the other two business fraternities, BAΨ promotes business education and professional development among its members through pledging, alumni connections, and strong brotherhood. BAΨ differentiates itself through our chapter’s smaller size, our exclusive recruiting events (Meet the Firms and Internship Forum), and through the diversity of our brotherhood (our organization is inclusive to all majors and career paths).
What does the rushing process entail?
Rushees should try to attend as many rush events as possible including Meet the Chapter, Mixer, and both the personal and group interviews, to discover more about our Lambda Chapter while allowing us to discover more about each rushee.
Do I have to show up to all the recruiting events to pledge?
Although not all of the rush events are mandatory, it is highly suggested that rushees attend as many as possible. These are the few opportunities to meet the members and make yourself stand out.
What are the qualifications to become a pledge?
We are open to ALL MAJORS
3.3+ GPA highly recommended
What is pledging?
Pledging is a ten week process consisting of intense professional development and business education.
How big is BAΨ?
The Lambda Chapter at UC Berkeley maintains a membership of about 40 to 55 members. Beta Alpha Psi has over 300,000 activated members worldwide.
Why are alumni connections so important?
Beta Alpha Psi would not uphold the business leverage, strength, and reputation it wields today without the continued support of our alumni. These individuals represent the top firms in every single field including banking, consulting, accounting, and beyond. Our alumni frequently participate in both on-campus and off-campus activities to further our business education and knowledge while providing unique, exclusive career opportunities for our brothers, thus vitally improving our organization day by day.