Michigan vs. Wisconsin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We toured both campuses and my kids loved both. I'm not going to comment on school rankings because I think they are both great universities.

I do have a random question about winter weather. I saw that just a couple years ago Wisconsin had a daytime high of -26 and Michigan set a record of -18 below zero. Do kids actually go to class when it gets that cold?

I grew up in the South and can deal with heat. That kind of cold would just crush me. I'm sure the kids would be fine. Just curious.

When I was an undergrad in Madison, yes we went to classes when it got that cold. But it was honestly that cold once in my 4 years there, and only for two days. It is a little colder in Madison, mostly 20's for most of the winder by my recollection, but it wasn't as cloudy and dreary as Ann Arbor can be during the winter.

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin is Michigan’s number 1 back up. Nobody who gets into both chooses Wisconsin. Not saying it isn’t a good school though.

Wisconsin is also less diverse racially and geographically. It has virtually no African American students.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:There is a huge difference in the towns/campuses... WI is far superior in my opinion.

There isn’t a huge difference in towns/campuses. There is a difference in prestige however. Michigan easily wins in that regard.

They're both T10 public universities. How is Michigan significantly superior in prestige and why does that matter?

DP. I have family at both. Michigan is a much higher ranked school in almost all disciplines and is known internationally. Not so with Wisconsin. Wisconsin is nothing to sneeze at obviously but they are not in the same tier. One has an admit rate of 20% and the other 60%

Madison is a state capital, larger and has more to offer than Ann Arbor but not sure that would matter for a student. But if that's a priority, then they should focus on Winsconsin.

And "How is Michigan significantly superior in prestige and why does that matter?" is a great question for google. Not going to regurgitate common knowledge here.

These numbers are very outdated. Michigan is almost a single digit admit rate for OOS applications and UW is under 20% now for OOS. That said, everything others have said is spot on.

UM has an across the board academic excellence in every department. Ann Arbor is a great college town and it is pretty easy to get to Detroit's airport which is an international hub.

UW has several excellent departments and is showing great innovation in things like data science, information systems and digital literacy and journalism in addition to the traditional strengths in areas like sociology, history and real estate.

Madison is widely regarded as a vibrant state capitol and excellent college town, bigger than Ann Arbor but not as accessible for undergrads coming from the east coast (usually have to hop through detroit, chicago or other airport)

Both have great school spirit and top level varsity sports, great student clubs an on/off campus activities.

UM has a more prominent national reputation, but that is only because it is honestly one of the very top public schools in the country. UW is a national school with a great reputation. Recruiting for jobs is probably a little better at Michigan than Wisconsin, but they are ultimately both fantastic schools that afford proactive students just about any opportunty available.

This. They are both great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin is Michigan’s number 1 back up. Nobody who gets into both chooses Wisconsin. Not saying it isn’t a good school though.

Wisconsin is also less diverse racially and geographically. It has virtually no African American students.

This actually isn't true. I know kids who have chosen it for a variety or reasons. Sure MOST will choose UM, but it isn't 100% or close to it.

[Anonymous]

We visited both (legacy at Michigan). DC thought they were okay but the weather was a big turn off. The rah rah big school they really liked was University of Washington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin is Michigan’s number 1 back up. Nobody who gets into both chooses Wisconsin. Not saying it isn’t a good school though.

Wisconsin is also less diverse racially and geographically. It has virtually no African American students.

Wisconsin is less diverse but not by a lot. Neither has big numbers when it comes to African-American students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin is Michigan’s number 1 back up. Nobody who gets into both chooses Wisconsin. Not saying it isn’t a good school though.

Wisconsin is also less diverse racially and geographically. It has virtually no African American students.

Wisconsin is less diverse but not by a lot. Neither has big numbers when it comes to African-American students.

In Michigan's case that's because the Michigan Supreme Court banned affirmative action in 2006 and the numbers dropped.. Not sure about WI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge difference in the towns/campuses... WI is far superior in my opinion.

Agree, Madison is an incredible college town. Ann Arbor is just not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin is Michigan’s number 1 back up. Nobody who gets into both chooses Wisconsin. Not saying it isn’t a good school though.

Wisconsin is also less diverse racially and geographically. It has virtually no African American students.

Wisconsin is less diverse but not by a lot. Neither has big numbers when it comes to African-American students.

In Michigan's case that's because the Michigan Supreme Court banned affirmative action in 2006 and the numbers dropped.. Not sure about WI.

These numbers largely track with the demographics of the states as a whole. The population of Michigan is roughly 78% White and 14% Black or African-American, whereas the state of Wisconsin is 84% white and only 6% Black or African-American. So it makes sense that there would be proportionally fewer African-American students in Madison.

[Anonymous]

Not an alum from either school, but I have encountered many during my adulthood. Wisconsin grads have always come off as nice and fun. Michigan grads are very pretentious.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:There is a huge difference in the towns/campuses... WI is far superior in my opinion.

There isn’t a huge difference in towns/campuses. There is a difference in prestige however. Michigan easily wins in that regard.

They're both T10 public universities. How is Michigan significantly superior in prestige and why does that matter?

DP. I have family at both. Michigan is a much higher ranked school in almost all disciplines and is known internationally. Not so with Wisconsin. Wisconsin is nothing to sneeze at obviously but they are not in the same tier. One has an admit rate of 20% and the other 60%

Madison is a state capital, larger and has more to offer than Ann Arbor but not sure that would matter for a student. But if that's a priority, then they should focus on Winsconsin.

And "How is Michigan significantly superior in prestige and why does that matter?" is a great question for google. Not going to regurgitate common knowledge here.

Agreed. Granted as a Michigan alum I am more in tune with the maize and blue but I can't think of many places I have been where I have not bumped into a Michigan grad. We are everywhere. Wisconsin is a great school but not the same as Michigan.

Some of this will depend on what your student is looking for and what program they plan to join.

Let's be honest: the reason it seems like UM grads are everywhere is simply because they make such a point to let everyone know they went to school there. Wisconsin alums are much more low key.

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin has a large Agriculture School. The proper comparison is really Michigan State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin has a large Agriculture School. The proper comparison is really Michigan State.

This is a good point. Wisconsin should be compared to Michigan State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wisconsin is Michigan’s number 1 back up. Nobody who gets into both chooses Wisconsin. Not saying it isn’t a good school though.

Wisconsin is also less diverse racially and geographically. It has virtually no African American students.

Wisconsin is less diverse but not by a lot. Neither has big numbers when it comes to African-American students.

In Michigan's case that's because the Michigan Supreme Court banned affirmative action in 2006 and the numbers dropped.. Not sure about WI.

These numbers largely track with the demographics of the states as a whole. The population of Michigan is roughly 78% White and 14% Black or African-American, whereas the state of Wisconsin is 84% white and only 6% Black or African-American. So it makes sense that there would be proportionally fewer African-American students in Madison.

Yeah, that’s Wisconsin’s familiar mantra. But if the school truly wants to be a world-class international university it has to increase diversity.

[Anonymous]

The primary demographic difference between students at Michigan and Wisconsin isn't African-Americans, it's Asians. 15% vs 7%

That said, Wisconsin seems to have more international students, which is interesting.