Please help me choose! I have to decide by May 1 and I’m still very conflicted between UIC or UofI.
To better help you understand my situation I’m going to better describe my scenario:
Imagine you’re me and considering UIC on one hand. UIC is 30 minutes away from home. I wouldn’t have to dorm, which might be a plus since I don’t know how to do anything on my own, and it’s an extra cost I can avoid. UIC is also near downtown and maybe it’s easier to get a job? Most of my friends are going here. I would study Graphic Design with a minor in business. I would pay $8,000 a year.
On the other hand there’s UofI (or UIUC however you know it by). I was accepted into their Creative Writing major (my real dream, but that I’m afraid to pursue because I don’t know how much money that’ll get me in the future [as you can see yes money is very important for me because I want to be able to support my family and give back]), and my plan is to study business as a minor too. UofI is 2.5 hours away from home which means that I would dorm, which might be good because it can teach me how to be independent as I am an adult. None of my friends are going here. I would pay $700 a year.
My parents view on this: they are very protective of me and they just want me to stay as close as possible (so UIC). I am afraid too since I rely on my parents for everything, and was never taught how to be on my own, but I do want to teach myself. If it’s by comfort I know that I’d be 1000x more comfortable in UIC, but life is not comfortable and I have to experience that and not hide under my mom’s wing forever.
I’m sorry for the long story. I just wanted to make everything clear so that there wouldn’t be any questions left because I know that for these vs. questions there’s always a lot of variables to consider.
If you were in my position which one would you choose and why? Which university offers the best program of the ones I’m going to? Which one could give me more opportunities?
Thank you to anyone who read all of this! Thank you! Thank you!