<p>My younger brother is graduating high school and wants to go into accounting. The problem is, money isn't great at the moment. He's got decent grades and ACT, but nothing that would earn him huge scholarships (I think he has something like a 3.8 UW, no honors classes, and a 25 ACT). Anyway, I'm trying to help him find schools with good accounting programs that aren't extremely costly. Does anyone have suggestions? I've searched the web for best accounting programs, but the schools that crop up are all very costly. Many thanks!</p>
<p>What state are you in?
Is he considering retaking the ACT?
What is his SAT score?
Is he eligible for financial aid?
How much are your parents willing to pay for tuition?</p>
<p>We’re in Illinois
I think he’ll retake it, but I don’t think he’ll score much higher. He’s not great at standardized tests.
He’ll probably never take the SAT - it’s not very common here, except for super high achievers.
He’s probably not eligible for financial aid.
I think my parents can pay up to $10,000 a year for tuition, but that’ll be a huge strain … I’m hoping to find somewhere for less.</p>
<p>Thanks, but I think my brother wants to go to a 4 year college for all 4 years. </p>
<p>It doesn’t have to be the top undergrad business school in the state or anything. I’m just trying to help him find a decent one that’s not too expensive.</p>
<p>If money is an issue/concern, which it sounds like it is, its downright shelfish and stupid to go to a 4-yr…Don’t need a phd or TA in a room with 150+ students to teach you intro to Psycology, English, Economics, History, Accounting, [insert Gen Ed requirment or beginning business course]. No reason to spend 5-20K more in tuition to take those classes when a teacher at community college w/ 20-50 kids in each class is often a better learning environment anyways. Just make sure you coordinate what classes your taking @ the CC with the 4-yr college of your choice, to make sure all credits transfer. </p>
<p>Did he give a reason why he didnt want to go to CC? I wouldn’t let him off so easily. Just because he is getting help from his family, I did not, doesnt mean he should be wasteful without a good reason. (Tuition + Fees + Living Expenses) x 4 years = ALOT of money. Especially if you go to a 4 year all 4 years.</p>
<p>With that said, its always wise to apply to at least a couple 4 years to see how much Fin Aid you will get. People are very pleasantly suprised by their aid packages all the time. I know I was.</p>
<p>look for in state… I am sure he can get in one, and I am sure there is one that is below 10k… UIUIC is abt 12k?
and, of course if he can work part-time too, which is a great idea if he wants to be more responsible for himself</p>
<p>As for community college, it depends really. There are times when I feel it’s more like penny wise pound foolish to go to CC just because there are job opportunities that can be found on campus that you can start looking for when you are a freshman, and business clubs to go for too. [business=connections] Unless you really really can’t afford it, it might be good idea to go to uni straight if he were to take all the opportunities available.</p>
<p>I personally will go to UIUIC (get the ACT up by a few points), if he want to go accounting , that’s great, if not there are other opportunities
By the way, if he can’t get to UIUIC, and he is willing to work hard, I will say CC then transfer to UIUIC, or 4 yr university then transfer to UIUIC.</p>
<p>It will also be nice if you can state the reason he doesn’t want to be a transfer student… so that we don’t jump to conclusions</p>
<p>Whatdidyou is right that we don’t need PhDs to teach Gen Ed classes, although I find a good uni offer the same courses which are much more challenging (enhance your thinking capabilities), and you have better resources. So yeah, there are things like FAFSA btw? no? keep applying for scholarships since not only grades are taken into factor (e.g. comm service)</p>
<p>It doesn’t have to be the top undergrad business school in the state or anything. I’m just trying to help him find a decent one that’s not too expensive.</p>
<p>I will say try to aim as high as you can within your capabilities… although accounting there is less of a difference in going to good schools or not, I think the peers that you make going to one will be beneficial personally and professionally. Not that there are no good students in average schools, good schools tends to have better than average student.</p>
<p>I agree with spring12. Look in state. Also, aranyria, make sure you don’t do all the legwork for your brother. It’s his life and he needs to take charge.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! To answer a few things:</p>
<p>He’s really into the whole 4 year college experience idea, and my parents agree. Also, how to say this … He’s not a college confidential kid. People on these boards tend to be incredibly driven, willing to do just about anything to get into a high ranking school and all that. It’s just not him. Suffice it to say that the community college/transfer thing is not an option. He’s a good student, but he’s just not the person to really take two years in CC, get stellar grades, and transfer. He’s very determined to go to a 4 year school. Please stop telling me to somehow force my brother to go to community college. I’m not in charge of him, I’m just trying to help out a bit. He’s a good kid, but the whole college search/admissions area isn’t a comfort area of his, so while he is trying, I’m just seeing if there’s anything I can do.</p>
<p>And sp1212, haha. Not sure if you were joking or not, actually. I’ve been in college for 2 years, so yeah, this isn’t secretly for me or anything. </p>
<p>I’m mainly asking on this board to find out if there are some lowish cost schools with good business programs that I don’t know about. I know there’s plenty of schools out there that, while not well-known in general, have decent departments of a specific type. Problem is, there’s no listing of them. As someone not going into business, I don’t know the realm at all, and I figured people on this board might.</p>
<p>Well each to his own, that’s fine if he doesn’t want to go to CC</p>
<p>What about your own college aran? Where do you go? Can he go there?</p>
<p>Well, again I think it’s really worth it to look in state, and since he is really determined to go to 4 year. If I was him, I will pull up my ACT, apply to UIUIC, and work part time there.</p>
<p>Out of state wise, well there are some decent schools but tend to be more expensive all else equal (quality of schools etc.)</p>
<p>BYU is good too, but not everyone fits.</p>
<p>What experience in 4 yr college that he is looking for? if it’s those party stuff, forget BYU.</p>
<p>Public colleges and universities
Chicago State University
Eastern Illinois University
Governors State University
Illinois State University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Illinois system
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Western Illinois University</p>
<p>okay, fine. That is the arguably only thing you miss out on by going to cc - the “college experience.” I guess if he and your parents value it THAT much, then fine. I just don’t think that “experience” is worth thousands and thousands of dollars. If your helping him out this much (by finding out about good programs to tell him about) then you should help him by explaining the benefits of CC. Your description of him is not very flattering.</p>
<p>as for your question, thats sorta tricky. Find the colleges in your state (state schools) that have acctg degrees, look up their beta alpha psi websites, and see how many firms recruit @ each. That should give you a little more information, besides cost alone, to make your decision. You should also think try to pick a school with several good programs, as he is still in HS, and could very well change his major. Lots of students end up struggling and/or hating acctg. I didnt know what the hell i wanted to do when I was in HS. </p>
<p>You can also save money by going to a college within driving distance of your or your parents home, to save on living expenses, if there is a good program nearby.</p>
<p>BTW- University of Illinois at Urbana is the 2nd best accounting program in the country. The College of Business is also one of the hardest programs to get into.</p>
<p>4 yr college experience is great, however it sounds like he can only afford community college at least his first year. Do the gen ed classes and then transfer in. There is no reason to take your math, econ, stats and english ay UIUC and pay $19k instate tuition and fees+$10k room/board + books and expenses. If your parents will only pay $10k, then that is $20k of loans. Instead at CC, you will pay around $500 a class or $5000 for the first year. Not only will your parents save $5k, but he can then transfer in taking actual accounting classes. You can’t take Accy 201 until you have has Macro and Micro.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks people! I’m going to suggest he looks into BYU and Illinois State. Let me know if anyone can think of more programs. I’m also hoping he might be able to get partial scholarships somewhere, so if anyone knows any decent undergrad business programs that tend to offer merit scholarships pretty generously, let me know – he’s planning on getting his ACT up. Thanks all!</p>
<p>Oh, except for Whatdidyou, who felt the need to insult both me and my brother. "If your helping him out this much (by finding out about good programs to tell him about) then you should help him by explaining the benefits of CC. " Whatdidyou, do you have any siblings? You think that, if they were set on attending a 4-year-college, you could convince them to ignore their dream and do CC? That’s ridiculous. And as for you having a negative picture of my brother in your head just because he isn’t exactly like you, (Your description of him is not very flattering), good luck not running into anyone with different values in your life.</p>
<p>"Oh, except for Whatdidyou, who felt the need to insult both me and my brother. “If your helping him out this much (by finding out about good programs to tell him about) then you should help him by explaining the benefits of CC. " Whatdidyou, do you have any siblings? You think that, if they were set on attending a 4-year-college, you could convince them to ignore their dream and do CC? That’s ridiculous.”</p>
<p>^^i never insulted you man, i only tried to help by giving advice and answering your questions. I do have siblings and if I knew that they would not get financial aid, I would strongly encourage them to “ignore their dream and do cc.” You know why? because it is the SMART thing to do and likely better for them in the longrun, as we are not rich. </p>
<p>“And as for you having a negative picture of my brother in your head just because he isn’t exactly like you, (Your description of him is not very flattering), good luck not running into anyone with different values in your life”</p>
<p>^^hehe, chill out. You painted a picture of someone who is so determined to go to a 4-year state school all four years (or more), that he is not willing in the least to look into going to go to cc for two years to save his parents money, even though money is tight. That seems selfish (seemingly not caring a great deal about the financial burden he is placing on his family) and/or ignorant (about the financial costs hes putting on himself and others or the validity of a CC transfer degree). </p>
<p>Your ridiculous to assume I can’t get along with other people…was just tryin to get you to explain to him that CC is a valid, and often wise, option. Given that your highschool brother may not be selfish so much as just overwhelmed and ignorant…</p>
<p>Sometimes you have to give some tough love. Step up.</p>
<p>SUNY Binghamton… about $14000 tuition for OOS, it’s a good business school it was ranked in BusinessWeek. Not sure about US News but hey might as well look</p>
