Help choosing school

College Search & Selection
1

Hey guys,
I’ve been looking at potential undergrad business schools and I’ve narrowed it down to a few and was hoping you could help me weigh the pros and cons of each. Right now I’m looking at Miami Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Ross would be a reach, as my unweighted GPA is around 3.7, but I have a 33 ACT. Both my parents went to Miami, so there’s a part of me that wants to go there.

A few questions about them:

How do they all compare as far as prestige goes?

Am I putting myself at a disadvantage going to Miami instead of one of the other two?

How is the rigor and manageability of each?

Thanks a lot.

2

If you can afford it, go to Michigan. If not Wisconsin.

3

Have you been accepted to all 3 and are all 3 affordable? Is one of them in-state for you?

4

I’m a junior, so admissions won’t be until next year. None of them are in-state, but I’m lucky in that money won’t be the deciding factor on where I end up going.

5

So if you are a Junior, why do you have to decide now? Apply to all three and see where you are accepted.

6

No need to decide right now, just curious to see what the perceptions of the schools were.

7

First apply and see where you get in.

8

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with talking about the schools before applying; most juniors are very anxious about the process and eager to weigh the pros and cons of the different places they are considering. Maybe the OP will learn something about one of the schools that is especially appealing or unappealing, who knows? Personally, I think Michigan is an amazing school, and I have heard that it is significantly more rigorous than the other two. That may depend on major, though, and I’m not familiar with each of the school’s business programs.

9

Because there are many many people who change their minds once the college app period is over.

10

I would visit all three during spring or summer break and decide how you feel about them. Personal fit, in my opinion, is much more important than prestige, and you’ll likely get a sense of how rigorous each is after your visit.

As many have said, I don’t see a reason to have to choose now. Apply to all, see how much money they offer you, see who’s willing to accept you (probably all, with your ACT score), and go from there. I’m a senior and I still have no idea where I’ll attend in the fall. You have plenty of time.

11

Miami (Ohio) is considered a “Public Ivy” so prestige is nothing to worry about if you choose to attend.

12

Thanks everybody for the responses, you guys are right that I don’t have to decide now, I was just more curious about what everyone thought of these schools.

13

Go and visit while classes are in session (if possible). Attend a class, eat in the cafeteria. Read the write-up in Fiske, Insider’s Guide, and Princeton Review.
Apply to more than these three. Keep your options open.
Run the NPCs on all three and bring the results to your parents - don’t assume anything until they’ve told you what amount they can afford and whether they’re willing to invest it at any of the universities you brought them the NPC results for.