<p>Hi
i was accepted into both schools and i am really not sure which to pick. I want to major in economics with a global studies/international relations minor. I am an illinois resident the aid i received from uiuc is really good. I would end up paying only about $3000. I dont know how much i will get from uw-madison. Is the difference between the two schools -overall colege experience- significant? Should i go ahead with uiuc since i am a resident or should i go with madison since it is a better school academically?</p>
<p>Wisconsin isn’t a better school academically than U of I. Perhaps it is for liberal arts, but not for the hard sciences or business-related majors.</p>
<p>And since you are in-state resident, the decision is an even bigger no-brainer.</p>
<p>UW’s econ is much better than UI’s–Top 10 versus Top 50-- BUT undergrad is not worth paying that much money for and UIUC is very good overall. If money matters UIUC has to be the choice.</p>
<p>Unless you are attending an Ivy league school, an economics degree isn’t likely to land you a great job (i.e. investment banking).</p>
<p>Personally, I think you’d be better served majoring in Accounting, working at a Big Four firm, and then getting an MBA from a top 10 school. I know dozens of people from U of I that did this. They worked at Andersen or E&Y after undergrad, received MBAs from Harvard, Chicago, Michigan, and Penn, and now, they are VPs at investment banks.</p>
<p>In 2009 USNWR ranked UW 14 and UIUC 31 in Econ. Haven’t seen a more recent rating. My feeling is that a degree from either place will open similar doors. I also agree with Bill73 that an accounting degree might yield considerably more career opportunities.</p>