<p>I'm deciding whether I should attend NIU for business or UIUC. I just got back from a speaker event at Dekalb by Nicole D'Ambrosio, a finalist on the Apprentice, and I was really impressed by her presentation of their business school - granting she is the CEO of her own company, but I still think UIUC may have more to offer me. Everyone I talked to at the event said NIU has a better program by far (and a better school), but I'm rather sketchy. Does UIUC have "the classroom meets the real world" attitude? Any advice would help greatly. </p>
<p>Every student is going to give praise to their respective program. From an objective standpoint, I have been far more impressed with UofI COB's vision.</p>
<p>I went to the speaker event held in Barsema Hall, NIU's business building, and I was impressed by Nicole. She has smarts.
I know a student who had the option to either attend NIU or UIUC for business as a jr. transfer, but chose NIU.</p>
<p>Speaking about NIU: Garrett Wolfe to the Chicago Bears! Woot!</p>
<p>Give the lady some credit, she was a finalist on the Apprentice who was about to win a coveted job with Donald Trump. I bet if she was an alumni from the COB at UIUC you would think differently. NIU's business program can't be all that bad: </p>
<p>if you wanna bring rankings into it, campusdirt.com ranks U of I as #38 and NIU as #265... this ranking is composed of lots of things besides academics. I think it is pretty stupid to decide where to go to college based on how USNews ranks the colleges you applied to on factors that arent that big of a part of most people's college experiences.</p>
<p>FYI - I'm a UIUC business grad. Obviously, any person who has the smarts and work ethic can achieve success no matter where he or she goes to school. However, when it comes to general corporate hiring from business schools (which I know a lot about since I've been in the real world for awhile), if you put two identical resumes side-by-side and one person went to UIUC while the other went to NIU, the UIUC grad is going to get the call first every time. UIUC is a Big Ten research school with a particularly nationally-recognized strength in business while NIU is a good regional school. I'm not knocking NIU and, like I've said, your educational experience is what you make of it, but the reality in terms of campus recruiting, especially in the Chicago area, is that UIUC is a first tier interviewing stop for business grads (along with most of the other Big Ten schools) while NIU is not close to the same level.</p>
<p>I looked at both NIU and UIUC for undergrad, was planning on majoring in history at the time. I've known people who went to both for business and they've been happy with their experiences. NIU and DeKalb overall are cheaper than UIUC and Urbana-Champaign. Tutition is quite a bit cheaper at NIU, along with cost of living and apartments. If you live close enough to DeKalb, you can live at home and save money that way too. From what I've heard also, NIU is a lot more generous with financial aide than UIUC. Several of my HS classmates got better FA packages from NIU than UIUC.</p>
<p>UIUC has the name recognition, but I've heard in some departments especially accounting the focus is more on research and the graduate program. Other programs in IL ie ISU and NIU's teaching seems to be more focused on the professional training of both the undergrad and grad students. Champaign-Urbana is the better college town hands down.</p>
<p>Sorry I haven't responded. NIU does focus more on their students: BIG +. I'll look into NIU's campus more to what they offer to students in terms of campus life (no Green St. of that sort). Money should not be a problem; NIU is super super cheap, well for me at least.</p>
<p>Oh by the way I'm from Tinley Park, IL. Anyanka2, what school did you choose for undergrad?</p>
<p>UIUC's business school is most definitely one of the best in the country. NIU has an excellent accounting program along with several other very strong programs. The admissions requirements for UIUC are higher therefore you'll likely have a stronger student population. I have recruited many students from both schools and, although a generalization, have found this to be the case. </p>
<p>NIU has a reputation of being a suitcase school. Many students are from nearby and go home on the weekends. Again, this is a generalization, but it's a complaint I have heard from many students. I know students from UIUC who are sad to leave for the holidays. </p>
<p>As others have said, you'll get out of your college what you put into it. Either of these institutions will offer you the opportunity to learn and excel. Good luck.</p>
<p>UIUC, DeKalb is about a half hour from where I went to high school, therefore too close to home. I've liked the Champaign-Urbana area enough to stay here for grad school and possibly getting a job here for a couple years. It's a very different experience living off campus than in the dorms. </p>
<p>NIU is definetly a suitcase school. At least a third of my high school classmates who went on to 4 year schools ended up going to NIU and half lived at home to save money.</p>