<p>My decision has pretty much come down to Nova and IU Bloomington. After aid/scholarships, money isn't really a factor. What do you guys think? I'm going to visit both in the coming weeks, and that will have a big effect on my decision.</p>
<p>From what I've concluded on the internet....</p>
<p>Pros for IU:</p>
<ol>
<li>Direct admit to business school</li>
<li>Beautiful campus/area</li>
<li>Seems like a better social atmosphere </li>
<li>Sports (this is important to me)</li>
</ol>
<p>Pros for Nova:</p>
<ol>
<li>Overall, is the superior academic school</li>
<li>Proximity to Philly</li>
<li>Much closer to home. Easier and less expensive transportation.</li>
<li>Sports</li>
</ol>
<p>Is there anything else I should know about Nova, or IU? What are the people like? How are the facilities? Weather? What's Nova's campus like?</p>
<p>Also, what are your guys opinions on each school's size in regards to students? I want to go to a big school, but I don't know if 7.500 (Nova) is too little, or 40,000 (IU) is too large. </p>
<p>If you want to go to Nova’s business school, you really need to be admitted as a freshman. I was told is very very hard to transfer into the business school. If you want to minor in business, a student often has to go to summer school. The backup is to major in economics as an arts and sciences student, which overlaps with some business school courses. Both the business school and arts and sciences have an economics major. </p>
<p>(Freshman admission to the business school is harder than admission to arts and sciences.)</p>
<p>Philadelphia is a great city and rail access into the city from Villanova is convenient. However, there is not much within walking distance of Villanova, except a pizza place and a Staples.</p>
<p>Villanova has a housing shortage that won’t be resolved for at least a couple years. About half of freshmen live in double rooms converted into triples. Off-campus housing is expensive.</p>
<p>Villanova is a great size. However, the student body is not diverse - lots of white suburban affluent kids from the Middle Atlantic States. It was the only selective university I visited that had very few Asian students. People joke that the African-American students are mainly athletes.</p>
<p>I’d imagine you will have much smaller classes at Villanova. My son sat in a couple first year science classes with only 25 students. At a large public university, there might be 500.</p>
<p>Villanova has more required classes than a public university, including theology and ethics. Some people complain that it limits choices during your freshman year.</p>
<p>I grew up very close to Villanova and attended IU. I have relatives who also considered Villanova. Both are wonderful schools, but I would pick IU. I think it has more to offer overall, and Kelley can’t be beat. I believe the academics are every bit as good- just remember you have to allow for a lower level bottom half of the class which is what brings the stats down for a public school. Basketball has arrived back, so GO IU!!!</p>
<p>Congratulations on having really good choices. Overall, I agree with you that Villanova is the “more prestigious” school. But if you know you want to study business and didn’t get into the b-school there, that is a big issue. At some schools it is easy to switch into the business program, and in other schools it is very difficult – you need to do some research on what the situation is at Villanova. If it is hard to make an internal transfer and you want to be in a b-school, then go with IU.</p>
<p>Have you not been directly admitted to Villanova’s business school? I’m not sure how that works but if not I would go to Indiana. Both schools are ranked in the top 20 and if business is what you want to do, I would go with IU.</p>