With so many options to choose from, deciding on the best place to continue your education is no easy task. As you weigh your options, I urge you to consider the opportunities available in Indiana.

Indiana is truly the crossroads of America. Located in the heart of the Midwest, Indiana is nationally known for its friendly hospitality, exciting basketball, and excellent higher education system. From the cornfields to the big city, the Hoosier state offers numerous opportunities to any student.

Indiana is home to a number of fine public and private universities with well-respected and competitively priced academic programs that can prepare you for virtually any career. With such a variety of educational institutions across the state, you can choose the school that best fits your needs, whether you prefer a large residential campus or a smaller college. The two largest public universities are Purdue University at West Lafayette and Indiana University at Bloomington. Both have established regional campuses around the state. Purdue leads the nation in undergraduate engineering enrollment and IU has the largest school of nursing and the second largest school of medicine in the nation. Other public universities include Ball State University at Muncie, Indiana State University at Terre Haute, University of Southern Indiana at Evansville, and Vincennes University at Vincennes. Ivy Tech State College provides students with quality technical training at locations across the state. The University of Notre Dame at South Bend is one of the most prestigious Catholic universities in the world. Butler University, Indianapolis; DePauw University, Greencastle; Wabash College, Crawfordsville; and Earlham College, Richmond are other notable private institutions that provide a quality education in a more intimate setting.

Now, through a partnership between Vincennes University and Ivy Tech State College, the Community College of Indiana has been formed. The Community College of Indiana provides additional opportunities for students by offering an accessible and affordable education with credits that easily transfer to a four-year institution. Within the next four years, the Community College of Indiana will expand to 23 sites across the state.

We are living in an age of technology. As a result, we are taking steps to ensure that Indiana graduates have the tools necessary to compete in a global marketplace and to meet the challenges of the new millennium. We have devoted over $100 million to improving and expanding the technological resources of our colleges and universities. An additional $264 million has been provided for university construction projects. With the main hub of Internet 2, the new high-speed fiber-optic computer network located at the Indiana University-Purdue University campus, Indiana is continuing its efforts to remain at the forefront of technological advances.

Indiana offers more than great colleges and universities. It is a recreational playground with more than 500 lakes, dozens of state parks, a national lakeshore, and forests, nature preserves, fish and wildlife areas, and museums across the state. Indiana

also boasts a variety of art exhibits, and music ranging from Broadway shows and the symphony to rock concerts. Indianapolis, our state capital and one of the largest cities in the United States, has become a major center for sporting and cultural events. Besides being home to the Indiana Pacers professional basketball team and the Indianapolis Colts in pro football, Indianapolis is host to the "Indy 500" in May and the "Brickyard 400" in August, run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the RCA Championship tennis matches each summer. In addition to its own events, Indianapolis is conveniently located within easy driving distance of other major cities including Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Cincinnati.

As you can see, Indiana is full of exciting opportunities and possibilities. When Hoosier hospitality is combined with the opportunity to study at one of America's premier universities, the experience is unforgettable. If you are interested in exploring a new place and meeting new friends while remaining within easy driving distance of home, Indiana could be the right place for you. Make Indiana the place you start your future.