Kennesaw St. vs GSU (Atlanta, Roswell: school, university, living in) - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum

RollTribe · 05-13-2011, 03:03 PM

Hey all,

I am moving to Atlanta from Cleveland to live with my girlfriend, a resident of Cherokee County. I am planning on attending grad school when I make the move and was wondering if anyone could provide any insight into the pros/cons of Kennesaw and Georgia State? I am hoping to pursue a MPA or an MBA and really would appreciate some info from the City-Data experts. I am excited to make the move and eager to join the local Browns Backers Worldwide Club and move to such a thriving city!

MathmanMathman · 05-13-2011, 05:41 PM

What are your criteria?

From Cherokee County, KSU is closer. For GSU you'd have to drive to the heart of downtown Atlanta. As an alternative, you can drive to the North Springs Marta station and take the train to GSU. As a student you can get MARTA cards at a discount. GSU does have an Alpharetta campus, but I don't know if you can take all your courses there.

For parking, you'd think KSU is best but I think they have a shortage of spaces. If you choose to drive to GSU, there is the issue of downtown parking but Turner field is an alternative (when there is not a Braves game) and there is a shuttle. Otherwise, North Springs has a parking deck.

If you like a more traditional college campus, KSU is your choice. GSU is an urban campus.

GSU's tuition costs more as it is a research university, but KSU hits you with a lot of fees and requires you to do their meal plan. But if you intend to eat at KSU anyway, the meal plan will work out for you. Of course, GSU has a lot of fees too.

As for programs, GSU's business programs are recognized and ranked by US News and are better across the board than KSU's. KSU's business school is good but hasn't achieved national stature.

And if it matters, GSU has football while KSU doesn't (not yet anyway).

Febtober · 05-13-2011, 08:06 PM

If you're going for an MBA, Georgia State is really a no brainer. I did my undergrad there from 2002-2006 and had a great time. Met a lot of people, got a great education, and my biggest problems since then have been which job to choose out of multiple offers and what part of the country I want to live in.

cwkimbro · 05-15-2011, 12:36 AM

I have to say this is a no brainer... Ignoring all the things like meal plans... sports... student life...ease of commuts CD people tend to focus on and focusing on the point of graduate/professional education... advanced education..

If you can get in... Georgia State all the way. It is a full research university with wider array of graduate programs and funding. It is much more established and has alot more to offer to a serious graduate student.

KSU is a great up and coming university, but it is still just a state regional university. This means it will have less financial support for graduate programs and only offers minimal programs like an MBA... masters in education... nursing... They also don't have many Ph'd programs. for a -typical- undergrad it is a an excellent place for a core education.

If you go the MBA route.... and can actually get in... I would strongly recommend looking at Georgia Tech and the MBA satellite program for UGA in Buckhead. Those will be very competitive programs.

If you can afford a private university's, Emory has an excellent business school.

Akhenaton06 · 05-15-2011, 05:52 AM

Some of this will depend on where you'll be living also. I'd absolutely hate to make the drive from Cherokee County all the way to downtown 2-3 days a week. You're asking for total traffic frustration, LOL.

MathmanMathman · 05-15-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

KSU is a great up and coming university, but it is still just a state regional university. This means it will have less financial support for graduate programs and only offers minimal programs like an MBA... masters in education... nursing... They also don't have many Ph'd programs. for a -typical- undergrad it is a an excellent place for a core education.

KSU however has targeted its business programs for excellence much to the chagrin of KSU professors in other departments. KSU profs complain that the business school profs get the best pay. And KSU offers a DBA, a Doctorate in Business Administration. GSU's programs are more recognized but KSU isn't bad.

MathmanMathman · 05-15-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Some of this will depend on where you'll be living also. I'd absolutely hate to make the drive from Cherokee County all the way to downtown 2-3 days a week. You're asking for total traffic frustration, LOL.

Again, as I pointed out above, you can drive to North Springs and take the train in and avoid the traffic. The train goes straight to GSU.

RollTribe · 05-15-2011, 02:35 PM

We've been looking in the Woodstock or Roswell areas. I've got the grades and GRE scores for either school but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. KSU also offers a dual MPA/MBA program, which makes it really intriguing. Thanks guys!

Akhenaton06 · 05-15-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Again, as I pointed out above, you can drive to North Springs and take the train in and avoid the traffic. The train goes straight to GSU.

That's not the quickest and most pleasant drive from Cherokee County, believe me. I've taken that route via the back roads more than once during different times of the day.

Akhenaton06 · 05-15-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollTribe

We've been looking in the Woodstock or Roswell areas. I've got the grades and GRE scores for either school but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. KSU also offers a dual MPA/MBA program, which makes it really intriguing. Thanks guys!

From Woodstock, it's going to be a hassle to get downtown, either driving directly there to driving to the North Springs MARTA station. Living in Roswell (which is in northern Fulton County) and driving to the MARTA station is more of a straight shot though.