<p>I know that OSU had a 26% increase in applications from last year, and that many students from my school were deferred. This can only mean that OSU is a school on the rise.</p>
<p>Miami of Ohio had the highest business school rank, according to BusinessWeek. </p>
<p>Charleston has everything beat except for academics. I'm not entirely sure how great of a school academically CofC is.</p>
<p>Elon is beautiful and lately has been a hot commodity. I like the smaller school environment, too. Not too sure on the academics.</p>
<p>OSU is the cheapest (instate), following are miami, charleston then elon. </p>
<p>If you guys can rank these schools from 1-4 with 3 different categories: business, psychology and overall. Also, could you please specify where YOU would go, if you were limited by these colleges. Any help is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>First - Elon for personal academic attention, rapidly emerging reputation, new Business School facility and positive vibe, Second - OSU, for best course selection/opportunity flexibility, but you have to be OK with a BIG school (and TA's), Third - COC, you can make what you want of it and I think it's a great location (and good academically), Fourth Miami, although it has a combination of good things (including noted programs) that could argue in it's favor. I'm not too helpful and I'm biased. I'm from NC and my D looked at COC and Elon, among others, and is going to Elon. It gave her, and I think alot of others that visit, the right vibe. If you're serious about it you probably want to visit, if you haven't already. The campus is beautiful but Burlington, NC is friendly but not much else.</p>
<p>I'd probably put Miami first. I like OSU, but, geez, it's so big. Maybe save it for grad school! I know nothing about Elon. And I'd be partial to Charleston because, hey, it's in Charleston! But I probably wouldn't want to be down south. Well, that's my opinion. You get what you pay for. lol</p>
<p>Miami U is the best of all the choices based on its student body. OSU is the best choice however if you want a very wide variety of programs though given its size. I like smaller schools so I go with Miami, then OSU. </p>
<p>Elon and College of Charleston are not even on the same level as Ohio State or Miami U.</p>
<p>wmalum, where are you coming from with that statement? Selectivity? Average SAT/ACT scores? GPA? student-faculty ratio? graduation rate? Very similar numbers on all of those criteria.</p>
<p>Iderochi, I'll clarify. I based Miami U and Ohio State on ACT's, and Miami beats OSU by a little. Elon and CofC are decent schools but to me its' hard to compare them when they don't show ACT's or if Miami and Ohio State showed SAT's.</p>
<p>Still if I had to pick from these four on where to go, I'd pick Ohio State only because it has a wide range of academics... the other three are smaller universities or colleges.</p>
<p>wm, understood. Comparing SAT/ACT is sometimes apples and oranges even with a conversion chart. FWIW, Elon's ACT range is 25-29 if you use a conversion chart, and 25-28 if you go by students who actually take the ACT.</p>
<p>wm... "not even on the same level"? I think their's some lack of familiarity here. On the academic criteria (both Selectivity and Academics) provided by the most recent Princeton Review, Elon rated highest by a notable margin, then Miami and COC, and lastly OSU. Different college guides, using various criteria will likely sort out about the same. They're all excellent schools for different reasons and for different people. Someone with a choice of all four is fortunate. As previously noted I'm biased, and from NC, but I'd think "not in the same region" was what you should have been saying. And, of course, there are folks who want to live in Ohio and go to larger schools and others who'd rather live somewhere else and go to smaller schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input...Here's what I know:</p>
<p>All of the schools have close to the same ACT/GPA for admissions. Take in mind the OSU and Miami rely on the ACT rather than SAT, and there's a conversion chart online that shows that the scores are close to equal.</p>
<p>Take in mind that OSU had a 26% increase in applications, so it's admission rate will go down from 68% to 42%! OSU is the cheapest and even gave me a scholarship that knocks the tuition down to about 7K w/ my 28 ACT. 4 kids at my schools have been deferred with a 28 ACT and a 3.5 GPA UW. 1 was deferred with a 31 and a 3.3. Many kids who were accepted by Miami were deferred by OSU. However, the size of the school seems like it'll be a problem. I've never liked OSU before, because of its size and location (in ohio), and basically applied bc of my parents. </p>
<p>I am visiting all of these colleges in a week, and have a feeling that I'll really like Elon and CofC. </p>
<p>I've heard Elon is above all in psychology, a prospect double major of mine. My mom has a book (2004) that lists CofC as a laid-back, do-nothing school. I told her of its date and that the school has changed. How much worse is CofC than OSU or Miami U? </p>
<p>One thing that I put about all is the acceptance rate from one school to a good MBA program. </p>
<p>Any more information would be greatly appreciated</p>
<p>ncpop, I admit that I was unfamiliar with Elon and CofC...sorry. I do know they are decent, but now that I am reading the avg stats, etc...I should have said things a bit differently. </p>
<p>I was born in NC too since my parents went to school there, but I've lived in VA for as long as I remember.</p>
<p>Back to the OP -- You really are looking at some very different schools. All good, but I think your experiences (academic and non-academic) will be quite different. If money is an issue, and you like what you see at OSU, it appears to be a no-brainer. What are your other interests, etc. that might help you make a decision? Any chance for a visit (preferably an overnighter) at all or some of these schools before May 1?</p>
<p>I'd say visit your options and do what feels right. All good schools, although however you consider the numbers, I believe Elon is academically the strongest, by a notable margin. Good Luck.</p>