Burt Jastram went to the University of California, where he was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He graduated in 1932, but he later did some graduate work at Berkeley in architecture. It served him well for Jastram became a well-known architect, one of his creations being named by Fortune magazine as one of the 10 best U.S. buildings. Jastram rowed the 4th seat for Cal both at the 1932 Olympics and on the eight that won the 1932 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Regatta in Poughkeepsie, New York.