Hi,
i have been talking with my parents for days about what school I should go to and they have ultimately told me that they will let me decide. The problem is I am not sure what to decide so I decided to post this for some input and feedback.
I want to go to business school and applied to the business schools at UIUC, IU, and University of Minnesota. I got into IU as kelley direct admit and also got into the carlson school of management at Minnesota but unfortunately didn’t get into the business school at UIUC. I am having a hard time deciding what to do because all three schools have their own set of pros and cons.
Minnesota is ranked in the top three for the undergraduate major I’m looking at, business systems but I’m not very sure how I’ll like the feel of the school. Indiana obviously has a very prestigious business school but I would have to pay a lot more tuition relative to the two other schools. For Illinois even though I didnt get into the business school, as an in-State student I would go to the school almost for free with the fafsa and state money that I would get.
I would love to go to UIUC over all the other schools just because it is in the state that I live in and has been my bias school for a long time. I’m just having a hard time because of my admittance into DGS instead of the business school. How hard would it be to get into the business school after my freshman year granted that I maintained good grades? Or maybe a better question would be, is it hard to maintain good grades as a freshman at the school to get into the business school?
With really good grades, you can get in to UIUC’s b-school, but I would not take the chance if I were you. Carlson seems like the best bet if it is affordable.
BTW, UIUC tends to provide poor fin aid no matter what FAFSA says, so it will likely be only a little cheaper than Carlson.
@PurpleTitan I qualify as a low income student so I will definitely be getting some if not a lot of financial aid for both schools. I’m just thinking about the atmosphere in which I will be spending my college years. I just feel like Minnesota may be lacking on many different levels when compared to indiana or Illinois in terms of the caliber of academics…
@boog17, wait until you get your fin aid packages. Most state schools aren’t good with providing fin aid these days, regardless of how much your family makes.
Minnesota does not lack Indiana in any academics, including Business. Kelly is huge and only prestigious with regard to their small Inv Banking subunit, rest is not so great. Carlson business is very strong and I would think you should consider strongly.
@wayneandgarth @PurpleTitan Thanks for the responses. I was also wondering what everyone thought of the business school at the university of pittsburgh. I just got admitted not too long ago and I wasn’t strongly considering it but I think getting people’s opinion on it would be nice.
Thanks!
I would be wary of UIUC if you are not in the business school. Many times these internal transfers are very difficult if not impossible to do. I’d give the nod to Kelley but if money is an issue, then UMN or even Pitt are fine choices as well.
UMN is a very strong university and Carlson in particular is excellent - I would say, as good or better, depending on specialty, as Indiana-Kelley outside of the IB Workshop.
Public universities do not meet need. That is, whether you’re low income or a billionaire, they have one price, give you the $5,500 loan you’re entitled to regardless of school, then take it or leave it. In addition, public universities’ prime responsibility is to their residents, so even if they do have decent financial aid, it’s reserved to in-state applicants.
Some states (NYS, California, Florida, Georgia) have financial aid for their residents going to in-state public universities, sometimes even for in-state private; some universities have merit scholarship, meaning that they are based on test scores and/or a competition, and, again, don’t check whether you’re working class or upper class.
Did you run the Net Price Calculator on every university you applied to?
In comparing all of these schools you need to look not only at rankings but what you feel. I’m in the same spot as you, but what I can tell you is that iu, uiuc and UM ALL have great placements. For IS, I know Kelley is ranked 9th, and at uiuc they have a 100% employment rate. Its all really relative to their “stats” if you do well. Go with what you feel. All are great schools.
I got my financial packages for all the schools and I would be paying around $10,000 at UIUC as opposed to around $30,000 at Minnesota, $45,000 at Indiana. I also got into the University of Pittsburgh and I would have to pay around $23,000 there. I’m leaning on committing at U of I just because it costs the least and I absolutely love the campus. That being said, I would have to work my butt off to get into the business school at UIUC and this is the only part that I’m still feeling iffy about. Any input about my situation would be much appreciated.
Financially UIUC makes sense. Yes, students do transfer into business, but you must get outstanding grades in the required classes AND show involvement/leadership. Time management and focus will be necessary. You know yourself best. Good luck!
I would investigate the admissions rate for UIUC internal transfer applicants. If you don’t clearly see on line, call the department. Know what you are getting into.
