<p>Right now, it's looking like my decision will boil down to IU or University of Illinois.</p>
<p>I am pretty set on studying business, specifically majoring in marketing. I might add a double-major through the business school, but it is very likely I will have a major in marketing. I am direct-admit to the programs at both schools.</p>
<p>Cost is the same for both schools. (In-state for IL but got $ from IU to make it the same)</p>
<p>I am also admitted to the Hutton Honors College at Indiana, but not admitted to any honors program at Indiana. I could apply to be a James Scholar once I establish a GPA at Illinois though.</p>
<p>A big factor in my mind is that at Indiana I could apply to be in the Business Honors Program after I establish a GPA. Business Honors at U of I is based on your application to the College of Business. The people who are originally invited to the program are the only ones in the program; no one else is able to apply-in. At Indiana, you can get into Business Honors is after you have established a GPA and a leadership position. I am confident I would have a good shot at the Business Honors Program at IU.</p>
<p>Indiana has better overall B-school rankings, a higher-ranked marketing program, and the Hutton Honors + potential Business Honors perks. HOWEVER, I am worried about students outside of the Kelley School and Jacobs School of Music as not being very academically-oriented (/ just wanting to party all the time). I don't think I would need to worry much about this at Illinois, as Illinois is a stronger school on the whole. I have visited both schools. I really liked Illinois, and I liked Indiana but not as much as IL. However, it is those few things I mentioned above that make me feel like choosing Indiana is what I should do…</p>
<p>The rankings are close enough that I would pick the school that “feels” like the best fit for you…and to me that sounds like Illinois from your post above. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>IU has a HUGE career planning and placement advantage. They really work with Kelley students
one on one to get internships and jobs in their field. Not too many schools can claim that. And U of I
does have a big party scene… but you can choose not to participate or at what level you want to
participate at either school. Good luck.</p>
<p>“IU has a HUGE career planning and placement advantage.”</p>
<p>My kid is deciding between a few schools as a business major and these are two of them. Does IU honestly have a HUGE career planning and placement advantage over U of I? From what I have gathered they are fairly comparable. Are there facts to back up this claim or is it just opinion? Thank you. </p>
<p>As a student, I can say that they put a lot of time into showing students how to network and interview. Kelley students are required to take a set of 3 courses called the “Kelley Compass” that are specifically for networking, resume/cover letter building, interviewing ect. </p>
<p>I’ve also noticed that there are a lot of events where recruiters come in and students are encouraged to attend and begin networking with them or to gain more knowledge about a field they are interested in. </p>
<p>I haven’t used the career center yet since I still have to be admitted to the school of business but I had to go there for a mock interview as an assignment for one of my classes and found out that students can schedule mock interviews with career coaches to help them improve their interviewing skills (all for free and unlimited times) which I thought was great. </p>
<p>I have to disagree with @ldavis. Having put 3 kids through Illinois ( engineering and business schools ) I will say Illinois has excellent career planning and placement. IU seems to do it very well but I have no first hand experience. For my accounting major son ( who also had been admitted to IU Kelley) recruitment was a major factor in his decsion - he wanted to work in Chicago. Big 4 in Chicago recruits heavily at Illinois and ND. We talked to a few students at IU who were accounting majors wanting to work in Chicago and though I think it worked out fine for them one of them told us it would have been easier if he’d gone to Illinois as they recruit for their Chicago offices. </p>
<p>I think both school are great and you should go where you like best as costs appear to be the same. </p>
<p>In 2012, Financial Times ranked Kelley 4th in the World for Career Placement. Not sure where U of I ranked. . Deloitte nd EY are two of their biggest recruiters and sponsor many on campus activities. Not to mention CAT, Lilly, etc I think you need to explore both and pick what feels right. Having just been to the Kelley Connect weekend , it was obvious they were setting themselves apart with getting kids interenships/jobs. Other schools are coming to them to inquire how they are doing it so successfully. This if from the Dean Idey…cant remember her last name… According to her, the Kelley staff is collaborative and their goal is to make Kelley kids prepared and marketable for the workplace. Indy, Chicago, NY, and San Fran. are their top markets I believe. Probably worth at least a phone call… maybe another visit. Anybody else at Kelley Connect first weekend of March? It was all about Career Advising and Placement</p>
<p>Kelley does a wonderful job managing its corporate relationships. EY hires more from students from IU than any other school in the country. The are a ridiculous amount of opportunities to interact with recruiters throughout the school year and throughout one’s collegiate career. </p>
<p>As great as I think Kelley is, I don’t see any reason to think Illinois doesn’t do just as good a job. The business schools are similar enough to where I wouldn’t choose one over another just for the job prospects. </p>