HS senior trying to pick

hey guys PA kid so almost all my apps to state schools are OOS

right now I'm between IU Kelley and USC Marshall. I've gotten mixed reviews on both, most of USC's pertains to the cost which would leave me with around 200k loans assuming no merit. IU COA is already below 200k with merit and I'm fortunate to have family that will cover that in full. The cost makes this seem like a no brainer but given how impactful getting IB as a first job can be to early and mid career trajectory, I could see USC's value.

Still waiting on UNC, UT, duke, UVA, Dartmouth, Boston college, Notre dame. all these rates are very low so I'm not counting on any.

I feel that if cost is taken out that USC is the safer pick for IB and job placement in general(not necessarily NYC) because at Kelley without the IB workshop is a non target and a dramatic fall off. So IU seems riskier in that regard.

Hopefully I get into one of those targets/solid semi, but if I do not which ones would you guys choose?

Thank you for any insight

12 Comments
 
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It at least partially depends on where you want to end up after graduation. Plenty of IU kids place into Midwest IB roles (e.g. Chicago), and USC presumably does just fine with West Coast roles.

For what it's worth, I work on the East Coast and have interviewed a decent number of IU candidates; they seem to have a halfway decent pipeline, and as others have mentioned, it's the cheaper option.

 

Choose the school you can afford. Period. For context, I got a full-ride to a non target, and I have an IB offer. Bet on yourself and trust your abilities, don't rely on the name of the school. Besides, it's far less important than you think...

 

I feel like IU is clearly the financially responsible decision. USC would be pretty cool, but I feel like I’m hunting for reasons to justify the debt and they just arent there. 

 

I would go IU in your case. The IBW has recently expanded the number of people it admits to ~100 students, and the trend seems to be continuing as they make Kelley harder to get into. If you are a competent candidate who is willing to put in the work, you should be able to get into the workshop.

 

Since you're in PA why not go to Penn State? ,Smeal is a pretty b-school and it'll be pretty cheap since you're in state. Lots of alumni on the street. We Are.

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