KitKat wrote:
I also visited recently and was super impressed.
I will compare with my other visits: Kellogg (deny), Cornell (deny), Duke (deny), Carnegie (waitlist), UNC (admit), Haas (did not apply).
At one extreme, Kellogg students seemed to be overly focused on their clubs and activities outside the classroom. At the other extreme, Duke and Carnegie students both seemed exhausted and overwhelmed by their school work. Indiana was the perfect mix--down to earth students that seemed like they could have fun, but at the same time were outwardly excited about their courses. I attended two different classes and the IU profs were up there with any of the best that I've experienced at other schools (e.g. Bob Frank @ Cornell).
The IU Integrated Core is very appealing (to me, atleast), and their academies seem like great resources to help drum up internship opportunities after year 1. Many of the 1st years were in suits and having their first intern interviews when I was there, and a Target recruiter cruised past our group on the building tour.
Also, about the building...I think in my visits only Duke stands out as having more impressive facilities (Kellogg/Haas/UNC tie for 3rd, Carnegie 6th, Cornell pretty distant 7th).
That said, I liked the immediate area surrounding IU better than that of Fuqua. IU just had such a great community feel and a beautiful campus, and Kirkwood Ave is literally right across the street so that you can walk from B-school to bars/restaurants/shops/book stores/dunkin donuts.
IU location seems like a downer, but they are actually in a great spot in the country if you're interested in marketing or brand management at one of the many consumer goods or retail companies located in the midwest (Minneapolis, Chicago, Ohio).
I was really falling in love with the place, but then on my last night there I got an admit to UNC. So, now I almost dread the decision if I'm lucky enough to have a choice.
Anyway, definitely give IU a serious look. Try to make the drive down to Bloomington if you're in Chicago for a Kellogg visit. I think you'd be surprised at how your IU visit stacks up. Purdue is also on the way between CHI and Bloomington.
Hello KitKat,
Thank you for the detailed comparison! Having been to Kellogg (interviewed R2, waiting; mite get dinged
) and Kelley, I agree with your comments and thanks for your observations about the other places some of us haven't been to. A combination of the Core, the academies, the Kelley brand amongnst MBA circles and thier career services are promising per internships and jobs etc. I was there too when some yr1's internship interviews were ongoing...I was told that some students will come out of thier interviews and tell the next students the questions they were asked. Sounds like if team spirit is for you, Kelley might be a good option....
The students I met, in addition to making me feel mega underqualified AND super proud to have gotten in so I can get to rub minds with such top talents, were a balanced group as you pointed out. When I pointed out the talent of the student body, one of them used the term "quiet confidence": almost everyone was "a leader of consequence" (OK, thatz me quoting Duke. btw, they dinged me lol. So I was happy with your comparisons Kelley vs Duke....
ha ha) before coming to campus but are humble to work together. You get my drift...
So you think you gonna go to UNC? Have you heard back from Kelley? Do you know much about Olin? What do you wanna do post MBA?