<p>Hello!
I’m a 22 act (1st try with no prep, taking it 2 more times) 3.38gpa student with a bunch of clubs scattered throughout freshman and sophomore year (theater-tech, FBLA, habitat for humanity) and have been a constant member of student council and a community service organization that has 120+ members and that I’m an officer in. I’ve also done a leadership conference and missions trip to another country.</p>
<p>I’m looking for a college with a Management Information Systems degree program and a solid business school. Any ideas? Private or public :)</p>
<p>you should take the SAT, too…you may do better with that. </p>
<p>since your ACT is in the 62 percentile, you will need to raise it since some public state schools admit by stats/GPA with some (lesser) consideration to ECs. </p>
<p>For instance, </p>
<p>at UWisconsin…the mid 50s range for ACT Composite: 26 - 30, so you’re well below that. </p>
<p>at UIowa…the mid 50s range for ACT composite: 23 - 28</p>
<p>It’s never good to be in the bottom quartile. Often, those are athletes or other special admits.</p>
<p>How much will your parents contribute each year towards your education? That may largely impact where you can go to school.</p>
<p>From the states listed in your title there is a very good selection of schools:
University of Iowa
University of Illinois
University of Wisconsin
Indiana University Bloomington
Purdue University</p>
<p>I have been lurking on these boards for a while and this time I thought I would give posting a try. </p>
<p>Living in Wisconsin I know there are a lot of good schools in the Midwest. One I think you should consider is Indiana State. From everything I have heard it has a good business school. </p>
<p>I would suggest you look outside the state flagship universities. They are great schools with a lot to offer but they are not the be all and end all. There are many other fine schools to consder. </p>
<p>Finally, if you live in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas or Missiouri be sure to check out the schools participating in the MSEP. It will help with the out of state tuition costs. Provided the program is included in the listing for the MSEP school you are considering you would only pay 150% of the instate tuition.</p>
<p>Good point about looking beyond the Flagships. Also a good point about looking to see which schools participate in MSEP - especially if cost is an issue.</p>
<p>BTW…is cost a factor at all? Have your parents said how much they’ll pay for your education each year? If not, you need to ask.</p>
<p>22 thousand is about the cap, or around there.
i’m from illinois by the way</p>
<p>how will i be able to compare prices of private and public? Private schools generally give out money, but how do I know how much I will get (if any) before committing?</p>
<p>First of all, you’ll need to apply for financial aid and THEY will tell YOU what your “determined need” is. Your family doesn’t get to decide how much they will spend.</p>
<p>You say that your family can only pay $22k, but the colleges may say that your family should pay $35k. That would be a problem</p>
<p>You will get an FA package before you have to commit, but that isn’t the main concern.</p>
<p>Most colleges don’t meet need. Most put loans or gaps in their financial aid packages, so having “need” doesn’t mean a lot at most colleges. </p>
<p>Often, only the top schools can meet need. </p>
<p>Private schools generally give out money</p>
<p>Many schools are less likely to be financially generous to students who don’t have great stats. As much as we’d like to think that colleges are a charity, they aren’t. They give money to those who help them look good in the rankings. </p>
<p>That’s why a high-stats student with the same “need” will often get a better financial aid package that a low-stats kid will the same “need.”</p>
<p>As someone with an ACT 22, you probably would not inspire a college to give you great need aid.</p>
<p>But…all is not lost. You need to get your ACT up. Take the SAT, too. You may do better on that. If you then get into UIUC, then the costs will be about $27k. You’ll likely have to take out a small loan and/or do some work/study to supplement what your parents can’t cover.</p>
<p>Definitely take the SAT. A lot of people do better on it than the ACT.</p>
<p>You did not say whether you are a sophomore or a junior, but you can start formulating a list of colleges that are a match with your stats by using the filters on collegeboard.com.</p>
<p>Check state schools that are not necessarily state flagships, but don’t rule out privates just yet. Particularly in the midwest, there are some surprisingly affordable LACs, often Catholic or Lutheran affiliated, that may meet your criteria. Often the private schools are a better deal because you are more likely to graduate than in a state school. Visit a variety of schools, public and private, and ask them questions about aid, particularly merit aid. Good luck.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Illinois doesn’t participate in the MSEP but I think you should be able to find some good schools that will be affordable. Some of the schools that I am going to suggest may be a little more expensive than what you think you can afford so you will definitely need to do some research. Also, for some you may need to bring your ACT up a bit. Others on the list I think would take you with the ACT of 22. None of them are going to be “big name” schools but your education is what you put into it.</p>
<p>Indiana State
UW-Milwaukee (my brother graduated with a business degree and has done well)
UW-La Crosse
Viterbo University in La Crosse WI (private known for working with families re: $$)
Marian University in Fond du Lac WI</p>
<p>University of Dubuque in Iowa: I don’t know if this school has the exact program you are looking for but a woman I work with has a grandson who attends and she can’t say enough positive things about the school. They really worked with the family to make it financially affordable.</p>
<p>If you extend your search into Minnesota I would also add:</p>
<p>You’re right. He is in state for Illinois but Illinois is expensive even in state. Some of the options I gave would be the same or even less (UW-La Crosse and Winona State) than what it would cost for UIUC. </p>
<p>Regardless of instate or out of state I think the OP will need to really look at numbers and decide where to get the most for his money.</p>
<p>An Illinois state school other than the flagship may end up being the best bet. It’s always nice to have options though.</p>