Your State Flagship > IU Kelley

Before I get immediate MS from angry IU hardos, I think IU is a phenomenal school, and some of my closest buddies in the industry are from there. 

With that being said, I have seen a shockingly high number of kids choose IU over their state flagship over the last few years, only to come to regret it over time. To all the lurking HS students, I highly recommend you consider these points:

  1. Cost: For most students coming into Kelley on a minimal scholarship, it is often around double the total cost compared to your state flagship, definitely not worth the ROI in my opinion
  2. Culture: Kelley as a whole is an extremely hardo IB obsessed school, and the culture with clubs and workshops can become extremely toxic over time
  3. Location: In the middle of Indiana (so fun!) and also important to consider where you want to work post-college (Baruch/Rutgers/Penn State) may be better for NYC-specific IB placement
  4. Workshops: The process in general is oftentimes extremely workshop or bust, and the IBW is a highly selective and political process and striking out can set you far behind your other peers
  5. General Advice: Choosing a school solely for IB is just not worth it. Keep it in consideration, but ultimately look for a school that will allow you to make the most of your 4 years. I think anyone on the street would kill to be back in college right now.
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