<p>I just received my acceptance letter from UIC(University of Illinois at Chicago) and I'm in a pickle whether I should attend. I was planning to attend Northern Illinois, but I'm not sure now. I applied to both NIU and UIC's LAS undecided program. </p>
<p>Any advice would help.</p>
<p>bumpity bump</p>
<p>Honestly as a Chicago suburbs resident I have to say that UIC has the better reputation, but that's just people's opinion. I do know that UIC has an excellent architecture program.
However, you do have to be a little careful in that part of the city.</p>
<p>UIC is a little smaller, has a better basketball team, but it is about 2000 more expensive too.</p>
<p>hope this helps</p>
<p>do you know which has a stronger psychology program?</p>
<p>UIC is a better school all around - NIU is a hell hole, there is nothing there, and there's a reason they have the lowest first-year retention in the state.</p>
<p>It's generally agreed upon that UIC is the better school in just about every area. Only go to NIU if you can't afford UIC or for some reason you like a rural setting more than an urban one.</p>
<p>UIC or if you can get in UIUC :)</p>
<p>Uh...NIU is hell on earth. You need to go to UIC if you want a future (have you applied to their honors college?).</p>
<p>Well I'm planning on transfering after my freshmen year(wherever that will be) to UIUC.</p>
<p>UIUC transfer for the lose man. They make you do 2 at your school and then 3 at UIUC.</p>
<p>neverborn, I didn't understand what you said. can you explain again?</p>
<p>NIU and UIC have good quality programs at a great price and are both respected in Chicagoland. It just depends on what program you are going for and if you want to go to college in an “Urban” setting or a “college town” setting. For campus life, NIU has more students that live on campus and has a good athletics but UIC is in Chicago. </p>
<p>UIUC is good but if you plan to transfer, most people take 3 more years to graduate there instead of 2 because of some tedious requirements. Also, the school is more expensive.</p>
<p>Don’t let some snobs tell you a school is bad, use your critical thinking skills and make the best choice for you. A college education from these quality institution won’t let you down if you make the most of it while you are there.</p>
<p>I went to UIC and my wife when to NIU. They are both very nice schools. UIC has the better overall “reputation”, but I think you’ll have the better “college experience” at NIU. NIU has the dorm/frat life, the decently recognized football team, etc… Like you might hear your school mentioned on Sportscenter from time-to-time, whereas, although UIC has some sports teams, the decision to go to UIC will be purely academic. I attended LAS at UIC, and did not like the Department. My wife attend the College of Business at NIU and loved it. I “dabbled” in UIC’s college of business and that it was pretty good (as an Econ major). Dekalb is not great, but either is Champaign-Urbana. Being in the Chicago Area is much better. UIC has a med school, NIU has a Law School. Both are highly rated public policy schools. I think graduate business education is also on par with on another. Psychology is probably the same.</p>
<p>Regarding your potential transfer to UIUC, NIU has a better football program
Than U of I too, but you get to say you attended a “Big Ten” University. I don’t think the academics at UIC are and less stringent than at UIUC. I can’t speak directly about academic quality of NIU. But, “rankings” are determined my many factors - only one being academic quality. I don’t think there’s much difference at one school or another. UIUC will have more resources, the bigger, nicer campus , the bigger alumni network and donors, more recognized publications by faculty, and probably the more recognized famous alumni, but pure academics standpoint, none of the three schools is known for psychology. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt UIC actually being rates higher than the other two in Psy. </p>
<p>Between UIC and NIU - what environment do you want? Urbana or rural? Commuter vs full college experience? </p>
<p>Between NIU/UIC and UIUC - do you want to change environments midway through college (leave your friends you’ll make, change routines established) or not? Is that difference in Reputation that important?</p>
<p>I work in a team with a Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue, Missouri, and UIUC grad and I promise you I blend right in with them. I’m proud that I went to UIC. My wife is proud she went to NIU (and I am too). Work experience is the great equalizer. Focus on your career and not the rankings so much. With that said, UIUC is a wonderful school and I’d have Ben proud to attend their too. I’ve been there several times and think its also great. Much nicer overall experience tha. What UIC or NIU can provide. But, I wouldn’t just consider te alternatives just “stepping stones” they are great options as stand alones.</p>
<p>“but pure academics standpoint, none of the three schools is known for psychology”
…what?
UIUC has a top ten psychology program</p>