UIC GPPA (BS/MD) vs UIUC Engi

College Search & Selection
1

So, I don’t think I’ve had the best high school experience. I’ve barely had any “friends” (and maybe 1 or 2 people I periodically enjoy hanging out with), I’m struggling with my sexuality, and at this point in I feel like I’ve realized that I don’t know what I wanna do, even vaguely (I applied to BS/MD because my parents/lost me wanted me to). Probably something intellectually stimulating though, and maybe in academia though my parents (and probably me, I’m super negative) don’t support that.

I’m stuck between these two schools: UIC (accepted for anything I want + BS/MD program) and UIUC (accepted for engineering).

Pros of UIC:
-more choices. I can transfer majors to whatever I want with ease atm, and I have to worry about my grades a little less due to the BS/MD program
-probably a little easier
Cons of UIC:
-hard to meet people. It’s a commuter school, and I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to have a chance to find someone, especially of the same sex
Pros of UIUC
-possibly more active social life, probably more accessible gay people
Cons of UIUC
-hard to transfer majors.
-have to work hard to get good grades if I do want to go to medical school

My mom is quite worried about me and she wants me to opt for the stable choice aka medicine. I don’t really know if I want to do that (or anything, tbh, the only things that interest me a little are languages, politics and maybe economics or computers/technology relating to them). What do you guys think? The sexuality thing is especially concerning for me.

Thanks for reading. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

2

Chicago is a huge city. You’re not restricted to dating within the UIC student population. Chambana would have a decent-sized population of young gay folks. Why are you concerned about the sexuality thing?

And only some of the UIUC majors are tough to transfer in to (granted, the more popular ones). Liberal arts majors are easier to get in to.

Which engineering major at UIUC?

3

Thanks for your response.

My sexuality’s just been a huge stress in my life this year because I’ve been repressing it for a long time on top of not having a social life. I’m a little extreme sometimes…

I was admitted to bioengineering, but I don’t feel interested in it at all anymore tbh, and the job prospects aren’t good from undergrad. From what I heard from UIC reps I can transfer into chemE (which I think would be interesting) before I start, not sure what the policy is at UIUC since it’s probably more difficult.

I think it might be a good idea to do a year at UIC to figure some stuff out, and then if I want to transfer to UIUC. What do you think? What has your experience been transferring?

4

It would be as difficult transferring in to the popular majors at UIUC as switching while at UIUC.

But why do you simply assume that ChemE would be difficult to get in to at UIUC? Have you looked to see what college it is in and what the requirements are for getting in to it?

5

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/Medicine-GPPA-2019 describes what you need to do to keep your GPPA status for medical school. Note the 3.6 college GPA requirement.

But it looks like you do not really want to go into medicine.