Stanford or UIUC for undergraduate chemistry?

<p>Guys, which one do you prefer for undergraduate chemistry and why?</p>

<p>Stanford. I don't actually know how good it is at chemistry, but considering it's Stanford its can't possibly be too shabby at it. However, it has superior climate, reputation, atmosphere and student body, from what I've seen.</p>

<p>However, I'd probably pick UIUC if I qualify for instate tuition.</p>

<p>I am an international student, so I don't qualify for instate tuition. :D</p>

<p>I dare you to choose UIUC for the sake of its chemistry department.</p>

<p>I am definitely prepared to do that. I am not the kind who goes for prestige only. :D</p>

<p>Just a bit of background information: I got into both, that's why I am having a headache choosing between them.</p>

<p>And if you don't want to do chem.... Stanford will have 108494808 programs to which you can transfer that are most likely better than U of I...</p>

<p>If that's the case, go to Stanford. Stanford's fin. aid is better for internationals, and it's just a much better school overall IMO.</p>

<p>Hi Ray192, I am not asking for financial aid for both universities.</p>

<p>Okay, any other comments? Thanks!</p>

<p>If you can get into Stanford, and UIUC will cost you just as much, go for Stanford. Not only is Stanford better than UIUC, its Chemistry department is at least as good as Illinois', if not better.</p>

<p>Stanford!!!</p>

<p>Smash96, care to explain why?</p>

<p>The sciences at Stanford are top in the world, best faculty in the sciences, full of Nobel Prizes, great infrastructure, great environment, campus, weather and prestige!</p>

<p>Any other comments?</p>

<p>I got into UC Berkeley College of Chemistry, which has the #1 department in chemistry (Yes, it beats MIT and Caltech) and I chose Stanford over Berkeley. With that logic, you should come here. You would never have to worry about being waitlisted for a class. That sort of administrative issue doesn't happen at Stanford.</p>

<p>Let's put it this way. For the same tuition and same departmental ranking (though I am pretty positive Stanford has higher ranked chemistry department), you would probably be the first one to turn down Stanford for UIUC.</p>

<p>Hello Sam Lee, I think I am really the first person to do that, if it ever happens. However, things are not always that simple such that prestige, adminstrative issues and rankings are the main determinants. It is not appropriate to say more about my situation online though. I appreciate all of your comments nonetheless. Thanks!</p>

<p>UIUC has a top 10 chemistry department but Stanford has a top 5 one. In addition, Stanford has superior overall reputation as UIUC is not nearly as well known outside science and engineering. I would not choose UIUC over Stanford unless it was cheaper by over 10k a year.</p>

<p>"It is not appropriate to say more about my situation online though"</p>

<p>-You can't get help if you aren't willing to tell what factors contribute to your decision. Most people here have said go to Stanford- for many reasons. Maybe it would help if you tell what exactly you like about both schools, for comparison that is.</p>

<p>wait a minute..we are talking about S-T-A-N-F-O-R-D....</p>

<p>You can get an excellent chemistry education at either school. I would guess that Stanford has a better environment for undergraduate education than does a big state school like UIUC.
At UIUC, the atmosphere for GRADUATE students in chemistry was not terribly supportive, according to a student of mine who was considering their graduate program a few years ago.</p>