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<p>The size difference between UIUC and ISU should be more or less irrelevant. UIUC has around 30,000 undergrads, and ISU has around 20,000 undergrads. That’s a big difference, yes, but ISU is still going to have a similar “big campus” feel. It’s not like the difference between a university with 30,000 students and a small LAC with 3000 students. UIUC has a student to faculty ratio or 18:1, ISU has a student to faculty ratio of 19:1, so really, they’re about the same in that respect. I would still strongly recommend visiting UIUC. </p>
<p>With a 27 ACT, UChicago is basically out of the question. Unless she manages to raise it substantially, or has a TON of amazing EC’s to make up for it…her chances of getting accepted are basically nil. But, that’s not a problem. Many people would say that UIUC has a better chemistry department anyway. </p>
<p>If she really does want a smaller school atmosphere, checking out some of the LAC’s would definitely be a good idea. LAC’s have never really interested me very much though, so I can’t comment on the quality of the chemistry programs at any of them.</p>
<p>Some posters have mentioned that ISU may offer her better research opportunities, and that may or may not be true. There may be less competition at a smaller school, but there are also going to be fewer available positions. It’s better to get a “lower rung” research position than to not get one at all. I’m a physics major, so I can’t comment on the number of chemistry internships that are available at either school, but I will say that UIUC has a ton of internship opportunities in general. They also work quite closely with several larger national labs like Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory, and others. Many students at UIUC have a leg up on getting internships at these places.</p>