I've looked at so many schools I'm going insane... match me?

<p>collegehelp - Congratulations on being the only person on College Confidential that believes in "Romance". . .I think most of us believe that an 18-year old's current boyfriend is the key to the rest of her life. Of course none of us have any idea whatsoever of this particular relationship's length or level of committment, but whatever. . .</p>

<p>The biggest issue here is that the school likely to accept her boyfriend and meet his educational needs is highly unlikely to meet hers. She is on the right track looking in an urban area where two different schools could meet their needs, but forcing paired entry is unlikely to work out. </p>

<p>Chantilly, you will find that short of switching to a program not available at a liberal arts school (like forensic science, or as I call it CSIence) switching majors and finishing in four years can be easier at an LAC. Academic counselling resources tend to be more accessible there too. This is not a pitch for LACs over unis. . .just a pitch not to toss them out. And I would not rule out big unis either . . .for example in the Twin Cities, your boyfriend could attend MCAD or College of Visual Arts and you'd have U of Minnesota, Macalester, Hamline and a few other schools to pick from. Same in other major markets.</p>

<p>The List:</p>

<p>Butler (me)
University of Indy (him)
Valparaiso (both)... have a creative writing and professional writing majors and minors. Close to Chicago.
IUPUI (both)
IU (both)</p>

<p>The good thing is, they are all in Indiana so I could apply for state aid. Also, I wouldn't be so far away from home, but they are far enough that I would not be expected to come home a lot. They are within driving distance, so I can visit them all before deciding. Now if anyone knows anything about them, feel free to clue me in.</p>

<hr>

<p>If you must know, I am 20 and he is 22. We've been together since I was 16.</p>

<p>The List, (con't):</p>

<p>Loyola (me)
Chicago Art Institute (him)</p>

<p>You can't go wrong with Chi-Town!</p>

<p>Im from indy (just moved away about 6 weeks ago) so i know about most of the schools on your list, ill tell you what i know about each...</p>

<p>Butler-excellent school, i stayed there for a summer program in 9th grade, dorms are excellent compared to most schools and its right downtown so you have access to everything. The school is in a really nice neighborhood and the campus is the perfect size.. I am actually applying here myself (although i doubt I will go) the app is free if you fill it out online</p>

<p>Univ of Indy- Well known for its nursing program, i have a few friends that go there and they seem to like it... downside is that it is pretty expensive.</p>

<p>Valpo- lots of super religious ppl... if you want to have fun this isnt the place to go, the ppl are very close-minded for the most part (free app online)</p>

<p>IU- lots of fun, last year i partied down there at least once a month.. you can always find something to do and campus is pretty. Most ppl are pretty nice although there are a lot of jerks and snobs.</p>

<p>IUPUI-have a few friends that go here, they seem to like it.. i dont really know much about it except that its cheap</p>

<p>I hope that i helped.. i dont know much about the chicago schools b/c i personally hate chicago so i havent really looked at them</p>

<p>How could you hate Chicago? Ok, it's not the safest or cleanest city, but I love it. I do remember when my boyfriend and I got lost trying to find our hotel, we ended up driving through the ghetto. That was scary. But I was there around Xmas one year, a few days after it had snowed, and it was absolutely beautiful.</p>

<p>So you're applying to Butler.... why don't you think you'll go there?</p>

<p>yeah... i hate chicago for exactly what you said. it is much to dirty and unsafe, i can barely breath in that city. I like butler but my mind is pretty set on Ohio University-athens so butler gives me a lot more money than Ohio (which i seriously doubt) Im going to Ohio.</p>

<p>oh yeah and if you want to know more about your schools go to <a href="http://www.campusdirt.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.campusdirt.com&lt;/a> ... some of the ratings that the schools get dont make sense but you can read the answers that students made and you can read their quotes as well as look at pictures of some of the campuses</p>

<p>Thanks. You've been really helpful. What's your reasons for Ohio U? </p>

<p>Also, does anyone know anything about Ball State?</p>

<p>Wow, Ohio U looks sooo pretty!</p>

<p>Honestly I think you can do much better than this list. </p>

<p>Butler (me) - totally not diverse or mind opening
University of Indy (him)
Valparaiso (both)... have a creative writing and professional writing majors and minors. Close to Chicago. - you can do better
IUPUI (both) - school with not much community
IU (both) - solid safety for you</p>

<p>If I were you I'd try to branch out of Indiana and go to a better school. The midwest is full of good LACs like Macalester.</p>

<p>Do you think I'd have a good chance of getting good financial aid at harder schools? My family can not support me, so I'd definately have to get a job to help me through college. I know I'll need loans, but I do not want to be in debt for 20 years.</p>

<p>Well you could also argue that the better (or more prestigious) your degree, the more money you'll make after you get out, and the faster you can pay off your debts. So theoretically you could have only 10K in loans at a "lesser" university, and not be able to pay it off because you couldn't get a job, whereas you could have 20k from a nicer college, but you can pay it because of a nice steady income. Although if you hold true with the creative writing, then you might have trouble finding a job no matter what. At least at first. Just a question (since you'll be asked) what did you do in your year off?</p>

<p>I have a problem with the concept of a more 'prestegious' degree meaning you will pay off debt faster. Way not true! It all depends on how well you can sell yourself to employers and who has the best placement/internship opportunities. This isn't always available at 'prestegious' universities...and people that do graduate from universities such as Harvard with english degrees are unemployed and unemployable...</p>

<p>It's all about selling yourself to an employer...go to a school where you can leave with little debt and can get excellent placement opportunities and internships and you will be just fine!</p>

<p>Pitt alum. '04
UNC-CH grad student</p>

<p>Better schools are richer and they often give much more financial aid. Thinking worse schools, unless you get merit aid, will be cheaper is a myth...</p>

<p>with your grades you can get decent merit anywhere and a better school does NOT get you a better job.. any of the top 150 or so undergrad schools can get you the same job (this is different when it comes to grad schools of course)... concerning OU i like b/c it is gorgeous first of all its in the mountains and it is seriously breathtaking. Second it has the social life that im looking for but it also has a good academic rep that is getting better every year.. the school has been constantly updating for the past 6 years or so. The people there are sooo nice and soo accepting you can find friends no matter who you are. Also they are working hard to get great students so they are offering a lot of merit scholarships. The town is based around the college so there is always something to do (parties on almost every night). When I was there in the summer, while at a store I made the comment that I needed something to do and got invited to 2 parties instantly.. it is really an amazing school....</p>

<p>lol... a few of my dumber friends go to ball state but i think it has a nice business program, it is in muncie which is pretty much the worse place on earth.</p>

<p>I don't know if going to a more prestigious school would or would not benefit me in the long run. I really don't know. It's highly debatable.</p>

<p>I think, at least in Indiana, that I could get just as good of a job going to IU, compared to going to top-notch school somewhere else, unless I graduated from Harvard or a really well-known school like that.</p>

<p>What I'm doing in my year off? I traveled around Australia for 3 months, am working full-time, partying/goofing off, sleeping 10 hours a day, and obsessing about colleges.</p>

<p>Compared to where I'm from, Muncie rocks because it has a mall.</p>

<p>Here's what a top school does, just an example. When people go to Duke to recruit they'll recruit for their top new york office. Meanwhile only a very select few Indiana grads will have that access, most will be at smaller regional offices in more execution oriented roles. </p>

<p>I think you should perhaps check out some good LACs like Macalester.</p>

<p>I will. My mind changes every 5 seconds.</p>

<p>That is very dependent on major...very much so...and I wouldn't call that an 'example' you don't have any specifics in there such as for what kind of companies or jobs (that brings out the scientist in me)!</p>

<p>For example: I'm attending graduate school for geology at a not-so highly ranked school (probably high 2nd tier). Big oil companies come recruiting here every year while they leave alone many of the more 'prestigious' schools due to lack of interest or lack of success with those students. Each student would regardless of where they come from go into the same entry-level geoscientist pool. Most entry-level positions are like this best I can tell...</p>

<p>Now I consider something like that an example...</p>

<p>Pitt alum. '04
UNC-CH grad student</p>

<p>ophiolite i cant agree more with you... in most jobs you always start off w/ the same entry level position no matter what your job, you have to prove your skill to move on to better position..... chantilly where are you from im from brownsburg about 10 minutes outside of indianapolis</p>