<p>I know that Purdue has an amazing engineering and pharmacy program, and a growing business department. But, if I go there, I would want to pursue a Liberal Arts path, such as a double major in History and Political Science, with a minor in management. This is not Purdue's reputated strength, but I have heard that the program is good (although not famous), and people have been successful, and have moved on to top graduate schools, such as Harvard Law School. </p>
<p>I've visited Purdue, and I really campus, and I actually don't mind the urban surrounding area. </p>
<p>I also got accepted into UIUC, for the humanities/social sciences as well. I don't know much about UIUC's humanities department, but overall, UIUC is ranked 39th in the nation where purdue is 61. This has caused me lots of concern, as though I love Purdue, the stark difference in rankings has made me thing that I could be more successful by getting an education from UIUC. Is this correct though? Would I indeed receive a much better education by going to UIUC over Purdue? Also, would the fact the UIUC is much higher in rankings than Purdue help me in the long run while applying to Law School? </p>
<p>Is anyone here in the liberal arts department about UIUC? Do you think that it is a strong program? Also, a bit off topic, but I really do not know much about UIUC in general. How is the area? How is the campus? Dorms? Parties? Ect. </p>
<p>Another factor is marching band, as throughout high school, I have been a hard working member in the drumline. Both UIUC and Purdue have excellent drumline's, just I like Purdue's style and feel better than I do UIUC. Is anyone here in the UIUC marching band? How is the program?</p>
<p>I'm still waiting on financial aid of course. But costs aside, what would you guys recommend? </p>
<p>Both schools are great. It sounds like you really like Purdue. Go with your gut. If you do well in either school you will be accpeted in to a good graduate program. They are both respected schools. Did you visit Illinois? If you didn’t, I suggest you visit and make the comparison. My son was accepted at both schools, he will attend Purdue, in LAS. He loved the campus and it felt right to him.</p>
<p>I lost interest in Purde for its lesser social science focus/education.UIUC is a much better school for poli sci. I heard poli sci is one of their most popular majors.</p>
<p>In response to the band part, most kids who audition for the drumline (snareline especially) marched drum corps. I’m biased, but out of all the Big Ten marching bands, I like Illinois the best. Every so often the battery has an “off” year or two compared to other years, but its still top notch talent they acquire. I always base a line on how clear they play; you can practically write out the notes and rythyms they play. Youtube both universities lines and see what you like and don’t like. I wouldn’t choose an education based on a universities drumline, but if you like Purdue more then you’ve answered your question.</p>
<p>The difference between 39th and 61st is not as a big of a difference as you think it is. Also, UIUC’s strengths lie in engineering and to some extent, business, and its social sciences/humanities are not that well known.</p>
<p>Lincoln Hall, the building at UIUC where most Liberal Arts departments are located, is pretty decrepit but at least it is undergoing renovation now.</p>
<p>Try comparing the history and poly sci major requirements on Purdue’s and UIUC’s homepages – I think they will be very similiar. UIUC does have more highly ranked graduate programs in those two fields according to USNWR, but those rankings don’t really pertain to you as an undergrad.</p>
<p>In short, I just recommend going where your fin. aid package leads you. I go to U of I of course, and I enjoy it, but I’m instate and I’m astounded by how much money out-of-staters (especially Californians) spend on this school.</p>
<p>No, Ohio State has the “best damn band in the land,” and aside from their dotting the I routine (which is really neat by the way) they really aren’t that good. If you want to be a part of the best band in the Big Ten, you go to Illinois or Wisconsin. In my opinion, after those two, it isn’t even close. I’ve seen all of the Big Ten bands except for Iowa, and that is just my opinion.</p>
<p>I mean, I agree, the sheer skill level and intensity is without a doubt higher in the bands of Illinois and Wisconsin. </p>
<p>It’s just, I know I might be talking heresy to some, but I don’t really like the whole “drum corps” approach to marching band. Don’t get me wrong, I love drum corps, and I have been to several workshops of world class corps in California, and I love the activity.</p>
<p>But I just think that marching should be different. (This is my personal taste of course). I don’t think marching band should be super intense, and I like how show style bands are geared towards entertaining their audiences, regardless of how good they are. And Purdue is a perfect match, since they do have a good drumline with tough music(maybe not the cleanest line, but who cares? they’re performing for non musicians and do a damn good job of entertaining the masses). Unfortunately this is something my high school corps style line failed to do. </p>
<p>Purdue’s band is a show style band that does delve into difficult music. And it’s just a personal taste, I like that better.</p>
<p>But I agree, in terms of cleanliness, skill, and difficulty, UIUC beats Purdue in almost every aspect. But then again, Purdue doesn’t have music majors, and the main purpose of the band is crazy entertainment.</p>
<p>My son, just graduated, marched 5 seasons with the Hawkeye Marching Band (University of Iowa). As a serious student, he liked the fact that band required committment, but did not dominate your life in the fall - 10 hours a week plus virtually all day on game days.</p>
<p>As a parent, what I liked was that my son made good friends that made good roommates, there was no hazing, no significant alcohol consumption, or “initiations”. The director set down a tone of responsible behavior, and largely, those expectations were met. Even if the HMB is not the best band in the Big Ten, he had a blast, went to four bowl games (more a function of the football team than the band!), and enjoys getting together with his old section buddies. </p>
<p>In contrast, the Wisconsin marching band was grounded by the band director about three years ago for hazing and alcohol related incidents. I would not want my son in that kind of an organization, nor would he enjoy being in such a band.</p>
<p>If your son will be attending this fall, check into it now. If you plan to do a campus visit, see if the Marching Band director, Kevin Kastens, is available to meet for a while. </p>
<p>Drumline is pretty competitive; the other sections vary with the supply. There is an audition, in the summer as I recall.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>And to boneh3ad, I understand your sentiments - I am an Illini graduate, and I had some difficulty seeing my son sing Iowa loyalty song. I had no trouble cheering for the team, though, since good performance meant a free winter trip to a warm place for my son. He chose Iowa since it was the only place that would let him double major in performing music and engineering - he eventually minored in music along with a BSEE.</p>
<p>I didn’t honestly know that Iowa even had an engineering program, but that is absolutely intelligent if it was the only place that let him major in what he wanted. Props to him for seeing past the rankings and following his gut.</p>
<p>Still… even if I had a kid there I would find it very difficult to cheer for Iowa or Indiana unless they played on the team. ;-)</p>
<p>^. Yes in deed. There is much more than rankings. Thats the probelm with with Illinois. Most parents feel its all about rankings and then they raise their kids that way and what do you have, A bunch of snobs that think that the only way you can get a good education is if you are listed in a magazine.</p>
<p>Hey, don’t blame Chicago on the rest of my fine state! If it were up to me, there would be a North Illinois and a South Illinois. North Illinois would be that corrupt cesspool up there, and then the rest of us could enjoy not having our reputations tarnished by the fact that something like 4 of the last 5 governors are in jail.</p>
<p>Haha, in all seriousness though, there is at least some substance to rankings, but it is certainly not the end all, be all of college choices, and getting the right fit is at least as important and probably more so. Honestly, you don’t even need a college education to be a good person or a productive citizen, let alone one from a “highly ranked” school. That fact is lost on some people. There are advantages to going to college and advantages to going to a highly ranked school, but a lot of times those advantages are way overrated.</p>
<p>haha, I’m sorry. Honestly, I have a lot of good friends from Chicagoland (kind of a given seeing as how I went to UIUC) and there are some really good people there. I just feel like there are also a lot of really pretentious people up there too that kind of offset it. That is probably similar in any major metropolitan area though. People just get caught up in the rat race and lose track of what really matters.</p>