U of Wisconsin, Madison & U of South Carolina?

[Anonymous]

Parent from a good public school district in New England here. These colleges have become so popular in our district over the past two years. The students headed to Wisconsin seem to be quite strong strong. The South Carolina students perhaps a little less so but still pretty good.

What do you think the student experience is like on a non-football day? I fear they are so big and impersonal, and I worry about job prospects as a lot of the kids I know are attending want to move back north after graduation.

[Anonymous]

You shouldn't worry about big and impersonal, not any more than say UConn. Sounds like you personally have a preference for SLACs. If so, geography is not going to change your preference.

In our family we like large state universities. Prefer them to SLACs. The adjustment to S Carolina though might be slightly more challenging without any southern roots.

[Anonymous]

I live in the Southeast and job prospects are fine for USC grads, especially in South Carolina and even Georgia. The alumni are very enthusiastic, and are proud to display their Gamecock gear.

[Anonymous]

Thanks—everything is so competitive and it’s hard to know the right way to go. A bigger school would be great, I think, but I wonder what the day-to-day experience is like.

[Anonymous]

Do you have no experience with large state universities? Where did you go Op. What was your college experience?

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the kid. Some want a big environment with lots of social and academic options and school spirit. Some might feel overwhelmed by that and look at smaller universities and colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent from a good public school district in New England here. These colleges have become so popular in our district over the past two years. The students headed to Wisconsin seem to be quite strong strong. The South Carolina students perhaps a little less so but still pretty good.

What do you think the student experience is like on a non-football day? I fear they are so big and impersonal, and I worry about job prospects as a lot of the kids I know are attending want to move back north after graduation.

The bolded portion is your problem. Football game days are just a small part of the experience at a large state public university for the vast majority of students.

[Anonymous]

Visit! They have ways of making a big campus feel small.

[Anonymous]

Look at SC’s honors college and capstone program. Both are top flight and make the big school feel smaller.

[Anonymous]

I prefer large flagships. I've attended 3. My view is that just like in the wider world, there will be your small social circle and then lots of people you don't know.

There are ways to make a big school feel small - a small major, a special dorm, an honors program, taking part in a university musical ensemble, joining a Greek organization, selecting clubs/ECs like the student newspaper, etc.

I am only familiar with graduates of the Darla Moore Int'l Business MBA. They've done quite well for themselves, out of region (Midwest executives).

Wisconsin - Madison continues to be well thought of. I hear it's not very diverse. We considered it for my DC in case he did not get into Michigan but he refused to apply based on travel distance, so we did not visit. He did apply to Indiana-Bloomington. We visited there and liked the campus and the layout of programs for his interest areas. DC is currently at Michigan LSA with a poli sci/public policy focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent from a good public school district in New England here. These colleges have become so popular in our district over the past two years. The students headed to Wisconsin seem to be quite strong strong. The South Carolina students perhaps a little less so but still pretty good.

What do you think the student experience is like on a non-football day? I fear they are so big and impersonal, and I worry about job prospects as a lot of the kids I know are attending want to move back north after graduation.

The bolded portion is your problem. Football game days are just a small part of the experience at a large state public university for the vast majority of students.

My kid is at South Carolina and only attended about 3/4 of the football games which was only about three or four games in the fall. Yes the games are very important and big. Basketball is also huge South Carolina, especially women’s basketball because they’re awesome. But my kid also hangs with other kids from his dorm and does his club sport which is not football or basketball. He is not in a fraternity, but still had plenty of friends from up and down the East Coast. I’m not worried about his job prospects because with a business degree frankly he can get a job doing a lot of different things. Also, he has an awesome GPA and is learning a ton.

We have another family member there too as a biology major. She did the rush thing, and although at first it was a little overwhelming, she joined a house that was her second choice. But it’s wound up being a fun part of her social life, although not a huge portion and she has lots of friends who did not do any Greek stuff. She’s getting involved in a lot of different ways in the school and is going on a club trip to South America as part of her major at winter break.

We’ve been pleasantly surprised with the school and also we received merit aid, so tuition is very in line with in-state costs for us.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people at Wisconsin pay no attention to football. Madison is an incredible, vibrant college town with tons to do. It's a big state university, but not necessarily impersonal. It's no small liberal arts college but you can find your people.

I'm pretty sure degrees from UW are recognized in New England should one decide to move back "north."