<p>Over these last few months, I have pretty much decided on Indiana University. I feel it's perfect. A great college town, Big 10 Sports, school spirit, amazing campus, All-American student body, laid-back, party school, great business, communications, and sports management programs. </p>
<p>But then I look at FSU and it seems to offer all of the same things. However there are some differences. FSU has better weather and is $20,000 (5k/yr) cheaper. I'm already taking out a lot of loans, because I don't want to go to San Diego State, so that 20k may be the difference maker....BUT</p>
<p>Indiana has an amazing business program (top 10 in the nation), and their placement rates and starting salaries are great. And IU's OOS population is 40% compared to FSU's 12%. Also IU seems to have a more residential campus, while there are a lot of commuters at FSU.</p>
<p>So right now IU is my favorite, and I figure if the people from the FSU board can't persuade me to reconsider FSU, then I know 100% that IU is the right school for me.</p>
<p>And I'm not sure if I can visit the schools, so I just want to have as much information as possible.</p>
<p>all i have to say is that IU is good at basketball but not at football, you don't know or understand school spirit until you go to a college football game...and while I dont know IU'S numbers in terms of how many live on campus but at fsu there are over 6500 people living on campus and I would estimate about 10k living within a one block radius of the campus..at any time during the fall you have about 12k ppl on campus at anytime during the day, and thats not including the people who live at heritage grove or sorority or fraternity row, so honestly I say FSU has alot of advantages over IU...furthermore the weather is a big factor, I grew up in miami and I even think tallahassee is pretty cold sometimes so i can only imagine bloomington, that must suck , sometimes downright depressing.</p>
<p>Have you visited FSU? (Your post gives the impression that you haven't.) I do encourage you to visit any university that you are seriously considering for fall of 2008. There is nothing that can take the place of walking on a campus and feeling like you are at home.<br>
My daughter and I have visited many schools all over the US and FSU is by far her favorite and her "fit". The campus is gorgeous, red brick buildings, beautiful vegetation (not the typical Florida of countless palm trees). People are really friendly and make you feel welcome ( a type of southern hospitality unlike southern Florida where we live). The campus is just under 500 acres so it is quite compact and easy to walk from one end of the campus to the other. A car is not a necessity since the university even offers a bus system (free to FSU students) that takes students to points off campus. The campus is in close proximity to state government which is great for internship opportunities. Great restaurants and clubs are close to campus.<br>
If you are planning on grad school (which will make you even more competitive in the job market), it will be to your advantage to get the biggest bang for your buck concerning your undergrad since grad school tends to be quite expensive.<br>
If you do a bit of digging on the FSU CC, I'm sure you can find out some info concerning the business department. Since my daughter isn't planning to major in business, we didn't investigate that department extensively. So, I am not qualified to give info concerning it.
I hope you have a chance to visit FSU. The spring will be beautiful, maybe you could go over spring break.
Wherever you choose to attend, I hope you have an awesome college experience!</p>
<p>Really... you're going to brag about FSU's football team over IU's football team? Try checking the win column. Both teams had the same record. Or we can compare athletic departments as a whole, where IU kills Florida State (23 mens national championships to 4 mens and 2 womens).</p>
<p>Not that a higher student population is a good thing, but Indiana has a significantly higher number of freshman living on campus (6954 to 3551) and has a significantly higher number of total undergraduates on campus (10942 to 4739). In fact, only 4.6% of FSU upperclassmen live on campus. Only 58% of FSU's freshmen live on campus, compared to 98% at IU.</p>
<p>In Bloomington, I can go skate on a pond, I can go sledding, I can build snowmen, throw snowballs at everyone, enjoy the fall leaves changing colors, watch the flowers bloom in the spring and get the traditional college experience. You don't get that in Tallahassee. It's warmer, but you aren't at a beach and you don't get to do anything with it really. There's no swimming/tubing/water skiing in lakes, no, you have friendly alligators down there.</p>
<p>ok, are you alright bro...you seem, like your depressed or maybe having a bit of a panic attack, you might need to lighten your classload...at no time did i say anything bad about the university I just stated the obvious that you guys don't have the crazy football atmosphere that everyone knows the south has...i really don't think anyone would disagree, but whatever again might be time to go to counseling seems like someones becoming attached, its really not healthy, i bet its the weather//</p>
<p>yup, i think i was correct..just checked the weather, bloomington 12 degrees feels like -5, tallahassee 63, not a math major but thats about 51 degree difference..i hope you like your dorm room because i'm sure no one wants to go outside and by the way on saturday im going rowing at lake....no alligators by the way!</p>
<p>First of all, I would strongly recommend that you visit both schools before deciding. That’s the only way that you could truly know if a school is right for you.</p>
<p>With that said, I’ll try to give my unbiased opinion as someone who has spent time in both campuses.</p>
<p>FSU and IU have the same amount of school spirit. Both schools have a great gameday atmosphere. When it comes to sports, FSU is a football school and IU is a basketball school. It's important to understand this, just in case you're not big into basketball. </p>
<p>Both schools are also located in a college town. Keep in mind that Tallahassee has 3 colleges totaling over 80,000 students, making it a MUCH bigger college town than Bloomington. There is nothing "commuter" about FSU. FSU's campus is surrounded by a ton of apartment complexes filled with college students, just like IU's campus. Comparing percentages of students who live inside the actual campus is completely irrelevant. You will get a traditional college experience at both places.</p>
<p>Both schools are also well known for having a great social scene(parties). You really can't go wrong with either one, but I'll give the upper hand to FSU were the scene seems a little wilder than IU's. The cold weather in Indiana could also put a damper on things.</p>
<p>The weather will be a big factor if you're coming from So. Cal. Tallahassee does have very pronounced seasons, unlike the rest of Florida. You'll get the foliage, the flowers, and all that good stuff. It also gets pretty cold, but not unbearable. Bloomington gets ridiculously cold during the winter, to the point where it does become unbearable. During my visits to IU, I never witnessed students building snowmen or playing around in the snow. I did hear many people complain about the bitterly cold temperatures. Remember that cold weather gets old really quick, and it's not fun at all. For outdoor activities year round, Tallahassee has a definite advantage unless you really like snow(and lots of it).</p>
<p>Like I previously stated, you should really try to visit both schools before deciding. You don't want to get to Bloomington in the fall and realize that you made a huge mistake when it's already too late.</p>
<p>The cost factor alone is reason to give FSU a second look. I would not want to start out my life deeply in debt if a viable alternative was available.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help. I've realized that I want to be a Hoosier!</p>
<p>After hearing, that FSU has many advantages, and it's weather is better, and all this stuff. My initial reaction was "wow, you guys are stupid...Indiana is so much better." </p>
<p>And just thinking that must mean I definitely prefer Indiana.</p>
<p>Well thanks for the help, and I hope you all have fun at FSU.</p>
<p>Ridiculously cold and unbearable? There goes your bias out the window. The average high is 36 in January - that's not even cold enough to snow. Maybe it is because I am from Detroit-area, but Bloomington has relatively mild winters, but still enough to get some snow. Most students don't believe that the 20s and 30s is bitterly cold.</p>
<p>I completely agree with cybermom - I would not go to an expensive school if a viable alternative is available. I don't believe that FSU or IU is worth the price tag that both would be for you directly out of HS. Neither has or will offer you grants/scholarships. A 4 year degree at IU will cost over $135,000. A 4 year degree at FSU will cost over $120,000. I don't think someone with a 4 figure FAFSA should ever consider paying that type of price for a degree. Staying in-state at SDSU on the other hand is only about $75,000. </p>
<p>I think that if you are interested in going to either school you should transfer to them after 2 years at a community college, or just stay in-state at one of the many great options in California. Only 2 years at IU or FSU will be much more manageable ($60-70,000). Also, if there is another school that you wish to go to (i.e. Miami), that school could me MUCH more afforable. If you don't want to do the transfer route, both schools will accept a lot of transfer credit, and you can take summer classes before and during your enrollment.</p>
<p>Well if UMiami is cheaper (after financial aid) than I will go there, but I doubt I will even get in.</p>
<p>But anyways, I've figured most of the financial stuff out, and I'm confident with my decision to attend Indiana. I mean I know I will graduate from San Diego State debt free, but I don't want to go there....so I'm not going to.</p>
<p>Children what is all the fighting about. Both schools are good options this is why the question was asked. So bring it down about a couple of notches. But I agree with what someone had mentioned earlier, to visit both colleges and get a feel for yourself. I'm personally considering FSU.</p>
<p>No need to get defensive about the weather. An average high of 36 could be considered ridiculously cold if your coming from So. Florida or So. Cal. It obviously wouldn't if you’re coming from Michigan.</p>
<p>to the OP, it seems that you already had your mind made from the get go, but its a bit concerning that your planning to go to school hundreds of miles away from home and haven't visted the place I know it might not be possible but alot of people who do this end up regretting there decision, just throwiing that out there, both florida and indiana are different from california so you gotta make sure its the right decision no need to go away a year and then deicde to transfer back because you couldn't transition and get accustom</p>
<p>My own husband many years ago had a miserable freshman year over a thousand miles from home and transferred after his first year. He didn't adequately explore his options and lived to regret it! </p>
<p>Looking at glossy brochures and even checking out a school's website will not give one the perception that walking a campus in person will!</p>
<p>While I haven't been to IU yet, I have done everything possible. I have read everything on students review, campus dirt, princeton review, fiske guide to colleges, college confidential, vault, and I have read the whole college prowl.er book. I have also watched every video on youtube, and watched theu.com videos.</p>
<p>And I have talked to a bunch of people on facebook who are planning on going to IU next year.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure I have a good idea. In my opinion visits aren't necessary if you truly know a lot about a school. </p>
<p>However, if it comes down to a really close decision, I will most likely visit. I guess in the IU vs. FSU case, IU was the clear favorite from the beginning. But UMiami...that's a different story.</p>