<p>I got into UIllinois (Urbana Champagne), Boston University, Penn State (Erie for two years, then transfer to University Park to get my degree at Smeal), UC Davis, Babson and Purdue.</p>
<p>I want to study business. Please suggest which school I should go to based on the criteria of prestige, quality of education and environment. Thanks</p>
<p>Babson probably is #1 here for undergraduate business. However, if there is any chance at all that you might end up changing your major field of study, you might be better off at one of the others.</p>
<p>Also you need to take a good hard look at the total Cost of Attendance (COA) which means tuition, fees, books, travel, room, board, etc., etc. at each school and any financial aid they may have offered you. I'm guessing that you are a PA resident because you are looking at Erie for two years and University Park for two years. Staying in state may be the most economical for you. Are you thinking you will eventually want an MBA? If so, you may want to go relatively cheap for the undergraduate degree so that you have money left for grad school.</p>
<p>You also need to look at the schools' websites to find out about summer internships and job placement after graduation. Are any of these clearly better than another? Where are those internship placements? Are they in locations and/or companies that look interesting to you?</p>
<p>As for university location, if you have any issues with cold weather and snow, the only option for you is UC Davis.</p>
<p>Thanks Happy Mom. Therein lies my problem, the biggest problem I have with all my college is the weather (besides UC Davis). </p>
<p>Also, Babson has a reputation for being a strong business school but UIllinois is ranked pretty high on the business school list-- higher than Babson. Should I rely on the list?</p>
<p>If your problem is the weather, go to UCDavis and be happy there.</p>
<p>There is so much bizarre fudging that goes into determining college and school rankings that there really isn't a lot of point in choosing this year's #1 over this year's #20 or whatever. Read the course catalogues and see what classes are offered in your projected major. Find out what the pre-requisites are. Find out what the general degree requirements are - do you have to take a Phys. Ed. class? Do you have to take a science? If so, what are your options? Try to figure out what four years at that place are going to be like. Do you want a smaller school, more or less focused entirely on business? That would be Babson. Do you want a big school with athletic teams, students studying many different academic subjects, a greek life? That would be more like U Illinois, Penn State or Purdue. I'm partial to Babson because in the last century one of my neighbor's kids studied there. She was deliriously happy. I'm also partial to U Ill where my college pal is a professor (not in business) and is deliriously happy, to Purdue where my niece studies (not business) and is deliriously happy, and to Penn State (where my grandmother, mother, and most of their family studied and one majored in accounting about 30 years ago) and where most of them were deliriously happy.</p>
<p>What you make of college (and life) is mostly up to you. For a really funny take on rankings read this spoof article entitled "The Official Leaked US News Law School Rankings, Plus Ranking Secrets Revealed!". I laughed so hard I cried.</p>
<p>Concurring</a> Opinions</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. You are going to be fine wherever you end up.</p>
<p>MODERATOR'S NOTE:</p>
<p>Threads about choosing a college after being admitted belong in the College Search & Selection forum, not in the College Admissions Forum, naturally. Good luck at finding advice for making a suitable decision.</p>
<p>bump
10chars</p>
<p>UTSA or UT-Tyler?</p>
<p>lame i know. UT-Austin is my dream.
who cares if i slum for a year.
which oneeee? i can't decide.</p>
<p>raekwontc</p>
<p>Just remembered that one of the best professors I ever had did his Ph.D. in Botany at UC Davis - and yep, he'd been deliriously happy there. So the only place I don't know of that you are looking at is Boston U.</p>
<p>Raekwontc, University of llinois is a very strong school which is not only excellent in the business area, but also in a number of other areas too. Purdue and PSU are also strong in business. Unsure on BU and a UC Davis. Agree also with what Happymom said about Babson and the possiblilty of changing majors. Lots of nice choices. Congrats and best of luck!</p>
<p>thanks for the responses... bump-- hoping for some more feedback</p>