<p>That’s true slipper, I can’t believe that the OP had the impression Chicago was a “beer pong” school full of idiots who act dumb. Are you kidding? It’s one of the most academic-focused schools in the country.</p>
<p>OP, I have taken classes at the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and a Community College, and I can say without a doubt the best education I got was through a CC. The classes are small, the professors care about you and not their research, and you also get the “big fish in little pond” feeling. </p>
<p>There’s also tons of people who are really smart who don’t go to elite schools, believe it or not. The people I have met at CC’s are much more independent, responsible, and are using their education as a tool to further their careers as opposed to getting a degree and declaring yourself qualified. </p>
<p>College is 100% about feel. If you have a feeling at CUNY that you like it, and that you’d rather be there, then go there. There’s tons of advantages to CUNY - starting with the location and attraction of recruiters in the NYC area, the costs, the proximity to your professors, the “feel” of the school (not in the ghetto south side of Chicago). </p>
<p>If you’re truly only wanting to find another school where you can transfer, then I would suggest a community college, where you aren’t paying huge fees to take classes that are transferable. If you’re looking for another school where you can spend 4 years and potentially graduate from, go to CUNY. It seems though as if you don’t have your mind made up, which is why I would suggest 100% a CC.</p>