<p>Okay, so I'm just looking for a bit of insight on this. I am going to be graduating this spring and have been accepted to both schools that I've really had my eye on; Michigan State and Loyola U. Chicago. Pretty different schools in very different locations, yes. I'm going to be visiting them both to get a feel of the campus. However, let us talk academics and opportunities for a moment.</p>
<p>I'd like to go into journalism after college but don't necessarily want to major in journalism. I'm thinking of majoring in Political Science and another area as I've heard that going that direction also works. MSU is ranked higher thank LUC but I don't really know how much that matters. I've never worked on a newspaper in my life (did not do traditional schooling throughout HS), and so I'm thinking that it would be more difficult for me to get on the in with MSU's student newspaper to gain experience. Plus, Chicago obviously offers many other opportunities just because of the fact that it is such a large city. (And it's closer to home.) I basically just want enough experience in the first few years of college to land an internship during my junior or senior year. Then again, I have a feeling that MSU's academics might be better? Plus, I also like that MSU offers a larger campus life on the actual campus. The major thing for me, is that in order to go to Loyola I have to sucessfully complete 3 courses over the summer at the cost of $5,000. It seems like a hefty price to pay for a lower standard of academics. And don't even get me started on regular tuition. I wouldn't recieve any aid for them and it's not that I'd need it, but $36,000 for undergrad (tuition and room & board), for a mediocre school when I have a cheaper, more challenging option? I don't know. But the opportunities that Chicago offers...well maybe you understand my dilemma. Money is not a huge issue for me, but logically, it just seems...silly?</p>
<p>Alright, so maybe you can't decide for me, but any perspective would be nice...please? I'm a determined person so I will make this work either way...but as always, the path of least resistance is preferred.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>~Ivy</p>
<p>P.S. - I realize that I more than slightly rambled.</p>
<p>I got accepted to MSU too! But Im not going there...but anywho, my aunt, uncle, and two cousins all graduated from MSU. 3 of the got their master's there too. (one cousin just graduated a year ago). We are MSU fiends. They loved the education, the atmosphere, one was in the marching band. They all got different degrees...English, Marketing, an MBA, and University Administration (or something like that). Anyways, I would love to recommmend MSU to you, because none of them ever experienced anything wrong with the university, but i dont know much about the other school. For a public school that runs rather cheap...it is a worthwhile education. </p>
<p>Something I would recommend though, if you end up doing Pol. Sci. or Journalism, don't be too disappointed if you don't end up with an internship, because grad school at MSU can offer so much more than just an undergrad degree...</p>
<p>Michigan State has a top 10-15 political science program including being home to the nationally recognized LeFrak Forum, Symposium on Science, Reason and Modern Democracy. You’re right, MSU’s J-school is top 10, but to write on the State News student newspaper, you need not be a J-school student. I would say, without question, MSU trumps Loyola in reputation, faculty, students (quality/diversity wise), on-campus facilities and things to do. It’s a big school, obviously, but there are a number of residential programs (like James Madison that is poliSci like) and other aspects that relate to students as though they were in small liberal arts colleges. </p>
<p>I really don't know much about Loyola other than, I'm pretty sure, it's the Jesuit college for Chicago -- most big cities have one major Jesuit school (Georgetown being the most famous and serving in that capacity for D.C.). Jesuit colleges, across the board, have a reputation for quality, so I'm sure you could get a fine education there.</p>
<p>Quite obviously, if being in a big city and being close to home is what you want, Loyola’s the place you want to be. Being in East Lansing can be exciting and satisfying to a student on many levels, esp if you’re into a more traditional, residential college experience, but it’s nowhere near being a Chicago – one of the greatest cities on the planet. Making that choice has to be up to you…</p>