Our son is trying to choose between Indiana University and Boston College. We know he perfers BC but the cost difference cannot be ignored. Is the overall BC “experience” worth the difference in cost? Is the Jesuit experience going to provide a different experience than IU?
Different experience, definitely. Jesuit schools like BC do impart a different character to one’s university education though its importance/benefit depends on individual preference.
Whether it’s necessarily better than IU, that really depends on what he’s looking for in his college experience and major. IU is certainly no slouch academically and has some areas where they’re stronger than IU(i.e. Musical Performance).
What is he planning on majoring in and what are the cost differences between the two?
Hi cobrat!! Thank you for your reponse!! He is in the business program at both colleges. He is coming from a Jesuit high school and he LOVES it and wants the same experience…so I guess I really know the answer to the Jesuit experience…our kids have only gone to private schools so a public college will be a new experience for him. The cost difference will be about $35,000-$40 more per year for BC. He also wants to go to law school so that, of course, is going to add to college costs. He prefers a small setting but the ranking for both programs are practically the same!
Unless you have the $140-160K extra at hand, not compromising retirement or other long-term goals, I think your son has a clear choice with IU.
clear choice meaning it’s a good solid program despite the size?
If your student is a direct admit already into Kelley School of business, then – unless you can write those $40,000 checks and pay for law school without borrowing or compromising your retirement etc. – my advice is, save the $40k a year and go to IU. There is an active Catholic group on campus at IU, and the opportunities for Kelley School students are excellent. Kelley is ranked in the top 10 of undergraduate business schools, and its students do very well post-grad.
For undergraduate business, no, BC is not worth that much more than IU. Indiana’s program is solidly top 10 nationally in just about every ranking. It ranked #1 for alum satisfaction. They have a reputation of good student/professor interaction. Like almost all large state colleges, there will be enough diversity to find his social group. Put $5k/year in a retirement fund for him, give him $20k to blow the summer after he graduates, and you both come out ahead.
FWIW, my youngest has a similar choice to make next month, UW-Seattle vs. Notre Dame.
Two great schools but I agree that the schools are different in vibe, size etc. IU is large enough that your S should be able to find a solid group of similarly minded friends. IMO it largely will come down to 1) what your family can comfortably afford knowing that law school might well be in your S’s future and 2) can your S feel comfortable at IU.
FWIW my S went to a different Jesuit college and yes, everyone has to complete the core (including theology, philosophy etc.) but after that the religious based activities are there for students who wish to partake but they are not pushed on people. If in his Jesuit HS everyone must be involved in religious based activities that will be a difference. If your S gets involved in a Catholic organization at IU (Newman Center) he may have similar opportunities and it could provide a social outlet for him. Alos being part of Kelley will also mean that he will be in a smaller school within the larger university. If possible I’d try to re-visit IU before making a decision.
If it’s business, IU. BC is not so much better that it’s worth the premium. And if law school is in the cards, you want to minimize debt considering the most important factors for law school admissions is the undergrad GPA as calculated by LSDAS* and LSAT score.
Only considerations I’d have are campus size(IU is much bigger in student population) and social differences though both can be substantially mitigated.
- LSDAS is the application service law school applicants use. Among many other things, they also recalculate GPAs based on every college-level course taken up to the first bachelor's degree....including DE courses taken in HS, summer courses taken at other colleges, and averaging in repeated courses for credit(If one repeated a course for a better grade, they average both grades in their recalculated GPA).
Another consideration: IU is located in a midwestern, college town. BC is in an upscale suburb of Boston where students have fairly easy access to the city and all the opportunities there–social and cultural plus internships. Which environment does your son prefer? If you’re from the NE, has your son been to the midwest? My kids (both from the NE) were really turned off by large, midwestern college towns. (My H and I are both from the midwest and thought our kids might be interested in the Big 10 universities. Neither one was interested.)
Thank you all for your comments!! They are very much appreciated!! We have a trip planned to go to Boston during spring break to the BC “Admitted Student Day Program.” We are from Ohio so IU is an easy 2 1/2 hour drive. We also plan to go back to IU to spend more time on campus,etc. May 1st will be here before we know it! I suspect he will go to IU and I like the thought of Kelley providing a small feel on a large campus. He did apply to live in the Kelley Living/Learning Center which would also give it the small feel–if that works out.
Magnetron, please let us know where your youngest decides to go and we will do the same!
Looking forward to more input!..
…and CONGRATULATIONS to your youngest for a Notre Dame acceptance!!! That is quite an accomplishment!!!
IU. It is a gorgeous campus, arguably one of the most beautiful in the country. It is a legit college town. The business school is excellent. You/he would save a ton of money.
Interesting - there are several of these threads in which a student wants to study business or finance yet struggles whether to spend zillions of more dollars of someone else’s money with one choice versus an equivalent choice. Makes me think they will work in government someday.
lol…That last comment will DEFINITELY push him toward IU!!!..
…however the real problem is that it is the battle (that we all have in life at some point) between the head and the heart!! We all know logically that we don’t want/need to spend that much money on a great education, however, his heart is saying that that is the environment/size/culture/experience, etc. that I want to be in (BC) and what I have worked hard for. Good grades and good ACT score did NOT come easy for him–it came from hard work and goal setting. Yes, “logically” we know the correct decision…tell it to and convince the heart!!!..I guess that’s where we are!..
IU has a good business school- known beyond Indiana and the costs are lower for you. It will be good for him to get outside the Catholic school bubble. He can easily maintain his faith and also learn other points of view. Large campus/small town or small college/large city. I’ll bet there is plenty to do on campus at IU or BC- no time to spend in the rest of the area for the most part. He can always choose grad/law school in a big city.
He was a direct admit to IU Kelley? Go there.
In terms of the “I worked hard for this college admission and I want to go regardless of the price” thinking: we have always preached to our child that success should not peak in high school. Now we are saying the same thing about college. The delayed gratification angle gets old after awhile but it is still true. Graduating in the best possible financial shape will be well earned too.
IU has a better business program, and you’ll save an arm and leg. Go there!
Also, most of the Big 10 schools have vibrant religious student organizations/ministries if that is something your son is interested in.
Yes, he was direct admit into Kelley. Just heard from Wake Forest and he got in! Very exciting for him!!
It isn’t necessarily the religion at his Jesuit high school that he liked so much as it was the all boys environment, “it’s cool to be smart” attitude (though he is not a “nerd”–though he’d probably like to be), service opportunities, LOTS of school pride, and some fantastic teachers and lots of guest speakers, and the schools wonderful reputation, etc, etc. His school had 400 boys per class (1600 total).
Anyway, he thinks that BC and (private colleges) are more “scholarly.” Not sure if that is true or not. I think that IU Kelley School of Business will also be scholarly.
We know that IU makes more sense and that is where he will most likely go but I do like that he wants to go to a college that he thinks is serious about their studies–but as I read in another thread–“it’s not the car, it’s the driver.”