Iowa State University Vs West Virginia University Vs Ohio University

College Search & Selection
1

I am having some trouble picking my university that i have waited until now. I am going to be a college freshman. I put a deposit May 1st for Iowa State. WVU has given me 11k worth of scholarship with a 2.75 GPA requirement and is 6 hours away. Ohio University has given me 10k with a 3.0 Requirement and is around 8 hours away. Iowa state has given me 6k with a 2.5 Requirement and is around 17 hours away. I do not want to lose these scholarship and I am more of an “average” student when it comes to academics. I also am really questioning if I want to go far due to Iowa you must take a plane when Ohio or WVU you could drive.

I am going to be getting an MIS/ Management Information Systems degree with something else (still searching for interest.) I have also been accepted to the engineering school for each of these schools but am really questioning if I can handle the Science that comes with engineering.

I have visited every single school and am really confused. I don’t really like the state of West Virginia and Iowa but then again all these schools are isolated. I felt Iowa State campus was really beautiful while Ohio was on the older side. Iowa State and WVU are bigger schools as a whole which is a good thing. The party scene for pretty big at WVU and Ohio U which I don’t care for to much. My parents don’t really like WVU due to it only having a 50 percent graduation rate and 23 percent leave before first year while Ohio is 11% and WVU is 13% . Iowa State in general seems “Smarter” as a whole. Iowa State has 40% Out of State students but they are usually only from surrounding states and not from North east. While Ohio has 15% out of state students which are usually from Pennsylvania or CT. While West Virginia has 60% Out of state Students. I know a couple people from my state that are going to OU and WVU. Iowa State seems to be the most diverse. I don’t have a roommate for any of these schools. I do have a friend that I may room with at Iowa or WVU but it not 100%. I don’t really like Iowa weather since it gets very cold vs OU and WVU. WVU in general seems that the student body is a little poorer than the others.

I know that I am all over the place but I was questioning is Iowa State easy to get used to and is it worth the extra cost, distance and Ranking. Also is WVU really that bad or is Ohio a better idea. Also for an average student like me who time to time procrastinates is a 3.0 really hard to keep in the Business school. Also any opinions you guys have on any of these school. Obviously I am running low on time and I need to pick courses this week so any response will help out.

2

What is the actually cost of attendance at these schools minus the scholarship?

Are you sure your scholarships at WVU & Ohio University are still available? I assume you told them you are not attending.

3

It’s up to you, your opinion is really what matters. That said, reading your post, it seems to me that ISU is probably your best choice. You and your parents don’t seem to really like WVU, and you seem to prefer ISU to OU. You can get a great education at all of these schools, and certainly so at ISU.

Your ISU concerns seem to be weather and travel. ISU will be a little colder, but it’s going to be cold and snowy at all of them. Just tell yourself that you will get out of bed on a cold and icy morning and go to class. That is very important. There is no substitute for going to class, both in terms of learning (which is why you are there) and grades.

Travel is an issue, and it can be expensive. Often, though, students don’t really want to come home all that often after freshman year. You might very well want to stay out in Iowa for summers after sophomore year–work, internship, summer school, etc. You might even have a beater car at some point and can drive. You can easily do 17 hours in 2 days. So, yes, cost is a factor here, but generally the logistics can be worked out.

And ISU has a lower GPA requirement than the other schools, although I think you might want to consider that as a bet . . . on yourself. Be confident in yourself. Betting on yourself is better on than betting on anything else because you can control a lot when it’s you.

In terms of academics, again, commit to going to class. Make it unacceptable to yourself to miss class, for any reason, beyond a health issue. Understand that college requires much more self-discipline. Much more work is done outside the classroom. Plan to spend about 2 to 3 hours studying, doing homework, reading, for every hour of class time; make time to do it; and then do it. Especially if you do pursue engineering. That is much more challenging than most other areas of study. You really do have to hit the ground running or it won’t work out. But, again, bet on yourself. You control how hard you work. So commit to working hard.

These schools accepted you because they think you can succeed. You can make a 3.0. But it just won’t happen. You will need to go to class, to complete assignments, and it’s a great idea to introduce yourself to your professor early, go to office hours, attend pre-test study sessions. And get a tutor at the beginning of the semester for science and engineering classes. Successful students in these fields often take advantage of tutoring. Struggling students are the ones who don’t have tutors, or at least don’t have them until the hole has gotten too deep.

Don’t be intimidated by profs. Students often don’t want to talk to profs because they don’t want the profs to know what they don’t know, or haven’t read. A secret: the profs already know in most cases. You are there to learn. What’s a better way to learn than to go to office hours and talk about the subject with a prof one-on-one. You and your family will be paying a lot . . . so take advantage of all that these schools offer. Good luck!

4

Is the $6k from Iowa State separate from the Federal Student loan?

5

I’ve been at Ohio U, so I am biased. Yes, it has a party culture, but what large public university won’t? OU also has one of the most beautiful campuses that you will see. I would say follow the money. You seem equally torn among these three choices. Don’t worry about WVU’s image. I’m not sure there is a serious prestige difference in these schools. If finances are not important, sure, go to Ames. But if you are asking whether it is worth the extra cost and/or debt to go to ISU, the answer would be “no.”

That said, my order of preference would be OU, ISU, WVU, but it’s really close to a toss-up between the first two. I know Iowa fairly well, and ISU is really an exact peer, academically, with U of Iowa. U of Iowa gets a bump because its status as the flagship. Ames is also a nice college town, but it too gets overshadowed by Iowa City.

6

@MerryLee both Ohio and WVU have late deadlines to commit but longer you wait less likely you are to get your classes. Also all the money I have received was merit scholarships not loans.

7

@TTG @Hapworth Thank you for the replies

8

I have only visited Iowa State (my daughter was checking out their engineering program). Having not seen the other two choices, I can only share my thoughts on ISU.
It is a great engineering school, and school in general. It’s full name is Iowa State School of Science and Technology so it is very stem focused. It hosts one of the largest Engineering job fairs in the country. Don’t let its ease to get into fool you. The Iowa Board of Regents sets the formula for entry for all the state colleges. I like that it is straight forward with its application process, either you have the score to get in or you dont. Also, it has a high acceptance rate because applicants know ahead of time if they will get in or not. If you dont have the numbers, why apply?
Also, it’s engineering program is direct admit - meaning your in the program as opposed to other programs that have you pre-engineering and apply for formal admission in your junior year.
Lastly, weather. It’s a very walkable campus. Nothing too far to walk. Will it get cold? Yes. But you do acclimate to it. Conversely, when warm weather schools are roasting, you will be enjoying beautiful 70 degree days on the gorgeous park like campus.
The issue of cost is one I can’t address. Only you can decide if it is right for you.

9

The amount of scholarship is not what you need to compare. You need to compare the final cost after the scholarship. What are those figures?

10

@happymomof1 WVU and OU after scholarship cost around 12K for tuition and 12K for room and board=24k. WVU cost around 13k for tuition and 10k for room and board so 23k. Iowa state cost around 18K for tuition and 9k for room and board so around 27k.

11

The fact that you picked ISU and deposited suggests that it is was your top choice. The difference in cost (including airfare a few times per year) is maybe $5,000 more than your least expensive option. @TTG already summed up really well the main downsides, weather and travel logistics, both of which can be addressed. As you only need a 2.5 to retain the scholarship that also is reassuring as you adjust to the academic demands of college. I would be tempted to stay firm. Your parents were unenthusiastic about WVU so I gather they aren’t pressuring you to pick a less expensive option.

I know alumni who have really enjoyed OU and WVU. I don’t think there is a bad choice here. Some jitters and indecision is normal. Within a few months on campus, wherever you pick, most people can’t imagine having considered anyplace else.

12

When you factor in the cost of travel, is the difference in price important for your family? How difficult will it be for your family to scrape together that money each year? Will anyone need to borrow money to help pay for your education? Will the total debt that you and your family need to take on come to more than the standard student loans?

All of these are perfectly fine institutions. If you need to choose the least expensive option, that will be fine.