<p>While the research is great at a large institution like Chicago, that doesnt necessarily trickle down to the undergrad level. Many times, such resources are only made available to seniors or those few lucky enough to land a summer research spot. At a place like HC, which is focused on undergrad education 100%, the resources are there for students 100%. Although HC may have less equipment and research resources, availability is what makes the difference. Thats why, for example, a junior chemistry major uses a $1 million NMR machine in a required class, a junior physics major can tinker with an atomic force microscope and biology majors learn PCR, electron microscopy, fluoroscopy, mono-clonal anti-body production, ect as part of a required lab experience. Dont assume that just because a prestigious university has such capacity that it is available for undergrad use as it usually isnt (grad students are higher on the totem pole). </p>
<p>Among LACs, as I wrote, HCs sciences are remarkable. Only at HC, you will find a National Academy of Science member (Gollub in physics), a lab funded by the NIH (HC has <strong>2</strong>) and students working on human stem cells in biology research. Only with Williams, HC has received maximum funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute over the last 2 funding cycles and the total cash amounts were the same and HC is ½ the size. In addition, HCs location allows many scientists to visit the campus and it allows students to conduct research off campus as well and, in the last 2 years, a student did physics research with the chair of physics at Penn, another conducted Hep C research at Penn, another worked on HIV, and now there is the new Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Penn that I linked before. Were not talking about undergrads washing glassware here either </p>
<p>For professional and grad schools, HC carries its weight with the best. Fortunately, people on admissions boards are <strong><em>academics</em></strong> in their fields and are savvy enough to recognize a quality undergraduate experience and are not so easily impressed or swayed by name recognition as some on CC. </p>
<p>If you want to procrastinate, why not apply to both, see where you get in, which has the better $$$ offer and do one more visit in the springtime?</p>