Michigan vs. Wisconsin

[Anonymous]

I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

[Anonymous]

Or…the people in the Midwest aren’t nicer, they just act like it? That’s good enough for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or…the people in the Midwest aren’t nicer, they just act like it? That’s good enough for me.

Are you negative about everything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

The Great Lakes area also has a different vibe than other parts of the Midwest. The Midwest is way too large to be easily explained in a one size fits all format.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

It’s a different form of passive-aggressiveness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

It’s a different form of passive-aggressiveness.

Maybe sometimes. But it also means clerks say hello at the checkout counter and wish you a nice day like they actually mean it. Or when you're merging on the highway, people stop to let you in instead of speeding up and cutting you off. That's not passive aggressive, it's just nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing about Wisconsin grads, they always light up when they talk about it and go on and on about how much they loved the school - in a way I don’t hear about anyplace else. Graduation is like expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

I just posted above and I agree about this. There are lots of WI grads in the DC area and we all can't help but get a smile on our faces when we talk about it. We loved the school, are proud of attending, and think it has served us well.

Great insight. What do you hear most about what people love so much?

There isn't one overriding factor that makes us love it so much, but rather a great combination of all sorts of things. Now I graduated in the 90s, so this is from that vantage point. Excellent and interesting professors (I don't recall having any classes taught by TAs) and classes, a university that cultivates true school spirit, a fun atmosphere - the State Street atmosphere is hard to beat, great sports spirit, and a beautiful campus. And the Memorial Union Terrace! It embodies the best in a college atmosphere. And the town of Madison is just large enough to be interesting outside of the University and easy to get around in. But there was also a feeling that the University believes it is important for your education to matter to the world. The Wisconsin Idea. I left feeling like I was able to contribute something of value to the world while also having a great time learning those values. Now being in DC with public servants galore, it is easy to see this play out with UW alumni, both undergrad and graduate program graduates - there are so many UW law students in DC. And I do think there is a lack of pretentiousness from graduates that makes us easy to relate to.

And I am confident my degree from there helped me in my career advancement, at least early in my career before I earned my master's from somewhere else. My DD has her heart set on attending there. She will need to broaden her choices of course, but I won't do anything to dissuade her from attending if she is one of the 20% of OOS enrollees that is accepted.

Believe it or not, currently sitting at the MSN airport on a (delayed) flight to DCA. Just toured Wisconsin with DS and I believe everything pp has described. It’s been a great day in Madison.

Glad you had a great day! For the time being at least, there is that daily Delta direct flight between Madison & DCA. It's great. It has been in operation for a number of years, so it makes me think it is profitable and will stay. And the Madison airport is easy to maneuver through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

It’s a different form of passive-aggressiveness.

Maybe sometimes. But it also means clerks say hello at the checkout counter and wish you a nice day like they actually mean it. Or when you're merging on the highway, people stop to let you in instead of speeding up and cutting you off. That's not passive aggressive, it's just nice.

DP. And most Midwesterners aren't caught up in the rat race which is a refreshing change. They want their kids to go to good schools but you won't find them obsessing about college rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing about Wisconsin grads, they always light up when they talk about it and go on and on about how much they loved the school - in a way I don’t hear about anyplace else. Graduation is like expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

I just posted above and I agree about this. There are lots of WI grads in the DC area and we all can't help but get a smile on our faces when we talk about it. We loved the school, are proud of attending, and think it has served us well.

Great insight. What do you hear most about what people love so much?

There isn't one overriding factor that makes us love it so much, but rather a great combination of all sorts of things. Now I graduated in the 90s, so this is from that vantage point. Excellent and interesting professors (I don't recall having any classes taught by TAs) and classes, a university that cultivates true school spirit, a fun atmosphere - the State Street atmosphere is hard to beat, great sports spirit, and a beautiful campus. And the Memorial Union Terrace! It embodies the best in a college atmosphere. And the town of Madison is just large enough to be interesting outside of the University and easy to get around in. But there was also a feeling that the University believes it is important for your education to matter to the world. The Wisconsin Idea. I left feeling like I was able to contribute something of value to the world while also having a great time learning those values. Now being in DC with public servants galore, it is easy to see this play out with UW alumni, both undergrad and graduate program graduates - there are so many UW law students in DC. And I do think there is a lack of pretentiousness from graduates that makes us easy to relate to.

And I am confident my degree from there helped me in my career advancement, at least early in my career before I earned my master's from somewhere else. My DD has her heart set on attending there. She will need to broaden her choices of course, but I won't do anything to dissuade her from attending if she is one of the 20% of OOS enrollees that is accepted.

Believe it or not, currently sitting at the MSN airport on a (delayed) flight to DCA. Just toured Wisconsin with DS and I believe everything pp has described. It’s been a great day in Madison.

Glad you had a great day! For the time being at least, there is that daily Delta direct flight between Madison & DCA. It's great. It has been in operation for a number of years, so it makes me think it is profitable and will stay. And the Madison airport is easy to maneuver through.

We managed a one day trip to DCA to MSN and return. First flight on American and return on Delta. Uber on both ends. Both flights were full. Makes the University much more accessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

It’s a different form of passive-aggressiveness.

Maybe sometimes. But it also means clerks say hello at the checkout counter and wish you a nice day like they actually mean it. Or when you're merging on the highway, people stop to let you in instead of speeding up and cutting you off. That's not passive aggressive, it's just nice.

THIS. I am from the Midwest and live in DC now. I miss this. So much better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in the Northeast, the Midwest, & the West. If you don’t see a difference you aren’t paying attention. Or maybe your idea of Midwest is Chicago, which is clearly an anomaly.

+1

The Midwest vibe is also different than southern “bless your heart” politeness. It’s difficult to explain but definitely a thing.

It’s a different form of passive-aggressiveness.

Maybe sometimes. But it also means clerks say hello at the checkout counter and wish you a nice day like they actually mean it. Or when you're merging on the highway, people stop to let you in instead of speeding up and cutting you off. That's not passive aggressive, it's just nice.

DP. And most Midwesterners aren't caught up in the rat race which is a refreshing change. They want their kids to go to good schools but you won't find them obsessing about college rankings.

Right. It’s awful here. So unhealthy for kids and parents. Constant obsessing and bs over schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Michigan long time. Many Michigan grads think their peer schools are Ivies, Stanford, Northwestern. That’s a big part of their legendary arrogance. Many in-state students at private high schools who could afford to go to college anywhere see no reason to leave the state.

So arrogant and obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Michigan long time. Many Michigan grads think their peer schools are Ivies, Stanford, Northwestern. That’s a big part of their legendary arrogance. Many in-state students at private high schools who could afford to go to college anywhere see no reason to leave the state.

So arrogant and obnoxious.

Pretending that above poster knows what “most Michigan grads” think is what is arrogant and obnoxious.