I was accepted at UIC and Loyola, but I didn't apply to Rush because I didn't feel like writing 13 essay's on the secondary.
At the time I choose Loyola over UIC.
The main factors that favor UIC are the slightly lower tuition, and, for me, the greater research opportunities.
Loyola has higher tuition, but has a reputation for much better teaching, greater concern for the students, greater interest in the ethics of medicine, small group approach to preclinical years with less straight lecture time, happier students, and nicer facilities.
People that favor UIC write-off the private schools in the area by saying that they don't need to be babied, and that going to UIC prepares them for the real world. They also say that UIC is great because during the clinical years you fend for yourself, but you get to do a lot of things you don't get to do elsewhere.
I think the reality is that people at UIC get bullied and people at the private schools get treated humanely. Also, being made to fend for yourself is not a good thing. Personally I prefer to be taught something while in med school. No matter which school you pick, you are spending around $100,000. So you can drop all that money to teach yourself from the books, or you can drop all the money and learn from a combination of books and faculty instruction. If you want to be Good Will Hunting, skip med school, get a library card, and look for a janitorial job.
