Hi everyone! I am a high school senior girl from California. I’ve narrowed down my two top schools to Indiana and Minnesota but I’m having trouble coming to a conclusion. I really want to study either international business or marketing – I barely missed the mark for direct admit to Kelley (3.68 GPA) but HAVE gotten into Carlson, so I would need to transfer into Kelley. Kelley is much more highly regarded than Carlson but I am a little worried about transferring in second semester freshman year/beginning of sophomore year – how hard is it to transfer into Kelley? However, I also really love Minnesota!! Not only do I love the people/atmosphere, it has much much more affordable OOS tuition. The price tag on OOS Indiana is SCARY. I’m concerned really scared that I will get loaded with student debt at IU even if my degree is more “highly regarded”. Anyway, what’s a girl to do?! Let me know what you guys think is the best decision. I love the big 10 atmosphere but I’m really stumped. Thanks so much!!!
I think you should just attend Carlson. The price tag is better, you love MN, and you have been accepted into the major you want to study.
I have my MBA from Kelley, but you should go to U.Minnesota, for all the reasons mentioned above by intparent.
Agreed – and the pressure of getting the college gpa you need to be admitted to Kelley would be tough. There are lots of adjustments for new freshman, and you don’t need that kind of pressure on top of everything else. And what if it didn’t work, what if you were “stuck” at IU without Kelley?
Take the bird in the hand, MN, with B school acceptance. MN is a great vibrant school and town and will have many opportunities. Congrats on your acceptance!
Another vote for Carlson. In addition, I’m really not sure Kelley is better known than Carlson in the fields you are interested in (Kelley is well-known for IB/finance).
Another vote for Minnesota. I understand the lure of Kelley, but I personally I also like the setting, the city, the overall school offerings better in the Twin Cities. Plus all the above-mentioned reasons.
Something else in Minnesota’s favor: I am not sure where in California you’re coming from, but generally speaking, the community in the Twin Cities is more cosmopolitan than you’ll find in Bloomington. Thus you may find TC a little more to your liking overall, considering your west coast background. And I say this having been on both campuses.
And where else do you have the skyway?
Outside of the very, very few that get into the specialized IB program at Kelley, I wouldn’t view Kelley as any higher regarded than Carlson. In addition to what others have said, the internship availability is likely greater in the Twin Cities with so many Fortune 500 headquarters.
Thank you everyone!! @anhydrite I’m 20 minutes outside of San Francisco and frequently visit so I am used to the cosmopolitan atmosphere like you mentioned, which is another reason why I love the Twin Cities. Thank you so much for your response!
You are welcome, jooleah1997. I had a feeling you might be near one of the major, urban areas in CA, but one never knows.
Fwiw, I considered moving to the Twin Cities directly after college graduation in the midwest, precisely due to its atmosphere and diverse resources. Life and graduate school had other plans for me; for you, I do think you’ll feel more at home. And with the substantially lower tuition at UM, you’ll feel more liberated to actually enjoy what the TC has to offer.
I don’t know anything about the schools, but I know a great deal about the states. Indiana has a lot a nice people but they all talk slooooow and drive slooooow. My brother went to school Indiana and finds it a very culture to deal with (and we’re just from IL!!!) If you do not like country music, trucks, and cowboy boots (my bro doesn’t) then you’ll have a hard time fitting in, and in if you happen to hate those things, then it might be really annoying. BUT if all said listed things are up your alley then you’ll probably like it. Also all the food is really greasy and it’s hard to find healthy choices.
I know less about Minnesota but my sister goes to school near there and really loves it. The people are really nice, and food is generally really fresh. Also by the twin cities there are some really good hiking spots that aren’t all that challenging. My sis says they’re really pretty.
That’s so funny shortstack I live in Indiana and it’s mostly agreed upon where I live that everyone drives extremely fast 
But I also know that it’s very very very difficult to transfer into Kelley, so I would also go with Carlson.
Another vote for MN. You prefer the location, the price is more manageable, and you have a direct admit to the school you want. The potential problems of going to a school that is a financial reach combined with the very real possibility not being able to transfer to Kelley make IU a markedly less attractive school for your particular situation. It isn’t close IMO. Send in your money, order the school hoodie and don’t look back.
Freshmen can only borrow $5500, and that only rises to $7500 as a Junior and Senior. Your Parents would be the ones taking out the loans. I hope you spoke with them about the costs of both schools, particularly with so many good in-state options.