UIUC Vs Northwestern- PhD Mechanical Engineering

[Dan123]

I got accepted to NU and UIUC for a fully funded PhD in Mechanical engineering plus stipend. I was first accepted to UIUC and attended the visit day. I have had a great time, met amazing people and faculty, and in general, liked the department. Moreover, I went on another visit day at Madison Wisconsin a week later and immediately knew that Champaign was a better fit for me and I almost committed. However, I hated Champaign (the town) and was hoping to get into another school in a better location. Finally, four days before I need to make a decision, I got into Northwestern which is in Chicago and I thought that this is it, I will go there. But now I have second doubts. UIUC is ranked higher and has more research that I am interested in but I cannot stop thinking about my life over there and how much I will hate it honestly..

 

What do you think?