Okay, so I got accepted to quite a few schools but these are the three that I’ve narrowed it down to. Most of the others I had to let go (like BU or Chapman) because the cost was just too much. Each school is around the same range for me (about 25k) in total for tuition + room.
UCI PROS:
-It is a UC, which is respected across the country and well known in California, where I plan to live/work
-I was accepted directly as a Business Administration major into the Paul Merage School of Business
-It is in orange county, so I have access to a lot of firms/companies for internship opportunities, etc.
-I really like the campus, it’s very safe and clean and the people seem very nice and studious so I think there’s a healthy level of competition there
-I would live at home after the first year and save money
CONS:
-I live in Irvine, so I would be staying here. I always wanted to get out of my hometown but I have come to terms with it
-I’m a pretty social person, and I definitely plan on partying and having fun in college. I’ve heard things about how the party scene/social scene isn’t that great here, compared to a school like UCSB for example (i got waitlisted there)
-I’m worried that the ‘research driven’ aspect of a UC isn’t good for a business major because I heard employers want students to graduate ready to do the work without needing to be trained
SDSU PROS:
-I got accepted to the Honors College so I’d be at the top of the school and I’d have access to privileges like selecting classes first
-I would get to live in the nicer Zura Hall dorms with the other honors students
-They have a finance major (which is what I’m doing) instead of a general Business Admin major
-They have a good social/party scene and it’s away from home in a really beautiful city
CONS:
-When I visited, I felt like the students did not care much about studying/the level of intellect just wasn’t really conveyed. The tour spent most of the time talking about the food options and the activities rather than the academics, which I didn’t like
-I heard that there’s a lot of pressure to be in the top 3 sororities or something in order to have fun and get into parties
-I know two people that go there and they didn’t like it very much at first, it took them a while to ‘fit in’
-It’s a cal state so I don’t think it carries the same prestige as UCI, not sure about how respected the Fowler school is
Bentley PROS:
-I got a 35k scholarship from there, which makes it go from 60k a year to 25k a year
-It is a full business school so all the energy/resources are spent on business-related opportunities
-I read that it has a 99% job placement rate?? compared with SDSU and UCI that have like 80%
-It is a private school so the class sizes are MUCH smaller and it has the benefits of a private education
-It is near Boston which is an amazing city and a great college town with lots of work opportunities
CONS:
-It is only about business, so I think I would get annoyed/bored of the autonomy of the student body/curriculum
-I’m not sure how much prestige the name carries, especially out of the northeast region. this is especially important
-Worried about the competition with other Boston schools like Harvard, MIT, BU, Northeastern, etc.
-Not sure about the social life there, it’s hard to find info on it
-I would have to pay more to travel back home during breaks
-It’s not actually located in Boston so I’m not really sure about the town of Waltham
SORRY IT’S SO LONG. So basically, I’m not sure what to do. If anyone knows anything about the job prospects at each of these schools or the general vibe, I would greatly appreciate any insight. Which degree do you think is the most valuable?
Your analysis seems pretty spot on. I know UCI is developing a national brand and has the pros/cons you mentioned.
I know absolutely zero about SDSU. But you laid out your thoughts and I would respect your instincts.
Bentley is well regarded in New England. A lot of business professionals in Boston matriculated there. It does have a very large accounting program so it tends to be seen as school producing a lot of CPAs and CFOs. But I have no idea of what it’s recognition is nationally. But if you are a smart and qualified CPA it works anywhere. Thy also are starting to embrace the entrepreneurial studies like another local business school in the area called Babson.
I don’t know the Bentley scene personally but it’s reputation is serious and professionally focused. They do have a decent basketball team. Waltham is a typical mixed bag of businesses. Mom and pop stores and residents. But feels a bit more commercial than residential. Right near babson abs Wellesley college. 20 minutes with no traffic to Boston
SDSU Honors college is a great opportunity and you will be with academically focused students. SDSU’s Business program is well respected and you will find a diverse group of students that are not focused on Greek life, so do not let that turn you off from the campus. Based on what you have posted however, I think UCI is a great opportunity and Business Administration is a tough admit so congratulations.
All cost being fairly equal, and considering the rep of Bentley and the fact that it brings exposure to the other coast (I consider college a good time to get outside your comfort zone) I suggest accepting admission to Bentley. I assume you have considered the weather in the Boston area?? (I say this as a parent whose D is attending one of the 5C’s in the fall. I told she will not return if she sends me pics of her in shorts and flip flops in Feb.)
@privatebanker do you think it would be difficult to compete for job/intern positions in that area considering there are schools like MIT, Harvard, BC, etc that Bentley is overshadowed by?
@mamom does bentley really have that good of s rep? I say this because I know it is ranked regionally but not nationally, which makes me question how wellknown it is in a national context
I am from the Boston area, so I know Bentley just because I live here. But, I am confident you will find its business program is excellent and while it is not well known on your coast, employers from all over know Bentley. I suggest you find out who is hiring this and last years grads,who is hiring them for internships (and are they being hired or working for free??), what companies are the professors consulting with, etc.? Bottom, line you have 3 very nice choices, go over the pros and cons, and then make a choice with no regrets. You will do great where ever you land!
Internships will be available for sure. There’s a lot of competition with 50 schools in the area. But every school has developed relationships. I think the competition is more within your school. Northeastern has the co op program so they lead on the undergrad business internships I would believe.
But it really depends on the experience that you will love and thrive within. UCI is an impressive university and varied students/majors experience and Bentley is an impressive business oriented smaller college experience. Both great but different. Only you will know what seems to be the most appealing
Also, I’m getting two differing prerogatives from your post.
You want to party and have fun (UCI), but you don’t like that SDSU appears to have decreased intellectuals (who seem to like to party and have fun). Which is it?
SDSU accepts from the top . . . . .down. IOW: they accept students with high stats and local ties until they run out of room. Why did you apply there if you didn’t think the academics measure up?
SDSU has a HUGE alumni network all over California.
Their internships are strong for the business school, but you have to have strong grades.
I’ve had more than my share of former students saying they have been disappointed by UCI’s social limitations. They do have a huge commuter population and, you will be one of them.
SDSU does have a lot of commuters, but it’s not really noticeable because of all of the campus events on the weekends.
If you’ve already made up your mind, then go where you need to be. Don’t forget that you will have to be there for 4 years.
I’d pick between Bentley and SDSU.
Bentley students are preprofessional and they have excellent placement rates due to strong industry ties. Lots of personal attention, private school resources, focused classmates. If you go you’d create a different network than at SDSU and you have to be sure you wouldn’t mind snow
@“aunt bea” I applied to SDSU because it was a safety school for me… why wouldn’t I apply to safety schools? It would be ridiculous not to. And I said that I only felt that way after I visited the campus and took an admitted students tour. The tour focused like 85% of it on the activities and food on campus and did not talk about academics at all except for naming off the various colleges, so I was not impressed by the lack of focus on academics.
It is completely possible for a school to be focused on academics AND have a good social scene (take UCSB for example, or USC) so that is why I was not enticed. Additionally, I will not be a commuter at UCI. I stated earlier that I am dorming there for at least the first year. If I feel that I don’t need to dorm anymore after that, I can live at home to save money or maybe somewhere else like a greek house or apartment.
The overall undergraduate experience will be better at SDSU with the honors college. UCI will bring the least growth by not taking you out of your comfort zone or much out of your current region/culture. How’s he time to stretch your wings a little;) I think that in terms of outcomes all three are equivalent (with a nudge to Bentley: if they admit you they follow through and make sure everything is there to help you reach your goals.)
