Would UW-Madison be a good choice?

[Anonymous]

D24 wants to double major in Chinese language and literature and linguistics. Her dream school is Michigan but we stumbled upon UW-Madison while doing college research, and their programs for both appear to be good. We visited this week and she loves the campus, especially the lake at night. In addition, their collection of Chinese-language literary works is quite large.

Problem is, she’s pretty introverted and we’ve heard that the UW is a massive party school and that you won’t have many friends if you don’t partake in this. The issue is, she’s dead set on attending either it or Michigan if she gets in (she got in to UW but we don’t know about Mich and it is a pretty big reach). We wonder if there will be people with similar interests and personalities, or whether it will be isolating. It would be quite a shame if this is the case, as the campus is so beautiful and everything else about it seems perfect.

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

We are in a similar boat.

We heard that drinking is part of Wisconsin culture (that is the whole state, not just the college). We were told this by someone who lives in Wisconsin. Not sure if they have an accurate read or not.

Also wondering more generally if the lack of campus housing after freshmen year makes for a more lonely time. Dorms seems more geared towards a sense of community and have RAs versus an apartment building. Obviously, this is an issue for more than just UW-Madison so wondering what others experience has been.

[Anonymous]

A large school has more peers to make friends with. I went to Wisconsin a while ago. The drinking culture was available, but there were lots of other things to do, and why would anyone care if someone participates (hold or slowly sip a drink) or not. I would assume most colleges are similar.

Regarding dorms, some people will live in the dorms past freshman year. However, rental apartments and such are just more comfortable options. These are filled with students, and people often have roommates, so it is really not much different from that perspective.

[Anonymous]

Hope she gets into Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Why would the concerns differ between these two schools? The reality is they are similar with respect to party/drinking culture. I suspect OP is disguising an alternative agenda.

[Anonymous]

My non-partier daughter has loved and thrived in Madison! It’s a terrific school and worth the money.

[Anonymous]

No of course not. Terrible idea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in a similar boat.

We heard that drinking is part of Wisconsin culture (that is the whole state, not just the college). We were told this by someone who lives in Wisconsin. Not sure if they have an accurate read or not.

Also wondering more generally if the lack of campus housing after freshmen year makes for a more lonely time. Dorms seems more geared towards a sense of community and have RAs versus an apartment building. Obviously, this is an issue for more than just UW-Madison so wondering what others experience has been.

WOW, incredible to think an entire state drinks! Who knew? And no this is not in fact, the case. As with any school, location your mileage with vary. UW Madison is a HUGE school. If its the school she wants to go, she will be able to find folks that are like her.

[Anonymous]

I think she could really enjoy it! My son is a junior there, so I have some personal understanding of the school. For example, on Fridays nights the school hosts "craft time" in Memorial Union (the building with the gorgeous patio overlooking the lake) and I'm thinking that would be a great way for nonparty kiddos to hang out. When I was visiting last month my high school daughter was invited to join in even though she's not a student and she had a blast.

And my niece is a student at Uof M-- seems like there is just as much a drinking/party culture there as at MAdison. Either school is a great option!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she could really enjoy it! My son is a junior there, so I have some personal understanding of the school. For example, on Fridays nights the school hosts "craft time" in Memorial Union (the building with the gorgeous patio overlooking the lake) and I'm thinking that would be a great way for nonparty kiddos to hang out. When I was visiting last month my high school daughter was invited to join in even though she's not a student and she had a blast.

And my niece is a student at Uof M-- seems like there is just as much a drinking/party culture there as at MAdison. Either school is a great option!

Most big schools, including Michigan, have a lot of drinking culture. I left Penn State (Honors College and dorm) in part because of it. It was a safety hazard as well as just offputting. But it is ubiquitous. I know kids that left other schools because the social scene was limited to just getting wasted every weekend.

Eventually I found my people at a different university. Mainly in campus choir. Also a bit through honors program extended networks at the second school.

Based on my experience at big schools, I would look into Living & Learning Communities and other programs that make a big school smaller. What a student need to make friends, I think, is repeated encounters with the same people until you can get to know each other. A big school can dilute that effect.

I have known a fair number of language majors and the typically smaller numbers of students in language majors can help to create a community. However, from my research, it looks like the number of Chinese BAs per year is quite small at any school. My reaction to that is that it will be hard to find others until the final electives just for the majors.

I think both Wisconsin and Michigan (which I attended for grad school) would be good choices BUT your daughter should identify ways to make that big school small up front. At Michigan, I suggest looking into the LSA Residential College and the Honors Program. I further recommend your daughter look into at least one school in an area where there are a lot of native Chinese speakers beyond the academic community. I would recommend putting the most suitable school in California on your list. I would use number of degrees granted per year in both target majors, study abroad program support, and the general shape of the curriculum as criteria before considering campus loveliness and library resources. Also the local economy around the school and its connections to China. Unless your daughter wants to work in DC.

Good luck! I think the Chinese major will be a plus on applications!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:D24 wants to double major in Chinese language and literature and linguistics. Her dream school is Michigan but we stumbled upon UW-Madison while doing college research, and their programs for both appear to be good. We visited this week and she loves the campus, especially the lake at night. In addition, their collection of Chinese-language literary works is quite large.

Problem is, she’s pretty introverted and we’ve heard that the UW is a massive party school and that you won’t have many friends if you don’t partake in this. The issue is, she’s dead set on attending either it or Michigan if she gets in (she got in to UW but we don’t know about Mich and it is a pretty big reach). We wonder if there will be people with similar interests and personalities, or whether it will be isolating. It would be quite a shame if this is the case, as the campus is so beautiful and everything else about it seems perfect.

Thanks so much!

All big state schools have lots of drinking- UGA UMD Ohio state UCLA. Wisconsin, etc. it's nothing just w Madison

[Anonymous]

PP meant to add / including Michigan!

[Anonymous]

That a parent of a kid focused on Michigan but worried that Wisconsin has too big of a drinking culture is absolutely insane.

[Anonymous]

My cousin's DD who is extremely shy and not a partier graduated from Madison 2 years ago. She absolutely loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That a parent of a kid focused on Michigan but worried that Wisconsin has too big of a drinking culture is absolutely insane.

There is no doubt the party culture is stronger at Wisconsin than Michigan. It’s just they way it is.