(02-10-2015 10:46 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 08:08 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I think universities that are looking to improve the quality of education are making a mistake then. Screw getting quality professors and courses. They should devote their resources to beautifying their buildings and creating recreational spas. No wonder education has declined in this country.

If i'm making a 100k investment...i'm not picking a place that looks dumpy. (NOT AT ALL SAYING THIS IS NIU)

I'm just saying - as the consumer - if you're going to charge me incredibly high prices, i'm not going to accept a mediocre environment. I can go spend my 100k at another school willing to spend the money to improve the campus and atmosphere.

Does quality of academics play any role in your decision, or is it all campus aesthetics?

(02-10-2015 10:54 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 10:46 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 08:08 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I think universities that are looking to improve the quality of education are making a mistake then. Screw getting quality professors and courses. They should devote their resources to beautifying their buildings and creating recreational spas. No wonder education has declined in this country.

If i'm making a 100k investment...i'm not picking a place that looks dumpy. (NOT AT ALL SAYING THIS IS NIU)

I'm just saying - as the consumer - if you're going to charge me incredibly high prices, i'm not going to accept a mediocre environment. I can go spend my 100k at another school willing to spend the money to improve the campus and atmosphere.

Does quality of academics play any role in your decision, or is it all campus aesthetics?

Of course it does.

But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

So, obviously the next most important thing is campus and atmosphere (at least to me)

In my personal search for a school, I have visited many out of state schools who would cost me only a little bit more than in-state options. I'm weighing the cost-benefits of course, and it's a tough choice. But a HUGE factor is campus aesthetics and atmosphere. HUGE factor!

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 10:54 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 10:46 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 08:08 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I think universities that are looking to improve the quality of education are making a mistake then. Screw getting quality professors and courses. They should devote their resources to beautifying their buildings and creating recreational spas. No wonder education has declined in this country.

If i'm making a 100k investment...i'm not picking a place that looks dumpy. (NOT AT ALL SAYING THIS IS NIU)

I'm just saying - as the consumer - if you're going to charge me incredibly high prices, i'm not going to accept a mediocre environment. I can go spend my 100k at another school willing to spend the money to improve the campus and atmosphere.

Does quality of academics play any role in your decision, or is it all campus aesthetics?

Of course it does.

But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

So, obviously the next most important thing is campus and atmosphere (at least to me)

In my personal search for a school, I have visited many out of state schools who would cost me only a little bit more than in-state options. I'm weighing the cost-benefits of course, and it's a tough choice. But a HUGE factor is campus aesthetics and atmosphere. HUGE factor!

I hope your not including business degrees in this category...

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

Have you decided on a major Illinoisan? Because depending on the major, "the academic differences" are different. Yes, they all began as regional state schools, but NIU evolved into far more than the others -- athletic aspiration to be FBS vs. FCS is a huge difference. There is a vast difference when it comes to the College of Business. Yes, the UofI blocked everyone else from developing true agricultural majors, but there are reasons so many city administrators have NIU degrees. The College of Law didn't exist at one time, sorry, but depending on your future aspirations -- especially if it involves the Chicago or suburban area which now pretty much extends above the Wisconsin border and beyond Rockford to the west and at least I-80 to the south -- an NIU degree will mean far more for networking. While you have to choose what fits your budget and importance of aesthetics, think about your future employment and do some more research along those lines and you'll find the academic differences are something -- something mportant.

(02-10-2015 11:41 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

Have you decided on a major Illinoisan? Because depending on the major, "the academic differences" are different. Yes, they all began as regional state schools, but NIU evolved into far more than the others -- athletic aspiration to be FBS vs. FCS is a huge difference. There is a vast difference when it comes to the College of Business. Yes, the UofI blocked everyone else from developing true agricultural majors, but there are reasons so many city administrators have NIU degrees. The College of Law didn't exist at one time, sorry, but depending on your future aspirations -- especially if it involves the Chicago or suburban area which now pretty much extends above the Wisconsin border and beyond Rockford to the west and at least I-80 to the south -- an NIU degree will mean far more for networking. While you have to choose what fits your budget and importance of aesthetics, think about your future employment and do some more research along those lines and you'll find the academic differences are something -- something mportant.

Well, living in Chicago is not something I dream about. I wouldn't be against it, i'll go wherever the jobs are.

And my major is, at most schools, management information systems (or slight variations of this general name) -- at NIU, the closest major to this seems to be OMIS.

I realize NIU has a pretty good business school. Good enough to get me a job over an SIU or Illinois State degree? Yeah, I don't think so. Nobody outside of Chicago will care which directional IL school i got my degree from.

I really don't think NIU is a better school than any of the other state schools...they're all about in the same prestige level. I realize certain departments at each school are a little higher ranked than the others. But nothing astoundingly different.

(02-10-2015 11:52 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:41 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

Have you decided on a major Illinoisan? Because depending on the major, "the academic differences" are different. Yes, they all began as regional state schools, but NIU evolved into far more than the others -- athletic aspiration to be FBS vs. FCS is a huge difference. There is a vast difference when it comes to the College of Business. Yes, the UofI blocked everyone else from developing true agricultural majors, but there are reasons so many city administrators have NIU degrees. The College of Law didn't exist at one time, sorry, but depending on your future aspirations -- especially if it involves the Chicago or suburban area which now pretty much extends above the Wisconsin border and beyond Rockford to the west and at least I-80 to the south -- an NIU degree will mean far more for networking. While you have to choose what fits your budget and importance of aesthetics, think about your future employment and do some more research along those lines and you'll find the academic differences are something -- something mportant.

Well, living in Chicago is not something I dream about. I wouldn't be against it, i'll go wherever the jobs are.

And my major is, at most schools, management information systems (or slight variations of this general name) -- at NIU, the closest major to this seems to be OMIS.

I realize NIU has a pretty good business school. Good enough to get me a job over an SIU or Illinois State degree? Yeah, I don't think so. Nobody outside of Chicago will care which directional IL school i got my degree from.

I really don't think NIU is a better school than any of the other state schools...they're all about in the same prestige level. I realize certain departments at each school are a little higher ranked than the others. But nothing astoundingly different.

"Businessweek Ranked NIU Business' Information Systems Program #23."

"OM&IS majors are highly sought after by major Chicagoland employers. Recent graduates have secured employment at top organizations including Allstate Insurance, Abbott Labs, Grainger, International Truck & Engine, Kraft Foods, McDonalds, Pella Corporation, TransUnion, and Walgreens."

http://www.cob.niu.edu/omis/

Top 25, your right no big deal.

(02-10-2015 10:54 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 10:46 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 08:08 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I think universities that are looking to improve the quality of education are making a mistake then. Screw getting quality professors and courses. They should devote their resources to beautifying their buildings and creating recreational spas. No wonder education has declined in this country.

If i'm making a 100k investment...i'm not picking a place that looks dumpy. (NOT AT ALL SAYING THIS IS NIU)

I'm just saying - as the consumer - if you're going to charge me incredibly high prices, i'm not going to accept a mediocre environment. I can go spend my 100k at another school willing to spend the money to improve the campus and atmosphere.

Does quality of academics play any role in your decision, or is it all campus aesthetics?

Doesn't that have an effect on what professors actually want to work at NIU? The campus and its surroundings. So it kind of goes hand in hand, no different than a student.

(02-11-2015 12:21 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:52 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:41 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

Have you decided on a major Illinoisan? Because depending on the major, "the academic differences" are different. Yes, they all began as regional state schools, but NIU evolved into far more than the others -- athletic aspiration to be FBS vs. FCS is a huge difference. There is a vast difference when it comes to the College of Business. Yes, the UofI blocked everyone else from developing true agricultural majors, but there are reasons so many city administrators have NIU degrees. The College of Law didn't exist at one time, sorry, but depending on your future aspirations -- especially if it involves the Chicago or suburban area which now pretty much extends above the Wisconsin border and beyond Rockford to the west and at least I-80 to the south -- an NIU degree will mean far more for networking. While you have to choose what fits your budget and importance of aesthetics, think about your future employment and do some more research along those lines and you'll find the academic differences are something -- something mportant.

Well, living in Chicago is not something I dream about. I wouldn't be against it, i'll go wherever the jobs are.

And my major is, at most schools, management information systems (or slight variations of this general name) -- at NIU, the closest major to this seems to be OMIS.

I realize NIU has a pretty good business school. Good enough to get me a job over an SIU or Illinois State degree? Yeah, I don't think so. Nobody outside of Chicago will care which directional IL school i got my degree from.

I really don't think NIU is a better school than any of the other state schools...they're all about in the same prestige level. I realize certain departments at each school are a little higher ranked than the others. But nothing astoundingly different.

"Businessweek Ranked NIU Business' Information Systems Program #23."

"OM&IS majors are highly sought after by major Chicagoland employers. Recent graduates have secured employment at top organizations including Allstate Insurance, Abbott Labs, Grainger, International Truck & Engine, Kraft Foods, McDonalds, Pella Corporation, TransUnion, and Walgreens."

http://www.cob.niu.edu/omis/

Top 25, your right no big deal.

Top 25 is pretty good.I already conceded that an NIU degree would help with getting hired in Chicago.

Outside of Chicago, people are still going to just see a directional illinois school. It sucks, but it's probably true. I still don't think there's a huge difference between ILL ST. SIU, NIU or other state schools. Pretty equal footing there IMO...

I'm going to give serious consideration to NIU's programs, and like I said, i'm excited to visit the campus for myself.

(02-10-2015 11:52 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:41 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

Have you decided on a major Illinoisan? Because depending on the major, "the academic differences" are different. Yes, they all began as regional state schools, but NIU evolved into far more than the others -- athletic aspiration to be FBS vs. FCS is a huge difference. There is a vast difference when it comes to the College of Business. Yes, the UofI blocked everyone else from developing true agricultural majors, but there are reasons so many city administrators have NIU degrees. The College of Law didn't exist at one time, sorry, but depending on your future aspirations -- especially if it involves the Chicago or suburban area which now pretty much extends above the Wisconsin border and beyond Rockford to the west and at least I-80 to the south -- an NIU degree will mean far more for networking. While you have to choose what fits your budget and importance of aesthetics, think about your future employment and do some more research along those lines and you'll find the academic differences are something -- something mportant.

Well, living in Chicago is not something I dream about. I wouldn't be against it, i'll go wherever the jobs are.

And my major is, at most schools, management information systems (or slight variations of this general name) -- at NIU, the closest major to this seems to be OMIS.

I realize NIU has a pretty good business school. Good enough to get me a job over an SIU or Illinois State degree? Yeah, I don't think so. Nobody outside of Chicago will care which directional IL school i got my degree from.

I really don't think NIU is a better school than any of the other state schools...they're all about in the same prestige level. I realize certain departments at each school are a little higher ranked than the others. But nothing astoundingly different.

There is a big difference, NIU and SIU are Carnegie classified as High Research Universities(this is one thing faculty look at to base decisions to work for a university, not some silly USNWR), the main difference is NIU has a balanced comprehensive program, while SIU has a Med school, ISU is a Doctoral University, WIU and EIU are Master's Universities. Why does that matter, research profiles bring/attract better academic faculty which in turn, a strong faculty can write up for (apply) for Grants, which in turn builds a stronger Academic departments and better prestige. So yes the quality of your education will technically be better Very High/High Research institutions. There is a difference there between Illinois "directional" schools. Also note University Research Association members in this state are University of Chicago, Northwestern, IIT, UofI, and NIU.

The truth about the current generation is that jobs are not guaranteed after graduation, you do in fact have to go where the jobs are.

Where are the jobs in the midwest? Well except for the obvious being in the city. Illinois Technology and Research Corridor

Golden Corridor

A good example is ISU's young business school which has large contributions from State Farm, will obviously employ recent ISU grads, I believe this is one of the main reasons that ISU's COB is up and coming.

Again what is NIU strength? Well geography. Access to large business hotspots that provides ample opportunities for internships, externships and Networking (from my experience NETWORKING was HUGE!) are there. Also look at where the alumni are working. Alumni networks are very important.

Athletics programs play a big part as well, FBS vs FCS. There are only three FBS in the state, one is a private U. One Wins championships.

Choose well!

(02-11-2015 01:21 AM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:52 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:41 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(02-10-2015 11:22 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  But the academic differences between NIU, SIU, ISU, SIUE is essentially nothing. All are regional state schools, none are exclusive in any way. They all look the same on a job application.

Have you decided on a major Illinoisan? Because depending on the major, "the academic differences" are different. Yes, they all began as regional state schools, but NIU evolved into far more than the others -- athletic aspiration to be FBS vs. FCS is a huge difference. There is a vast difference when it comes to the College of Business. Yes, the UofI blocked everyone else from developing true agricultural majors, but there are reasons so many city administrators have NIU degrees. The College of Law didn't exist at one time, sorry, but depending on your future aspirations -- especially if it involves the Chicago or suburban area which now pretty much extends above the Wisconsin border and beyond Rockford to the west and at least I-80 to the south -- an NIU degree will mean far more for networking. While you have to choose what fits your budget and importance of aesthetics, think about your future employment and do some more research along those lines and you'll find the academic differences are something -- something mportant.

Well, living in Chicago is not something I dream about. I wouldn't be against it, i'll go wherever the jobs are.

And my major is, at most schools, management information systems (or slight variations of this general name) -- at NIU, the closest major to this seems to be OMIS.

I realize NIU has a pretty good business school. Good enough to get me a job over an SIU or Illinois State degree? Yeah, I don't think so. Nobody outside of Chicago will care which directional IL school i got my degree from.

I really don't think NIU is a better school than any of the other state schools...they're all about in the same prestige level. I realize certain departments at each school are a little higher ranked than the others. But nothing astoundingly different.

There is a big difference, NIU and SIU are Carnegie classified as High Research Universities(this is one thing faculty look at to base decisions to work for a university, not some silly USNWR), the main difference is NIU has a balanced comprehensive program, while SIU has a Med school, ISU is a Doctoral University, WIU and EIU are Master's Universities. Why does that matter, research profiles bring/attract better academic faculty which in turn, a strong faculty can write up for (apply) for Grants, which in turn builds a stronger Academic departments and better prestige. So yes the quality of your education will technically be better Very High/High Research institutions. There is a difference there between Illinois "directional" schools. Also note University Research Association members in this state are University of Chicago, Northwestern, IIT, UofI, and NIU.

The truth about the current generation jobs are not guaranteed after graduation, you do in fact have to go where the jobs are.

Where are the jobs in the midwest? Well except for the obvious being in the city. Illinois Technology and Research Corridor

Golden Corridor

A good example is ISU's young business school which has large contributions from Allstate, will obviously employ recent ISU grads, I believe this is one of the main reasons that ISU's COB is up and coming.

Again what is NIU strength? Well geography. Access to large business hotspots that provides ample opportunities for internships, externships and Networking (from my experience NETWORKING was HUGE!) are there. Also look at where the alumni are working. Alumni networks are very important.

Athletics programs play a big part as well, FBS vs FCS. There are only three FBS in the state, one is a private U. One Wins championships.

Choose well!

You raise a lot of great points! I appreciate that info!

Trust me, as like 90% of my friends are business majors people do favor the NIU COB to many other schools around the area. Many of my friends who graduated have one on to successful jobs in other states, so that shows that the college is respected nationally. Something that other state schools can't say.

If I were an accounting major, I would pick NIU over any other school in the state - even if the campus looked like a trailer park.

(02-11-2015 08:28 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  If I were an accounting major, I would pick NIU over any other school in the state - even if the campus looked like a trailer park.

I did plus I could afford it.

Thought I'd throw my hat in the ring on this conversation. I graduated high school in 2005 (crap its been 10 years!). Throughout my senior year of high school I was very stupid about the college application process. I applied to a lot of big schools that I never had a chance to attend due to the cost associated with attending those schools. I got into every school I applied to but again, no chance I was ever going to end up at FSU, MSU, Pitt, etc.

I decided to start at Harper College and then find the right school for me after that. To be honest, I never once considered NIU. I'm from Palatine so it was basically right in my back yard. Whether its true or not, I always heard NIU is a "backpack school" and that everyone goes home on the weekends. That pretty much killed any interest I would have had in NIU. My choices came down to Iowa and SIU. I liked Iowa because well I was/still kind of am an Iowa football fan. I visited the school and liked it as well. However, I decided that picking a school based on a sports fanhood was stupid, so I went down and visited SIU as well. I fell in love with the campus and southern Illinois region. I ended up at SIU and absolutely loved my time there. I majored in Finance/Investments and had an awesome experience. The Finance department, at least when I was there, was ranked in the top 10 nationally among research. Even above schools such as Harvard. So while the admissions standards were pretty low and we didn't have a bunch of high rankings, the Finance department was actually pretty amazing with a great staff. I worked at the Alumni Association as an undergraduate assistant to the controller. I helped analyze their investments and it was great because what I was doing at work not only applied to the real world, it applied to concepts that we were learning in my classes as well. I took a portfolio theory class my last semester. Because of my job, I was so far ahead of every other student in my class. I went to my professor's office hours and often helped her help students who had questions.

The only reason I'm mentioning any of this, is because I believe that college isn't necessarily where you go or about crazy rankings. Not that these rankings are meaningless, but I feel that college is about how you apply yourself and the connections and relationships that you make while you are there. I took advantage of the staff we had and picked their brains after my classes. I was on campus Mon-Fri from 8am-4pm either at class or at work, and I still had plenty of time left over to have fun. Get your work done, bust your ass, and it will pay off in the end. I loved SIU. I make a trip down there every year with my girlfriend. Carbondale itself isn't a great town by any means, but the region is beautiful in the fall with plenty to do.

As for NIU, I obviously didn't attend for my undergrad but if you're going to study business I'd say it would be a great choice as well. I'm a current MBA student at NIU so I too will one day have a degree from NIU. My boss and a co-worker have undergrad and graduate accounting degrees from NIU and I've heard nothing but good things about their experience as well as from my other friends that attended NIU.

I'm a Huskie football nut now just like most who post on this board. I have another school I love as well. My junior year at SIU we were coming off our 6th straight NCAA tournament appearance, a sweet 16 loss to Kansas, and were ranked in the preseason top 25 poll. We even had college gameday that year! I got to meet Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, even Erin Andrews. Also, for an FCS school, the facilities at SIU are top notch. Saluki Stadium, while small, is awesome. We just re-did our baseball stadium as well.

Sorry for the long post and if it seems like I'm a crazy SIU lean haha. I do love SIU, but I'm becoming a NIU lover and supporter as well. And as I said earlier, my main message to Illinoisan is to pick the school that you feel is right for you. Don't pick it based on rankings, pick it based on where you want to go the most and make the most of it!

(02-11-2015 11:01 AM)IHateDuke32 Wrote:  Thought I'd throw my hat in the ring on this conversation. I graduated high school in 2005 (crap its been 10 years!). Throughout my senior year of high school I was very stupid about the college application process. I applied to a lot of big schools that I never had a chance to attend due to the cost associated with attending those schools. I got into every school I applied to but again, no chance I was ever going to end up at FSU, MSU, Pitt, etc.

I decided to start at Harper College and then find the right school for me after that. To be honest, I never once considered NIU. I'm from Palatine so it was basically right in my back yard. Whether its true or not, I always heard NIU is a "backpack school" and that everyone goes home on the weekends. That pretty much killed any interest I would have had in NIU. My choices came down to Iowa and SIU. I liked Iowa because well I was/still kind of am an Iowa football fan. I visited the school and liked it as well. However, I decided that picking a school based on a sports fanhood was stupid, so I went down and visited SIU as well. I fell in love with the campus and southern Illinois region. I ended up at SIU and absolutely loved my time there. I majored in Finance/Investments and had an awesome experience. The Finance department, at least when I was there, was ranked in the top 10 nationally among research. Even above schools such as Harvard. So while the admissions standards were pretty low and we didn't have a bunch of high rankings, the Finance department was actually pretty amazing with a great staff. I worked at the Alumni Association as an undergraduate assistant to the controller. I helped analyze their investments and it was great because what I was doing at work not only applied to the real world, it applied to concepts that we were learning in my classes as well. I took a portfolio theory class my last semester. Because of my job, I was so far ahead of every other student in my class. I went to my professor's office hours and often helped her help students who had questions.

The only reason I'm mentioning any of this, is because I believe that college isn't necessarily where you go or about crazy rankings. Not that these rankings are meaningless, but I feel that college is about how you apply yourself and the connections and relationships that you make while you are there. I took advantage of the staff we had and picked their brains after my classes. I was on campus Mon-Fri from 8am-4pm either at class or at work, and I still had plenty of time left over to have fun. Get your work done, bust your ass, and it will pay off in the end. I loved SIU. I make a trip down there every year with my girlfriend. Carbondale itself isn't a great town by any means, but the region is beautiful in the fall with plenty to do.

As for NIU, I obviously didn't attend for my undergrad but if you're going to study business I'd say it would be a great choice as well. I'm a current MBA student at NIU so I too will one day have a degree from NIU. My boss and a co-worker have undergrad and graduate accounting degrees from NIU and I've heard nothing but good things about their experience as well as from my other friends that attended NIU.

I'm a Huskie football nut now just like most who post on this board. I have another school I love as well. My junior year at SIU we were coming off our 6th straight NCAA tournament appearance, a sweet 16 loss to Kansas, and were ranked in the preseason top 25 poll. We even had college gameday that year! I got to meet Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, even Erin Andrews. Also, for an FCS school, the facilities at SIU are top notch. Saluki Stadium, while small, is awesome. We just re-did our baseball stadium as well.

Sorry for the long post and if it seems like I'm a crazy SIU lean haha. I do love SIU, but I'm becoming a NIU lover and supporter as well. And as I said earlier, my main message to Illinoisan is to pick the school that you feel is right for you. Don't pick it based on rankings, pick it based on where you want to go the most and make the most of it!

Good stuff. I completely agree about the rankings. In the end, i'm not going to pick my school just because one is ranked a little higher in one department than the other...college is more than just rankings. I want to go to where I feel at home and truly like being there.

I've been to SIU many times as a visitor - really nice place. Almost ALL of my high school friends went to SIU.

Although...the dorms and living situation at SIU is not very good. Its pretty bad actually.

But still a nice school and ive had a great time down there each visit i've had.

Yea. If you want to have a successful career it doesn't matter what college you go to. Rankings are pointless. The only people who care if you have an NIU business degree are NIU alums.

Go the cheap route. Student loan debt sucks.

Nothing wrong with your approach there Illinoisan; money does matter. I'd personally take the same route I did when I went back to school- which was to obtain my Associate in Science (Business MKTG) while completing the prerequisites to enter the COB at the same time via a CC/JC; then transfer in to NIU & the COB. That route is very affordable, as I took zero loans to knock all of those courses.
I had been in my previous industry working for a large company out of Chicago for 7 years before I incorporated and successfully ran my own business for 9 years. I have "real world" experience and networked with thousands of people during my tenure in that industry. Armed with my knowledge and experiences I feel I had a better insight for what it was I was looking for in my business program; both from what they offered, but also what I wanted.
My choices were between NIU, UIC, & UT Austin... With a house & 4 dogs in the Western Suburbs of Chicago moving back to Texas to attend UT was not a realistic option, so it was between NIU & UIC. After many hours of research, talking with people (both who have attended each school & business program), as well as speaking to a mentor & friends who are/ were very active as executive officers in top Fortune 500 companies to see what their thoughts were. Long story short, the pendulum swung way more towards the COB @ NIU. It is a great experience out there and a beautiful building (thanks to Alum Dennis Barsema) with top notch technology and professors that all have "real world" experience who teach modern business practices, theories, and applications. You will be challenged at times, but you will get through any challenges with the help of the great faculty and more importantly your peers.
The Alumni network from the COB is unbelievable accessible and helpful as well. Being slightly older when I arrived I knew no one other than one or two people with whom I had a class with when I was at the CC/JC. Due to the amount of group/ team projects in the COB within no time I had a whole new network of people that I befriended and consider them strong, quality, lifelong friends (about 45-50 people). There of course were many others that I met as well, but that core 45-50 are ones that really reached a new level and will stay in contact with for a long time.
My advice find what works/ fits you, but I promise you can't go wrong with the COB @ NIU. It was one of the most rewarding, fulfilling, and fun experiences while I was out there.
Good luck in your choices & hopefully you'll wind up in the COB & enjoy it as much as I did!
Go Huskies!!!

(02-11-2015 03:16 PM)Huskie BBQr Wrote:  Nothing wrong with your approach there Illinoisan; money does matter. I'd personally take the same route I did when I went back to school- which was to obtain my Associate in Science (Business MKTG) while completing the prerequisites to enter the COB at the same time via a CC/JC; then transfer in to NIU & the COB. That route is very affordable, as I took zero loans to knock all of those courses.
I had been in my previous industry working for a large company out of Chicago for 7 years before I incorporated and successfully ran my own business for 9 years. I have "real world" experience and networked with thousands of people during my tenure in that industry. Armed with my knowledge and experiences I feel I had a better insight for what it was I was looking for in my business program; both from what they offered, but also what I wanted.
My choices were between NIU, UIC, & UT Austin... With a house & 4 dogs in the Western Suburbs of Chicago moving back to Texas to attend UT was not a realistic option, so it was between NIU & UIC. After many hours of research, talking with people (both who have attended each school & business program), as well as speaking to a mentor & friends who are/ were very active as executive officers in top Fortune 500 companies to see what their thoughts were. Long story short, the pendulum swung way more towards the COB @ NIU. It is a great experience out there and a beautiful building (thanks to Alum Dennis Barsema) with top notch technology and professors that all have "real world" experience who teach modern business practices, theories, and applications. You will be challenged at times, but you will get through any challenges with the help of the great faculty and more importantly your peers.
The Alumni network from the COB is unbelievable accessible and helpful as well. Being slightly older when I arrived I knew no one other than one or two people with whom I had a class with when I was at the CC/JC. Due to the amount of group/ team projects in the COB within no time I had a whole new network of people that I befriended and consider them strong, quality, lifelong friends (about 45-50 people). There of course were many others that I met as well, but that core 45-50 are ones that really reached a new level and will stay in contact with for a long time.
My advice find what works/ fits you, but I promise you can't go wrong with the COB @ NIU. It was one of the most rewarding, fulfilling, and fun experiences while I was out there.
Good luck in your choices & hopefully you'll wind up in the COB & enjoy it as much as I did!
Go Huskies!!!

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I totally agree on the CC/JC route. I'm currently taking business classes at my local CC which are geared to transfer. You can't beat the price, that's for sure. If I continue here and get my associates, i'll have saved 50 thousand dollars. Thats no small amount.

People are seemingly acting like saving money is not important because ''it will be a wash when you graduate and get a job''. Well, I don't know how old you guys are - but I was born in 1996, and the America i've been raised in is one that has constantly been in recession. Jobs aren't guaranteed. Nothing is guaranteed. So you can forgive me if I wish to be conscious of the cost, and not plunge myself into over a hundred thousand dollars in debt so freely.

So to me, cost IS the most important factor in choosing a school. If I can save 5 thousand per year going to another state school (Like SIUE, who also has proximity to Saint Louis and internship opportunities there), that 5 thousand per year over 4 years is 20 thousand dollars. And since neither degree is a guarantee of a job...I think the cheaper one makes the most sense. I could be wrong, and on some points I surely am, but that's just how i feel -- and I know my peers feel the same way, and so truly I believe if NIU wants to raise enrollment...they need to drop their price down.