Undergrad - Kelley vs Wisco

I'm a high school senior who just finished getting his college decisions. I've received a bunch of rejections, got waitlisted at Wake Forest, Emory and Michigan, and accepted to IU Kelley as a direct admit and accepted to UW Madison. After college I'm not positive what I want to do, but ibanking and consulting seem appealing. I understand that Kelley has a better reputation than Wisconsin, but Wisconsin seems like the better university in almost every other aspect. Any information to help me make my decision would be greatly appreciated.

14 Comments
 

[quote=anacott steal]http://kelley.iu.edu/include/flipbook/2012UCSOEmploymentReport/#/15/zoo…

http://bus.wisc.edu/~/media/bus/bba/employers/yir-2011-2012.ashx[/quote]

I love the difference in the placement reports. Madison's placement tells you basically everything you would ever want to know. Kelley's is next to useless.

Also, Kelley as a whole does not have a better reputation than Madison. Kelley's IB workshop has a great reputation, but I get the feeling you're sort of fucked if you're not accepted into it.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I understand that Kelley places better than Wisconsin for IB. How about for consulting? Does Kelley still have the same edge?

And thanks anacott steal, I will take a look at those stats.

 

It shouldn't be too hard to get into Kelley IB workshop if you are not even a Freshman and know you might be interested in banking. Go there. No question. Kelley places just as well, if not better in Big 4 accounting, F500 corporate finance, and etc. I'd say consulting recruitment is very similar. True, Madison has a better reputation as a school, but the business program is better at IU.

 

I understand that Kelley is a much better target for IB... but as a HS senior I'm in no place to decide that I want to go into IB. Furthermore, if I don't get into the IB workshop I feel like I will be screwed at Kelley too.

I'm fairly sure I don't want to go into accounting, but I feel like it's too soon for me to rule out any other business related jobs. Also, I'm a huge fan of Wisco football, so if the kelley advantage isn't too significant I'd probably prefer UW.

 
dfree124I understand that Kelley is a much better target for IB... but as a HS senior I'm in no place to decide that I want to go into IB. Furthermore, if I don't get into the IB workshop I feel like I will be screwed at Kelley too.

I'm fairly sure I don't want to go into accounting, but I feel like it's too soon for me to rule out any other business related jobs. Also, I'm a huge fan of Wisco football, so if the kelley advantage isn't too significant I'd probably prefer UW.

Like I said....... Kelley places just as well if not better in all business careers than Madison. Period.

Also- basing your college decision on a sport team is absolutely idiotic, and this is coming from a HUGE college sports fan.

 
dfree124I understand that Kelley is a much better target for IB... but as a HS senior I'm in no place to decide that I want to go into IB. Furthermore, if I don't get into the IB workshop I feel like I will be screwed at Kelley too.

I'm fairly sure I don't want to go into accounting, but I feel like it's too soon for me to rule out any other business related jobs. Also, I'm a huge fan of Wisco football, so if the kelley advantage isn't too significant I'd probably prefer UW.

Then go to Wisconsin. You seem more interested in Wisconsin and it is not as if banks will laugh you out of the building for having UW-Madison on your resume. You'll just have to do slightly more to differentiate yourself including having a stellar resume and networking well.
 

I'll be going to Indiana next year and so are a few other guys on this forum. I'm going to be gunning for the IB Workshop, so if you choose to matriculate it wouldn't hurt to have someone to work together with.

As a whole, though, Kelley's a top-15 UG business school and has amazing placement into Chicago and NYC. Even if you don't get into the IB Workshop, I'm fairly confident that just being part of the school itself will open up doors for you.

 

@DoctorAndre I'm not basing a college decision on a sports team, it's merely another (a small one) in the big equation that is my decision.

At this point I think it's pretty clear that Kelley is the way to go. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

Do not necessarily agree that Wisconsin places no where near Kelley does. Met some Wisco folks on Superdays this year, and heard most juniors in the Investment Banking Club in Wisconsin get 2+ offers (BB or Top MM). And historically, the school placed more people in NY than in Chicago.

If you are interested in Real Estate, Wisconsin is also a top target for top real estate firms.

I did not go to either school, but just wanted to give a balanced view.

Are you in-state for either school?

 

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