University of Illinois vs Virginia Tech

[dr.donkey]

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Title. Basically I’ve fortunate enough to have been accepted into these two schools and trying to decide.
I’m a virginia resident, so leaning towards tech. It’s much cheaper, and I have a close support system within a few hours drive. University of Illinois is much more expensive, as I would be OOS there. However, it is the higher ranked institution (#55, vs #83 VT). Since both are mid/low tier med schools, I’m not sure how much that matters, but with step 1 becoming p/f, I am trying to consider how school ranking might become more important for matching into desirable residencies. Is this a concern, or does ranking not matter so much at these lower level schools?

 

[sousa7]

Personally, I think this depends on which Illinois campus you have been accepted to. If Chicago, go with UIC. I don't think I could justify paying 100k per year for Peoria or Rockford, especially since you are close to family at VTC.

 

[dr.donkey]

Personally, I think this depends on which Illinois campus you have been accepted to. If Chicago, go with UIC. I don't think I could justify paying 100k per year for Peoria or Rockford.

Lol, too true. Waiting to hear back on that decision still 😩.
Would you go UIC because of ranking or just cause Chicago >> Roanoke?

 

[chilly_md]

I would choose VTC. Support system and much cheaper. Even the campus in Chicago does not justify the price differences. Ranking differences between these two should not really be a factor. Research is big at VTC, so you will be involved in that there anyways.

 

[JohnJacobJingleheimer]

I also got accepted to Illinois and think it’s a great program, but for 80k OOS tuition? Yeah no thanks.

 

[Mikiras]

Knowing how expensive tuition is OOS at UIC, I'd pick Virginia. The ranking difference doesn't seem great enough to pick UIC over VTC imo. While UIC does have a lot of opportunities, those are mostly close at hand if you are at the chicago campus.

 

[dr.donkey]

Thank you all!! This has been super informative. Y’all brought some great points. Probs still leaning VT, but food for thought

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

How much cheaper are we talking?

 

[noodlechicken1]

Illinois for sure!

 

[chilly_md]

I think VTC is cheaper by 75k if both schools are at full cost. Though Illinois is claiming their living expenses are lower, which I don’t really believe.