<p>This is a school my son is seriously considering, can you tell me assuming you have visited, what your impression was? Also how were the students/campus, dorms and facilities? I hear its quite a beautiful campus. Any info would could provide would be wonderful. Thank you.</p>
<p>Bump, I'd like to know as well since I'm not sure if I'll be visiting.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at IU, and we took him to school in August. The campus is, indeed, beautiful--lot of grass, trees, flowers, nice buildings ranging from classic old college style to modern. It is also huge, so we didn't actually see the whole thing--never got over to the stadium or that area.</p>
<p>The dorms seem nice. There are a lot of different ones, some old and only airconditioned in the lounges, others newer with airconditioned rooms. My son's room is not airconditioned, but he has a fan in the window that helps. It is a good sized room with lots of closet space, two desks, two bookshelves, bunkbeds. My son had a roommate the first part of the year, but the roommate decided he wanted a single, and no one else was moved in, so my son has, in effect, had a single the rest of the year, but has not had to pay extra for it. That was nice!</p>
<p>My son is most familiar with the music school and that area, and facilities there are quite nice. He's met a lot of great people, both professors and students. There are a lot of kids there who like to party, and that can be a pain at times (noise in the halls, kids throwing up, etc.), but my son has found friends who are not into that and is a happy nondrinker at this time. (He admits to checking out the party scence at first, but found it was not for him.)</p>
<p>My son's main complaint is the weather--hot and very humid in the summer, very cold in the winter. Being from Oregon, he was not used to that. If you live in New York, however, it may not be that big a change. (I've never been to NY, so I couldn't say for sure.) He also misses the mountains, being an avid snowboarder.</p>
<p>do you mind if i ask what other schools he was considering at the time he decided on IU? What made him choose IU? And has it surpassed his expecatations? I do hear continuously good and positive things about the school.</p>
<p>I am a prospective student also and I visited today. I am actually staying in Bloomington right now. I had a good feel for the campus. It is pretty nice. My one major complaint would be the cars. I know every major state university is going to have traffic issues but at IU it seemed that there were a lot of cars and driving places. The best thing is the beauty. It is beautiful. Although the business school isn't in the pretty old part of the campus, the library, union, and many other departments are. There are a lot of trails and walking paths. Also, if you visit, drive around Bloomington. My Dad and I did and I think I have a better feeling about going there.</p>
<p>NYMOMOF4, my son just returned last night from Indiana. He was there for Direct Admit Day (meaning he was directly admitted into the business school).</p>
<p>He and ex-spousal unit were extremely impressed (once again - this was their second trip) with the campus and the administrators and teachers. My son hooked up with a boy he played football with last year in his h.s., and stayed in his dorm Thursday night. They arrived early afternoon on Thursday, and his buddy showed him the campus, took him to visit his fraternity, etc. My son said he was so impressed with how clean all the common areas were - the hallways of the dorms, the lounges, etc. Of course, once you got into dorm rooms, it looked like scenes from Animal House, with clothes scattered about - and once he got into the sleeping quarters of the frat house, he saw empty beer bottles and pizza boxes just sitting there. I'm sure that's common of young men regardless of the school.</p>
<p>As for the campus itself, ex is from the east (NY and later, NJ), and he said it was beautiful. Limestone buildings, lots of beautiful trees (although not in bloom yet) and a great layout. </p>
<p>Dorm rooms are small, as they are in most other places, but they're fine for the kids - they never seem to complain about cramped quarters. </p>
<p>Everyone was very friendly, which was a concern of my son. He met kids from all over the country and they all seemed very nice. Of course, some of them were there for Direct Admit Day, too, and who knows what they'll be like once they're settled in with a group of friends, but his experience was good, and he felt that it would be easy to get to know people and have a good time.</p>
<p>The dorm his buddy is in is Foster and he said it didn't seem noisy to him, and ex said the administrators told them there are quiet times or something? I'm not too sure of the specifics on this and my son is still asleep. They also group kids together in dorms, it seems, so they're with kids they may be able to study with. Maybe someone who is already there can help out with these details, since I don't know them. </p>
<p>The traffic was bad, but my ex thought it might have been because of the weather (in the 70's) and because there were people visiting because of Direct Admit Day. He said there were thousands of kids everywhere - playing frisbee, lying out to tan, reading, working on projects, sitting on roofs, etc. We're from Chicago, so traffic wasn't unbearable, but it was more than he expected. </p>
<p>He was very impressed with what he learned about the business school, but I don't know what your son is going into, so I'll reserve comment about that.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to either post them here or ask them via private message.</p>
<p>Hey AimHigh, thanks for the extensive review. Could you please elaborate on the business school since thats where I'll be going soph year. I'm most likely attending IU. I know its 7th in Finance and 11th overall, but how are the job placements and what else did they tell you. Thanks.</p>
<p>Parikhs, you're welcome. I'm glad you didn't fall asleep while reading...lol.</p>
<p>Here is my cut and pasted reply that I put in the thread titled, "The truth about Kelley's Direct Admit". It's another long one, so pack a lunch:</p>
<p>RATM, my son and his father just came back from Direct Admit Day yesterday and they were quite impressed. The advantage not yet noted here is that they groom you from freshman year on, to be a well rounded business leader. Those are their words, not mine. There are classes you can take that others won't be able to take until they're sophomore's, so you move along at a faster rate. You'll be eligible to take honors classes at Kelley, which is something the later admits have to apply for (I think I'm getting that part right). They encourage you to be well rounded, too. If you want to go into Marketing, for example, they don't want you to take just marketing classes and its requirements, they want you to take some management classes and other classes, such as finance and liberal arts classes. That's because they want to produce well rounded graduates. You have a counselor assigned to you and you go meet with him or her in June or July to discuss your interests so they get a better feel for your career path. At this time, you and your counselor will go over your classes to select them. You don't just fill out a schedule online and send it in - they want to meet with you one on one.</p>
<p>They have companies come to them to work on projects, as well. One example is that American Eagle approached them and said they wanted help with their store layout. They had cameras installed in a number of stores and videotaped shoppers and went through hours of tape to see what they found. They learned the shopping habits of men and women are very different (no kidding...lol), and that men walk into a store, and if they're overwhelmed, they turn around and walk right out again. Women just wander about, browsing at everything from the front to the back of the store. They also found men don't unfold clothing if it's sitting folded on a table. (haha....probably because they're afraid they'll have to fold it again) What the class at Indiana suggested was to put entire outfits on a dummy right by tables with all the pieces so men could find things easily. All pieces should be folded in half once and laid on the table near the display. Whether it's a short or a t-shirt or sweater, it should be folded in half one time and that's it.The result of their suggestions led to a 40% increase in sales and they found that men stayed in the store 80% longer than they did previously. The speaker gave a couple of interesting examples like this one, but talked fast because he had a very short period of time to speak.</p>
<p>In early senior year, usually by September, most of the Kelley students already have job offers, based on the internships they've done the previous summer, or the interviews that reps from companies all over the country conduct with the Kelley students. I think they said that companies conducted 14,000 interviews last year. The senior who was with my ex-husband said he's had his job offer since September and the company was waiting for him to graduate and start, an offer that was a result of his internship over the summer.</p>
<p>Sorry this is so long, but I thought I'd throw the extra information in for those of you who are Direct Admits, but couldn't attend yesterday.</p>
<p>Thanks once again! Unfortunately, I'm not a Direct Admit, but I'll be applying after freshman year. I missed the ACT cutoff by 1 point (had a 28) :(. I plan on doing Finance and applying for the honors program. Also, I want to try to get into the Investment Banking Workshop. Did they say anything about that? </p>
<p>Is your son most likely attending in the fall? I want to visit, but I don't know if I have time. Its kind of far coming from NY. </p>
<p>Is there anything else you can tell me about it?</p>
<p>That's okay, almost everyone feels they're missing out on something, but once you get there you'll find you're all having a blast and in the end, will have the same opportunities.</p>
<p>I just called my ex to ask that question, since he was the one who went with my son. He said he didn't hear anything about the workshop or about investment banking. They gave more general information except for specific questions that were asked in their break out groups. The break out groups consisted of 12 - 15 parents per group, led by a senior from Kelley, that went on a tour while the students were doing something else. Nobody in his group asked about either thing. </p>
<p>Other things he just told me:</p>
<p>You have four year career counseling, so you find the career you really want.<br>
By the time you get into your senior year, you have career building skills, leadership skills and interviewing skills already in place. Senior year is spent finishing school and going on interviews. 78% of Kelley students have a job secured by the time spring break rolls around. 98% of the students who enter Kelley, graduate from Kelley. 93% of the students have jobs by the time graduation occurs. </p>
<p>My ex said the thing that impressed him most was that it seemed the kids were all having a blast, but were serious about their studies, too. He didn't feel you'd last long if you were going there to party.</p>
<p>ETA: My son is very seriously considering going there, especially now that he's gone back. This is his top school. </p>
<p>Also, my ex just called back to say that he met several other families during the day, and they all asked what other schools the kids had applied to, and most of them had also applied (and even gotten in already) to MI and Boston College and other schools thought to be more elite than Indiana. He didn't expect that, but again, there were some kids there who may go elsewhere in the end.</p>
<p>Whoa AimHigh, thanks for going out of your way to make the phonecall. I'm seriously considering IU and right now am 90% sure of going. I'm really excited, the only reason why I wouldn't go is if UMich accepted me, which I don't think is going to happen. IU has the best of both worlds - down to earth / party group of people who are also serious about their studies (Kelley students). I plan to work my ass off and get as close as I can to a 3.8-4.0. The investment banking workshop is pretty much an "in" w/ bulge bracket firms like goldman sachs, lehman brothers, and such. Thats awesome that the preparation for your career starts freshman yr. I remember not even NYU Stern had that. I think by the time I'm a Junior/Senior I'll have a significant amount of experience w/ interviewing and internships. I plan to get an internship the end of my frosh and sophmore years to get my foot in the door. Everyone that I've spoken to has said IUB is beautiful and everyone is friendly. It'll be a change from NY where most people are stuckup and kept to themselves.</p>
<p>I really want to visit and it will probably move that 90% to 100%. Do you have any suggestions on what I should do when I visit? Specific places to visit? Will they have a tour guide available to take me around? </p>
<p>I already did my housing application and the only thing left is my deposit. I'm really pumped. I plan on buying an IU hoody or something soon.</p>
<p>Must have been a big week for visits-we were there too! S is an Arts and Sciences Direct Admit-was not thinking business when he applied, but now he would try to combine both if he goes there.</p>
<p>We spent a full day on Thursday doing a campus tour and dorm tour, Arts and Sciences info session, and meeting with 2 faculty advisors from a living learning community. S also did an overnight and stayed in Wright with a student through the IU host program. The weather was in the 70s and sunny-the campus was beautiful. Lots of kids outside tossing a baseball or frisbee around-lots of happy faces. We felt that everyone we met was very friendly and helpful-it looks like a great place to go to school.</p>
<p>In terms of culture, they have a neat art museum designed by IM Pei, an auditorium where they stage big plays and concerts, and all of the sporting events. While he was with his host, I strolled into Bloomington-some cute shops, a great ice cream place, a bunch of bars (one of which was packed to the gills on a Thursday afternoon at 5 PM) and some neat ethnic restaurants-there are 2 Tibetan places-I went to one and had a delicous soup, salad and entree for $9.95. I stayed overnight on the hotel that is part of the student Union-there seems to be a lot to do on campus-so many clubs and activities that I think a student would have to plan wisely to avoid overload.</p>
<p>The 2 faculty members that we met with regarding the Global Village lving learning community were very helpful. We were also signed up to do the Kelley info session, but S spoke to some current Kelley students while he was with his host and felt that another info session would have been overkill, so we drove back to Indianaplois and spent a couple hours walking around and soaking up the "Final 4" excitement before heading for the airport.</p>
<p>I remembered something else my ex told me last night. He said that their business school and the way they have everything structured has become a model for other business schools. Administrators visit the school to find out more so they can implement the same kinds of things within their own schools. That's pretty impressive, I think.</p>
<p>If you can find a way to visit both U of MI and Indiana while students are still in school, I would encourage you to do so. It's one thing to read someone else's experience, and another to experience it yourself. </p>
<p>One thing I would add, however, is that if you're not easily in the top of a competitive class right now, I would rethink Michigan. We have a friend whose son was top of his small class, went to University of IL, where he was top of his class there as a freshman, transferred to U of MI where he was nothing compared to all the other students and strugged to get decent grades, and after a year is switching back to Illinois. People forget sometimes that top of a class in one school doesn't always translate to top of your class in another school. If that's important to you, I'd lean more toward Indiana than MI - particularly if you've been deferred. </p>
<p>Something else for you to think about!</p>
<p>Bxian, that might explain the heavy traffic! Sounds like you had the same great experience my son and my ex had. That's good to hear!</p>
<p>kellyconn1,
In answer to your question up there a ways... My son applied to a number of other schools. After some rejections and wait lists, his final list came down to Lawrence University conservatory along with top LAC), Univ. of Denver ( a last minute application), University of Northern Colorado (an up and coming trumpet program), University of North Texas (nationally known music program), and IU. He visited all of the above except Denver. </p>
<p>There were several factors involved in choosing IU. It gave him the least aid of any school, which didn't help. However, it has one of the best classical music programs in the nation, and classical is what my son really likes. He had a lesson with the trumpet professor he would be working with, and he really liked him. (But he liked the ones at UNC and LU, as well--didn't get a lesson at UNT.) At first he was concerned he wouldn't get enough personal attention at IU, but when he visited, he found everyone very helpful and caring. And, rather to his surprise, he liked being at a big school because that meant there were more opportunities to both perform and hear good music, as well as be involved in other activities. </p>
<p>IU has, indeed, surpassed his expectations. He has met a lot of great people there, and his trumpet playing has improved tremendously. There are just so many opportunities, too, to be involved in different groups. He is involved in a religious group that he enjoys, and he is part of a student-initiated brass quintet. He has been hired to play in an Easter program--$150 for one days' work (not counting practice time, of course). He has absolutely no regrets that he chose IU.</p>
<p>AimHigh...thanks for the helpful tips. I've decided it would be pointless to visit since from all that I've read and all the people I've talked to, it seems like I'd fit in perfectly - also...I've narrowed it down to IU and UMich, leaning towards IU, so if I visited, it wouldn't really make a difference anyhow. </p>
<p>Thats a great point...at UMich there will be a lot more competition and thus lower GPA. At IU, I could probably pull off a higher GPA, even close to a 4.0 which would really not be possible at UMich. </p>
<p>AimHigh, according to a current student I spoke to, the president of the investment banking workshop recently sent out a newsletter stating that wallstreet recruiters ranked kelley 3rd behind Wharton and Harvard. That's impressive, along with how other schools are trying to mimic Kelley. No wonder its 7th in Finance and 11th overall. I can see it making it to top 10 easily in 2007, even top 8 possibly. Its really underrated and often overlooked. The normal day to day people have never heard of Kelley, like they've heard of Stern and Wharton. When people hear Indiana, right away they think "Party School and Hot Girls and Hoosiers" and the business aspect gets disregarded. I initially used it as my safety school and applied in January just for the heck of it...ironically its my top school now after doing some research and realizing what a great school it is.</p>
<p>LOL! I used Indiana as my safety, and right now it's #1 on my list too!</p>
<p>woot A2...What dorm did you apply to? I'll most likely be seeing you next yr!</p>
<p>I applied to the Sport and Society community, if I don't get in there I requested NW neighborhood, I heard that's better socially.</p>
<p>AimHigh - Lots of good info in this thread. My goodness, people who actually think like me and share my views! LOL!</p>
<p>I need to get back to work, my break's almost over, lol.</p>
<p>Nice..yah I applied to NW too. I'm saying goodbye to Michigan..tired of waiting and the more I did, the more I lean towards IU anyway.</p>
<p>A2, can u go on AIM?</p>