<p>So my daughter got into both for liberal arts, psychology. She may change majors so I think both schools have a broad enough depth of subject offerings if she does.
Assuming costs about the same, which would you choose? She'll probably stay in the Chicago area so I was thinking U of Illinois, Champaign?
Thanks!</p>
<p>If cost isn’t a major consideration in choosing between Illinois and Indiana, I’d say it’s a toss-up. Illinois is perceived as the stronger university, but this is largely based on its prowess in engineering and computer science; Indiana doesn’t have an engineering school. IMO, Indiana is underrated. For social and behavioral sciences, including psychology, UI and IU are roughly the same. For humanities and arts, I’d give the edge to Indiana, especially in languages. For life sciences, Illinois is stronger (including in neurosciences, if that is a consideration for your daughter). Illinois is stronger in physical sciences. Those impressions of areas of strength are based on their respective research and faculty standing, which doesn’t tell you a whole lot about the quality of undergrad teaching. Both universities have breadth and depth across the range of disciplines, though Indiana may hold the edge in flexibility in terms of things like ease of doing double majors, taking coursework or doing minors/certificates outside one’s school/college, etc. Bloomington is the quintessential college town. Both schools are huge. Bloomington is warmer than Urbana-Champaign in the winter, but gets quite humid in the late spring and summer. I don’t consider either school as very diverse, except that Indiana does have a fairly large presence of international students, though I don’t know about Illinois in that respect. I don’t think it should matter that your daughter returns to the Chicago area—there are lots of kids from the Chicago area who attend Indiana. Really, I think it comes down to her personal preferences regarding the non-academic aspects of both of these universities.</p>
<p>This is good info. Cost may be the deciding factor here as we are in state for U of I and even with the scholarship, IU is about 3,000 to $5,000 more per year.
Thanks</p>
<p>If your D is interested in Greek Life, I would give U of I the edge. IU has one of the most competitive sorority recruitments in the country (due to an obscure bed-rush quota). U of I has an active Greek system that allows for more people to participate. This may not even be a factor, but since the two schools are very equal, it is those kinds of things that can make a difference.</p>
<p>I of U has a MUCH stronger reputation in social sciences, especially psych. At least when it comes to faculty research and world reputation, there is no comparison. Can you get the same basic undergrad education at both? Probably so maybe focus on cost, or travel distance, or fit with the culture of school campus more than anything else. It’s only undergrad and probably very little difference at the undergrad level in arts- same texts, same large classes, same basic courses and theories. She can get into grad school with either.</p>
<p>Indiana is still good in Psy and better in sociology. Neither is all that hot in econ or poli sci so maybe more like a draw. Overall for liberal arts edge to Indiana. Illinois is really eng. and hard sciences dominated. Indiana the opposite. IU also has more national student body.</p>
<p>Does either have an edge in terms of profs who actually teach? We heard somewhere that students at U of I can go 4 years without being taught by a professor? Is there really a difference?</p>
<p>Hyperbole. AKA BS</p>
<p>I would give the edge to IU, but it’s a close call.</p>
<p>^^^Both are very large universities with large graduate programs. Introductory classes will be large, especially in more popular fields like psychology. Courses are taught by professors, however. Large lecture classes often will have smaller discussion or lab sections led by a grad student TA. In some departments, e.g., languages, introductory classes might be taught by an instructor or lecturer, who is not a professor (but, e.g., in languages, might be a native speaker). Classes are smaller in upper-level courses and in smaller departments, e.g., Classics. This is pretty much the pattern at most research universities with large graduate programs. Both UIUC and IU-B will be similar in this respect.</p>
<p>I have visited IU and loved it, but I can envision no good rationale for paying $3-5,000 extra per year to choose it over UIUC, which is widely regarded as one of the outstanding public Us in the country.</p>
<p>Mostly because Bloomington>>>Chambana. Cornfields versus rolling hills and lakes. Nice town versus sketchy town.</p>
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<p>Barrons, on what are you basing this opinion? USNWR? As an academic closely related to two of these key fields, I beg to differ. No offense to Indiana: someone dear to me is an alum from there, I love the town, and I’d be as delighted for my kid to go to either for the undergrad experience. .</p>
<p>I really wouldn’t pay extra for IU unless it was for Kelly or music. There is a greater chance to make connections for the desired Chicago locale in-state. I went to IU and I love it, but it is not all that different than UIUC, except for the well-earned reputation as a party school.</p>
<p>I am very familiar with psychology, sociology, poli sci and econ. rankings. I think my view would approach the consensus view without getting into is #16 better than #18. Illinois is a star in Psy, Indy is a star in Sociology and both are not stars in econ or poli sci but still solid as in Top 20-40 range.</p>