<p>I am now admitted into University of Minnesota at Twin Cities and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This has been exciting to me but I feel confused when it comes to choose in between.
UIUC is nearer to me since I'm in chicago now. And I assume that financial aid would help me with its high tuition. But UIUC is rural setting.
UMN is farther and colder but its econ majors rank highly in some rankings I have seen. Plus, I know it's a little stupid to say, but my boyfriend studies there and I am wondering if this could be the chance to actually be together. I know this won't be my critical reason of going to MN because god knows how long before a person may change, but still, this is the reason I hesitate.
...
Anyway, I am a transferr undergraduate and I graduated from high school in another country. These are all the info. I can offer...
Please help me, I feel really confused.</p>
<p>Will you qualify for in-state tuition at UIUC? Have you received financial aid packages from both schools? You will want to figure out exactly what the costs will be for each school before deciding not just some general estimate. If UMN ends up being cheaper it seems like a fairly easy choice. If not then it depends on how much more expensive it is and how much money you have.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying back to me 
im qualified for FAFSA. UIUC in state tuition is just like UMN out state tuition But I haven’t received any fa packages yet cuz it’s still early in the reviewing process.
I don’t think there will be huge difference between tuition…that’s why i wanna figure out if there is anything more i should consider. Cuz otherwise it’s fine to go to either one…</p>
<p>one more thing…seems like you are from twin cities area…can i ask you a question…?
do you know about U OF MN? If so, do you think it actually might be a wise choice if i go there? I mean, despite all the mess I am worrying about… is UMN really a decent school that worth experiencing for several years?</p>
<p>Hi, well I go to the U of M Twin Cities and things I can tell about here are:</p>
<p>Pros:
-It’s not actually that cold, and the time that it is unpleasantly cold is short. The long winter break usually covers the coldest times. There are also tunnels you can take underground in many places. I don’t mind the weather here since it can change for the better very quickly, and this year it has been really nice and warm!
-You may really like the school year times here. Beginning of September to mid December, and then just about a whole month of winter break until mid January, and spring semester until early mid May.
-It’s really pretty when the seasons are changing at the dorms area as well as around the university (especially fall leaves and the first snow and rainy days). The architecture of the buildings here is really cool, there is a “new” area and an “old” university area and the buildings are really romantic in the older area and modern in the newer areas. Everything you could want of college buildings and setting.
-There is a very large study abroad center and lots of study abroad programs.
-It is a very well ranked university.
-We will have a light rail.
-There is lots of little cafes and restaurants everywhere and nearby the university within a 3 minutes walk of the main dorms area.
-There are public computers everywhere. And sofas and study areas too. The largest library here is seriously gorgeous from top to bottom. One of my favorite places
-Big city! I love seeing the skyline when I walk to classes
-People here are very helpful and “Minnesota nice”</p>
<p>Cons:
-Construction of the light rail is going on, so in some places you might see construction.
-It is a really large university, and in the city, so you might feel crowded at first.
-There are maybe around 2 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) in winter where it will be pretty cold.
-There is some crime, but that is a given for big city life.</p>
<p>I live in the twin cities and although I’m not a degree-seeking student at UMN I’ve taken classes there full time for two years. It’s definitely a decent school. Overall maybe a little worse than UIUC but still comparable and econ is probably considerably better at UMN. You probably want to wait and see your final financial aid offers before making a decision but if costs are comparable it definitely wouldn’t be a terrible decision to choose UMN.</p>
<p>I agree with everything naokifresh said other than some years it is very cold for very long periods of time. Others years [like this year] it is only very cold for a short period of time.</p>
<p>These are some great infos you gave me! Thanks so much.
Just one question here, I’m planning on living off campus if I would go to UMN. How’s the housing conditions there?..I mean what about the cost…I hope it would be better than Chicago.</p>
<p>thanks for all these info. I know that UMN truely ranks high in econ majors.</p>
<p>i will be waiting for fa package.</p>
<p>I’m actually not sure about what off campus housing costs because I live with my parents in St. Paul. I imagine it’d be considerably cheaper than Chicago though.</p>
<p>:D
thank you. i appreciate your help</p>