I was offered direct admission to IU’s Kelley School of Business and really like it. Having just returned from Direct Admit Day there, I was really impressed and can very much see myself at the school. However, I was ironically admitted to Michigan during the weekend I was at Indiana after being deferred in December. I did not apply for direct admission to UM’s Ross School of Business because I knew for a fact I wouldn’t get in, so I was admitted to the School of Letters, Sciences, and Arts. Now I am at a crossroads. Should I take the guaranteed thing and go to Kelley? It is extremely reputable with a top notch career services and it attracts tons of companies to get a job. OR Do I spend a year at Michigan in the liberal arts school and attempt to apply to Ross to attend sophomore year? Even applying then would in no way guarantee admission there and it is very competitive. Michigan as a whole school is extremely well regarded and I have heard that Ross is a better business school than Kelley, but I am worried that if I do not get into Ross then I am wasting my time. Any help would be appreciated!
If you are 100% sure you want to major in business I’d take the sure thing and go to Kelley. I know a number of students who went to UM and then did not get into Ross after their freshman year – as you already know it is very competitive.
I’m pretty darn sure I want to major in business and I have been leaning in the direction of Kelley because of the uncertainty of getting into Ross. Thank you for your post
@nschwartz1496 I am struggling with the same question.
I was not able to attend the direct admit weekend at IU but will be going to Indiana this Thursday (3/12) for 2 days and will be attending the red carpet events as well as a Kelly direct admit orientation (any advise on what to see or do?).
Have you seen the 2014 Bloomberg business Ranking of undergraduate business schools…http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-04-04/the-complete-ranking-best-undergraduate-business-schools-2014. Note that Kelley is #8 and Ross is #12. Kelley ranks higher in all except MBA feeder schools. #1 in Employer survery
Also there is quite a cost differential unless you are from Michigan - I am from NYC so I am looking at $60,000 verses $40,000 as I received 10k from IU.
Where do you live? Are there other schools you are considering?
@pmcnyc and @nschwartz1496 My son will be making a similar decision too. He was accepted EA to UMich (waiting on Ross pre-admit) and direct admitted to Kelley. He also has been accepted to UIUC’s College of Business.
The 3 schools all felt very different, yet we honestly liked them all. It will be interesting to see which school he ultimately chooses. Good luck to both of you!
@nschwartz1496 and @88jm19 will post again when I return from Indiana. Would be interested in what you decide.
@pmcnyc Have a wonderful visit! Besides touring the campus, I recommend exploring Kirkwood Ave west toward Walnut St. There are some nice restaurants.
Again, most rankings are based on what other academics think of curriculum, facilities and placement. Anyone in the top 20 is a good school.
Where the rubber meets the road is what recruiters think. That is why you go to school. Kelley wins that battle. Not really sure why, could be the kids are ready to work, a little blue collar, plenty of exposure and rigor, and tend to contribute immediately. The Alumni cohesion is pretty impressive too.
My son is at Kelley Indianapolis as a freshman (3.9 GPA) and already has contacts at 4 or 5 venerable companies for Internships. He just goes and hangs out and chats at the job fairs with a suit on, clean resume and a couple of specific cover letters.
Kelley is #1 with employers and recruiters. UMich is highly ranked using the normal algorithm some folks use, and a great school too.
That is very helpful @Goodkidsdad
I have also been considering univ of South Carolina ( Darla Moore) as I made the honors program there as well.
Do any of you consider (apply ) there?
@pmcnyc I live in New Jersey so I am in the same boat as you with tuition. Money is also a big difference here, seeing that I would be paying $50,000+ for Michigan and $33,000 at Indiana (still waiting on two more scholarships so it could be lower). As for sights, a visit to Hodge Hall (the Kelley School’s building) is a must. If you are interested in applying to the Kelley Living and Learning Center then I also recommend a visit there in the McNutt dorms. I am still waiting for a decision from George Washington and the Altman Program at Tulane University which wil come in late March and early April. These are the four schools that I will be deciding between. I will also be at Campus Day at Michigan on April 10th of anyone else will be.
Thank you everyone for all the input it has definitely made me more informed to make a decision
@nschwartz1496 I went to Michigan in November with my uncle ( he is an alumni) for a football game. It was great. Thanks for the info on IU. I am excited to go there - and the weather being in the mid 50’s will help.
I have studied Mandarin in HS and have been accepted into the Chinese flagship program at IU so that is another big draw for me. I plan on a double major in Business and Chinese. USC has a great Chinese program as well.
Sort of weird that this major decision will be made in the next 4 to 6 weeks.
I am a current IU Kelley freshman (direct-admit) and have nothing but positive things to say about the Kelley school! They really try to make a big school smaller and get freshmen involved in the business school right away. Some examples of this are the Kelley Living Learning Center, Out to Dinner program with professors, and some smaller business classes your freshman year (business presentations class and technology / Microsoft Excel & Access class). My peers are smart and motivate me in school while the environment here is collaborative, not cut-throat. I have already been to the Undergraduate Career Services Office and they have been extremely helpful. They have helped me map out classes for my next few years and answered questions I had about career paths and internship opportunities for my majors. Lastly, I’ve talked to my other friends at top ten business programs and it seems to me that they have not gotten the same caliber technical training that I have received and will be receiving at Kelley. Kelley students take multiple technology classes (not just one Excel class) and that puts us ahead during internships.
Sorry for sounding like one big advertisement; I’m just really proud of my school!
Ross is also great! Personally, Kelley was cheaper for me which played a huge role in my decision. If you work hard and have a good GPA / involvement, it is very possible for a Kelley grad to end up with the same job out of college as a Ross grad. Kelley has selective workshops that you can apply to during your sophomore year (think consulting, investment banking, investment management, sales) that will put you in contact with some prestigious companies / recruiters. While it’s true there aren’t a ton of Kelley grads getting jobs right out of school at McKinsey or Goldman (and I wouldn’t say there are a ton at Ross getting these types of jobs either), there are students in these workshops that have jobs lined up at Goldman, McKinsey, etc. right out of school. If you go on Kelley’s website, you can find more information about who recruits at Kelley and through the workshops.
I thought I’d “bump” this thread and see if anyone has made a decision yet. I’m hoping my son will make his soon.
@nschwartz1496 I wanted to reach out to see if you have made your decision?
I am leaning toward IU (kelley) or USC (Darla Moore) based on the difference in cost and the possibility of not getting into Ross which would be hard from what I hear.
I am still not able to make a decision, especially with being admitted to George Washington as well. I am visiting Michigan and GW this month and hopefully I can make a decision afterwards. If anyone can shed some light I would appreciate it
After visiting both schools, I have decided to go to Michigan. While getting into the business school is not guaranteed, it is not the end all be all. To me, the LSA offers so many top notch courses and degrees that Indiana can’t compete with outside of Kelley. I would feel limited to business at Kelley while I can explore so many different things at Michigan. I know the cost is extremely heavy but I am willing to take on the debt because I believe it will be worth it in the long run. Thanks to everyone for your help and input!
Congrats @nschwartz1496! …and thanks for the update. I hope you are very happy and successful at U of Michigan!
My son has made his decision too. After a lot of thought and 3 campus visits, he has chosen UIUC!
In the end, U of M’s cost (`~$80,000 more over 4 yrs) coupled with the no Ross pre-admit, no merit aid and fewer AP credits accepted made the decision relatively easy. There are no hard feelings on his behalf.
Kelley on the other hand, made things more difficult…in a good way. They gave him ~$16,000 merit aid and Hutton Honors. He hesitated to commit for 2 reasons: the size of Kelley (1200-plus incoming class) and a little uneasiness due to a perceived low ‘direct admit’ criteria. (30 ACT, 3.7 GPA)
Lastly, UIUC did a nice sell job at their ‘Meet the Deans’ event and ‘Business Experience’ day. My son isn’t focused on IB/Wall Street. Accounting/Finance/SupplyChain are all possibilities…and staying in the Chicago area is appealing. They also offered him a spot in the Campus Honors Program. UIUC seems like the best fit for him. We look forward to the next 4 yrs. 
Congrats – sounds like well thought out decisions on everyone’s part. It just goes to show that there are a lot of great choices out there and there is not one right answer for everyone.