Schreyers Honors College @ PSU vs. Hutton Honors College @ IUB--Business Major

Parents Forum
1

<p>I plan to major in business at Penn State University or at Indiana University Bloomington with the intent of entering investment banking. I have already been accepted into Hutton Honors College at Indiana, and will hear back from Schreyers Honors College at Penn State late this month. Assuming I am accepted to Schreyers, I would like to have any opinions as to what decision I should make.</p>

<p>Factors to consider: </p>

<p>Indiana University's Kelley School of Business is considerably better ranked than Penn State's Smeal Schoool of Business.</p>

<p>Schreyers at Penn State is, according to some sources, one of THE best honors programs in the country.</p>

<p>Indiana has a huge investment banking program, consisting of clubs, seminars, courses, and many other programs, the most I have seen.</p>

<p>Penn State just build a brand new business building (now the largest and most modern (building on campus).</p>

<p>Penn State recruiting is better for the NE USA (where I wish to be).</p>

<p>Indiana recruiting is better ranked all around for the finance industry, but not necessarily the NE.</p>

<p>Factors not to consider:</p>

<p>Dorm/ Living options (both offer special living communities for business)</p>

<p>Campus (not location, just overall beauty)</p>

<p>Finances (comparable, I am a Pennsylvania resident, but costs with IU's scholarship offerings are very close to PSU)</p>

<p>Other factors:</p>

<p>If there are any other blatant or subtle factors I should consider (I am sure there are many!), please feel free to give that input as well.</p>

<p>Thanks to anyone with any opinions. Also, if you are in the business schools at either one of these universities or someone have experience from both (possibly undergrad at one and MBA at another, or even a transfer), I would LOVE to hear from you as well.</p>

2

<p>there are plenty of northeast kids at IU if thats important to you.
its an interesting dilemma..have you visited both campuses?they have a different feel to them,or at least they did to me when we visited.Both have nice collegey towns around them, I'd give the edge to Bloomington for its town.
is football or the atmosphere surrounding football/rah rah spirit important to you? it might be and it would decidely give PSU an edge.IU claims basketball spirit but I dont think its the same.
At the time we considered both schools, the PSU Honors program was the superior program but a business major wasnt being considered.Consider beyond the beauty of the building housing the program.
Family friends whose kids were Kelly majors at IU have had good outcomes coming back to NY,though I must say one kid made his own luck.</p>

3

<p>thanks for the reply cathymee... to answer some questions and make some additional points, First, school spirit/ campus feel is not on my mind, as both of them have equal advantages and disadvantages for me personally. Second, the beauty of the building is more important than meets the eye, as PSU is also building a brand new additional business building, and the school is pouring tons of funding into their business program...this will mroe than likely result in Smeal climbing through the rankings, so I think that is something i must condsider as well. </p>

<p>Any more thoughts out there please?</p>

4

<p>I don't know anything about Kelly other than it having a good reputation as a business school.
My s is at Schreyer in the business program.
Smeal is an excellent school. Classes can be large in the first couple of years. SHC offers smaller classes in key subjects like accounting and finance as well as small classes for electives. Makes a difference.
Priority registration offered by SHC is also REALLY important.
The honors dorms are nice (but not fancy) and well located.
The advisory services are better when you're in SHC.
The business building is great. One of the best resources is the Trading Room and the Investment Club. Students who take on leadership roles in the Investment Club (running a portion of the portfolio) are well prepared for jobs in IB. S has a couple of friends who made it through to IBs that usually only recruit at Ivy and elite schools.
All that said, IB is a really tough industry to shoot for right now. Not sure if this will change by the time you graduate. Salaries are deflated and opportunities are scarce - lots of VERY experienced folks competing for those jobs right now.
Bottom line, wait to see where you get in. If you don't get into SHC, Smeal still offers some good opportunities - but SHC has some added prestige and nice perks. Visit the campuses and go with your gut. Both are good choices. But keep your options open...and perhaps think about another alternative to IB.</p>

5

<p>couldnt agree with you more on the IB issue...on a positive note however, there are some inner circles saying that IB is going to come bac...HUGE...but this is just hype im affraid, so a lot of things have to play out in the industry</p>

<p>Thanks for the nice comments. Any one else?</p>

6

<p>Will a lot of kids from your high school be going to Penn State? If so, that might be a tip factor in favor of IU (finances being roughly equal). I think college freshmen are better off without the fallback option of hanging around with HS friends.</p>

7

<p>Hanna,</p>

<p>The short answer yes. However, the high majority of friends in my social circle, consisting of folks in Honors and AP classes, are NOT even applying to Penn State. But I get what your saying, as I believe I am the ONLY student applying to IUB...that is a plus, especially for someone like me who is socially outgoing and loves meeting new people.</p>

<p>Thanks for your response on that...Im beginning to form some more ideas here, any one else care to share?</p>

8

<p>bumpidy bump bump bump</p>

9

<p>Jarad-
If you have not already done so, investigate the Sapphire Honors Program at PSU. Many business students who do not get into Schreyer get accepted to Sapphire.</p>

10

<p>already have and already applied...thanks!</p>

11

<p>bumpidy bump bump bump</p>