U-Illinois Campuses

I am trying to decide which Illinois campus I want to be on. I know that the campuses have their pluses and minuses but since I've only been to the Chicago site (during the interview) I know next to nothing about the other three campuses, Urbana, Rockford, Peoria.

How would you rank the 4 campuses, best to worst? I would appreciate any insight.

Thanks.

-I

I didn't think there is much choice in the matter. I think you kind of just get put somewhere.

I'd go:
1.Urbana-Champaign-I like research and am applying [nest year] to the MSP program.
2.Chicago




98.Rockford
99.Peoria

Originally posted by NE_Cornhusker1
I didn't think there is much choice in the matter. I think you kind of just get put somewhere.

I'd go:
1.Urbana-Champaign-I like research and am applying [nest year] to the MSP program.
2.Chicago




98.Rockford
99.Peoria

Click to expand...

Quite the contrary; once accepted, they ask you very specifically which campus you'd like to attend. Whether there is space left at that campus, however, is not guaranteed.

I used to live in Rockford, and from what I hear, UIC-Rockford Campus is the place to go if you know you want to enter primary care. Thats just what I've gathered as their focus. Of course I only lived there for about a year, but I think the only thing Rockford has going for them is their healthcare system, so there must be numerous opportunities for specialty-minded folks. If you think that by going to Rockford means you are getting a big city as opposed to Peoria...think again. I think Rockford was voted the worst city to live in America!(do a Google search if you want to explore that further). The school is in a better part of town but from what I've gathered from UIC-Peoria students on SDN, Peoria is not that bad. But then again, I'm not the one who you should answering your question. I'm pretty sure I have seen a student from UIC-Rockford on SDN before. Maybe you should hunt them and the UIC-Peoria students down and get it straight from them.
Good luck.

While I can't give specific pluses and minuses to the specific campuses since I haven't attended any of the schools I did grow up in IL and know a bit about each of the towns. Only u can decided which you will like the most, but my ranks would be:

1. Chicago
2. Urbana
3. Peoria
4. Rockford

Chicago you are in the city, have excellent transportation systems, great nightlife potential, and awesome food.

Urbana is a big sprawling campus, great university atmosphere, good nightlife and food.

Peoria while not exactly the best city is relatively close to Champaign and Chicago so you can go elsewhere for planned fun (ie. a weekend or day trip), and having several colleges/universities in town they get decent music and plays in.

Rockford is kind of the middle of nowhere. It's a good two hour drive to Chicago or up into Wisconsin, and definitely suburban (meaning that there won't be a whole lot to do during non-study times), but if you're more of a homebody or just looking for poolhalls and bowling type entertainment you'd be totally happy there.

Good luck!

i agree with the skaterbabe. i also grew up in IL and i go to UIC-Urbana. although i really wanted the chicago campus (for clinical experiences as well as fun things to do), it was already full by the time i interviewed in late january. however, i ended up at urbana anyway because of the MSP. i get to stay here for all of my years because of the program, but if i had to go to peoria or rockford, i would take peoria any day.
urbana is great because you get to be on the campus of a big ten school. tons of young people, many bars, great tailgating and basketball games....however, if you are only med you have to leave after your first year (they only let a VERY FEW M1s stay for 2/3/4) to go to peoria or rockford.

drdr2010,

i pmed you...

I went to U of I in Champaign for undergrad, and I choose Chicago right away. After four years of Champaign, I hated the town, but I loved the sports and tradition but I knew I had grown out of the bar scene and I was ready for a change. Plus the diversity of patients was a no-brainer.