<p>Hi, I need to decide between UIUC and in-state (VA), James Madison Univ. and May 1 approaches quickly...:X
I'm strongly interested in studying a major in communications. Both schools do have colleges of communications, but I've heard that UIUC has like the #1 undergrad. advertising program in the nation. Can anyone confirm this..? I need to know if UIUC is worth the 35~40K compared to JMU's ~13K (+I might get a full-ride scholarship).</p>
<p>Basically my question is, how good is the undergrad. advertising program at UIUC and what does this mean if I were to attend (i.e. do most ad students graduate and get amazing jobs, etc.)? Also, I'm signed up for pre-communications (LAS) and so I would apply to the College of Communications > Advertising program, 2nd semester of soph. year. I've heard it's super competitive :X anyone have an idea of what that means? like 3.5+ gpa or higher? Thank you.</p>
<p>The college is small and extremely competitive. As you can imagine, advertising is a pretty popular major, and there are not many spots. I tried to transfer in for next fall and was rejected a couple weeks ago. I got a pretty low GPA (2.5) my first semester at UW Madison, but then offset it with a 3.6 and 4.0. They calculated my GPA at 3.412 and actually said it was high enough to get in. The admissions guy said my grades "looked solid" but that i did not show enough interest in advertising. (my ass i didnt, i had volunteer work at a radio station). But the point is, when you apply your GPA definitely needs to be above 3.0. The other point: you need to show interest in advertising specifically, not just your desire to enter the college of communications, and you had better have some damn good extracurricular work to prove your interest. The essays are not just a throwaway, you had better be bursting with passion about advertising.</p>
<p>As for how good the school is, its really pointless for people to say "yeah so and so college was ranked by US News as the best bla bla bla." Somone else could rank it the worst. The college is very focused though, and an advertising major (as opposed to a marketing major) isnt as easy to come by as you would think, so its safe to assume they know what they are doing. If you graduate from UIUC you really arent going to have trouble getting a job, especially with someting as flexible as an advertising major which could place you in several different fields at some unlikely corporations.</p>
<p>The Illini family is huge in Chicago. You wouldn't have problems getting a job after graduation, and you'll be prepared very well. </p>
<p>It's worth it, so come here.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses...couple more q's..</p>
<p>So if I don't get into the ad program, I am pretty much screwed and must change my major..? :( that sucks...which reminds me, how's the workload in general there? Esp. fresh. and soph. year..? I've mostly heard it's hard, does that means it's going to be super hard to maintain a 3.5ish or + gpa? </p>
<p>Soberdrunk, will that mean the chances of me getting a high-paying job after graduation are high enough that I will be able to pay off loans (like 100K)? </p>
<p>Finally- how bad are the winters there? I hear the wind is a nightmare. :X</p>
<p>Yeah, not getting into the advertising program would be trouble if you were already at UIUC. You would pretty much have to chose something else in the LAS college, unless you wanted to wait and try again, but while you wait your number of credits completed is rising, and some colleges wont take people with more than 80 credits. There really aren't any similar majors in the LAS college either, so its rough to not get into Comm College. </p>
<p>UIUC is a TOUGH school. Engineering majors have it tougher than most, but getting a 3.5 at UIUC means you are doing really well, it's not very easy to get and maintain.</p>
<p>Where are you from, Vermont? Shouldnt the winters there be 10X more brutal than in illinois? Keep in mind you are pretty far south of chicago in champaign, weather is often 10-15 degrees warmer. I'm in Illinois for school too, and I dont recall it dropping below ten degrees very often this winter. My bottom line is that i wouldnt let the weather decide where you go to school. It can get cold in champaign, and it can get windy, but it's really not a big deal. You're only outside for a little while between classes, you can even go without a hat most days.</p>
<p>krbarrett77, I'm from Northern VA (D.C.). We have our share of cold winters, but nothing compared to Chicago (at least from what I hear). The whole not-getting-accepted-into-advertising-thing really sucks. I mean right now, I know I'm saying I'm going to try super hard to get the best GPA possible, but I'm also trying to be realistic, if you know what I mean. On the other hand, I hear JMU is pretty darn easy (gen. ed. classes that is). So when you say UIUC is a tough school, does that mean I won't have time for any fun if I'm trying to get a 3.5+? Just to give you an idea of my abilities (w/c?) I'll be graduating taken 6 APs and like 9 or 10 honor courses/SAT: 1310ish/ACT: 28</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, the whole process of having to be admitted to the major you want to study is a total drag. It's frustrating that you can go to the school, do relatively well, and not get in. But on the bright side, even if you dont get into the Comm College you will still graduate from UIUC (unless you leave) and you will still have the prestigious degree. The school has a large alum base and employers respect those who attended there.</p>
<p>I believe the suggested GPA for advertising is 3.0 (i'm positive thats what it is for students wanting to transfer from another university), but since it's a small college that requirement usually ends up rising when lots of people apply. To give you an example of where you lie with your stats: I have a friend at UIUC who got a 27 on the ACT, 1 AP course, lots of honors classes just like you. He had a 3.4 when he applied to the Business school (normally a more competitive school than the Comm College admissions-wise) He was admitted.</p>
<p>His 3.4 is pretty close to your goal of 3.5, and he has PLENTY of fun. He travels with the water polo team nearly every weekend and goes out at least twice a week. You dont have to make the tradeoff between academics and fun unless of course you want a 4.0 or something. Dont worry, you'd have plenty of fun while still working hard.</p>
<p>Finally, I had to make a similar decision when i was an incomming freshman. I could go to the big/expensive/presitious University of Wisconsin, or i could go to Illinois State University where I would have cheaper tuition, more people i knew, and an easier time. I chose UW-Madison. Then, after one semester i decided it was too hard and too expensive and I left and went to Eastern Illinois University. I regret my decision at least once a week and regard the choice as one of the worst I have ever made. I wish I had chosen to remain at the school that gave me the best opportunity to succeed (UW). The difference in the education is enormous, i'm often embarassed to tell people where i go to school now. I will not have nearly as good a chance of landing that great job when i graduate and it frustrates me to no end that I could have been so foolish.</p>
<p>I really dont think you'll regret your student loans 10 years from now. How many people do you hear saying "man i wish i hadnt gone to that really presigious Big Ten school". Even something like getting rejected from the Comm College (even though i'm sure it wont happen if you stay motivated) will seem pretty insignificant in the long run. So relax and enjoy college, wherever you go.</p>
<p>Thanks for your honest and helpful reply krbarrett77, I really appreciate it. I overnighted at JMU (my dilemma school) and liked it there too. This is frustrating, b/c I told myself I would decide by tomorrow (with the weekend to spare before 5/1), but I'm thinking I won't be able to decide. (AHHHHHHH!)</p>
<p>My final (perhaps ;]) questions is...will advertising take me far? I mean assuming I graduate well and have experience. I'm pretty set on a communications field. I feel somewhat confident with gaining experience and feel I have the talent (FYI, I have done internships with a local community center, "The Asia Times", and most recently "USA Today") --not to sound arrogant..! :X</p>
<p>I guess my final reassurance will be that I will make in big enough in advertising to make up for the crazy (100K+) loans I will be taking, if I do decide to attend UIUC, b/c I just researched advertising careers and contrary to belief, not all are making tons. Only like the top 10% or so are making over 100K.</p>
<p>Thanks so much again!</p>
<p>I know it sounds lame and unoriginal, but if you like what you do you really won't find yourself worrying about money as much, cause you'll be happy. With an internship at USA Today already under your belt (thats amazing) before getting into college you are looking like a candidate for a very rewarding career. </p>
<p>You noticed only the top 10% are making over 100K. But think about that. I don't know what constitutes that top 10%, but attending a big ten university, being passionate about what you do, and having some really impressive internship work already done leaves you a good shot at being IN that top 10%! Most of your peers will either A. Not go to college. B. Not go to as fantastic a college. or C. Not be as determined to succeed.</p>
<p>Be proud of what you have accomplished, a lot of the weeding out has already taken place. It's anyone's guess what you'll be making when you get out of school (It certainly won't be 100K right away unless you get incredibly lucky). But you shouldn't expect to pay those loans off right away in one 100K shot anyway. It'l take time, but i doubt you'll regret your attendance at either school.</p>
<p>I can't say whether advertising will take you far or not. Maybe U of I could hook you up with the opportunity to discuss the field with a Comm School Graduate, they tend to offer all sorts of things when it comes to getting your money. :) Or, maybe you could inquire as to where some people higher up at USA Today or Asia Times went to school and what they would suggest.</p>
<p>I know my answers aren't as specific as you'd like them to be, but as somone who is still an undergraduate, i can't say that much about what schools will earn you what pay, etc. When it comes down to it, i would bet there is no substitution for passion and drive. If you are truly motivated to succeed (and it seems you are) you will succeed. I know that sounds idealistic, but it's true. You just gotta want it!</p>
<p>Getting into the Advertising field at the U of I is EXTREMELY difficult. The main reason, however, is not a good one. Its because Advertising is a REALLY easy major and people want easy work. I would seriously think about going to U of VA. Its a higher ranked school.</p>
<p>omg! and higher ranking always means best!</p>
<p>In this case, it probably does. If the OP seriously wants to do advertising or something similar, connections are absolutely critical. University of Virginia is chock full of connections, while the U of I has some, but not a ton. I go to U of I and I think the University of Virginia has a lot more options for what the OP is interested in.</p>
<p>^ First, the OP never said he or she was accepted to UVA, just JMU. Taking your advice would mean waiting a semester or even a year to apply to UVA, a wait i think is not even close to worth it.</p>
<p>Second, didnt you just tell us you were accepted to UofI for the fall 06? So technically you don't "go there" yet. Speaking from experience and speaking from assumption are completely different, and speaking as if you are able to do the former when you are not is very misleading to somone trying to make an important decision.</p>
<p>I have several friends who currently attend U of I. 3 of them applied to the advertising with 3.5+ GPAs and were not accepted. The program has a reputation for being easy and the job placement isn't nearly as stellar as the business program. I have friends and family who have been involved with U of I for years and that is what I've been told. I'm sorry if I was misleading, but I just want the OP to have a realistic assessment of Illinois. </p>
<p>On another note, U of I isn't located in a major city, which is something the OP may want to consider when it comes to job placement.</p>
<p>^ A good point, but when it comes to job placement most grads probably aren't looking to champaign for their career anyway. Yeah, your opportunities aren't as terrific as they would be at NYU, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, and many other schools located IN major cities, but chicago is only 3 hrs away and the OP doesn't have a better choice.</p>
<p>OP, since you have two choices, if you want to think about job placement as a criteria for decision, consider this: Comparatively, UIUC will likely give better job placement opportunities than JMU (or maybe even UVA). What is the most populated city in virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach (i'm doubting its charlottesville)? I would guess Chicago will provide a far greater alumni base concentrated in one area than virtually any city in virginia. </p>
<p>I'm glad elleohele is taking the other side of the discussion, it's excellent to hear both sides. But because (as far as we know) you only have two schools to decide from, UIUC seems the obvious choice. I might hesitate saying that if you had UVA (among others) to choose from, but because you don't, i think UIUC gives you more opportunity for your future than JMU. </p>
<p>Don't take it from just me though, keep asking around and weighing the pros and cons of both.</p>