Iowa?

<p>Can anyone give me any information for university or iowa and/or iowa state. I am thinking of transfering to those for business from a community college.</p>

<p>i visited iowa state and iowa a couple of months ago. Uiowa is a better school academically but IASTATE is a much nicer looking campus and was my choice of the two. As far as business i know its real easy to get into like a 2.0 or something engineering is their strongest program. As UIOWA their business school is much better and much more nationally known that IASTATE</p>

<p>I would choose UIowa if I were you - Iowa City is the new Austin.</p>

<p>i'm from iowa and will be goin to ISU next year... in general, uiowa is good in the health fields and from what i've heard the business program is decent. b_22 is right--isu's strength is engineering (hey they made the first computer i think). campuses are totally different. uiowa is spread throughout alot of the city while isu is a true "campus" in the town of ames and ranked 3rd most beautiful campus a year or so ago, only behind West Virginia and either Harvard or Yale. kcirsch if you're referring to the parties in IC you're right...definitely a party school. but isu holds its own, i must say. i've been to events at both and its a tough call but anyways thats not the topic of this. so overall, uiowa has a little edge in the business dept but as for the <em>total package</em> (in my ever so biased opinion) i'd pick Iowa State.</p>

<p>PS--i was born and raised a Hawkeye. never thought i'd go to ISU but my oh my have times changed...</p>

<p>well im a so cal student right now, lived here my whole life besides 3 months in plano TX which sucked. I like isu because of the campus and proximity to Des Moines, i like that U of Iowa has a ranked business program and that they have the stephen b hawkins finance institute that helps pple enter into finance. Right now i will have a 2.7 and a 3.3 i think after the spring semester if i do well. I can get into both schools easily. Just so hard to choose, i can get into purdue as well, but the west lafeyette just doesnt seem like the small college town i would wanna be in. What makes the ISU campus so nice? How is Des Moines. I like to know soon so i can apply and go in fall since a 2.0 and above is automatically accepted. How far is Ames from Chicago and last question, i want to end up after graduation on the east coast, which school do you guys thinks would help me get there. Is U of I more nationally known</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Lol, hawkeyes do have a great fball team but i know that cant be a reason for me to go there, also like to watch big 10 teams over big 12, but damn this is a hard decision.</p>

<p>o yea, i could wait to transfer next spring to my first choice Wisconsin or Uconn (not really a first choice just an option thats not midwest) Do you guys think that the fact that out of state fee and housing would only be $18,000 at ISU compared to $28,000 at other colleges should be a factor. with 2.5 years that is like $25,000 in savings</p>

<p>Both are great schools. I went to one for undergrad and the other for grad -- not that I'm biased or anything! I do have problems watching Iowa/Iowa State games.</p>

<p>One thing I do need to warn you about it that it gets COLD in Iowa in the winter. We're talking snow, wind chills or even absolute temperature below zero at times, etc. I still remember my long walks to class ...</p>

<p>I mention this because you are in Southern California now. Why don't you try to visit Iowa this winter and see if it is something you can deal with?</p>

<p>You can have a great time watching sports at either school. Oh, and you should become a big wrestling fan if you pick either one.</p>

<p>I won't answer your question about Des Moines even though I'm originally from there, since I moved to the east coast decades ago. Couldn't take the winters ...</p>

<p>Actually they said they live in Plano, Texas - a suburban nightmare.</p>

<p>And Ames is 5 1/2 hours from Chicago.</p>

<p>isu is a little farther from chicago than iowa, but both are located on interstates with easy access to several smaller airports if that's what you're lookin at. minneapolis is semi-close to ames as well. des moines is decent...nothin special. west des moines and the suburbs out that way are expanding rapidly, Jordan Creek Town Center is the big mall but to me its overrated...Scheels is the only store there that matters. i agree, West Lafayette isnt really the college town i was looking for either. i visited there junior year and liked the school but the town didnt trip any triggers for me. i do like isu's campus more b/c of the close proximity of everything. its all in one area and the CyBus takes students anywhere on campus and to like 99% of the town free of charge w/ a student ID. ISU is a land-grant university so there's a certain amount of open space in central campus that is just amazing. the traditions, campus, and the student life is what drew me to isu. i agree w/ the people above...it does get incredibly cold here in the winter and i would recommend a winter visit if at all possible. you definitely wouldnt be the only SoCal person on campus either. i've met several ppl from that area at parties at isu or other events and the women's basketball team starting point guard is from LA. just something to throw in there...hope i helped!</p>

<p>"Actually they said they live in Plano, Texas - a suburban nightmare."</p>

<p>Well, I don't know the weather there. But the OP said, "well im a so cal student right now, lived here my whole life besides 3 months in plano TX" and goes by the name of southpasdena. Sounds like living in southern California now, which is what I said.</p>

<p>OK, it doesn't make any difference, really. I'm procrastinating by talking on CC rather than do anything constructive. The Iowa winters are cold no matter where you come from (I suppose, though, it seems nicer if you are from North Dakota or Minnesota, etc...). I had a friend who had a boy friend from Juneau, Alaska (met elsewhere). When he visited her in Iowa, he kept complaining how much colder it was than he was used to.</p>

<p>My last year in Iowa I remember one weekend when it was 40 below wind chill factor, my car wouldn't start, I couldn't get anybody out for two days to start my car, and the heat went out in my apartment.</p>

<p>But you guys are all younger than me. The cold might be an adventure for you. I remember outdoor keggers in the middle of corn fields with a nice bonfire and I thought it was fine. I don't know if ISU still does that -- the drinking age was 19, then 18 for all the time I was there (except for 21 my freshman year, but I was never carded and even had a professor take his class last day to a bar.) I never contemplated transferring from my colleges because I loved them dearly and only began to get crotchety on the subject when I began to get older. I can't share any of the good bars, restaurants, etc. because I fear they are all gone ...</p>

<p>Is ISU still heavily Greek? Heck, when I was there, living in the residential halls was almost like being in the Greek system, with house government, arranged functions, and the like.</p>

<p>Engineering is strong there, but that doesn't mean there aren't other good programs. Try checking the CVs of the professors in your chosen field, what the course offerings are, and any other information you can glean.</p>

<p>my mistake, i misread it and thought it was a different poster.</p>

<p>yes there are still bonfires in corn fields on freezing cold nights...i dont know how much it occurs through ISU students but its popular with the HS kids in central iowa. ISU student tailgates are always a good time, though Iowa and UNI hold their own. anyways, isu does have a very strong greek program still and even if you're not in a greek house, living in a residence hall has some of the same qualities as greek. its arranged into "houses" within a hall (usually by floor), intramurals are very strong, houses compete in contests and games, lots of bonding goes on within houses and between houses. i believe each house has a little government set up, as well as each hall. yet another reason its a good place to live.</p>

<p>DianeR--was Hickory Park around when you attended? the best restaurant in Ames, if you ask me. great food, good prices. i dont know much about the bars (after all, i'm 17) but Ames is my idea of a college town</p>

<p>I've heard U of Iowa has a great creative writing program.</p>

<p>well the cold doesnt bother me, that is one of my main reasons i am looking to the midwest for colleges. I hate these mild tempered winters, it was over 80 F here yesterday, i want the cold weather and snow. Do you guys think the $10,000 difference in price between the two Iowa schools should be a factor in my decision. Is there that big of a difference between the reputations and academics. Do any of you know anyone from the biz schools there that ended up on the east coast or midwest for finance? Lol probably dont but no harm in asking. I still like isu for the price, Wisconsin still first choice, but it is slowly becoming second with isu and iowa since i dont see myself getting in with my grades unless i can get all A for the next spring summer and fall.</p>

<p>No, Hickory Park wasn't around. I'm blanking on the name of the best restaurant when I was there, but I remember hearing it had closed after many decades of existence and how upset a number of alums were.</p>

<p>The two places to eat in Dog Town (still called that?) when I was there that I can remember were a pie place (had regular food but scads of different pies) and the Cave Inn. I think both are gone now. I really have to go back and visit sometime! The dorm food was absolutely atrocious, but colleges have really changed in this respect so I wouldn't go by what it was like for me so very long ago. Most I've seen seem to have variety and decent grub now (except for Carnegie Mellon).</p>

<p>Have you checked out the ratings on different factors at princetonreview.com or read what students and alums have to say at studentsreview.com? I can't believe that CC doesn't have subforums for either Iowa or Iowa State -- what's the deal with that?</p>

<p>The creative writing program (Iowa Writer's Workshop) is very good but it is essentially a graduate program, I believe. Some very famous folks have either taught or studied there.</p>

<p>As far as the academics, look at the web sites and check out the courses offerings and CVs. I majored at Iowa State in political science, which one would expect to be stronger at the nonland-grant college. But my professors were every bit as qualified as those at U of I and the course offerings weren't any less extensive. I went to ISU because the debate budget for the two schools were the same, but maybe 95% of Iowa high school debaters chose to go to Iowa. So I didn't have to compete for a space, take turns going to tournaments, stay at cheap motels, etc., it was great!</p>

<p>With a $10,000 difference between the two schools, I would make real certain you are getting something that it worth it to you. OK, folks might joke about you going to Moo U and you will run into people taking agricultural, home ec, and other courses of that ilk (not that there is anything wrong with that!) -- but I don't know that the contrasting allure of Iowa City is worth $10,000. My personal opinion, of course.</p>

<p>You could always apply to both and see what sort of financial package you can get. If you are still undecided, take a trip and see both campuses. If you can't swing that, try to look at the student newspapers. When we looked at colleges for my kids, we found that the newspapers indicated quite a bit about what the student body was like, which might help you decide.</p>

<p>If the cold doesn't bother you, then I think you've come up with a couple great possibilities! Again, no bias on my part, of course ...</p>

<p>I myself have applied to both colleges, and visited both. I was accepted into Iowa State and still waiting on U. Iowa.</p>

<p>Iowa State has a nice campus, and good engineering program. The students are pretty nice, administration was a little disoraganized. From what I was able to gather from there is that a lot of the students are from small Iowa towns. I for instance have a graduating class of 550 students. When I told another prospective student about my class size he was shocked to hear that, he said his class size only had 40 students. The food is alright, have to mix things up a bit. Some of the residence halls seems fairly, new, and were really nice, carpeted floors, high ceilings, ect.. The new rec center that was just built is also very nice.</p>

<p>University of Iowa, I'd say would be pretty much the same as Iowa State except for a few things. In terms of academics overall, U. Iowa is the better one. The big 10 sports is there, and is something you will not be able to ignore. My biggest complaint would have to be the town. I found it to be rather boring.</p>

<p>If you want the better academics, go with U. Iowa. If you want a better quality of life, go with Iowa State.</p>

<p>Of course, you could always go to Maharishi University in Fairfield. Learn business and how to levitate!</p>

<p>I would have applied to the colleges already, just no money at the time for application fees. In a few weeks though, they should be submitted. I have been looking at some of the companies that actively recruit from purdue and isu (cant find data for U of I) and it seems like more students are hired into the finance sector at purdue. However, wells fargo also seems like it is a big supporter of ISU. Hard times hard times, so hard to choose. How big is the city of Ames, how hard it is to find a job since i will need a part time to help pay (college finance is all from my pocket)</p>

<p>Ames is a nice town, but by no means is it big. Also realize, Wells Fargo has a branch at just about every college. U. Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, just to name a few.</p>

<p>I'm not certain where this perception is about UofI being better academically is coming from. Iowa and Iowa State are one of the few examples of primary competiting state colleges that are nearly equal academically.</p>

<p>I went to Iowa, my wife went to Iowa State. (we don't ever watch Iowa/Iowa State games)</p>

<p>I liked Iowa so much, I left after two years and went to Florida. My wife loved her time in Ames. If you want a campus town feel, go to Iowa State.</p>

<p>Now I'm going to show my colors here, but if you want an environment that is flaming liberal, go to Iowa.</p>

<p>A few things Iowa or Iowa State will have over CA:
- No traffic. You can actually drive 60 miles an get there in less than an hour.
- Hillarious fun watching new students from the south on the hills come the first snow.
- Corn, lots of corn.
- You get to wear all those great sweaters your grandmother got you for Christmas.
- The only air pollution you have to worry about is pollen.
- You can actually find the edge of the town.
- Autumn and the smell of burning leaves (unless you're in Iowa City, they got rid of burning leaves when the mayor's cat sneezed some years ago)
- Football and tailgate parties, no one does fall tallgate parties and ball games better than the midwest.
- Corn, did I mention corn?</p>

<p>A couple recommendations for you:
- Do not wear slick soled shoes after the first snow (refer to hillarious fun above)
- Bring your ski gear if you have it. No, you won't be skiing hear, but you'll be glad you have the jacket and hat.
- If you have a car, get new tires before you come (refer to hillarious fun above)</p>