what is the University of Minnesota like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US news has Minnesota ranked at 70, that seems high to me: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-3969/overall-rankings

DD#1 is a junior at University of Wisconsin; I feel like they were much closer ranked a few years ago when she was applying.

I’m surprised that UW hasn’t dropped after all those years of governor Walker. I know that budgets have been tight and programs cut, since I have friends on faculty there.

No, they just moved up. And Minnesota was never ranked anywhere near Wisconsin. Most of the kids in Minnesota would rather go to Wisconsin.

PP here, I should correct myself. I meant that seemed like a low rank (high number) for Minnesota. I would expect UMN to be in the 50s. DD visited both Minnesota and Wisconsin, the campus vibe and town of Madison were way better.

Maybe Wisconsin has weathered the Walker storm, DD hasnt felt any ill effects (locked out of classes, etc) and they are building a bunch on campus. She doesnt mind the cold but it took some getting used to in that she had to buy the right clothes/layers. She says she likes having dramatically different seasons.

It’s so subjective when talking about campus vibe. And not everyone prefers to be at Madison. Husband is a Badger and loved it. I took one look at Madison and wanted to leave. I wanted a bigger city and wasn’t into Big Ten sports. Camp Randall dominates at Wisconsin. I love the lakes and the terrace there, but the 60s architecture isn’t my fave. U of M’s campus’s has prettier buildings, a great mall with views of downtown Minneapolis and the Mississippi. For me, U of M was the perfect fit. I agree UW Madison is higher up the list on academic rankings, but I got a full scholarship for my senior year in the Netherlands and got into Harvard for grad, so Minnesota gave me a great foundation.

60’s architecture at UW-Madison? Prettier buildings at Minnesota? How long were you in Madison? A millisecond?

[Anonymous]

Lots of gophers.

[Anonymous]

https://www.12up.com/posts/video-wisconsin-fans-torment-lone-michigan-fan-during-jump-around-in-middle-of-badgers-blowout-01dnaqc6pq7a

It’s kind of a big deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US news has Minnesota ranked at 70, that seems high to me: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-3969/overall-rankings

DD#1 is a junior at University of Wisconsin; I feel like they were much closer ranked a few years ago when she was applying.

I’m surprised that UW hasn’t dropped after all those years of governor Walker. I know that budgets have been tight and programs cut, since I have friends on faculty there.

No, they just moved up. And Minnesota was never ranked anywhere near Wisconsin. Most of the kids in Minnesota would rather go to Wisconsin.

PP here, I should correct myself. I meant that seemed like a low rank (high number) for Minnesota. I would expect UMN to be in the 50s. DD visited both Minnesota and Wisconsin, the campus vibe and town of Madison were way better.

Maybe Wisconsin has weathered the Walker storm, DD hasnt felt any ill effects (locked out of classes, etc) and they are building a bunch on campus. She doesnt mind the cold but it took some getting used to in that she had to buy the right clothes/layers. She says she likes having dramatically different seasons.

I love both schools, but you can't tell me this doesn't look a lot like University Avenue.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/articles/the-history-of-karl-marx-allee-in-1-minute/

It’s so subjective when talking about campus vibe. And not everyone prefers to be at Madison. Husband is a Badger and loved it. I took one look at Madison and wanted to leave. I wanted a bigger city and wasn’t into Big Ten sports. Camp Randall dominates at Wisconsin. I love the lakes and the terrace there, but the 60s architecture isn’t my fave. U of M’s campus’s has prettier buildings, a great mall with views of downtown Minneapolis and the Mississippi. For me, U of M was the perfect fit. I agree UW Madison is higher up the list on academic rankings, but I got a full scholarship for my senior year in the Netherlands and got into Harvard for grad, so Minnesota gave me a great foundation.

60’s architecture at UW-Madison? Prettier buildings at Minnesota? How long were you in Madison? A millisecond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US news has Minnesota ranked at 70, that seems high to me: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-3969/overall-rankings

DD#1 is a junior at University of Wisconsin; I feel like they were much closer ranked a few years ago when she was applying.

I’m surprised that UW hasn’t dropped after all those years of governor Walker. I know that budgets have been tight and programs cut, since I have friends on faculty there.

No, they just moved up. And Minnesota was never ranked anywhere near Wisconsin. Most of the kids in Minnesota would rather go to Wisconsin.

PP here, I should correct myself. I meant that seemed like a low rank (high number) for Minnesota. I would expect UMN to be in the 50s. DD visited both Minnesota and Wisconsin, the campus vibe and town of Madison were way better.

Maybe Wisconsin has weathered the Walker storm, DD hasnt felt any ill effects (locked out of classes, etc) and they are building a bunch on campus. She doesnt mind the cold but it took some getting used to in that she had to buy the right clothes/layers. She says she likes having dramatically different seasons.

It’s so subjective when talking about campus vibe. And not everyone prefers to be at Madison. Husband is a Badger and loved it. I took one look at Madison and wanted to leave. I wanted a bigger city and wasn’t into Big Ten sports. Camp Randall dominates at Wisconsin. I love the lakes and the terrace there, but the 60s architecture isn’t my fave. U of M’s campus’s has prettier buildings, a great mall with views of downtown Minneapolis and the Mississippi. For me, U of M was the perfect fit. I agree UW Madison is higher up the list on academic rankings, but I got a full scholarship for my senior year in the Netherlands and got into Harvard for grad, so Minnesota gave me a great foundation.

60’s architecture at UW-Madison? Prettier buildings at Minnesota? How long were you in Madison? A millisecond?

I’m sorry that I actually know of what I speak. My dad was a professor of architecture who took me on my college tour way back in 1990 and we talked about how unwelcoming the journalism school was in terms of design. There are many 1960s buildings at Madison to this day. https://www.google.com/amp/s/madison.com/news/local/education/university/as-uw-madison-plans-for-future-well-known-s-buildings/article_de4cb151-4e67-53dc-8a20-3ec9256ae789.amp.html

And they are being replaced with modern architecture. Call me crazy, but I prefer this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Minnesota_Old_Campus_Historic_District

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US news has Minnesota ranked at 70, that seems high to me: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-3969/overall-rankings

DD#1 is a junior at University of Wisconsin; I feel like they were much closer ranked a few years ago when she was applying.

I’m surprised that UW hasn’t dropped after all those years of governor Walker. I know that budgets have been tight and programs cut, since I have friends on faculty there.

No, they just moved up. And Minnesota was never ranked anywhere near Wisconsin. Most of the kids in Minnesota would rather go to Wisconsin.

PP here, I should correct myself. I meant that seemed like a low rank (high number) for Minnesota. I would expect UMN to be in the 50s. DD visited both Minnesota and Wisconsin, the campus vibe and town of Madison were way better.

Maybe Wisconsin has weathered the Walker storm, DD hasnt felt any ill effects (locked out of classes, etc) and they are building a bunch on campus. She doesnt mind the cold but it took some getting used to in that she had to buy the right clothes/layers. She says she likes having dramatically different seasons.

It’s so subjective when talking about campus vibe. And not everyone prefers to be at Madison. Husband is a Badger and loved it. I took one look at Madison and wanted to leave. I wanted a bigger city and wasn’t into Big Ten sports. Camp Randall dominates at Wisconsin. I love the lakes and the terrace there, but the 60s architecture isn’t my fave. U of M’s campus’s has prettier buildings, a great mall with views of downtown Minneapolis and the Mississippi. For me, U of M was the perfect fit. I agree UW Madison is higher up the list on academic rankings, but I got a full scholarship for my senior year in the Netherlands and got into Harvard for grad, so Minnesota gave me a great foundation.

60’s architecture at UW-Madison? Prettier buildings at Minnesota? How long were you in Madison? A millisecond?

I love both schools but you can't tell me this shot of East Berlin doesn't look like University Avenue heading west.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/articles/the-history-of-karl-marx-allee-in-1-minute/

[Anonymous]

I am from Minneapolis, went to U of MN, lived elsewhere and am now back in Minneapolis.

Here are my thoughts on UMN:

- Fun, Big 10 college and sports atmosphere right in the middle of a city. This was great during undergrad because students can take public transportation to internships at companies downtown or elsewhere. I worked for an ad agency for 3 years of undergrad and loved it.

- Most people live on campus freshman year, meet a bunch of people and rent houses or apartments with those friends for the next few years. A lot of these students still live near campus, like in Dinkytown. To me, this was fun and got me used to living as an adult a bit before leaving college.

- There is a group/niche for everyone at a school this big.

- Decent program offerings across the board. I don't know that we're #1 in much, but I don't know anyone who went here and says they were disappointed.

- It gets really cold here. You buy good boots and a good coat and you adapt.

I hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

I know a bright student who is at U Minnesota now; graduate of a DCC school.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if any of these DMV kids will ever run into each other!

[Anonymous]

It’s one of the better public schools in the country maybe not at the level of UC Berkeley, UCLA, or U of Michigan. But definitely just a notch below. If University of Minnesota gives a substantial aid but not UCLA or UC Berkeley, I would definitely choose Minnesota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cold. White.

Is there something wrong with white people? Most colleges have them, you know.

PP did not indicate any kind of judgement with the word white - although apparently that's how you read it. Why.

Of course, of course. If someone gave a description of a school as "Hot. Black", I'm sure you would be equally confused right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s one of the better public schools in the country maybe not at the level of UC Berkeley, UCLA, or U of Michigan. But definitely just a notch below. If University of Minnesota gives a substantial aid but not UCLA or UC Berkeley, I would definitely choose Minnesota.

They do give aid. OOS merit grants can be up to $15k per year.

[Anonymous]

Hard working, bright student body. Not as entitled as east coast students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.12up.com/posts/video-wisconsin-fans-torment-lone-michigan-fan-during-jump-around-in-middle-of-badgers-blowout-01dnaqc6pq7a

It’s kind of a big deal

Not in Minnesota.

OP, if you are worried about no sports culture based on some of the reports here, there's this: UMN v UW-Madison rivalry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota%E2%80%93Wisconsin_football_rivalry

But I still say Madison is dominated by college sports in a way that Minneapolis just isn't.

[Anonymous]

I loved the U when I was in grad school in the early 90s. Dinkytown is a great place to live. Going to First Avenue and Paisley Park were amazing experiences. Minneapolis was a very safe fun city. I froze my ass off, though.