<p>I live in Minnesota and I've only applied to the University of Minnesota. With my grades, I know Ivy League is almost out of the question. I want to do economics/international business.</p>
<p>I was looking at Northwestern, U Chicago and Carleton as possible reaches, as well as Cornell's
ILR school which I understand is easier to get in to. </p>
<p>If I do attend Carlson in the U of M, I would basically go for free because of a $10,000 a year scholarship (National Merit Finalist). I don't really mind the lack of prestige but I'm afraid getting a job in a big firm will be difficult coming from Carlson. However, U of M may be my only option.</p>
<p>How much financial need do you have? What kind of family income?</p>
<p>While I think you are a reasonable candidate at both Northwestern and Chicago with your very strong ACT score, you won’t likely be in the running for merit money at either. Carleton offers $2k/year to NMS finalists but no other merit scholarships. </p>
<p>All three schools guarantee to meet 100% of financial need. Carleton is probably the most generous with packages. </p>
<p>You’re from Minnesota and have presumably considered Macalester. Merit money from them may be on the table with your stats. And what about UWisconsin honors as a Minnesotan with tuition reciprocity? Sure you’ve thought about this as well.</p>
<p>Income is over $100,000 but with 4 siblings I’m not sure how much is set aside for me. I know that Northwestern and Chicago are both near $50,000 a year and don’t give nearly as much aid as the Ivy’s. </p>
<p>I have looked at Macalester. They give 5k NMF and maybe 5K more merit. However, I toured and was not impressed, although I’m not really in the position to be picky. </p>
<p>I’m going to tour UW Madison next week. I wasn’t really considering however seeing as the business school is supposedly about as good as Carlson but I would get much less merit money.</p>
<p>Wash U is (incredibly) not need blind - I don’t think I’d waste the application. Rice and Emory are. Applications to both schools would be reasonable. Rice’s tuition remains <em>relatively</em> low (though recently playing catch-up to the rest of the private uni world). Merit money won’t be there for either.</p>
<p>If you’re determined to study business, I don’t see what’s wrong with the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School. It’s a top 20 undergrad business program, according to US News, and as a Minnesota resident with a guaranteed National Merit scholarship, you can attend for practically nothing. People on this thread are suggesting schools like American (#67 for undergrad business) and Fordham (also #67) where you’d spend a lot more money and get less academic bang for your buck. Frankly I think that just comes from anti-public bias; a lot of Big Ten schools have undergrad business programs better than those sorts of middling privates. Wisconsin (#14 for undergrad business) should also be a contender because as a Minnesota resident you can get in-state tuition there, and who knows, maybe they’ll end up competitive with the U on price once the bids are in. You might also take a shot at a couple of schools higher than Minnesota and Wisconsin in the food chain; maybe one or more will bite based on your outstanding ACT score, though it’s a longshot given your GPA. But you could do far worse than Minnesota or Wisconsin for undergrad business, so your baseline should be, “Is there anything clearly better than top 20 (Minnesota) or top 15 (Wisconsin) that’s equally affordable?” I think once you look at it that way, the pickings are pretty slim.</p>
<p>Why not go down the Top 20 business schools and apply from there? I bet you could get into a Notre Dame or Boston College, which would both be significantly better than Minnesota.</p>
<p>I agree with bclintonk re. UMinn and UWisc. Your GPA will not make you as competitive at many of the schools that have been suggested, such as ND, Rice, and WashU (which is not need-blind as wbwa pointed out).</p>
<p>For business I’m not so sure that’s true. The US News rankings are just one measure, but US News rates the undergrad business program at Notre Dame at #14 (3.8 rating), tied with Wisconsin and three other schools, and exactly one notch ahead of Minnesota at #19 (3.7 rating). Boston College comes in at #23 (3.6 rating), another notch BELOW Minnesota and the three other schools with which Minnesota is tied. Given the fact the OP can get in-state tuition at either Wisconsin or Minnesota and a big merit scholarship at Minnesota, and probably has a better chance of admission at these two than at ND or BC, I think Minnesota and Wisconsin should be at the top of his list. Go ahead and apply to ND and BC if you like. That very strong 35 ACT may pull you through despite a GPA slightly below what these schools are looking for. Then see if the net cost after financial aid (excluding loans and work-study which are not really “aid” so much as just a different way of helping you pay for your own education) is competitive. I’ll bet Minnesota still comes in as the cheapest option. If it is, then I think it would be silly to pay more for essentially the same business education.</p>
<p>I’d agree Minnesota and Wisconsin are both great options and seem to be undervalued on this site. You’ll see how you like Wisconsin when visiting. There may be little quality difference between the two schools, but you may well see a meaningful difference in atmosphere. Being farther from home may be a plus or minus for you. You’ll surely not be homesick - plenty of Minnesotans in Madison.</p>
<p>Having defended the state options, I’ll defend the privates now. Financial aid packages may well be generous given the number of sibs you have. Ultimately, there may not be that egregious a upcharge in cost. Apply to about 1/2 dozen privates you think you’d prefer over Minn/Wisc and see where the FA packages shake out.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what I’m going to pursue at college. I was planning to get a degree in business/economics/poli sci (specific I know) and then depending on my interests and the job market, take that business degree and get a job or go to law school. </p>
<p>Right now I plan to apply to U of Minnesota, U of Wisconsin, Carleton, Alabama, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Cornell ILR and possibly a few others . I realize most of these are reaches but Alabama is a great safety and Carlson is solid. So if I don’t get into the others or can’t afford them, I should still be ok.</p>
<p>Helpful stuff. If anybody else has some school they think would be a good fit please suggest.</p>