<p>I live in Iowa, and had convinced myself for the longest time I was going out of state. But then I realized my family and I could not afford it, and I didn't want to risk drowning in debt (some users here also convinced me after i started another discussion about it).
So I decided to go in-state, and that also means I can double major and add a minor or two that I couldn't out-of-state because of cost. I then knew I didn't want to do community college or anything of the sort, just go straight to university and avoid transferring and being the lone wolf after everyone has already made friends (plus both schools require some of the gen eds to be taken there, so I just don't want to dink around with anything else). I then decided to only go public, as private would be expensive as well. So that leaves the only 3 public universities in the state: The University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and The University of Iowa.
I've been on the UNI campus in the past, and have found it to be too small for my liking, among other things, and have crossed that school off the list. </p>
<p>So that leaves Iowa State and U of I.
I've taken campus visits to both schools, and they both are lovely, but I like the University of Iowa's campus layout, their overall presentation, the people I met, and the surrounding area of Iowa City much more than I liked Iowa State at Ames. I feel I would have a much more well rounded education and social life at U of I, and that the surrounding city offers much more in literature, music, and art. U of I had better buildings, but that makes sense since Iowa State receives less $ from the state than U of I. I also felt that Iowa State put too much focus on relying on their alumni, and also that your academic advisor sort of controls all of what you do while you're there with an iron fist. But that may have just been the Greenlee school.
I also like U of I because the class sizes are larger. I know some people like small classes so they can get personalized help, but as a very introverted student who also has a bit of social anxiety I find the idea of a class of 30 being more appealing than a class of 18. I also love lectures and lecture halls and all that jazz. But that's just my opinion, and U of I would fit the bill perfectly for that.
Also, Iowa City is only 2 hours away from home (and only 30 minutes from some close relatives I'd love to visit), while Ames is 4 hours away and a bit too close to some relatives who are very nosy and not so pleasant (as in they would decide without my permission to stop in and visit me at my dorm when they want, and expect me to visit them constantly). I would like to return home at least 1 weekend per month, and a 2 hour drive sounds better than a 4 hour drive, because I know my way to Iowa City already with confidence, but feel I could get lost going to Ames.
Anyways, not only does the University of Iowa appeal to me more because of the campus and location, but because they have more academics that I would like to take that Iowa State does not. And although the cost is slightly a bit higher at U of I (and I mean slightly), I've found through research that U of I graduates leave with less debt than Iowa State graduates. Which makes sense because U of I gets more endowment money. </p>
<p>At the moment, I would like to double major in Journalism and Mass Communications and also Cinema, and I would like to minor in Creative Writing. I plan on looking into the Computer Science minor, because it sounds interesting (and I wouldn't have to take any advanced math if I just minored in it at U of I). University of Iowa allows all of that, and the programs are fantastic, only I can just have Journalism and Mass Communications as an intended major because I have to wait until I finish my gen-eds before I can apply to the department (which I may or may not even get into). They also make you double major in that department, but they have the 2nd major I want so that's no big deal. Iowa State would let me into the major right away, only they do not offer Cinema (only a World Cinema minor, which is not really what I'm after) and would also require me to double major and I don't know what I'd take. I'd also be required to have an internship for 400 hours to graduate at Iowa State, which I find ridiculous (and the guy I'm going out with says that will be what keeps him from graduating in 4 years in the Engineering program, even if he does buckle down and focus only on school).</p>
<p>I'm sure I will have no problem getting into either school, as I meet freshman admittance requirements for both, and will hear back two days after applying to both. My ACT composite score was 28 (20 Math, 33 English, 33 Reading, and 25 Science), and I plan to take it again to up my math and overall score for potential scholarships. My GPA is 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. I rank in the top 15% of my class, and participate in choir, theater, speech, and show choir. I'd enter with some of the gen-ed requirements completed and some college credit already in place. I also wouldn't feel adverse about being there for a summer semester or 2. </p>
<p>I'm just about done with my U of I application, but I just want opinions on whether I should apply to Iowa State or just save $40 and not? And any other opinions on financing, scholarships, location, the campuses, or anything else I mentioned are more than welcomed! </p>
<p>(At first I was taken aback by how tough some of you folks were on me, but now I realize that my line of thinking before was insanely blind and ridiculous. If it still is now, I wouldn't know unless someone pointed it out. So don't be afraid to dish out the tough love and honest opinions!)
Thanks!</p>
</p>