The University of Wisconsin - Madison

I finished my first year as a Spanish and Pre Nursing Major. I come from a small town in northern Wisconsin, so I was nervous about getting "lost in the shuffle" of Madison. However, this was rarely the case. The vast majority of people want to see you succeed and will go out of their way to give you advice and help you out.

The enthusiasm of the student body is amazing; everyone is proud to be a Badger and passionate about what they are involved in.The social life is great. There's constantly something to do and exciting people to do it with. Most people go to house parties, the bars seem to be more for the coasties.

1st Year Female -- Class 2013

Campus Aesthetics: A+, Individual Value: B-

This university has a lot to offer. They have three recreational facilities, my favorite of which is the SERF. The weight-room is incredible and they have about 8 very nice basketball courts. There are a lot of club/intramural sport opportunities that provide a productive way to get away from your studies from time to time. Academically the school is challenging. Students must have academics on their mind 7 days a week because the professors expect the students to be independent. For me this is a good style of learning that will help out a lot in the real world. The engineering building is incredible and there are a lot of clubs to join within the department. I have a lot of respect for my professors because a lot of them are considered innovators in their respective fields. The professors are accessible after every class. The TA's are a bit of a mixed bag, as my math TA is incredible and my chemistry TA is kind of weak. I only go out on the weekends because my courses are difficult enough to the point where going out during the week would damage my GPA big time. The hockey, basketball, and football games are all a lot of fun to watch. This school has a lot to offer and should be heavily considered by prospective students, in my opinion. Madison isn't exactly a booming metropolis but it is still pretty nice. I'm from the NYC area and appreciate the different lifestyle out here. It's pretty darn cold but you get used to it after a while.

1st Year Male -- Class 2012

Perceived Campus Safety: A+, Surrounding City: B