<p>I understand. However, I heard Wisconsin’s sciences, especially bio and chemistry, are stronger then Michigan’s. Also, isn’t Madison a lot more livelier. Also, being placed in the states capital, wouldn’t it present few more benefits then AA would?</p>
<p>The difference in the quality of the Biology and Chemistry departments between Michigan and Wisconsin is negligible, even for PhD students in those fields. For undergrads looking to apply to Medical school, Wisconsin’s insignificant edge poses no benefit whatsoever, as evidenced by the fact that Michigan places more students than Wisconsin into top Medical schools. Bottom line, Medical schools are more impressed by GPA, MCAT scores, research experience, medical-related internships and personal statements detailing the applicant’s desire to study medicine. In all those respects, both universities offer similar opportunities.</p>
<p>Madison is not livelier than Ann Arbor as far as college students are concerned. There may be more of a scene for 30-50 year olds thanks to having a large number of government employees living in Madison, but that does not impact college life. </p>
<p>I am not sure how living in Wisconsin’s state capital, a city with under 200,000 residents and virtually no major industry, can be construed as a benefit, especially for pre-med students. Even Political Science majors would not benefit greatly from living in Madison, but pre-meds…am I missing something?</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I wasn’t too sure so I was asking. I automatically assumed the location could pose some benefits. However, doesn’t Wisco do a little better in placing their graduates in Minneapolis?</p>
<p>I am not sure why Madison’s location would be more strategic than Ann Arbor’s? And I was not aware that you had an interest in Minneapolis, although I don’t think attending college at Wisconsin will necessarily present a material edge over Michigan in being placed in Minneapolis (is there anything especially appealing about Minneapolis?). Are you referring to a medical school in Minneapolis? Or perhaps a specific hospital? Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan Medical Center, one of the top 20 hospital systems in the nation, and also one of its largest. Madison has no equivalent.</p>
<p>No not really, I really liked how the area was. I’m going to be honest, I really preferred Wisco’s campus to that of Michigans. The lakes were very appealing. Also, the science strength over Michigan’s made it somewhat more appealing. However, Michigan’s medical school just might make the difference. With that said what is your take on Wisco?</p>
<p>This is interesting. So is going to U of M for pre-med a better choice than JHU/WUSTL/ect. then? </p>
<p>Also, I realized the other day that Sanjay Gupta is a U of M graduate (college and med school). Very nice.</p>
<p>"This is interesting. So is going to U of M for pre-med a better choice than JHU/WUSTL/ect. then? "</p>
<p>Only if you wish to go to Michigan medical school. If you wish to go to JHU medical school, JHU premed is a better choice and if you wish to go to WUSTL medical school, then WUSTL premed is a better choice. For all other medical schools, attending any of those three universities for premed would be roughly the same.</p>
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<p>Silly argument. In biology, Wisconsin is one of 5 schools ranked #15 (= 15 through 19). Michigan is one of 4 schools ranked #20 (= 20 through 23). This places Michigan at exactly the same level as Penn, and ahead of such schools as Northwestern, Brown, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, and Emory. Yet you’d never hear a pre-med major say they were choosing Wisconsin over Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, etc. because of such trivial differences in the schools’ grad school rankings in biology. </p>
<p>In chemistry, Wisconsin is one of 3 schools ranked #7 (=7 through 9) and Michigan is one of 3 schools ranked #16 (= 16 though 19). Either way, that’s pretty exalted territory for a chemistry major. Michigan is ranked the same as Princeton and ahead of Penn and Johns Hopkins, yet you’d never hear anyone say they were choosing Wisconsin over Princeton, Penn, and JHU for undergrad over such trivial differences in the chemistry grad program rankings. Especially a pre-med, insofar as it’s primarily GPA and MCAT scores that will determine whether you get into med school, and if so where. </p>
<p>I actually think the OP may be a ■■■■■, our old friend Goldenboy (etc., etc.).</p>
<p>By the way TheBanker, Michigan alums have left a pretty impressive mark on the medical profession. Sanjay Gupta is only the latest. The list of alums includes (but is by no means restricted to):</p>
<p>William Upjohn, co-founder Upjohn Company
Wallace Abbott, founder of Abbott Laboratories
Homer Stryker, founder of Stryker corporation
William Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic
Leonard Scheele, US Surgeon General
John Sheehan, Penicillin pioneer
Tom Wheeler, Nobel Prize in medicine
Stanley Cohen, Nobel Prize in medicine
Marshall Nirenberg, Nobel Prize in medicine</p>
<p>While the OP’s reasons for wanting to attend Wisconsin over Michigan are indeed not very rational, I see no evidence of a ■■■■■. It is true that as far as undergrads go, the difference between #15 and #20, or #7 and #16 in a specific field is hardly relevant. This is even more so the case for premeds as opposed to students intend on pursuing a PhD in Chemistry. </p>
<p>Also, anybody who lists campus environment or college town as a reason for choosing one of those two universities over the other has clearly not seen both campuses or towns in their entirety. It is obvious that Michigan and Wisconsin (and Ann Arbor and Madison) are not identical. However, they have much in common. So much so, in fact, that it is not possible to choose one over the other purely on such metrics. </p>
<p>When it comes down to the Michigan vs Wisconsin argument, there are a couple of characteristics that give Wisconsin the edge over Michigan, and a couple that give Michigan the edge over Wisconsin. </p>
<p>First, cost of attendance. This is no small matter for most, particularly those with the intention of pursuing very costly and lengthy medical studies. In this regard, for OOS students to both universities, Michigan will generally cost roughly $50-$60k more than Wisconsin over four years of college. That is a significant sum and should be factored into the decision-making process. Second, also especially relevant to premeds, is the competitive nature of academics at those universities. Michigan will generally have slightly stricter grading, and maintaining a high GPA at Wisconsin will be a little easier. </p>
<p>Those two reasons combined are valid for choosing Wisconsin over Michigan.</p>
<p>Michigan has its own advantages of course. We have already discussed one. Michigan Medical school clearly seems to favor Michigan premeds. Over 210 of the current 670 Medical students at Michigan completed their undergraduate studies at the University. Michigan also has one of the largest and best medical systems in the World. That includes hospitals, biotech and biomed labs that were once the headquarters of Pfizer’s global research, a top ranked Biomedical Engineering department etc…). Undergrads have access to research and internships within that system, and that should not be taken lightly. Finally, should one decide to change career paths from medicine to something else (as many premeds do), Michigan’s resources, more geographically dispersed alumni base and stronger overall reputation make it a more versatile option, particularly for those wishing to live in the Northeast, where Michigan has a very strong presence.</p>
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<p>Having that kind of inside track to any medical school would be a huge plus. Having that kind of inside track to a top 10 medical school like Michigan is enormous. (I believe Michigan’s current med school ranking in US News is #8, tied with Columbia, Chicago, and Duke).</p>
<p>That is undeniably one of Michigan’s strongest assets. The University has very strong graduate professional programs. The medical school, ranked among the top 10 nationally, admits over 50 Michigan alums annually, which is, as you point out, “enormous”. </p>
<p>In addition to the Medical school, Michigan also has a top 10 Engineering program which also admits and enrols a large number of Michigan alums annually. </p>
<p>The Law School is arguably one of the top 5 (according to most legal scholars, major law firms and judges), and it also admits anywhere from 70-100 Michigan alums annually, of which 40-60 (50 on average) end enrolling. </p>
<p>The MBA program (Ross) is ranked among the top 15 programs in the nation and also admits a large number of Michigan alums. </p>
<p>Between those four professional programs, Michigan enrols over 200 alums annually. Another 300 or so enrol in other equally good graduate professional programs, such as the T14 Law schools, top 15 MBA programs, top 10 Medical schools and top 10 schools of Engineering. That’s a huge number of Michigan students enrolling in elite graduate professional programs on an annual basis.</p>
<p>You tell 'em Alexandre :)</p>
<p>With all of its financial problems the State of Michigan should consider increasing the enrollment size of its medical and law schools, which would attract more educated people to its state and more money. Honestly, Detroit is going bankrupt and the state’s fiscal situation looks bleak. UM Is a major attraction and someone in the state should consider this as a potential money-maker.</p>
<p>The thought is admirable but two issues. One, the tuition $ go to UM, so the only State benefit would be if there was then even less state $ given to UM to be used for other needs.</p>
<p>Two, you can’t hold the grads in state without opportunity. The professional degrees grads are leaving the state.</p>