In Our Words: José's Moving to the United States and Undergraduate Education José’s family decided that they should return to the United States before he turned 18, to be certain that he could accept his US citizenship. In late 1939, Laib left Mexico ahead of Rachel and their children to get set up in Philadelphia, where much of his family in the United States lived. In May 1940, at 16 years of age, José left Mexico by himself to travel to Philadelphia, which became his long-term home. Rachel and Mario arrived in Philadelphia in 1942. Immediately after arriving José began classes at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (PCPS has since changed its name to University of the Sciences, and in 2022 merged with St Joseph’s University). José completed his undergraduate course work in two and a half years, earning his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in February 1943.