Hey folks. I am so torn. Please, I need help. I’m an Illinois resident, so UIUC is in-state. Still, thanks to scholarship money, OSU is actually going to be about 7k cheaper per year. This doesnt matter as much because my parents will cover the cost of tuition for me, but I would like to put less of a financial burden on the family. Right now I am admitted at UIUC as an Electrical Engineering major, whereas at OSU I got into the direct admit for Fisher Finance. Here’s my pros and cons list of both schools:
UIUC Pro’s:
-Higher ranked. Esteemed Education
-I have plenty of friends there, most of which are engineers.
-It’s close to home (3 hours).
-Some of the clubs here interest me, like the Storm Chasing program, etc.
-I already paid my deposit here, I have my registration date and I was just about to apply to the LLC I wanted to room in at.
-I already told my parents, my friends, and my school that I was going here (although my parents would understand).
-Its big, but not exactly a megalith.
-Extra currciular activities seem to be… er… nearing legalization rapidly (at least decriminalization).
-Number 1 party school
UIUC Con’s:
-It costs more (Still, I wont have debt)
-There isn’t much of a surrounding area.
-A lot of my fellow classmates, who I didn’t like all too much, are going there
-Seems like a snobby program
-It seems boring and people there seem like they like it but wish they were elsewhere
OSU Pro’s:
-It’s in the city, which I find cool
-A lot of restruants, bars, nightlife that interests me
-Rushing second semester: gives me time to adjust before rushing
-Theyre ISE program seems like (based on what Ive heard and online videos) that its the perfect balance of fun and hard working.
-The ISE people there seem tight-knit. I guess I dont know anything about ISE at UIUC but I havent seen anything like that there yet.
-The campus was nice looking. Has a slight leg-up on UIUC there (nothing to brag about though).
-Everyone I have talked to there seemed nice.
-People there seem less high-strung than UIUC engineers, who all look like Smeagle from Lord of the Rings from working so hard. OSU engineers seemed lively and they all seemed to have everything balanced. Again this is just my personal interaction so I dont know how that holds up.
-I love music, so the influx of musicians into Columbus is awesome
-Greek life is there but it doesnt dominate.
-I hear studying IE at OSU is easier/easier to get a better GPA than at UIUC.
-Nobody from my hs is going here.
OSU Con’s:
-Farther/Out of state. I’m leaving my single mom at quite the distance.
-I have nothing set up for it. I know nothing about the housing situation, nor have I started any sort of process regarding that. I don’t even know my user info.
-I visited it once for two hours. Not a whole lot of time to soak in stuff.
-If I want to drop from IE, Fisher is more highly ranked than UIUC (although I’m not a huge business guy so IDK)
-I know nobody. No friends. No networks. I am in new territory.
Overall, I get the glaring impression that UIUC engineers are less happy and work harder, especially IE’s, whereas OSU engineers seem to be happy, well-rounded characters who are tightly knit and have fun. I want that fun. I am not gung-ho about reading a textbook all night and then all day. I will work hard, but I want the college experience in it’s fullest. UIUC engineers just seem decrepit and sad people. Of course this is a major generalization so if any of you could point to a counterexample please be my guest. But looking at OSU IE’s YouTube page vs UIUC’s, and OSU IE’s website vs UIUC, it just seems like they have more fun. I feel like I would fit better in with that mindset.
I get it: “Oh, but Ryan, you’re gonna be an engineer. If you cant do the time, dont do the major! You arent an engineer! Go back to english! Slacker!” Let me be clear, I am very excited to study IE. I just want the most happiness out of my next four years. Slaving away, when I had the option not to, is going to kill me. So, is it true that OSU IE is easier than UIUC? Can any alum speak about the programs at each, specifically at UIUC (since it seems like everyone at UIUC forgets IE exists)? And can anyone help me make decision, since I only have two days to make it and I have gone back and forth for a month now on it? Thank you.