<p>Hey guys,
I got accepted into Illinois's school of business but I'm not sure if I should transfer or not. I will be a junior next Fall at George Mason University(VA) and there, I have connections with some professors, good friends with the T.As, and know the advisors pretty well--all good for job recommendations.</p>
<p>If I go to Illinois, I'll be a sophomore next Fall (30ish credits because they don't accept any business courses) and will have to start networking from the beginning. But Illinois's business program is so much better than Mason's, so do you think it is worth it to transfer to Illinois and be a year behind? </p>
<p>Does a Top 50 undergraduate business program matter that much more than a regular school's program? </p>
<p>My goal is to work at the Big 4 or a big company and I figure at a better school, my chances would be better. What do you think</p>
<p>Thanks guys :)</p>
<p>Yes, it’s worth attending. Illinois is not just a top 50 school, but a top 15 for business. Their business program is outstanding, and students get placed very well. Also, I applied as a transfer applicant to the program, and have yet to hear back. What are your stats?</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I didn’t know Illinois was top 15 for business! Is there any statistics on where students got placed into and is there a way to find out what companies recruit on-campus? (I’m sure I can google it but doesn’t hurt to ask!)</p>
<p>I just heard back from them in an email a few hours ago! Made my day lol</p>
<p>My stats:
College GPA:3.53
Had 60 credits completed.
EC: president of tennis club,
member of investing, entrepreneur club,
president of a local Toastmasters
worked as a high school and college tutor for math and economics</p>
<p>High School stats:
SAT: 1980
GPA: 3.57</p>
<p>Application:
I had all the pre-req completed except 1 year of english (only have a semester-worth)
I wrote an essay on how during one semester I went into treatment for depression and as a result, failed a class (had all A’s except one F, which bought my gpa to a 3.53) but that wasn’t an excuse for poor performance and as such, got a 4.0 next two semester.</p>
<p>Overall, I think I was an outlier because the average GPA for business is like 3.8ish. I think it was my essay that made the difference. </p>
<p>Good luck on your app!! :))</p>
<p>If you stay at Mason, you will be done in two years. If you transfer, you will need to be there for at least three years. Sit your parents (or whoever it is who is helping you pay for college) down, and discuss whether this transfer will really yield an ROI that justifies the extra time and any extra expense. If you are in-state for Mason, the answer is almost certainly NO.</p>
<p>I do get in-state for Mason.
Ahhh there is a side of me that really wants to go to Illinois just to get out of the area and be part of a well-known business program, but then the other side of me is thinking “this school is $35k a year and I’ll be a year-behind in graduation” </p>
<p>Ultimately my goal is to work at the Big 4 or another accounting firm. Would getting a 3.5 at Illinois be competitive for the Big 4? (The program is probably a lot harder than Mason’s, so my GPA will be lower)
At Mason, I think i can get a 3.7 or 3.8 and have good connections with teachers and T.As.
Does a 3.5 at Illinois or a 3.8 at Mason look better for firms?</p>