UCSB vs. UIUC overall experience? Please help :D

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm an Illinois resident living in the suburbs of Chicago, but I was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. </p>

<p>Major: Business or Economics, depending on school</p>

<p>I've been accepted to:
-University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (Business school)
-Indiana University
-University of Wisconsin-Madison
-University of California-Santa Barbara
-University of California-Davis</p>

<p>Rejected from:
-University of California-Los Angeles</p>

<p>Still waiting to hear from:
-University of California-Berkeley
-University of Southern California
-McGill University</p>

<p>Now for my dilemma:</p>

<p>I know that U of I's Business school is ranked very highly across the nation and students don't have a hard time finding internships and jobs after graduation. I will also have a large number of high school friends going to U of I, so I won't be a complete outsider if I go. But the thing is, even with the beautiful architecture, campus, people, and academics, I still just don't feel at home at U of I. Being in the middle of nowhere bothers me a bit; especially when outside of the campus bubble there are very shady areas nearby.</p>

<p>And worst of all: I cannot stand Illinois weather.</p>

<p>Sure, these aren't the biggest of complaints and I should be grateful to be accepted to such a wonderful university, but I still have other options.</p>

<p>I don't really think I'm going to get into USC or Berkeley (but I pray that I do haha), so if I don't go to those, or U of I, my next choice would be UCSB.</p>

<p>I know the academics and professors are wonderful at UCSB, and there are beautiful girls as well as a beautiful campus; but it has a reputation as a party school, even though the academics are still very good.</p>

<p>So my main point is: would a UCSB or U of I education be worth more to me? I'm just concerned that if I graduate from UCSB I'll have a hard time finding a job, etc when I would've been better off at U of I.</p>

<p>I just don't want to make a choice I'll regret.</p>

<p>CLIFFS:
UCSB vs U of I in terms of getting a job after graduation and still enjoying college for 4 years. Also, how hard is it to study abroad at UCSB?</p>

<p>Thanks so much + sorry for wall o' text</p>

2

<p>Unless you are made of money, the OOS cost of a UC is going to break your budget. Before you worry about which of these is “better” sit down with your parents and find out whether the UCs are even remotely affordable for you.</p>

3

<p>Yes ma’am, they are. Thank you response!</p>

4

<p>UCSB has a wonderful program if you are interested in accounting and the big 4 all recruit heavily on campus. For general business education I don’t think they have specific majors (marketing, etc) geared towards that, nor do I expect students seeking those types of jobs to be in specific demand from UCSB in the same way there is demand for Haas students from Cal. You can find jobs in those areas from UCSB, but its going to depend on you getting out and finding internships and the like while in school.</p>

<p>Personally I don’t think the UCs are a good deal for what they charge OOS; you can find privates with smaller classes and more personal attention for the same price or less. </p>

<p>Another consideration is where you want to live after graduation. While the CPA firms will recruit nationally, by and large employers from CA will be more heavily represented at UCSB and those from the Midwest at UIUC. School isn’t destiny, of course, but there are regional effects.</p>