I too was choosing between UIC and NU. I had originally wanted to go to UIC, but was accepted to NU first and put on UIC's waitlist. I didn't think I would be accepted into NU so I had already ruled it out. But I went to the Open House and that's what really sold me. The faculty was not only educated but extremely nice, and were really friendly with each other and the students, and that holds true in our interactions still. I was highly impressed with the facilities, equipment used for research, etc. Everything was new and well kept. I got a little tour of UIC's facility and it just wasn't as nice as NU. I had done some research at U of I (my undergrad) and wanted to continue doing research and so I too liked the synthesis project component of NU.
I also liked the curriculum set-up better for NU over UIC. The 2 trimester anatomy was extremely helpful. I also like how NU's curriculum is more integrated. For example, in the first year when we're learning about the heart in anatomy, we are also learning about it in physiology and then learning how to take heart rate and blood pressure in our examination and evaluation class. So it really helps with this set-up.
NU has
health care field trips and small clinical activities throughout the trimesters, as well as longer clinical times your first and second year. This early clinical experience allows us to apply what we are learning right away, whereas other schools (like UIC) only give you 2 weeks of experience your first year. Also, some schools have classes during the last semester, whereas NU only has 2 clinical experiences the last year. I like that better personally.
I did end up getting accepted to UIC, but I was already too impressed with NU to pass it up. I did a pros/cons list for UIC, and honestly, the cost was the only pro I had put down for UIC. Weighing that against everything else, I had to stick with NU. In my 2nd year, I'm still happy with my choice. I feel like I am getting a good education. After my first clinical experience this past summer, I felt like NU prepared me well for what was expected of me at that time.
Like dancerfutureDPT said, everyone in our class helps each other out. We hold study sessions together and email each other study guides or helpful websites. It helps to have a friendly, non-competitive atmosphere. We also hold barcrawls, an 'olympics' event, weekly running club (with students and faculty), fundraisers for the Miami-Marquette Challenge, and other activities that help remind us we can still have fun in school.
I highly recommend doing a pros/cons list for the schools you're thinking about. Getting tours and going to open houses will also help you make a decision. I will be at NU's Open House so I will be able to help people there if they have questions, give tours, etc. Best of luck to you all!
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