<p>So I'm still trying to figure out some schools to apply to and one of my major requirements is that I am in an exciting place. I don't want my life to be limited to campus: I want to be able to explore the place I'm in, or have a city closeby where I can spend time.</p>
<p>I'm looking to apply to schools that fall right under the Ivys in ranking, plus I'm looking to do a business major. Any schools/cities that come to mind? </p>
<p>I currently have schools on my list that are in Boston, Chicago, and NY.</p>
<p>The following are ranked closely behind the Ivies (top 30 or so), with business programs and interesting urban/suburban locations:</p>
<p>Georgetown
CMU
NYU
Vanderbilt
Northwestern (business “certificate” program)</p>
<p>The following are ranked closely behind the Ivies (top 50 or so), with well-regarded business programs and locations in interesting college towns:</p>
<p>Michigan
UVa
UNC
UT Austin</p>
<p>What about your budget? Can your family afford its EFC?</p>
<p>Do you want to be in the city? BC, Michigan, UVa and UNC are all great schools but they’re not necessarily in a large city. When I read your requirements I think more along the lines of Boston U, NYU, Miami and Tulane.</p>
<p>There are also top urban schools that offer economics but not business. Would that work for you? An econ degree combined with computer science, math or statistics is every bit as employable (if not more so) as a business degree - but it depends on your interests.</p>
<p>NYU & Fordham in NY, BC, BU, Tufts & Bentley in/near Boston, Georgetown, GW, & American (DC), Tulane (New Orleans), Vanderbilt (Nashville), Emory (Atlanta), Villanova (near Phila), Berkeley (San Francisco).</p>
<p>And as to the comment above, I beg to differ…there is a big difference between a business and an economics degree – economics is very theoretical at the higher levels a liberal arts degree (unfortunately not as employable right out of school) while a business major will take a business core with classes in accounting, marketing, finance etc. and areas such as accounting, finance, computer systems are pretty employable (although for a CPA you need 150 credit hours). Neither path is better or worse, but they are different.</p>
<p>tomofboston - I’m probably looking to stay in schools in the US. I’m not sure if I’m ready for THAT much of an adventure yet. =)</p>
<p>tk21769 - My parents have told me not to look at finances at all while I’m applying. The told me to aim as high as I can (with my scores, ECs, etc) and they said we’d probably be able to work something out if we really needed to.</p>
<p>jph093 - I’m kinda looking for bigger city schools just because I’m from a small suburban town and I want a change. BUT BC, Michigan, UVa and UNC are all on my list as of now. I guess I don’t really have a set in stone definition of where I want to go but I just know I don’t want to spend my life solely on campus. Also, with pursuing a career in business, I figured that being in a city would allow me a larger opportunities for internships at large companies, and commute wouldn’t be too much of an issue. </p>
<p>M’s Mom - I’m probably leaning towards an actual business degree but I am open to hearing all suggestions so if you have any names you do want to throw out, I’d love to hear them! I know some of the Ivy’s don’t offer business majors but if I could manage to get in, I’d probably still attend, just because being connected with the name of a top school is a useful thing to have.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that in many parts of the US it can be hard to ‘explore’ without a car. Extensive public transportation - and relatively short distances (by western standards) between major cities - make the East coast especially attractive for those who like to travel. My daughter, born and raised in the west, loved how easy it was for her to travel to NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC while going to college in Boston. That amount of eclectic weekend travel just isn’t possible in much of the mid-west or west/west coast.</p>
<p>U of Chicago would be an example of a great school without a business major in a big urban area - however, it’s as competitive as many of the Ivies. If you’d like a LAC, take a look at Macalester in St. Paul, Minneapolis. If you’d consider suburban but with good city access, look at Rice in Houston and Wash U in St. Louis. (Nicer weather makes it for a better commute too.) Emory in Atlanta has a business admin program in their college of arts and sciences. Check out Pomona and Claremont McKenna (part of a 5 school consortium with contiguous campuses located in a suburb of LA). </p>