Starting to like Indiana Bloomington (more than I thought)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Indiana University - Bloomington
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<p>I'm starting to like Indiana- Bloomington. It is nearly the same as my top choice university ( MSU, and second UM-Ann Arbor), though respectively has a decent distance from home ( Lansing, Michigan). It's also ranked right before Michigan State University, and it seems like there is so much more about the university that I should learn. </p>

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<p>Could one make a comparison of Michigan State University and Indiana- Bloomington?</p>

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<p>I have interest in Indiana- Bloomington and basically would like to know information on the school in general. Such as campus life, student atmosphere, surrounding town, etc..... </p>

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<p>Also what is the university well known for? How is the university reguarded, and easy to get into any graduate school?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>Oh yeah, difficulty of out of state students getting admitted? I notice there is nearly 30% of students from out of state.</p>

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<p>IU-B is best known in order for:</p>

<p>(1) Music program
(2) Foreign language–particularly Asian languages and French
(3) Ballet/dance major
(4) Business program
(5) Public Administration program
(6) Journalism program
(7) Theatre arts
(8) Nursing program
(9) Sports management program
(10) Mathematics program</p>

<p>Every single one of the programs above rank in among the top 15 in the country for that major. For example, Indiana’s french program ranks #1, music #2, ballet #1, and public administration (tied with Harvard at #2, right behind Syracuse). The only reason I have business as high as I do is because there is so much emphasis on that program (more people majoring in it).</p>

<p>Indiana also has excellent programs in history, communications, TV and film production (telecommunications), and African American studies.</p>

<p>Some people wonder why Indiana ranks so “low” among Big 10 schools when its programs rank so high. The reason is because it is the only Big 10 school that has no engineering school. If Indiana University at Bloomington ever adds an engineering school, it would definitely jump into the top 4 of the Big 10 schools (of which there are are actually 11 schools–weird, I know). Anyway, it would rank just behind Northwestern, Michigan (these two being the top ones), and Wisconsin (at 3rd), and probably just ahead of Illinois ( which would then rank 5th), Penn State (6th), and Ohio State (7th). The schools at the bottom would then be Minnesota (8th), Purdue (9th), Iowa (10th), and Michigan State (11th). </p>

<p>All of these schools are still good ones, however–but they all have their own best majors–and unfortunately I can’t tell you what Michigan State is best known for (although I think it is Physics and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering).</p>

<p>Michigan State tends to be kind of an “ugly” campus compared to both Michigan and Indiana. Michigan’s business school is ranked among the top 5 in the country–and they also have a great engineering school. If you can get into Michigan, I’d go there as an in-state student, since the cost difference will be very large versus Indiana and Michigan has lots of great programs. You probably should still do the same for Michigan State versus Indiana–because of the cost–but I will admit that Indiana will be the much better program in all of the areas listed above–and therefore will get you better access to the graduate schools (but only slightly).</p>

<p>As far as getting in–it is tougher as an out-of-state student, but not by very much. If you qualify for Michigan as an in-state student, you should have no problem getting into Indiana as an out-of-state student.</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision. </p>

<p>P.S. I paid more for my own son to go out-of-state to Indiana University at Bloomington–and in the end, it was quite a bit more expensive, but in my view (and his) worth the extra cost. I’m not sure everyone would feel this way, though.</p>

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<p>calcruzer any idea how it ranks for chemistry?</p>

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<p>Thanks for replies</p>

<p>Ideal of it’s ranking in political science and international relations?</p>

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<p>Calcruzer: you will definitely be our “go to” person for IU; more good information than most colleges can provide themselves…</p>

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<p>Hey, I am attending IU and I was sort of the same situation that you were. I live about 5 minutes from the MSU campus. Michigan, MSU, and IU were all on my list of schools that I wanted to attend but I eventually decided IU. I am not too sure how their political science program is but I know UM is good with that. </p>

<p>As for Michigan costing more that isn’t the case at all even for in state students. I have the 9k scholarship for IUB and with that added in the price is actually cheaper then the cost would be for in state at UM. Michigan’s in state tuition isn’t nearly as good as the in states of other schools, especially California. Aside from that the chances of getting scholarships at UM arent as high either. I have two friends who are attending UM this year one with the same stats as me and one with better stats as well as better extracurriculars and essay writing skills and I think she got a 2k non renewable scholarship for UM and that’s it. The only real bummer is we cant use our Promise scholarship for out of state but I’m hoping to use it at a community college or something over the summer if I can get the credits to transfer.</p>

<p>Also UM is very competitive to get into schools aside from the LSA school so it was nice to have some security with Direct Admission to Kelley.</p>

<p>If you want to get some first hand comparisons on what the campus life and school life is like <a href="http://www..com/%5B/url%5D">http://www..com/</a> is a great site to look at. They have comments from past students and it shows their major on the top so you can get good firsthand info from the major you intend to pursue. I personally though MSU and IU were a lot alike in terms of campus appearance and such but from what I’ve read the academics at IU were a little better aside from Chain Management and the natural sciences.</p>

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<p>errrr I don’t know why it starred out that link. student reviews . com is the site</p>

<p>keep in mind though that there with be positive and negative reviews for each, don’t take the negatives to heart too much just try to look for key information that you think will help.</p>

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<p>^</p>

<p>I also read on that website. Do you know your overall reason why you decided IU of MSU, any regrets, outcome etc… Thanks, that would be great.</p>

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<p>I don’t have any regrets as of yet. I just graduated and will be going to IU in the fall.</p>

<p>I decided to go to IUB over Michigan State mainly because of two reasons.</p>

<p>1- MSU was just too close to home. I mean, I get a long with my parents and everything just fine but there would be nothing new for me there. I have already seen football and basketball games there, I’ve hung out at all the cool hangouts, I already know the campus pretty well. Also I feel like I would be seeing people that I already know to often and numerous students from my school are attending/will attend MSU. Its not that I don’t like those people but I just wanted an opportunity to get outside what I’ve been used too and experience something different and sort of forge my own path away from any past influence.</p>

<p>2- The reputation of IUB as a whole and especially Kelley business school I felt was more impressive then MSU. Also there were really no scholarships set in stone for me at MSU. At IUB its simple. If you have this and this you WILL get this, which I felt reassuring.</p>

<p>Those reasons may not apply to you because Michigan State is still a very good school and it doesn’t appear that you are going into business and if you had a problem being so close to home MSU probably wouldn’t be your top.</p>

<p>I guess it just comes down to gut feeling in some instances and for some reason IUB just felt like the right choice.</p>

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<p>^</p>

<p>Thats why I question MSU being my top due to only 10 minutes from my house, local hospital problems, and family issues, so I’m really starting to second question.</p>

<p>Uh… your not attending IUB for graduate? Were you not able to attend other graduates, know anyone else who graduated adn will be attending an Ivy League?</p>

<p>Asked the question for future reference, in case if thats not too personal</p>

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<p>sorry misunderstanding. I just graduated high school, I will be a freshman at IUB this year.</p>

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<p>parent56,</p>

<p>Indiana University ranks as the 16th best chemistry program in the United States (4th best among the eleven schools in the Big 10).</p>

<p>[NRC</a> Rankings in Chemistry](<a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area28.html]NRC”>http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area28.html)</p>

<p>These are graduate and undergraduate rankings combined–there are no separate rankings.<br>
Notice that the NRC ranked Indiana’s Chemistry department above both Princeton’s and John Hopkins’–both of which had had higher ranked Biology programs, though.</p>

<p>Also, sometimes when the school only ranks “pretty good” in the USNWR or NRC rankings, it ranks even higher in independent polls. For example, USNWR ranks Indiana has the 18th best graduate business school and 11th best undergraduate business schools–yet it ranks Indiana in the top 7 in about eight different business majors. Also, Princeton Review ranks the business school has having the best undergraduate business experience, and the Wall Street Journal ranks the graduate business school as having the second best business faculty in the country.</p>

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<p>Coolbrezze,</p>

<p>USNWR ranked Indiana University as tied for 26th/27th best nation-wide in Political Science in August of last year. The new NRC rankings are due out in September of this year. (Their–NRC’s–last ranking of political science programs was in 1995–and therefore is very much out-of-date.)</p>

<p><a href=“http://brianjphillips.blogspot.com/2009/04/us-news-and-world-report-2009-political.html[/url]”>http://brianjphillips.blogspot.com/2009/04/us-news-and-world-report-2009-political.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The NRC doesn’t rank international relations programs–and the only ranking I could find was the following–which only lists the top 10 schools (per its ranking)–and doesn’t list Indiana University among their top 10.</p>

<p>[UCSD</a> Among Top Universities for International Studies](<a href=“http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/thisweek/2005/oct/10_31_international.asp]UCSD”>http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/thisweek/2005/oct/10_31_international.asp)</p>

<p>Also, notice that Michigan State’s chemistry program (which I think is one of their best ones), still ranks 39th–far below Indiana’s chemistry program ranking of #16.</p>

<p>rodney,
Thanks for the positive comment.</p>

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<p>^</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments, still looking for more information</p>

<p>Yeah I will look into all of this more since now I no longer have a top choice university. With spark in family issues ( and local hospital not diagnosing right) going to my once top choice ( Michigan State University) if I were to get accepted, I’m no longer completely sold on.</p>

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<p>calcruzer, thank you so much for that info!!</p>

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<p>I actually like this university, though the assistance out of state students ( who are need base aid) recieve from this university is minimum, and I may likely remove it from my list. Do anyone know how this university is with financial situations ( speaking of out of state students).</p>

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<p>I am out of state and it is cheaper for me to attend Indiana than Illinois (I have residence in Illinois). This is because Indiana gave me 8k a year in scholarship though.</p>

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<p>i got 9k scholarship 1.5k workstudy and 5k in loans i think like 3.5 subsidized 1.5 unsubsidized. I guess that is pretty standard. in the 60-80k family income area.</p>

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<p>coolbreeze you could look at their automatic scholarships for merit on their website, they are pretty straight forward and are given to oos students too.</p>