<p>I am having a terribly tough time deciding where I want to go to college next year. My top two choices are Michigan and Illinois where I am already in the business school. I am motivated and fairly bright (2140 SAT, 4.2-4.5 gpa) but not sure that I will be able to earn a 3.5 or so during freshman year to get into Ross at Michigan. I like Michigan slightly more than Illinois but I would be happy either way, so which do you recommend I attend next year? Should I take the risk at Michigan or play it safe with Illinois? If i cannot get into Ross, how would an econ degree from Michigan compare to a degree in Finance from Illinois in terms of job placement and/or MBA school? Thanks!</p>
<p>You only have one life. You better develop confidence while you still can, you know. Go to Michigan, take the risk. If you can change your mindset from one of uncertainty to conviction, then you will get that 3.5+ in LSA, you will have an outstanding resume of extracurricular involvement, and you will get into Ross. Don’t make a decision you’re going to regret ten years down the line. Take the plunge.</p>
<p>Illinois is strong in accounting, but Michigan completely blows it away for finance and economics. Unless you want to do accounting, you will be better off at Michigan.</p>
<p>You need to aim higher than a 3.5 unless you plan on having exceptional volunteering/leadership posititions that’ll make up for that.</p>
<p>Recharge, thank you for your words of wisdom about confidence. I don’t think I would regret going to either school though. Illinois is not quite at the level of Ross but it is still a solid business school. </p>
<p>jrt336, the middle 80% of students accepted to Ross RD last year had a 3.2-3.9 with an average of 3.6 (according to the Ross website). A 3.5 with decent ec’s seems pretty realistic to me. This is why Michigan is a little bit shaky for me. I feel like at Michigan I’ll be more worried about grades than having a good all around college experience.</p>
<p>You’re going to, or should, worry about your grades regardless…so choose the school YOU think you will get the most out of (and enjoy) and go there. A 3.0 from any school will put you at a disadvantage for any job. Plus being worried about your grades the first year isn’t that bad, keeps you on top of your work and sets you up with a high GPA.</p>
<p>I would work my tail off at either school but I really can’t figure out which one I will be able to get more out of. Ross would be ideal but I feel like I can get WAY more out of Illinois’s business school (internships, solid job placement, awesome study abroad program) than Michigan econ if Ross doesn’t work out. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>A 3.5 with decent ECs and a decent essay may or may not get you in. A 3.7+ GPA, good ECs, and good essays will get you in. TBH, if you are a white guy, that’s probably what you’ll need at minimum. It’s really not that hard with the classes you have to take as long as you work hard.</p>
<p>What do you want to do after B School? If IB is the goal UM would be better. Otherwise to get a good job in Chicago or the midwest UI is just fine. And you would save a bundle.</p>
<p>Yes, I am hoping to eventually land a job in IB. Do you think I would have any chance of getting an IB job right out of Michigan econ? Also, how does IU Kelley compare to Michigan and Illinois for IB? Would I be out of my mind to choose Kelley over Michigan?</p>
<p>If you went to Kelley, the best way to break into IB is to get in the Investment Banking Workshop, it has close to 100% placement. I would say the Workshop is comparable to placement at many Target schools (only the workshop). I would say Kelley has much better IB and IM placement than UI, however all three universities have strong B-Schools.</p>