The University of Wisconsin - Madison
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The University of Wisconsin - Madison - Comments and Student Experiences | |||||||||||||||||||
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I chose to go to this college not only because it was rated #5 for the Biology major but the people there are EXTREMELY nice. Trust me, on top of the work load, it's a pain just dealing with people with grumpy attitudes and angry faces.
As most of you must have heard, UW-Madison has been rated as #1 or #2 top party school. It can be a party school ONLY if you believe and make it that way. UWMa can be a school that offers an opportunity for you to do research, participate in various organizations and even make events possible because you want them to. It all depends on how you want to view and carry out your college years.
Some tips:
1. Most important thing would be to choose friends wisely. Your attitude towards college life is going to be similar to those people. Second would be to get to know at least a few of your classmates. That way, you'll have study buddies. It's impossible to do well alone in college. Cooperation is a must. I would suggest forming a study group a week or two after classes start and meet once a week (unless there's really nothing to discuss, then just cancel it).
2. Having a "good time" doesn't necessarily mean drink till you drop. Try to find other interests (especially extracurricular activities if you're thinking about grad school in the future...will look good on your resume and at interviews).
3. When I get busy, I order delivery (pizza, chinese food, etc.). Restaurants that deliver usually have their menus around campus or you can take a look online (www.campusfood.com).
4. Try your best during your first semester without working. If things look good, then look for a job. If you're still struggling, I wouldn't recommend getting one and would encourage you to seek help from TAs or tutoring services (some universities offer free tutoring...you should check that out or ask about it during orientation).
5. Like any other schooling level - don't procrastinate!! Study little by little so that you don't have to cram like crazy in the end (although, sometimes, the stress does get to you and you just cram like crazy anyway).
***DON'T cut classes! I don't care what your friends say (ex. your professor's boring, he can't teach, I can't understand his accent, etc.), you NEED to attend class (even if you don't think it's helping you much).
Around 30mins. to 1 hr. before the exam, STOP studying. Relax, get some food and/or chill with a friend. It'll help you loosen up a bit and clears your mind when you actually get to writing the exam. If you follow those two simple steps, you'll definitely find it amusing to see others still studying seconds before the exam's passed out. AND, you'll for sure do well. ;)Good luck and enjoy your time in college, prospective UW students!!
My experience at the University of Wisconsin was very good. Admittedly, it took me two years to get my act together and really ‘find myself/ place in college’ (major wise) but once I did I had a fantastic time. (Not to say my first two years weren’t good)
I applied to Wisconsin as an after thought, and only because my parents wanted me to apply to a third school. It was neither my first choice (USC), nor my second choice (Cal - Berkley) but after I received acceptance letters and toured all three campus, shadowed a couple of classes, and a spent a weekend on the campuses. I was sold on Madison.
I stayed in the dorms my first year (The Bradley Learning Community on Lakeshore) and made most of my life-long college friends here (the other major group being people in my major). Living in the dorms defiantly opened my eyes to a lot of different people and cultures. Some people I can say that I would really never want to live around again (my roommate is one) but at least I can say I did.
Socially there is a lot to do, mostly drinking related.
Unlike most people, I really made it a point to not hit up the bars with the fake ID or go to house parties my freshmen year (I did go out a few times but at that time I really felt like that wasn’t an interest to me)... in fact I really didn’t start enjoying to drink until my sophomore year. Because of that, freshmen year was kind of rough on the weekends, I spent most of my time hanging out with the other two ‘sober kids’ on my floor after everyone left for the house parties and we spent most of our time finding activities and events that didn’t involve drinking (discussing the age old question “how do we meet girls if we don’t go out to parties?” I still wonder if there was a trio of girls in their dorm room wonder how they would meet boys.)
To be fair there is stuff to do (you have to find it) but lets not kid ourselves – Madison is a drinking town and most of the social scene does evolve around that.
You will thrive at the UW if you are an outgoing person. People are really nice and friendly if you are bold enough to strike up a conversation. I can’t tell you how many times I had a class where you just ask if anyone want to go out and have a beer and half the class takes you up on your offer (actually I can tell you - sixteen times). If I need help in class I would simply ask if anyone wanted to study together. Most people get self conscience and clam up. My advice, ‘man up.’ Worst case scenario they say no.
Academically there are some great classes and some fabulous teachers. Admittedly in those general course classes it can be hard to get face time with a professor but if you take the extra time and go to his office hours it should really not be a problem (nobody shows up for office hours). Once I got into my major and was in my core classes the class size dropped significantly (to about 15 to 20 people) and I ended up on a first name basis with most of my professors (on a few occasion even ended up at a student/professor parties).
Most TAs are fine. They will treat you like a human being if you actually let them know you are one. You have to realize that most of them are only a few years older than you and therefore they still know what you are going through. Later in my college life I would actually meet my TAs at a coffee shop or a bar (mid afternoon) and have a drink with them and talk about the class.
I love sports. I had football, basketball, and hockey season tickets. I would also check out volleyball, soccer, and crew games/events on occasion as well. My advice would be to get season tickets (football) once, even if you are not a sports fan. If you are living in the dorms you will make an instant group of friends because you all walk to the stadium together and end up sitting next to each other plus you have a shared experience to fall back on.
Post-college the University has been absolutely great. I got my interview for my current job simply from the universities reputation (actual line from my boss during the interview, “Normally I wouldn’t have interviewed you because we are looking for someone with more experience but I saw that you went to the University of Wisconsin" - That was a job interview in Virginia).
For me the UW was everything that I expected from college and more. Hope I comments have been somewhat helpful in helping you make your decision.
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."
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