New IL licensee seeking advice selecting a sponsoring brokerage

[Garrett Tierney]

I'm located in the SW Suburbs of Chicago, and would like to primarily serve DuPage, Cook, Will, Kane, Kendall, and Grundy counties. I passed my exams yesterday and am looking for some advice from agents who have gone through the process of selecting a sponsoring brokerage to join. I have a list of contacts that have been referred to me through my network at several different brokerages of varying size and structure. I plan on having conversations with each of them regarding their experience and plans for bringing on a new broker. 

How many brokerages did you meet with before making a decision, and what were the key determining factors that influenced your decision?