Difference in quality of education worth moving out of state?

[WasabiAlmonds]

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I have been accepted to University of Illinois - Chicago COP but I am struggling to decide whether it is worth the move and money over my local university. I am unsure of what field of pharmacy I want to enter at the moment but I hear that UIC has greater opportunities. However, due to being out of state, the cost of attendance and living costs will be greater than the local university. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I do not plan on living in Chicago after graduation so the job market does not make a difference to me.

 

[MissMPharmD]

Everyone has their different priorities when it comes to choosing pharmacy schools. I am interested in doing residency after pharmacy school so I've asked around with different kinds of pharmacist and they've told me that the school you go to doesn't really mater but more of what you do in school (EC, GPA, etc.). I would personally choose to stay in state especially if the tuition is a lot cheaper, however UIC is a good school. Rent in Illinois is very expensive also, I was looking up apartments and no one bedroom not even in the city was under 1k. However if you're already paying a good amount of rent and not staying home to save money but the your in state school is private and only a little cheaper than Chicago I would consider moving, its a great opportunity.

 

[WasabiAlmonds]

Everyone has their different priorities when it comes to choosing pharmacy schools. I am interested in doing residency after pharmacy school so I've asked around with different kinds of pharmacist and they've told me that the school you go to doesn't really mater but more of what you do in school (EC, GPA, etc.). I would personally choose to stay in state especially if the tuition is a lot cheaper, however UIC is a good school. Rent in Illinois is very expensive also, I was looking up apartments and no one bedroom not even in the city was under 1k. However if you're already paying a good amount of rent and not staying home to save money but the your in state school is private and only a little cheaper than Chicago I would consider moving, its a great opportunity.

Thanks MissM, I think that is what I needed to hear. I thought the recognition of going to a bigger name school would give me a big advantage when it came to finding a job or other opportunities, but hearing that it more so has to do with what you do with your time in school is reassuring. Now, I will most likely choose to stay in state where it is slightly cheaper and in a familiar area so that I have less pressure to pay for rent and more focus on working on those EC, GPA, etc!

 

[Humble Sloth]

I have been accepted to University of Illinois - Chicago COP but I am struggling to decide whether it is worth the move and money over my local university. I am unsure of what field of pharmacy I want to enter at the moment but I hear that UIC has greater opportunities. However, due to being out of state, the cost of attendance and living costs will be greater than the local university. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I do not plan on living in Chicago after graduation so the job market does not make a difference to me.

Go local.


Pharmacy is 99% self taught.

The 'quality of education' means nothing. I learned 80% of my education from wikipedia and other free web resources and I graduated near the top of my class.

You are paying them for the degree not for the education.

 

[Dorr185]

Directly from the UIC website:

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS

To augment the geographic diversity of the student body, the College of Pharmacy offers tuition scholarships for out-of-state students who are committed to completing the PharmD degree at UIC. The scholarship gives high-achieving and talented out-of-state students the opportunity to pay an alternate tuition rate equal to the in-state tuition rate.

Chicago
All out-of-state Early Decision applicants as well as any out-of-state regular admission applicants who complete and submit the PharmCAS application by Tuesday, September 6, 2016 and who interview and are offered admission prior to October 21, 2016 will be granted the College of Pharmacy Tuition Scholarship.

There will be a limited number of College of Pharmacy Tuition Scholarships awarded for Chicago out-of-state applicants who apply during the regular admissions cycle and interview and are offered admission after October 21, 2016.

Rockford
The College of Pharmacy Tuition Scholarship is granted to all out-of-state applicants who are offered admission throughout the application cycle.

Why not just attend the Rockford campus? The education is identical, the degree will only say UIC.......it won't mention the campus, you can get the in state rate, and Rockford, IL has an extremely low cost of living.

 

[BC_89]

I've heard this statement for any degree and think it's meaningful here so I'll apply it to pharmacy:

What do you call a person that graduated top of his class at a top ranked pharm program and a person that graduated at the bottom of his class at the lowest ranked pharm program???? A Pharmacist.

As long as the school is accredited go to the CHEAPEST one...where you went to school means next to nothing to most people who hire you.. they wanna see that PharmD licensure. As for sticking out, get that 4.0 gpa, do an intern part time job while in school to show you can handle / juggle school and experience, and do lab research that requires a presentation to show your thorough communication and display skills. It's on YOU to get hired NOT the university you attend. The extra debt for prestige will not be in your favor. I hope this will be of some guidance