The University of Wisconsin - Madison

Before I discuss UW Madison, let me preface it with this: I am an in state student who attended a large, inner city public high school. I was heavily involved in high school and come from a very successful family. I am not a bitter coastie that hates the Midwest.

Academics: Yes, attending a school ranked 43rd (US News) is good, and yes, some programs are highly ranked, but do not come to this school for undergraduate. Classes are HUGE and professors are non existent. Trying to grow intellectually is non-existent here. You can do "FIG" (First Year Interest Groups), except those are only low credit classes, and even then, 30 people is considered a "small, focused class?" The feeling is empty when you are being taught by someone two years older than you and you have no idea why you received the grade you did. Acceptance to the business school is just like getting accepted to the school as a whole- it is a complete crapshoot. Having said that, UW Madison does not look at anything except a "formula." This is evident depending on your ethnicity. There is a lawsuit against UW Madison for its unfair admissions standards- the average ACT for Hispanics and African Americans was 24, 30 for Caucasians and 31 for Asians. You will be treated like a number and you are on your own from day one. However, this does not breed an independent student body. I will say academic programs like Education and Social work, as well as other low intellect majors are EASY to get above 3.0 without trying. The business school is fantastic for the Real Estate Program (#2 in nation). Trying to start a business or do anything progressive, modern, or out of the box is not possible here because the school is so large. It is hard to carve out a specific journey and pursue a passion here. Most people are trying to get a business degree with the name to help them live in the Milwaukee suburbs. Engineering is tough, like most schools. Many kids come to Madison from other Wisconsin high schools and think they are so smart because they lived in a box in their undereducated small towns their whole life then drown/drop out of Engineering and Pre-Med. Madison is not easy folks. Taking an honors science class or an AP in HS here and there doesn't mean you will be prepared- most AP programs in Wisconsin high schools are very weak anyways, especially compared to those of the North Shore part of Chicago. UW Madison academics are not laughed at by any means, but they are not looked at like a Northwestern or University of Chicago.

COST: Madison used to be a bargain value but has been increasing tuition every year, and doesn't appropriate funds properly. It is 22 a year for in state, and that is BEFORE football tickets, a better meal plan, books for entire year, health insurance, personal expenses (Madison is expensive to party in). If you want a private dorm or one that is not like "shitty Witte", be prepared to dish out another 3 grand or so. Also, with the Doyle and Walker administration, UW Madison has received a lot less funding than it used to have. However, the chancellor coddles up to Walker to get 76 million dollars for new football seats and a heated tunnel to the parking garage. Lastly, it looks cheap at face value but most students have to pay extra for summer courses to finish in 4 years, which cost wise is 5 if you do summer classes for 3 years. That coupled with large classes and lack of interesting programs makes it a waste for some.

CROWD/SCENE: Yes, Madison is a party school, but it is not like a USC,Tulane or UMiami party scene. Bars, house parties, and state street is where it's at. People here do not wear a lot of designer clothes or exude trendiness, wealth, or class. It is a very trashy scene. Nightclubs, sophisticated lounges, hotels, rooftop parties, pool parties are non-existent here. It is a very "midwest small town" style of partying. Madison is very unsafe at night at large drunken house parties and bars after 2 am. Star football players have been jumped and there have been many rapes. I was fine but got the feeling that someone could get assaulted in an alley or small road and no one would know because the city has a very cold, empty feeling like New York. Obviously the football games are fun, but season tickets always sell out and it's not that many students go surprisingly.

Roughly 75% of the kids here are smart, NOT intellectual- people here know "what" and not "why"- huge difference. 75% I would say were poor/lower middle class in-staters who , have chips on their shoulders and become very snooty and hot-headed because they go to "MADISON,"- the end all be all of existence in Wisconsin. There is a division between in-staters and Minnesotans versus the kids from NYC/Long Island, Orange County, and North Shore/Chicago.(Out of staters are the rich attractive kids generally who wear North Face constantly). However, the other 25% is diverse, intellectual, deeper, and motivated. That means that 10,000 of these students exist, so there are plenty of opportunities to meet some, or avoid some people. It is most definitely NOT a high school experience. Madison is definitely a more liberal school, but not in the good way. People here are not the "intellectual liberals" who value individual thought, getting out of one's skin, aggressive independence socially, or enjoying sophisticated things. They are the liberals who go and protest against Scott Walker, yet have never read a book or have any facts on anything or do not do anything in the state legislature. They sit there and yell " I love Obama YOLO YOLO YOLO lets smoke weed and drink!" yet actually are the reason why our youth is looked down upon. These are the snooty kids who think that coming from a family who makes 20,000 dollars more than the poverty line makes them rich, elite, people. If you love to drink and not want a pretentious, wealthy, beautiful environment, you will love it. Hippis and gays are also very welcome- huge scene. Closing: UW Madison is a great state school with many opportunities. But the academics are a waste of time at the undergraduate level and the student body and vibe of the school is a not secure, confident, mature place. Come here if you are unsophisticated, like being treated like a number, and want the "all American college experience."

1st Year Male -- Class 2015

Campus Maintenance: A-, Faculty Accessibility: F

I was so excited to become a badger and came out disappointed in the end. I am for sure transferring. night life is great, but is outta control and partying is all people do. if you dont party you will feel left out. professors are nice but you feel like a number in HUGE classes. school is also very expensive. a lot of the students are snobby and think they are better than everyone else just because they go to madison. alot of rich and snooty out of staters present to. I am more down to earth and am excited to transfer.

1st Year Female -- Class 2015

Collaboration/Competitive: A, Scholastic Success: F

I was hoping to be an accounting student here because their accounting program is spoken of so highly all over the place. I'm a pretty smart person so I expected to get into the business school after getting straight A's my first year and having some extracurricular activities (off of campus. I'm not sure if that's relevant), but I was rejected. I tried again my second year, but the same rejection. It's incredibly unhelpful that they didn't give any reason for why I was rejected from the business school just that the school is competitive. I mean, I don't see why a person from my level one accounting class who got a D got in, but when I get an A I don't get in... but I'm not the one making decisions so... yeah.

That being said I've had a couple amazing professors, none of them within the business school. My adviser wasn't helpful at all whenever I went in for advising (telling me that most of my answers can be found online even when I say I haven't been able to find those answers), and I haven't been able to make any friends there my entire time. Generally, I've just had an awful time. I was able to transfer to a higher ranked university and get into their business program so in the end it worked out, but it seems unless you fit into the specific "type" of person they're looking for you don't really get anywhere.

I feel like most of my classes were challenging, depending on what department they were in. I mean I hear most students around me talking about how they get drunk all the time and never study so maybe I just don't take the right classes or something. The student life seems to be heavily surrounded by drinking and drug use, which I'm not really too into as much as everyone else apparently which I suppose is why I haven't made any friends in Madison.

I love the city itself, I've lived near here my entire life so it's home. I always find stuff to do, and people are generally nice and considerate. It's pretty liberal (it is a college town. That's what they're all like I've found), and you can find pretty much anything you'd need or would really want. The bus system is the best around the campus area, but you can use it to get to other areas if need be. I tend to walk everywhere I want to go if it's near campus, but sometimes it can get a bit long depending where I'm going.Good luck if you go there. I hear people like it, but I definitely feel like I get lost and forgotten about on campus a lot.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2014

Surrounding City: A, Education Quality: F