US vs UK vs North Europe, careers and education

Not trying to start a flame war. I am just interested in the facts. Currently studying BA. Planning to take my third year(European batchelor degrees are tree years) abroad, not sure where yet. Also planning on taking my masters degree abroad. Doing good, acing most classes so far, so I am hoping to be able to pick whatever schools I´d like. Having looked around in the threads here, it seems like those who have a MA and work in the US are getting $25/hr. How does this compare to UK? 

I`d really like to leave this frozen hellhole (yes, I live in Norway). On the other hand, with a MA-degree I am looking at $90 000/yr without any long days, just plain and simple 8-4. Of course, living costs here are much higher, but still. That´s the situation career wise at least. 

On the matter of education, I am just as uncertain as to what I should do. Planning on majoring in something finance-related (VC, PE, IB, CR) 

At the moment, I am studying at a UC, it is however the best in it´s field, industrial economics. There is now a shortlist for plans.

3. yr:

UC Berkely

Penn State Hazelton

Uni. of Durham

MA:

St. Gallen

CASS

LBS

Not sure about the US schools yet. 

Any advise will be greatly appreciated. I am sure I will like it regardless of where I end up, but if US means 100 hr weeks with a shitty salary, and staying means 40 h weeks and a decent salary, I´ll survive the cold. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLMountainMan 

Just to be clear......in Norway, with a MA degree, you can make $90,000 a year and only work 8-4 every day? Are you kidding me? Come here to check out America and get your schooling done, and then move the hell back to Norway.

Yes, that is what I have been offered in the firms I´ve interned in. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by why 

If you've never been to another place for an extended period of time it's difficult to be certain that it's better than where you are now. Also, a lot of place in the US are cold (some as cold as Norway, some not).
It's really hard to say how much you'll earn in the US regardless of the degree. There are plenty of people with MAs that are barely paying rent.
Also, just getting good grades doesn't mean you'll get into the schools you want, especially in the US.
Does your university have exchange agreements with the US schools you listed?

Thus the thread. I know some of places is the US are cold as well, but not nearly as many. Anyways, I´d like to live in a bigger city too. That excludes Norway. 

I am fairly certain I´ll get in in most schools. Served in the military, I have board-experience, teaching experience, 6 yrs in the Red Cross, 4 of those as squad-leader, and some experience as head of operations. I´ve also had internships. 

Will be double post, but waiting for mods takes forever sometimes.

@why: I am aware that it takes more than grades, but thanks for the heads up. I believe I am competent enough to get in, I do more than studying. 

@FLMountainMan: Yes, I´ve been offered $90 000 in one of the firms I´ve interned in.

EDIT: Yes, my school has exchange programs with the listed schools. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by imschatz 

So .. Norway is a really expensive place to live. Way more expensive then I would have guessed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity#OECD_comparative_price_levels
A $90,000 USD salary in Norway, is comparable to $54,000 USD salary in the US (on average), and $71,000 salary in Canada.
With one year experience I earn a wage comparable to that in Canada, with an MA in Economics.
That is .. assuming you haven't already taken Purchasing Power into your $90k/year figure.

True that. No, I haven´t taken purchasing power into consideration. It seems like the salaries are slightly lower in US then. No biggie, I won´t take a job offer in the US unless it´s a good one, so for the sake of discussion, lets say they are the same. Are taxes taken into consideration here? With $90K salaries, you´re looking at 50% tax in Norway. 

I´ve heard that there is really long hours and poor labour-law. How do these compare? Working hrs is 37,5 hrs/week. Every hr more than this is usually +50% overtime, weekends is 100%. Max 300 hrs/yr. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispeta 

In your case, especially since you are an economist and probably know how do conduct research , I would not necessarily rely on an internet forum - especially when it comes to topics like work environment and salary. Perspectives will vary a lot from one person to another based on upbringing, experience, and background. I have lived and worked on several continents and can tell you that traveling (a lot) or studying a semester abroad does not provide a person with an international outlook.
Your reasoning seems to be triggered by your being fed up with cold winter time, rather than a clear objective and structured argument. I would suggest that you go on vacation and try to study abroad as planned in your 3rd year. Then also create a more meaningful list of parameters than just work hours (that vary by job/employer/department) and salary. What about vacation days?. Social security? Job security? Social contacts - meaning of friendships (trust me, Americans have a very different "concept" compared to Europeans)? Etc.
Side note: Wouldn't LSE be preferable over LBS for anything non-MBA?
Out of the three 3rd-y options, definitely pick Berkeley from a brand standpoint.

Thank you for a smart reply. Cold winter time is just something scandinavians use as an excuse. It´s rather the wish for change. As you say, there are a lot of variables to take into consideration. Most people would benefit from staying in Norway, it is much easier to maintain a high living standard here. On the other hand, it is nearly impossible to get stinking-filthy rich in Norway. It does however, after some research (yes, other than internet-forums ;-)) seem like I would benefit the most from working a couple of years in Norway. 

Berkeley is my first choice as well. LSE might be as good as LBS, not sure. It is also a matter fees. Ivy-schools, such as Stanford, adds up to almost $200 000/yr for non-US citizens. That