<p>I have been accepted to UIUC for the upcoming fall. I'm currently debating between attending UIUC, Michigan, or Cal. I would like to study Finance or Accounting. I looked at UIUC's ap credit sheet and I would have approximately 40 credits. (Calc BC - 8 hours, Calc 3 - 4 hours, AP Macro - 3 hours, AP Lang - 4 hours, AP Gov - 3 hours, Physics B - 10 hours, Stats - 6 hours). I was wondering how feasible it is to graduate UIUC business in 3 years, given that I have so many credits. I would be willing to take a summer course or two after freshman year to knock out some more gen eds, but I would like to reserve the summer after that for an internship. Also, is being a james scholar really worth anything?</p>
<p>Go to UMich. It is the better business school of the three.</p>
<p>Both UMich and UIUC are great choices so I’d pick whichever costs less</p>
<p>UIUC James Scholar Program is excellent! </p>
<p>Graduating in 3 years is possible, however once you get into college you may realize you want to do all 4 years. My DS is there and he could graduate in 3 years due to AP credits, but he is having the time of his life. Right now he is in his 2nd year and currently doing a semester abroad in Sydney. Enjoy your college years, you will have enough time in your life to work.</p>
<p>Xtreme, although I agree Mich has a better business school than Illinois, but I would not say it is definitely better than Cal’s. From what I’ve read, Haas and Ross are viewed about equally by recruiters. And although both are better than UIUC business, neither are guaranteed, as I am not a preferred admit to Ross. UIUC business is guaranteed, in-state and still an excellent b-school. </p>
<p>Lacrossemom, could you expand on the advantages of the James Scholar program? I’ve heard that it’s kind of a marketing gimmick and it’s actually just more work. I hope there are some real benefits though.</p>
<p>As a James Scholar you get to register before other students from your class do, which is a pretty good thing when you compete against a huge number of people for good class times. Plus, you’re required to do some volunteering and take some honors classes. I have a few friends who are in it and they don’t complain about any extra work even though all of them are either engineering or science majors.</p>
<p>With your situation, I’d say graduating in 3 years is definitely possible, although I’d stay for all 4. College is so much fun!</p>
<p>I have two daughters that graduated in 3 years with less credit going in than you currently have. They stayed a fourth year to get their masters which gave them the 150 hours needed to sit for the CPA. Illinois has ranked in the top 5 accounting programs in the country for more than 30 years and is well known nationally. If you are in state, this is an excellent program.</p>
<p>James scholar gets you preferential registration which would be needed to ensure you get all of the classes you need to graduate in three years.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input everyone. </p>
<p>So, if I have 38 credits, that means I have “sophomore standing” correct? A friend of mine told me that was his situation at UIUC. If I’m a James scholar, do I get preference over the sophomores? Or just the freshman (in which I would already have preference over?) </p>
<p>Interesting. I honestly haven’t really considered a BS+MS in 4 years. Could you go through the pros/cons of this option? Did your daughters have to overload on courses to graduate early? Summer classes? I was thinking that I would rather work for a couple years then return for my MBA… but this program sounds intriguing too.</p>
<p>You would have preference over sophomores who are not James Scholars.</p>
<p>My daughters both took the first two accounting classes the summer after their freshman year in order to step up to junior status by the start of their second year. Otherwise, they had a couple of 16 hour semesters but nothing they couldn’t handle.</p>
<p>If you are looking at a CPA, Illinois is one of the few schools that offers the BS/MS option. Many of their counterparts from elsewhere in the country simply took 150 hours without receiving an MS so that they could qualify for the CPA exam.</p>
<p>They were both grad assistants their fourth year, offsetting tuition expense, and they also received a stipend for their work all while maintaining their class schedules.</p>
<p>They both had internships the summers after their second and third year of school and both had mulitple offers prior to their fourth year masters program.</p>
<p>By finishing in four years, they remained in school the same amount of time as their non-accounting counterparts so no awkward fifth year with only accounting major friends. They saved a full year of tuition and fees by simply taking the two summer courses.</p>
<p>Illinois is a CPA-centric school and they believe that the CPA and Big 4 accounting employment are the be all and end all. If your career focus starts elsewhere then this program may not be your best option. Just a note, the masters is in accountancy not an MBA.</p>
<p>PAt1120</p>
<p>If you are interested in accounting, Illinois is definitely the way to go. The big four accounting firms hire over 400 grads each year from Illinois. Last year they hired under 50 from Michigan, I don’t know about Cal. Also, even though many of these graduates went to the Big 4, do not be fooled into thinking they all went audit/CPA route. There are about 250 accounting grads last year, so about 150 went to work for the Big 4 accounting firms doing something else. Remember, these are also some of the largest consulting firms in the world.</p>
<p>As for graduating in 3 years, I did that myself back in 1984, with only 17 AP credits coming in. I supplemented with a couple of summer school courses and took a couple semesters with 18 hours. Sounds like with all your AP you could be done in 3 years easily, if you choose to. Or, if you want to take the CPA exam, stay for a fourth year, earn a masters and then take the exam. It is much easier to take before you get immersed in a job.</p>
<p>Finally, beware those who tout Michigan as a better business school. The placement stats for Michigan and Illinois are virtually identical in most respects except that Michigan Ross tends to be 3-5% higher in starting compensation. But that is because more Michigan grads head to the east cost (i.e. much higher cost of living).</p>