<p>Again, I think not all schools are equal, but I think people put way too much stock into rankings. I think the biggest difference seen between Portland State and Berkeley is by those who have attended neither. The difference is in research, accomplishments by the faculty, the most famous of which students rarely even see, and the student body. The classroom, as what this board I hope is most interested in, is very similar in terms or quality and rigor.</p>
<p>The Student competition is what generally makes an “A” student at Portland State a “C” student in the same class at Berkeley. As for U of I System, what you learn and how you learn it are the same. Who teaches you and who you are competing against for grades are different. With that said, what you get out of UIC or UIUC is solely dependent on the student - not the University.</p>
<p>Personally, i go to UIC right now and i am getting the ■■■ out of here… socially it is soooooo bad. Academically, it is so easy… teachers are nice and if youve been a good student and ask nicely, would consider bumping up your grade. I mean… personally, the city doesnt do anything for me. This school has negativeness on my list that would go on and on.</p>
<p>All things being equal, I would attend UIUC over UIC because I value the overall college experience which I think is better at the UIUC campus. When I was a prospective undergrad, I chose UIC over UIUC simply because I wanted to be closer to Chicago. My friends all were in the Chicagoland Area, with few exceptions, my family is in the Chicago Suburbs, and it was less expensive. I was an older student too, already in my early 20’s when I started college, so I was more interested in the Chicago scene than the Champaign-Urbana scene. But, as an 18 year old in-coming freshman, I think UIUC would have been better simply because of, honestly, reputation. People just assume UIUC is the better school (preception is often reality), there’s better sports teams to watch (including a football team), and there’s more of that traditional college stuff I think I missed out on.</p>
<p>From a pure in-class learning atmosphere, I don’t believe there’s a lick of difference between UIC and UIUC. They teach the same subjects, the same way, they both have the same accreditations, the professors all are well-educated and earn their degrees from the top schools in the country (my economics honor’s advisor earned his PhD from Harvard and was on Harvard and Michigan State’s faculty at points in his career) - Lawrence Officer (amazing guy!). I had many, many professors who earned their degrees from the “best schools in the country”. The diplomas are also identical. </p>
<p>Rankings publications are never going to rank the younger sister school higher than the flagship school under the same unversity system. But, I will say that I believe U.S. News and World Report ranked UIC the #11 best university under the age of 50 in the World and the #3 best university in the United States in the same category. If you are someone who loves rankings and needs that rankings for ego or whatever there you go.</p>
<p>Admissions standards are easier at UIC. That’s because they have a mission to serve the community and the underrepresented areas/demographics of the community they reside in. UIUC generally is looking at more national candidates, to increase prestige, and actually holds being an IL resident against you for admissions purposes. I gurantee that equal candidates - one from CA and one from IL - UIUC is taking the kid from CA. I actually find that practice by a state funded school to be appauling. And, I know that is something UIUC has been criticized for in the past.</p>
<p>As much as I agree that a student’s personal performance (rather than school rep) has a great deal to do with how successful they are down the road, I think you are sympathizing with your alma mater way too much here. Whether you like or agree with particular rankings or not, rankings and overall prestige of a school correlate highly with how well the graduate will end up in doing in employment (i.e. salary). </p>
<p>These comparisons you’re making are very broad and can be applied to a large variety of scenarios. I could make one too. If there is not “a lick of difference between UIC and UIUC” in learning atmosphere, let’s assume a UIC student and a UIUC student each graduate with the same GPA/stats and major. Unless the UIUC grad blows their interview, rest assured the UIUC grad will be the one hired, in addition to having the higher salary on average (that’s assuming the UIUC grad wouldn’t be considered overqualified or something of that nature).</p>
<p>Pre Medical students can be swayed to go to the UIC because of the medical center… but overall, I think UIUC would be without a doubt the better choice. My SO got sent to UIC out of her own will, and she absolutely hates it. Whenever I go home, I sit in on their science courses that are equivalent to my own at UIUC. They learn the material at a much slower pace, don’t go into alot of the material in depth as we do and their exams and grades are given away like jokes. While an average science pre-med struggles through a 3.80, if they were at UIC they would be cruising through a 4.0. A lot of the social life here is surrounded around the Greek community, but its what you make of it. You can have just as much fun as a GDI if you wanted to. Just by looking at the education of the schools, UIUC would have to be the choice for best in-state school to attend in Illinois. </p>
<p>UIC’s nursing program also has a campus in Champaign/Urbana. I know alot of nursing students that are choosing to leave Chicago to come to CU to finish their nursing degrees.</p>
<p>And how do you know a pre-med student at UIUC to obtain a 3.8 GPA would “cruise” with a 4.0 at UIC. I think that is a very broad assumption based on what? Nothing more than perception of what you have been told is the better school. Do I think UIUC is a better overall university? Yes! Do I think the classroom environment (i.e. what you are taught an the rigor of coursework) is better that UIUC in an equal course? No, I do not. At the admissions standards elevated at UIUC? Yes. I’m speaking as someone who was accepted to UIUC and UIC as an undergrad, attended UIC as a student, and have obtained two master’s degrees from two very well known, respected, and very different graduate business schools. I did not attend UIUC, but I feel I have prospective on the matter. I don’t call it defending my alma mater. I just simply think I’m providing an opinion to would-be students based on my experience.</p>
<p>UIC Nursing at Urbana is very small compared to Chicago. The majority of its students attend the Chicago campus. Also, the rotations at Urbana are not as good as compared to Chicago. </p>
<p>UIUC suffers from grade inflation while it is not as much of an issue at UIC. UIC’s science courses are very vigorous. The students who have gone to both schools, say there is not a big difference academically between the two schools. UIC is an urban, commuter school and so, it doesn’t have the traditional college campus. </p>
<p>UIC in its modern form has only existed since 1982. </p>
<p>Long-term no one cares about what school you went to. Experience is the great equalizer.</p>
<p>UIUC has nursing but when you graduate your degree is from UIC. I don’t understand those nursing kids from chicago who pay for housing in Urbana just to go to UIUC when they could have commuted to UIC for the SAME degree :P</p>