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<p>Which UI?</p>
<p>UIUC is “prestigious”. UIC is somewhat less so.</p>
<p>@rjk, With one exception however… Unlike the tourists, I am getting tired of listening to the sounds of Navy Pier fireworks 3 x a week when I needed good rest. Even though I get to watch the fireworks live from my over-sized windows, it got old quickly, I no longer get excited anymore. Met lots of extremely successful people in life thus far, was invited to party on the luxury private yacht for the ‘Ns’ time over the Memorial wkend on Lake Michigan, but I opted for Chicago Piano Day at CSO. The Lord continues to tell me that my days are numbered!!! Prestige and Wealth do not mean much to me as He continues to deal with me… People hear about God all the time, but it is only when a person truly experienced it will it become his or her reality. From coast to coast, and around the globe, I’ve seen it all and lived it all, maybe it’s time for me to return to Columbus. :)</p>
<p>UCBAlumnus - I meant U of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign. It’s rare here for someone to mean “UIC” if they say U of I or University of Illinois.</p>
<p>“People hear about God all the time, but it is only when a person truly experienced it will it become his or her reality. From coast to coast, and around the globe, I’ve seen it all and lived it all, maybe it’s time for me to return to Columbus.”</p>
<p>If you want reality that badly, just head southwest about 4 miles. :-)</p>
<p>The best school is the one where you come out with the right skills, polish and empowerment. That means, the right go-gettum. For many people, even though it sometimes makes me wince, that means some tiny unknown over a big multi-thousand student machine. It just depends. On the kid, the program, luck. And, there’s a lot of ground between “big machine” and “small unheard of.”</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think that many people in the northeast even know what UIUC is about. In parts, you can bet they know St Johns better.</p>
<p>Of course. It’s all regional. Even the big guns.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for all the input. I do feel certain now that this is the right path for me, considering it’d take me two extra years to get a PharmD if I attend Cal. :)</p>
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<p>Seen plenty of that as well. In fact, I chose to work at Englewood (the toughest area in Chicago south) area hospital when I first came to Chicago. I was also preaching gospel at the age 14 to 17 at night in downtown Detroit along with my uncle throughout my high school days in Livonia when I lived a frugal life (an understatement). My rent at MSU was $325 in the basement of an old building. It is the same amount I pay for my car’s parking spot here in Chicago. In short, I believe OP made the right decision as well! Blessings!! :)</p>
<p>Still waiting for an answer to my question in post 14.</p>