I was on the men's rowing team at Michigan 20+ years ago and at the time, the women's team was top 5-10 nationally during those years and largely comprised of recruits from Canada. They were decked head to toe in Nike gear, had access to all the best athletic support UM had (i.e. required library homework study tables) and they maintained a very high team GPA. They had an awesome boathouse rowing out of Ford Lake. (We were jealous on the men's team not having Div 1 varsity status.) There was no women's intramural or club team (I don't believe there is one presently either for women rowers). It was pretty rare to be a walk on, so I guess the OP's comment about daughter rowing implies she has been recruited/given a scholarship, which I think would make UM a financial no-brainer, but I may have misinterpreted the OP. For better or worse, collegiate rowing isn't just some casual activity as a continuation of a HS sport. At the time, the Wisco men were the only non-Ivy to be invited to what was, at the time, the elite rowing year end championships (Eastern Sprints) but I don't recall if their women's team was as highly regarded or successful.

Good luck and Row Blue!!

Best undergrad teaching:

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/search?schoolType=national-universities&ranking=undergraduate-teaching&_sort=rank&_sortDirection=asc

Michigan #13 on this list.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're a rich out of state applicant, you probably apply to both, plus maybe Indiana and George Washington, then go to the highest ranked one you get into. And/or the one you have family or friend ties to. Let's be honest, they're both gigantic rah-rah paint-your-face sportball degree mills, where rich out of state kids go to do a lot of tailgating, drinking, drugs and hooking up in Greek life. Then graduate and speed to the airport and never visit either flyover state again.

What are the best, let's say 5 colleges to attend, in your opinion?

An at least somewhat selective private college your teen feels most comfortable at. Public universities are a joke for undergrad. Of course some successful students come out of publics, it's hard not to have SOME successful grinds out of 20,000 to 50,000 plus undergraduate students. But it's not an ideal ethos and the administration does not give a rat's ass about your child. And I mean that in the most literal sense; nobody at a mega U cares if your kid dies, is raped, overdoses, stops showing up to class, fails out.

Yes, because most people who go to a state flagship should have the maturity and resourcefulness not to need the coddling of a small school. It's a great way to transition into adulthood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're a rich out of state applicant, you probably apply to both, plus maybe Indiana and George Washington, then go to the highest ranked one you get into. And/or the one you have family or friend ties to. Let's be honest, they're both gigantic rah-rah paint-your-face sportball degree mills, where rich out of state kids go to do a lot of tailgating, drinking, drugs and hooking up in Greek life. Then graduate and speed to the airport and never visit either flyover state again.

What are the best, let's say 5 colleges to attend, in your opinion?

An at least somewhat selective private college your teen feels most comfortable at. Public universities are a joke for undergrad. Of course some successful students come out of publics, it's hard not to have SOME successful grinds out of 20,000 to 50,000 plus undergraduate students. But it's not an ideal ethos and the administration does not give a rat's ass about your child. And I mean that in the most literal sense; nobody at a mega U cares if your kid dies, is raped, overdoses, stops showing up to class, fails out.

Said the person who has never sat through a weeder class at a flagship university.

Wisconsin has amazing academics, is a great college town, and is perfect for a rower. The beautiful lake is right there by the student union. Wisconsin and Michigan are very similar schools. In fact they are probably the most similar to each other than any other schools.

It’s 2022! University of Florida! Go Gators!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're a rich out of state applicant, you probably apply to both, plus maybe Indiana and George Washington, then go to the highest ranked one you get into. And/or the one you have family or friend ties to. Let's be honest, they're both gigantic rah-rah paint-your-face sportball degree mills, where rich out of state kids go to do a lot of tailgating, drinking, drugs and hooking up in Greek life. Then graduate and speed to the airport and never visit either flyover state again.

What are the best, let's say 5 colleges to attend, in your opinion?

An at least somewhat selective private college your teen feels most comfortable at. Public universities are a joke for undergrad. Of course some successful students come out of publics, it's hard not to have SOME successful grinds out of 20,000 to 50,000 plus undergraduate students. But it's not an ideal ethos and the administration does not give a rat's ass about your child. And I mean that in the most literal sense; nobody at a mega U cares if your kid dies, is raped, overdoses, stops showing up to class, fails out.

W/rt rowing, your daughter should find out what the options are at both schools. I'm guessing she's not considering a spot on the DI teams, but looking for IM or club or whatever. It's usually not as easy as just putting a boat in a random body of water.

-Former DI rower

I went to UW for undergrad and UMich for graduate school. I vote for UW- your daughter could get a good/great education at either, but I think the lakes are a huge bonus for your child if they are interested in rowing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are the weirdos talking up lakes? lol you sound like retired boomers. Lake Michigan is like 3 hours away to the west and Lake Huron / Saint Clair is like 90 minutes away to the east. And not that college kids care but there are no noteworthy inland lakes anywhere near Ann Arbor.

OP mentioned the student is a rower and wants water access. There are plenty of decent places to row near Ann Arbor--you wouldn't want to row on Lake MI or Lake Huron anyway.

But there are three good crew lakes right around U-Wisconsin.

^^^Don’t engage the state flagship haters-to them, the only schools worth attending are the Ivys. I feel sorry for them and their kids.

Anonymous wrote:If you're a rich out of state applicant, you probably apply to both, plus maybe Indiana and George Washington, then go to the highest ranked one you get into. And/or the one you have family or friend ties to. Let's be honest, they're both gigantic rah-rah paint-your-face sportball degree mills, where rich out of state kids go to do a lot of tailgating, drinking, drugs and hooking up in Greek life. Then graduate and speed to the airport and never visit either flyover state again.

What are the best, let's say 5 colleges to attend, in your opinion?

Anonymous wrote:Who are the weirdos talking up lakes? lol you sound like retired boomers. Lake Michigan is like 3 hours away to the west and Lake Huron / Saint Clair is like 90 minutes away to the east. And not that college kids care but there are no noteworthy inland lakes anywhere near Ann Arbor.

UW is in Madison, which is on an isthmus between 4 lakes. The crew teams use one of the lakes which fronts on the student union and the campus.

Both schools are fantastic and great college experiences. Michigan has a better alumni network and is considered a "better" school, but you really cannot go wrong with either. Vibe and comfort are really important.

-UW Alum

Anonymous wrote:Who are the weirdos talking up lakes? lol you sound like retired boomers. Lake Michigan is like 3 hours away to the west and Lake Huron / Saint Clair is like 90 minutes away to the east. And not that college kids care but there are no noteworthy inland lakes anywhere near Ann Arbor.

OP mentioned the student is a rower and wants water access. There are plenty of decent places to row near Ann Arbor--you wouldn't want to row on Lake MI or Lake Huron anyway.