Big Ten School atmosphere similar to U of WI

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't put too much time into this right now since your kid is a sophomore. The process is long and stressful as it is and starting sooner just exasperates the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC (class of 26, DC resident) has the University of WI as their very top choice. And both fortunately, and unfortunately, they are familiar enough with it to be fairly informed in their understanding of the school and they love it. I am a graduate, we know a few faculty, and we visit fairly regularly. I love the school and it would be great if they were accepted. But I say unfortunately because while I believe they will have a strong application for the school, we know it is far from easy to get into now, and I need to get them to start considering and visiting other schools.

I think other Big Ten schools should be considered. I am only familiar with the academics and atmosphere of MN & Iowa. If you can speak to the vibe at multiple B10 schools, which others would you say are closest to UW? And add in the incoming schools to the conference too if you want! I know enough about U of MI based on the numerous other threads on here comparing UW and MI. (Please stay away MI troll from those threads!). Thanks!

Really depends upon your student's perception of University of Wisconsin's atmosphere. Is the student focusing on academics, location, or party scene, etc. ?

The University of Washington in Seattle certainly has similarities regarding location near water, top-notch academics, size of student body, and weather, but less partying than found at U Wisconsin.

Indiana University should be given consideration.

Wisconsin is least like USC, UCLA, Purdue, and Northwestern--in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Most of people from the DMV who go to Illinois (UIUC) go for STEM—TJ students apply every year. And it’s not quite the Madison vibe. I think MN is closer, even though the city is bigger. And benefits from direct flight.

[Anonymous]

Fellow Badger here...Indiana would be the closest, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC (class of 26, DC resident) has the University of WI as their very top choice. And both fortunately, and unfortunately, they are familiar enough with it to be fairly informed in their understanding of the school and they love it. I am a graduate, we know a few faculty, and we visit fairly regularly. I love the school and it would be great if they were accepted. But I say unfortunately because while I believe they will have a strong application for the school, we know it is far from easy to get into now, and I need to get them to start considering and visiting other schools.

I think other Big Ten schools should be considered. I am only familiar with the academics and atmosphere of MN & Iowa. If you can speak to the vibe at multiple B10 schools, which others would you say are closest to UW? And add in the incoming schools to the conference too if you want! I know enough about U of MI based on the numerous other threads on here comparing UW and MI. (Please stay away MI troll from those threads!). Thanks!

Really depends upon your student's perception of University of Wisconsin's atmosphere. Is the student focusing on academics, location, or party scene, etc. ?

The University of Washington in Seattle certainly has similarities regarding location near water, top-notch academics, size of student body, and weather, but less partying than found at U Wisconsin.

Indiana University should be given consideration.

Wisconsin is least like USC, UCLA, Purdue, and Northwestern--in my opinion.

OP said Big Ten. Let's not welcome them like this.

[Anonymous]

UMD UGA UF Syracuse Ohio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC (class of 26, DC resident) has the University of WI as their very top choice. And both fortunately, and unfortunately, they are familiar enough with it to be fairly informed in their understanding of the school and they love it. I am a graduate, we know a few faculty, and we visit fairly regularly. I love the school and it would be great if they were accepted. But I say unfortunately because while I believe they will have a strong application for the school, we know it is far from easy to get into now, and I need to get them to start considering and visiting other schools.

I think other Big Ten schools should be considered. I am only familiar with the academics and atmosphere of MN & Iowa. If you can speak to the vibe at multiple B10 schools, which others would you say are closest to UW? And add in the incoming schools to the conference too if you want! I know enough about U of MI based on the numerous other threads on here comparing UW and MI. (Please stay away MI troll from those threads!). Thanks!

Really depends upon your student's perception of University of Wisconsin's atmosphere. Is the student focusing on academics, location, or party scene, etc. ?

The University of Washington in Seattle certainly has similarities regarding location near water, top-notch academics, size of student body, and weather, but less partying than found at U Wisconsin.

Indiana University should be given consideration.

Wisconsin is least like USC, UCLA, Purdue, and Northwestern--in my opinion.

OP said Big Ten. Let's not welcome them like this.

Idiot. Google whose joining B10

[Anonymous]

IU is the obvious answer to the "less selective alternative to Wisconsin" question. Washington is a pretty good call, too, although the Northwest vibe is different than the Midwest one. Minnesota and Michigan State both strike me as a little further from the mark but still pretty similar. Outside the B1G, Texas is quite similar (although an even harder OOS admit) and Georgia is pretty close (although probably as tough an OOS admit). At the safety level, I'd say Kansas is a bit closer than Iowa even though it's obviously not in the B1G.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Setting aside Michigan, Indiana would be closest to the vibe of Wisconsin, followed by Minnesota and Iowa, and then perhaps Michigan State.

Illinois and Purdue are more nerdy and tech-oriented.

Northwestern is a quasi-Ivy.

Nebraska doesn’t pull as much from the East Coast or even the suburbs of the big Midwestern cities.

Penn State and Ohio State are enormous football factories.

Rutgers and Maryland are East Coast and in gritty areas that don’t come close to being nice college towns.

Really?

You need to get out more.

Have you visited UMCP or Rutgers? College park is a gritty area, not much of a traditional college town. Rutgers is spread across many campuses in central jersey. I've been both the Piscataway and Rt18/by the old sears shopping mall campuses...niether was very "nice". Piscataway has had a crime problem for years. So yes, neither is a nice college town like say Ann Arbor or Madison or Evanston or Columbus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Setting aside Michigan, Indiana would be closest to the vibe of Wisconsin, followed by Minnesota and Iowa, and then perhaps Michigan State.

Illinois and Purdue are more nerdy and tech-oriented.

Northwestern is a quasi-Ivy.

Nebraska doesn’t pull as much from the East Coast or even the suburbs of the big Midwestern cities.

Penn State and Ohio State are enormous football factories.

Rutgers and Maryland are East Coast and in gritty areas that don’t come close to being nice college towns.

Really?

You need to get out more.

Have you visited UMCP or Rutgers? College park is a gritty area, not much of a traditional college town. Rutgers is spread across many campuses in central jersey. I've been both the Piscataway and Rt18/by the old sears shopping mall campuses...niether was very "nice". Piscataway has had a crime problem for years. So yes, neither is a nice college town like say Ann Arbor or Madison or Evanston or Columbus.

Agree with all of this except for dropping Columbus into the same sentence as Madison and Ann Arbor (or even Evanston).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Major??

Still very uncertain but probably math or science-oriented. Not engineering, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't put too much time into this right now since your kid is a sophomore. The process is long and stressful as it is and starting sooner just exasperates the situation.

I know this is true. DC is very excited about college and is enjoying the exploration phase right now. If they are engaged right now, we want to tap into that enthusiasm to get a better understanding of what type of experience they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Setting aside Michigan, Indiana would be closest to the vibe of Wisconsin, followed by Minnesota and Iowa, and then perhaps Michigan State.

Illinois and Purdue are more nerdy and tech-oriented.

Northwestern is a quasi-Ivy.

Nebraska doesn’t pull as much from the East Coast or even the suburbs of the big Midwestern cities.

Penn State and Ohio State are enormous football factories.

Rutgers and Maryland are East Coast and in gritty areas that don’t come close to being nice college towns.

Really?

You need to get out more.

Have you visited UMCP or Rutgers? College park is a gritty area, not much of a traditional college town. Rutgers is spread across many campuses in central jersey. I've been both the Piscataway and Rt18/by the old sears shopping mall campuses...niether was very "nice". Piscataway has had a crime problem for years. So yes, neither is a nice college town like say Ann Arbor or Madison or Evanston or Columbus.

Agree with all of this except for dropping Columbus into the same sentence as Madison and Ann Arbor (or even Evanston).

Okay, that is fair. However, Columbus is still much better than Piscataway or CP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nebraska

Uh, no

[Anonymous]

UGA is the closest to the UW vibe.