University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

Students who go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison love it! It is probably the coolest college town. (Thank you cell-phone commercial for the shout-out!) But most importantly, there is something for everyone! No matter what you are interested in there will be a group of people who are similar and UW makes it easy to find those people! With so many student orgs and a large variety of classes it is so easy to find a great group of friends. From bars to ballroom dancing no two weekends are the same when you are at UW-Madison. Students from UW are proud to say where they go to school.

The best thing about UW-Madison is that it is an environment in which everyone can thrive. Despite its size, the school never feels overwhelming and you often see the same people walking through campus. Madison itself is an awesome college town because it serves as both a college town and a state capital, bringing in outside influences that offer great opportunities such as interactions with locals and sometimes, great internship opportunities. There is also an abundance of school pride but not in an obnoxious way. We are proud to be Badgers but not to the point where things get aggressive. The academic life is also great at UW-Madison. While there have been recent administrative changes and other changes made as a result of the current complications with the state government, the students and professors have been adjusting together in a rather constructive fashion. Generally, professors are very approachable and helpful to students when they have questions or desire to learn more on a particular subject. Students sometimes complain about their teaching assistants (TAs) but for the most part, students are able to adapt to different teaching styles. No one is ever going to like every professor or teaching student they ever have but it has been my personal experience that there have been very few professors or TAs that I haven't been a huge fan of. One of the best things about Wisconsin is the pride you feel when telling people you go to school there. When I told people I was going there after high school graduation (note that I am an out of state student), I had mixed reactions from my friend's parents. Some said, "Oh, you must really like to party," but others enthusiastically said, "Wow! That's great, you are going to love it." While Madison is known for its party atmosphere, it is also known for its quality education and experience. College isn't just about academics, it is about discovering yourself and your passions. Wisconsin is a school that allows students to do this by providing a rigorous academic environment with a fun learning experience. To date, choosing to go to Wisconsin is the greatest decision I've ever made.

UW is great. It fits the needs of all different types of students, so especially if you're not sure what you're looking for in a school, UW is an excellent option. It is a large school, however, and some of the programs are very large and can give you the feeling of being one among many. However, other smaller programs are downright cosy, and give a much more small school feel. It really depends on the program you're looking at. There are also hundreds of campus organizations to get involved in, which is another way to overcome the large, impersonal feeling you might otherwise get at the university. The location of downtown Madison itself is fantastic. You're only a few blocks away from State Street and the Capitol building (very convenient for the next time you get an urge to get involved in any of the political protests that crop up every so often, or to just visit the midwest's largest farmer's market). Plus with the bus pass that comes with your tuition you can get pretty much anywhere in the city you're interested in going to. There are two student unions which are both really nice places to meet up with friends and offer great programs such as free movies several times a week. Academically, UW has a lot to offer. Madison is a great option for students who are undecided in their majors. You can easily change from microbiology, to marketing, to Hebrew, to interior design, to kinesthesiology, without having to switch to a new university. The professors and T.A.s are top notch and enthusiastic about what they teach. All are more than willing to get to know and help out students outside of class and are great resources for students. As a shy person I was nervous about coming to UW. I didn't know how I'd find my niche on such a large campus and I was worried that all of my classes would be huge lectures where I was just another face to the professor. But none of these fears came to fruition and now I can't imagine myself anywhere else.

The University of Wisconsin is a great place to be because it's a college town with a wide variety of opportunities students can take advantage of. Although it is a larger campus, I can personally say that it feels like a smaller campus community. Throughout campus, I almost always run into people that I know and because of this, I truly feel connected to UW. Madison has a strong sense of Badger pride which is evident if you have ever been to any of the Badger games where the entire crowd wears bright red. When telling people that I go to Madison, there is generally one of two sentiments. People either assume that Madison students are binge drinkers or they are impressed as Madison is one of the top academic schools in the country. In my opinion, Madison is not necessarily a drinking school, but like any other school, some people will choose to get out of control. One of my favorite things about Madison is that it is a very liberal town with progressive attitudes. People in Madison stand up for what they believe in and are very passionate about their beliefs. I am personally involved in a number of different organizations on campus that focus on women's health here in Madison and abroad. What's great about these organizations is that we truly make a difference with what we do whether its raising money or educating others on health policies. From my experience, people from Madison tend to be very interested in activism as there are a variety of different rallies or events held at the capitol protesting or showing support for a variety of issues. Another great thing about Madison is the farmers markets. This is one of the only times where students may feel as though there are people who exist other than students. Despite this, the farmer's market offers great, fresh (and sometimes organic) food right by campus for the community to enjoy. Finally, one of my favorite things about Madison is the lakes. There is absolutely nothing like going to sit in your favorite library and being able to see Lake Mendota no matter what time of year. Here's a picture so you can see for yourself: http://www.flickr.com/photos/althouse/2587977713/

"The University of Wisconsin at Madison beat out the University of Chicago and Harvard to be the top national university by internet brand equity, according to the Global Language Monitor’s 2011 TrendTopper MediaBuzz internet rankings." Dear Everyone who doesn't go here, Read it and weep. Sincerely, Badgers I love this school, and no matter what magazine puts us at #45 or whatever nonsense in their "academic rankings", the above fact is what makes us the best. It doesn't matter what your major is, or your GPA, or your extracurriculars, when you go into a job interview and say "I went to UW Madison," people know what you're talking about and respect it. Our sports program is one of the best in the country, I've rushed both the basketball court and the football field after upset victories, arguably my top two goals entering college. Our business and journalism schools are top notch, and while I don't have much to do with the sciences here, I've heard they're damn good too. What hooked me during my college search though was the physical space, our amazing campus. It is a city, in between two gorgeous lakes, that is built around the campus. Not a city person? Great, half our town is traditional, Cambridge-esque, green-lawned quads and matching scarves, old school campus. Think that's too boring? Don't like foliage as much as a good bar? Well then you're in luck, just step onto State Street and enter a city atmosphere that boasts, the most bars per capita in the country (unofficially). The biggest downfall is that in a school so large, you've got to be a real self starter. No academic advisor is going to hold your hand and lead you along life's golden path to a prosperous career. Nor will they recommend easy classes. Every step you take here, you're largely on your own. But isn't that what college is all about? Sources: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/05/the-most-buzzed-about-university-wisconsin/#ixzz1fPGY8zNF

I like the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I love the setting--Madison is a gorgeous city with beautiful scenery and has the conveniences of a small town while having the appeal of a growing small city. I love the people--I've made friends I will be close to my entire life and have met people who have irrevocably influenced my life for the better. I love the material I'm studying--having a sizable course catalog to choose from affords me the opportunity to study areas I've never been able to before, and I truly appreciate that. I value the professors--being a prestigious university allows for obtaining high-caliber instructors who are not only experts in their fields but passionate about what they teach. It's refreshing to have an instructor be so enthusiastic about the material. I like how almost every building has a library inside it -- so convenient! This university encourages aggressive learning, and I enjoy that very much. I like how the department you're in keeps you up to date on things that interest you. I like the Badger pride that's evident all around campus. I just like being here, in all aspects. If there was one thing I would change, though, I would change how far away my classes are from each other, because boy does it get freezing during the winter, and walking up Bascom Hill can be a challenge!

I absolutely love attending UW-Madison. The opportunities are endless. I receive daily e-mails inviting me to workshops, discussions, and job/career opportunities. They truly want their students to succeed here and even after they graduate. Many of the professors are experts in their fields and are more than willing to provide extra help when needed. The libraries and cafes are excellent study spots. However, studying is not the only thing to do on campus. There are many campus activities throughout the year and even good deals to go on trips to get off of campus for awhile. There really is something for everyone here.

Badger pride is definitely a major part of being a student at the UW, which helps students to reach out socially early in their college careers. Getting groups of friends together to go to any sporting event together can prove to be one of the most efficient ways of finding a solid group of friends. Its true that Madison has a large campus, and it can definitely feel overwhelming at first. However, its something you easily get used to. For the first week of freshmen year, as you run around like crazy looking for buildings and classes, you'll realize how easy it is to learn the layout of the place you're spending every day in. We also have great online tools to assist students of every graduating year--the online map on the Wisc homepage is still helpful to me because its like a much-more condensed version of Google maps, and pinpoints the exact building you need to get to! The buildings map is just one of the many helpful online tools at our university. As far as school staff goes, they are always friendly and extremely helpful. Though it seems a bit overwhelming to have 462 other students in one of your first semester lecture halls, the professors (and Teaching Assistants, if the class has discussion sections) are always available for meetings, and they are always flexible enough to fit your schedule. Don't let the class size intimidate you--the professors want to help you if you want to be helped! The bottom line is that the University of Wisconsin may seem a little overwhelming and possibly hard to get used to, but just like many other things in life, you get used to it quickly.

My overall opinion of UW-Madison is that it is a very good school that has a lot of excellent opportunities to succeed. I think the best part about the school is the advising opportunities. The career counseling that I've received here has been second to none. I feel very confident about my career prospects because of the personal, focused, and easy to access advising that I've had here. This is really nice to have, especially because the school actually is very large. The size of the school shows in some classes and not so much in others. There are very large lecture halls but also very small, personal discussion sections which help sort of everything in lecture. I've also had a few lectures in my upper level courses that were both small and taught by the professor, not the TA. Madison itself is a wonderful and unique city. It is small enough so that you can get around quite easily and recognize people wherever you go, and yet its also big enough to have a lot (and I mean A LOT) of excellent restaurants, bars, and retail establishments to suit your needs. I personally find the character of Madison to be one of the most intriguing and attractive parts of being a student here. The school spirit here is very high, and it definitely shows all year round. It runs especially high during football season, but even throughout the year students and citizens alike can be seen daily with Badger clothing and memorabilia. I think that it's a great aspect of the school and the city, and my Badger pride will definitely remain with me through my life. Of all the things that I do like, there are a few things I'd change. First, it would be the class registration system. I'm not sure about how other schools do it, but the process for registering and scheduling classes here has been somewhat frustrating. With some many students, classes tend to fill up quickly, and even as a senior registering very early I was prevented from registering in a class because of high demand. Overall though, I think that UW-Madison is a wonderful place to get an education. Academically, it is among the elite and culturally there is nothing like it. I don't think there are many schools out there that can compare with the great combination of these two qualities.

Uw Madison is a very large campus compared to the one I transfered from and that is a bit to get used to, but the faculty that I have met have all been extremely helpful and kind to me. Madison is definately a college town and at times the number of events and entertainment opportunities have been a bit overwhelming, not to mention destracting. All and all it's a fabulous place. The lake is stunning and the people kind.