Big Ten School atmosphere similar to U of WI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UGA is the closest to the UW vibe.

I think Texas is closest to Wisconsin and UGA is closest to IU. But reasonable minds can differ.

[Anonymous]

Academically UW’s strongest peer is UT Austin. By department rankings they are very very similar, which is kudos to Wisconsin because they have a MUCH smaller economy and population to work with. However, if we’re talking Big 10 Michigan is the closest to UW, pretty irrefutably. Only Michigan and Wisconsin pull the massive amounts of coastal students who major in a wide variety of program (ex. Illinois is only stem and Indians is only business).

[Anonymous]

Indiana I meant

[Anonymous]

IU's music school also is first-rate, as are its modern language and animal behavior programs. Kelley pulls the largest number of strong students to Bloomington, of course, but it's hardly the only destination program there.

[Anonymous]

If you're looking for another Big Ten school that is similar (no two universities are identical) to Wisconsin but an easier admit, for us Indiana was the choice (just went through the same process two years ago -- DD was rejected at top choice Wisconsin, got into IU Bloomington, and is loving it there). Large school, pretty campus, strong public policy and arts programs, lively community, relatively large OOS contingent. Bloomington is smaller than Madison but Indianapolis is just an hour up the road so that kind of balances.

By comparison, to DD (and it goes without saying each of these are fine schools, and some are more competitive admits than IU - these aren't objective judgments but just how close it felt to what DD liked about Wisconsin):
Iowa felt isolated, notwithstanding the charms of Iowa City.
Illinois' setting wasn't inspiring, and the OOS contingent isn't as big (and she didn't want to feel out of place).
Purdue felt like principally a STEM school (and the campus and setting seem drab compared to IU). She wasn't interested.
Penn State (University Park) is out in the middle of nowhere.
Michigan State seemed very much Michigan-centric, and DD was looking for a school specializing in programs more like Ann Arbor's than MSU's ag/tech programs.
Minnesota/Twin Cities is an urban school and campus.
We didn't look at Northwestern or Michigan (unattainable) or Nebraska (higher ranked schools seemed achieveable, and a three hour drive to Kansas City seemed too remote).
UMD and Rutgers - she read up on them, wasn't interested.

I agree with some PP that OSU might be another good Wisconsin-like option, but Columbus isn't Madison, and the OOS contingent at OSU isn't as big as at some other Big Ten schools. For us, we have relatives in Columbus who DD wanted to avoid, so she didn't seriously consider OSU (her call...).

A large non-B1G flagship that ticks some of the same boxes (and is an easier admit than Wisconsin), albeit with more of a western than midwestern feel, is Colorado/Boulder (queue the obligatory references to weed and mountains). DD got in there as well, and seriously considered it, but is really happy she opted for IU.

Good luck!

[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.

If you think New Brunswick or College Park are nice college towns, you’re the one who needs to get out more.

[Anonymous]

“ For us, we have relatives in Columbus who DD wanted to avoid, so she didn't seriously consider OSU (her call...).”

I can understand that. Buckeye fans are insufferable.

[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!

“Please stay away MI troll from those threads!”

I believe it was the Wisconsin troll who was doing most of the negative comparing.

[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.

If you think New Brunswick or College Park are nice college towns, you’re the one who needs to get out more.

Neither are, but College Park > New Brunswick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UGA is the closest to the UW vibe.

I think Texas is closest to Wisconsin and UGA is closest to IU. But reasonable minds can differ.

UW has an 80% acceptance rate and UGA has 25% (OOS) Or do you mean vibe/town?
UT seems much harder to get into than UW. Several kids got into Wisconsin from our MCPS school- only 1 to UT.

[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.

If you think New Brunswick or College Park are nice college towns, you’re the one who needs to get out more.

Neither are, but College Park > New Brunswick.

Not by much. In reality, if your student wants a true college campus then neither is a good choice, especially at OOS rates. There are much better options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UGA is the closest to the UW vibe.

I think Texas is closest to Wisconsin and UGA is closest to IU. But reasonable minds can differ.

UW has an 80% acceptance rate and UGA has 25% (OOS) Or do you mean vibe/town?
UT seems much harder to get into than UW. Several kids got into Wisconsin from our MCPS school- only 1 to UT.

Wisconsin acceptance rate for in state was 49% last year. OOS was 18%. That is a far cry from 80% (not sure where you are pulling your numbers from)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UGA is the closest to the UW vibe.

I think Texas is closest to Wisconsin and UGA is closest to IU. But reasonable minds can differ.

UW has an 80% acceptance rate and UGA has 25% (OOS) Or do you mean vibe/town?
UT seems much harder to get into than UW. Several kids got into Wisconsin from our MCPS school- only 1 to UT.

WI OOS is more like 35%. They also take more OOS than Texas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UGA is the closest to the UW vibe.

I think Texas is closest to Wisconsin and UGA is closest to IU. But reasonable minds can differ.

UW has an 80% acceptance rate and UGA has 25% (OOS) Or do you mean vibe/town?
UT seems much harder to get into than UW. Several kids got into Wisconsin from our MCPS school- only 1 to UT.

WI OOS is more like 35%. They also take more OOS than Texas.

I stand corrected. 35% was three years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academically UW’s strongest peer is UT Austin. By department rankings they are very very similar, which is kudos to Wisconsin because they have a MUCH smaller economy and population to work with. However, if we’re talking Big 10 Michigan is the closest to UW, pretty irrefutably. Only Michigan and Wisconsin pull the massive amounts of coastal students who major in a wide variety of program (ex. Illinois is only stem and Indians is only business).

Calm down. It's another good state school. Not the second coming.