Northern Illinois vs Illinois State (Chicago, Springfield: transfer, high school, university)

[xxshaza221]

I'm trying to decide between these two schools in terms of prestige/student life and which B school is better in marketing for undergrad as an transfer

[linicx]

I don't know anything about NIU. But I do a bit about ISU. It's a 100 mi south of Chicago; a campus of roughly 22K students, the oldest University in Illinois, its campus circle was recently voted the best of colleges its size, its Actuary program is 1 of 13 best in North America and University High school is top drawer. It is a well regarded school in its own right, but Ivy League it ain't.

[pianist1972]

If we are talking about state-funded schools, than that is perhaps true of ISU. There are plenty of colleges in Illinois older than ISU, Illinois College and Knox College are just a few as examples. NIU is largely a commuter school west of Chicago, just beyond the western suburbs.

[linicx]

According to school history ISU is the oldest University. It was founded in the 1800s as a school to train teachers. Today courses range from basic math to forensic sciences including anthropology. You can hop a train, plane or bus to Chicago, or to Springfield and St. Louis for that matter.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by linicx

According to school history ISU is the oldest University. It was founded in the 1800s as a school to train teachers. Today courses range from basic math to forensic sciences including anthropology. You can hop a train, plane or bus to Chicago, or to Springfield and St. Louis for that matter.

ISU founded in 1858.

I can name four that are older than that:

Mckendree
Northwestern
Knox
Monmouth

As someone else stated, Illinois State is the oldest PUBLIC uni in the state.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by linicx

I don't know anything about NIU. But I do a bit about ISU. It's a 100 mi south of Chicago; a campus of roughly 22K students, the oldest University in Illinois, its campus circle was recently voted the best of colleges its size, its Actuary program is 1 of 13 best in North America and University High school is top drawer. It is a well regarded school in its own right, but Ivy League it ain't.

I didn't know they'd developed their actuarial program to that extent.

Not trying to be a jerk or anything but the average student majoring in actuarial science is typically going to be way above the average ACT\SAT scores at ISU which isn't a dig at ISU so much as a reflection that you can get a room full of actuaries together, ask who had a perfect math score on the ACT or SAT and see a lot of hands go up.

[linicx]

Anything is possible. Lewis in Romeoville does very well too. I didn't know it existed until I looked at CAE.

Nevertheless: Welcome to the Department of Mathematics at Illinois State University

[LakeShoreSoxGo]

Originally Posted by pianist1972

NIU is largely a commuter school west of Chicago, just beyond the western suburbs.

From DeKalb? Commute from where?

[chicubs]

I graduated from ISU a few years ago. Loved it.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by chicubs

I graduated from ISU a few years ago. Loved it.

I have a high opinion of ISU, I'm a U of I grad with many friends and relatives that did the ISU route.