For anyone who graduated high school in Chicago or has college-aged kids: Where did you go for college?

As a current college student who came from an immigrant family, trying to figure out the US college admissions/selection process has always been incredibly difficult. I've also lamented the fact that Illinois doesn't have a strong public university system like California, Michigan, Wisconsin, and even Texas and Florida.

Particularly as a CS major, the best option I could choose is UIUC. However, being a T5 program, it's incredibly difficult to get admitted. Chicago-area schools like IIT and UIC have strong CS programs but are mostly commuter schools that lack strong school spirit. The alternative flagship Illinois college, Illinois State, isn't particularly good at CS.

I've found that looking at my own and other high school Instagram pages that show where seniors commit for college has been helpful, but I thought I'd cast a wider net asking about colleges here. So, where did you go for college, and what advice would you give to Chicagoans looking to choose a college?