College Question

[Rand0m Profile]

I'm losing my shit trying to figure out colleges to apply to. No one in my immediate family has gone to college so I can't really talk to them about it. Most of my friends are no help either. I've used yahoo answers, studentsreview.com, business week rankings, college board, etc but still can't find the perfect school haha.

I know most of you are in college or have attended college which brings me here to ask you guys. I want to major in either accounting or finance or both. So I am looking at top business schools. I have a 3.57 gpa at the moment and hoping to get it up to a 3.7+ after this semester. What top business schools do I have a chance of getting into? Which ones have the most diverse student body? I really like being around people of different ethnic/culteral backgrounds because it's been that way my whole life. I don't think I'd fit in at like Bentley, which I previously though of applying to, because they are mainly rich white kids haha.

Also, I want to go to grad school as soon as I can apply. I think you need like two years work experience after getting your bachelors for business schools. Would it be smarter to go to like Northeastern and keep my gpa up and then apply to Harvard or MIT after for grad school? Or go to a tougher undergrad school and hurt my chances of getting into a good graduate school.

thanks for any help. I'm open to any suggestions.

[Hat Rack Profile]

I go to the University of Houston. It has a great business school. It is also the most diverse student body in the nation...therefore the world. It is very far from you, so not sure if you would want to travel so far. http://www.uh.edu.

[Porsche_997 Profile]

I would get one of those Princeton Review books (check out at library)...and check out some ratings for colleges. You may think you know how your college career will pan out...but trust me it won't turn out exactly like you planned. You may find out you hate business and want to be an engineer or biochemist! I recommend going to a school with a decent business program, but with opportunities for other paths as well. I wouldn't worry about grad school until your junior/senior year in college, when you can determine for sure that you want to do that. By the end of 4 years, you may be ready to get the hell out of school!

Do some research, and remember to not be "locked in" to what you think you want to do. Be open and see what happens.

[DocTrebor Profile]

Keep in mind that being admitted to a university doesnt necessarily mean youll be admitted to the business school, depends on the schools standards and how well you do your first couple years. Florida State is known for having an amazing business school, but you cant get in until after your pre-reqs are done and have a certain gpa.

[Rand0m Profile]

Well, I'm almost done with my pre-req's at community college. And my gpa is 3.57 so who knows. I know all the LA classes are to help you explore different areas but none of them really interest me as far as a career goes. Shit, I wouldn't mind being a philosopher and pondering the meaning of life every day but you don't make any money doing that. I also don't mind reading and analyzing literature but again I won't make money doing that. I know it's not all about money but it becomes a fairly important factor when you don't want to live at home after graduation and when trying to pay off student loans.

Almost all schools are the same as far as the business programs go. You have certain classes you have to complete and gain a certain gpa. Like northeastern it's only like a 2.0 while wharton is probably a 3.5 or something.

I've already switched my major 3 times at CC. I'm pretty sure now I won't be switching anymore.

[Jungle_Fowl Profile]

I can only comment on Canadian schools, and even there its limited to Mcgill, and Concordia university. So I'm no help

[CreepingCharlie Profile]

Yeah I can only comment on aviation colleges. But like others have said, keep your options open.

[gowhitesox99 Profile]

surely instructors at comm college can at least have some suggestions. Whatever you pick, stick to it and get that degree rand0m....GOOD LUCK!!!

[Rand0m Profile]

I'm leaning more towards Bentley again haha. Northeastern is only worth it if you do the co-op program which will add another year and a half to my studies. I'd rather graduate sooner than later. Plus Boston is expensive and more than half the students there live off-cumpus. I want to go to a school with an actual campus and dorms with guarunteed housing for all four years. We'll see what they offer me for a financial aid package.

Unless you get into a top 10 business program you can't really work anywhere in the world. Local companies know local schools and that's pretty much it. For example, Wall Street will usually only hire Ivy League students with economics degrees. Or their local school which is NYU Stern but it isn't Ivy League. Bentley has a good name in Mass for accounting so we'll see what happens. Thanks for the help everyone. Let you know what happens later...

[SkiloDog2000 Profile WebsiteYIM]

Hey man, since you live in Massachusetts, why don't you check out UMass Amherst.
I'm in my freshman year there and although, I've already been stabbed, its generally a really nice place to go to school.

UMass Amherst is home to the Isenberg School Of Management (ISOM) which is apparently very hard to get into and really prestegious as far as public universities go.

If you want to check it out, your more than welcome to come stay in my room for a few days. I have a single in Sylvan because my roommate returned home after first semester. (he couldn't pay out of state tuition) If you'd like to do that, I have enough free meal passes that you could eat for three or for days for free. Nobody would have a problem with you sitting in on classes at ISOM.

Oh ya, were supposedly pretty diverse. Even though there are protest like every week claiming the administration is racist. (which means there is someone here who is diverse to demand more diversity, right?)


Sounds like you might be aiming a bit higher, but for the money its worth it.

Good luck!

[Rand0m Profile]

I'm just gonna apply to Bentley this semester and wait to see what they offer me for a financial aid package. If it's not what I'm looking for I might have to take you up on the offer and just stay at community another semester. I think I'd deffinitely be able to get a free ride at Amherst but I'm hoping also to get a free ride at a private school. Technically on paper I think most schools would consider my family low-income. I live with my mom, sister, and my sister's father. Since they aren't married yet I am only dependent of my mothers income and my income. Just as long as they don't get married for 3 years I'm golden . Basically, it'll come down to the money

[Rand0m Profile]

skilo check your email or pm box, please. thanks!

[Conscious* Profile]

hey random, long time no see man.

I'm going to the University of tampa for business and they have an excellent business program. Behind only Miami and possibly FSU in Florida, its roughly $32,000 a year to live and stay here, but youll most likely get a scholarship around 8,000 and depending on how welathy your family is, you will get some aid im sure especially because your from Boston area. The whole school down here is basically from the Northeast, its private and a large percent of the student population is from New England...not to mention its warm here...you should check it out. If you have any questions let me know...it has guranteed housing for four years as well.

[Rand0m Profile]

ditto, long time no see. I'm trying to stay within Mass because unless you go to a top 20 business program in the country it is hard to get a job back home when you graduate. I plan on staying in Mass after college so it makes sense to me to go to school here. I'm gonna try Umass Amherst and see what they offer me for a financial aid package. I want to major in accounting and all of the Big 4 hire a decent amount of Amherst graduates. It's kind of funny what I found after comparing Amherst (public) stats to Bentley (private) stats. The business program has a smaller amount of students at Amherst and a larger amount of students at Bentley. And the Big 4 hire more from Amherst than Bentley. Not to mention the starting salaries are pretty much identical. So what's the catch? Bentley= 45k/year while Amherst=19k/year. Same stats and reputation for half the price, it's a no brainer. It's like a private business school in a large university from what I've been reading. You usually need a 3.5 in the pre-req's before you get accepted. I need two more classes before I can get into the program. Calculus and accounting II.

[Conscious* Profile]

Nice good luck with that, i have a good friend who is in Bentley's business program, he lives in New York though.