UChicago vs. UW Honors

As others have said, the better decision will depend on your financial circumstances. The COA at Chicago is $72,000 now, and may average out to $74,000/year or $75,000/year when increases over the next three years are taken into account. Is UChicago worth $300,000 more than UW? No. Chicago is an exceptional school, but UW is among the best state flagships, and (as others have indicated) has a strong biology department. So the key question is whether your parents can afford the $300,000 when that’s an optional expense.

If the answer is “Yes, easily,” then this decision comes down to which university and which biology department you prefer.

If the answer is “No” then that makes the decision very simple.

If the answer is “Maybe, but with loans or a spartan lifestyle” then I’d suggest you go to UW and save $300,000. That money could pay for graduate school - twice over in some fields. You don’t want to graduate with $20,000 in UG debt, $150,000 from your Masters, and an entry-level salary.