I posted this question in the UA thread a while ago but would like some more unbiased answers. So for almost a year I was committed to Bama loved the school and everything and then my parents made me visit IU. I really liked IU but not more than Bama. I ended up choosing IU because The Kelley School of Business (which I’m NOT a direct admit for) has excellent job placement back to NY area.
Now a few weeks go by and it kills me every time I think of Bama and that I’m not going there. It’s not that I hate IU but I just love Bama. Only thing is my parents know Indiana is better academically for me and I don’t know if they’ll even let me go. I keep switching my mind and I have no idea what to do. Both are the same price and pretty much the same distance.
I’m kind of nervous to tell my parents that I’m conflicted again. We already paid housing and enrollment at IU, and was refunded our $275 housing deposit at Bama. I know not being a direct admit for Kelley is a big deal, but my parents just look at it as motivation my first year. Plus the only thing I really have to back up Bama is the way I feel. Should I just stick it out at IU and get over Bama?
If you want to go into business then hands down Indiana. What academically can Alabama offer you that IU can’t? What is important to you in a college? Is it just a feeling you have about the campus? Or is it the football appeal? @chargers312
So you are not a direct admit which means you will have to qualify to get into Kelley. If you are going in with Bama on your mind, will you be focused enough to keep your grades where you need to be to even get into Kelley.
Better to have the conversation with your parents and figure out. It sounds like Bama is really where you want to be so just be honest with them about why.
I remember talking to the head of admissions for a smaller college and he said that the student will know the right school for them because it will just feel right. If Alabama feels like the right fit then it probably is. One thing to think about is if you don’t get into Kelley, is a non-Kelley degree better than the Bama degree for what you want to do?
If you were close on stats for direct admit at Kelley you should petition to get in - nothing to lose. Kelley is the better choice for business but Bama certainly looks like a great college experience as well.
I am not so sure that I agree with @STEM2021 that Indiana wins hands down for business - especially without a direct admit for Kelley. That seems like a huge risk. Does Indiana look as good without Kelley - are the job numbers as good? What are the odds/stats of getting in later?
Are they really both the same price - even a little difference can add up.
Are you into the honors college at both schools and have you looked into the benefits and caliber of peers that you would be working with?
If you decide to go to Indiana - go all in and don’t look back. There are many wonderful things about both schools and you can be happy and successful at both. Once you make your decision it is important to embrace it and not romanticize the other school with what “could have been” – those daydreams are almost always better than the reality of real school – there is work, there are bad days, bad profs, bad peers, etc… everywhere – but also tons of good.
Info that might help, from the Kelley site, “If you do not qualify for direct admission, you will not be behind. Instead, you will start in University Division as a pre-business student, and then apply once you have completed all of the standard admission requirements for Kelley. As a University Division student, you will take the same business foundation courses as a direct admit.” @chargers312
@STEM2021 The key is that you need to “apply once you have completed all of the standard admission requirements for Kelley” I don’t think anyone disputes that if the OP can get into Kelley sophomore year or so that he/she will be fine. Really it goes back to what I asked in post #2 – What are the chances of getting into Kelley if one is not a direct admit. At some schools the chances are pretty small, but I’m not sure about Kelley so the OP would have to research should factor the answer into his/her decision. And if the OP does not get into Kelley (which is certainly a possibility) would he/she be happy with a major outside of the b-school at IU. In addition the post is unclear as to if the OP got a direct admit into the b-school at UA.
https://kelley.iu.edu/Ugrad/Admissions/CurrentIU/page39067.html @STEM2021
Looks like for an automatic admit into Kelley one needs (in short - details above) a 3.5 GPA – with all A’s and B’s
May be do-able, but not easy. One tough course/prof. could really hurt ones’ chances.
If a student doesn’t qualify for an automatic admit, his/her file will be reviewed.
I don’t see how Alabama presents a materially different college experience. Both are large public universities in nice college towns, with welcoming and fun student bodies, lots of school spirit etc… Kelley is a significantly better business school than Culverhouse. I would stick with IU.
Thanks for all the helpful responses. I understand the difficulty of getting into Kelley. My plan was to take only 12 credit semesters to get the grades I need to be gaurenteed an acceptance. If I don’t get into Kelley then I will change my major to economics which is not the same degree, so it will be a big risk. I think I’m just going to stick it out with Indiana. The only reason I can think why I like Bama is the big football, other than that I guess there really not too different.
If you have AP credits then you might be able to graduate in 4 years at UA and take 12 credits a semester, but would that mean 5 years at IU or summer sessions?
Well I have some AP/Dual enrollment credits to be able to take 12 credit semesters just the first year, to make sure I get the grades I need for Kelley.
