Actually, if you wanna be a phd and then a faculty, the rank of your university is more important than the loaction of your univeristy. If you wanna enter business after you graduate, the location of UIC is much more better than VT. In addition, VT can give you full financial support. Therefore, I recommend you to go to VT. The weather in Chicago is really really terrible. It even snows in April. But the weather in Virginia is much better than Chicago.
BTW: I didnot say only top 30 university's graduate can find a faculty job. I just said if you can enter top 30, you will be easier to find a faculty job.
I am in Chicago area now. If you decide to come to UIC, I can introduce something about Chicago to you. Actually, i have a classmate who is also from Xiamen University. She may be from marketing of your university or something like that. She is a warm-hearted girl. Therefore, I would like to help Xiamen guys. hiahia~~~~~
Feel free to contact me. Bless you!!