I want to go into some area of business (likely Finance/economics or consulting). However, I am not certain on my future and could end up going to medical school. Also, Vanderbilt and IU are the same price the first year, but my financial aid at vandy will disappear sometime during my third or fourth year due to my brother not being in school at the same time. Is Vanderbilt worth up to $40,000 in debt upon graduation? At Kelley, I’m a DA and in the KLLC, and I will graduate debt free and likely do the IB workshop. I like the idea of being near a big city and meeting new people at night, want to have a strong social life, and want to join a fraternity. Vanderbilt concerns me because I’m afraid it won’t be as fun as IU (I know I can do well academically at either. I simply want to enjoy my 4 years). Is Vanderbilt very fun? Finally, my dream is Wharton at Penn. Will it be easier to transfer to Penn from Vandy or from IU (schedule-wise, definitely vandy, but I’m asking selectivity-wise). I’m open to doing an MBA at Wharton, but I don’t want to go to grad school right out of college. Can anyone who has any thoughts or comments on my situation please help advise me?
Nashville is a great town, but IU Kelley is one of the best business schools around. If you can graduate debt-free from Kelley, go there. One of my sisters went to IU (though not at Kelley), and she loved it.
Don’t know how to answer your question about Wharton. My guess is it won’t be “easy” to get in no matter whether you go to Indiana or Vanderbilt.
@simba9 Thanks for the perspective. Can anyone else address some of my other questions too? Is it a good idea to pass up a selective school like Vanderbilt with many resources simply to avoid an extra $40-50k in expenses?
If your family can afford Vanderbilt without going into debt and it won’t hurt their retirement then by all means go for it. If it will cause a hardship than go to Indiana and rest assured that you will get a good education and have the full college experience.
Go to Vandy. 40k in debt isn’t outrageous and Vanderbilt beats out IU even if you’re in Kelley.
What do you mean "Will it be easier to transfer to Penn from Vandy or from IU ". Wharton accepts very few transfer students regardless of undergrad school.
Did you double deposit at both schools? That is not permitted and may result in your admission being rescinded.
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MBAs require 2-5 years of professional experience.
And transfers are almost impossible.
Choose expecting you’ll spend your full 4 years there.
Vanderbilt will help regardless of your final major.
IU Kelley will be good for business.
Both will offer excellent social opportunities.
Can you afford Vanderbilt without devt foebthe first 2-3 years?
Where will the 40k come from parent loans or income/savings)?
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Is Vanderbilt worth up to $40,000 in debt upon graduation?
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Are you sure that’s all the debt? If your aid disappears for your junior and senior year, wouldn’t you have a LOT more debt total???
Destined4harvard, when u say “transfer” to Wharton, do you mean transfer during your undergrad years so you get a bachelor’s from Wharton, or do you mean go to Wharton after getting a bachelor’s at IU or Vandy?
Either way, I’d go to Indiana.
Vanderbilt is excellent, but I am not sure it is worth $40k of debt over IU, which is excellent in its own right. If you decide to go to Medical school, you want to save as much money as possible while you are in college, in which case, IU makes more sense. If you want to work, Kelley grads are just as well placed as Vanderbilt grades. Either way, IU + $40k makes better sense than Vanderbilt.
IU makes better sense IMHO. Less UG debt means better options if you do go a professional school route or graduate school. I believe IU will provide great opportunities for those students that do their best to utilize the available opportunities.
If you are strong in STEM and really like the sciences, see how you can keep classes in the mix - I haven’t looked at the curriculum for what you would be starting with the plan you are thinking in business. You definitely need specific classes if you want to apply to med schools - as well as a lot of other preparation during UG years.
Transfer to Penn or Vandy - no. Stay in same place for UG.
Another vote for IU . . . especially because it’s hard to tell where your numbers are coming from. Vandy is very expensive; make sure you have a precise ‘handle’ on what it will actually cost to go there.
IU. Excellent business school. Save the money for your MBA.
I want to transfer to Penn after freshman year at Vandy. My parents have $40k per year for me to use for Vandy, and I’m responsible for expenses after that. My concern with IU is that it will only prepare me for a career in business and I may want to work in another field down the road. I got off the waitlist at vandy a few days ago, so it’s not unethical at this point. I like Vandy and IU a lot. I feel like it would be safer to choose Vandy and join the Vanderbilt finance clubs and other clubs and major in economics or HOD with a minor in poly sci versus double major in finance in accounting and hopefully the IB workshop at IU…
It is a horrible idea to agonize over a college decision, intending to transfer. First, the odds of you successfully transferring are extremely poor. Second, transferring forfeits an entire year of relationships and non-academic work (clubs, etc.), compounded by the fact that you will feel and likely act like a short-timer during your freshman year and worsen the experience. Pick a school and make the most of it–you would likely go to grad school anyway at some point. Transfer is a good option for community college paths (duh) and for people who either cannot pursue their desired major or who are unhappy where they are. It is not for people trying to climb from #18 to #9 (or whatever) within an arbitrary ranking system.