I’m from Wisconsin. Good ACT scores and high GPA will make the cost similar. I am interested in business, am very conservative, and I love the outdoors. Any input is good
The conventional wisdom is that Wisconsin is a stronger overall research university (and one of the best state universities in the country). If the costs are similar, why would you consider Alabama?
Lol, maybe OP’s tired of snow.
Bama has to pay them to get good students–they pay to go to UW.
^ And you could get a full tuition merit scholarship with a greater than or equal to 32 ACT
Haha albert69 is right, I hate the snow. Also Alabama is an awesome school. I toured it and loved it and I have spent a lot of time researching the two. I just can’t decide between the two. Alabama would be nice because it’s warm and a new experience. Wisconsin would be nice because I have some friends going there. They’re both great schools
Then why are you asking here?
What is your GPA and ACT score? Have you been accepted at both schools?
Don’t base it of off environment. Base it off of academics and career goals. What do you want to major in? What do you want to do?
3.9 GPA
30 ACT
I want to major in business and political science and I’m not sure about career goals
I would recommend Wisconsin for political science. It has had one of the outstanding departments in the country for roughly a century; Alabama just doesn’t have the depth or history in that discipline that Wisconsin does, but it would be fine for undergraduate. Related poli. sci. disciplines at Wisconsin, such as public policy and history, are also some of the top in the country.
I agree, you should consider academics first. Alabama provides a solid undergrad education, which is very attractive for its merit aid. But I am not even sure if you would qualify for that much at Alabama with your ACT. I would also add that Alabama has grown in popularity over recent years, but likely for a subset of students where their stats and limited home state options make it a better deal. For students with good stats and a home state like Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, California, etc., admission to the state flagships would often represent better academic options for very affordable tuition. You are one of those fortunate candidates with better in-state options – I would make an effort to not let recent popularity cloud your judgement.
Early lines were Bama -12.5, but I like Wisconsin to cover. Go Badgers.
Okay… I am going to scoot out on a limb…
You are undecided because you actually want to attend U.Alabama but are having a hard time justifying it. Right? You are from Wisconsin and the safe move is to attend UW. Despite the better reputation of UW and despite that UW is close to home and you have friends there, you still think 'Bama would be cool.
If so, just take the plunge. Roll Tide!
P.S.
Going to any college because of your friends is a bad strategy. One of the worst ways to choose a college.
On another thread, OP wrote this:
Yes, 'Bama would be great for him.
NROTCgrad,
You’re exactly right. I wasn’t really thinking about Wisconsin because my friends are going to go there, it’s just seemed safer. Thanks for the input
Hold on a second NROTC. Wisconsin has been to 3 Conference Championship games in the last 4 years, going 2-1, they’ve gone to 3 Rose Bowls, beat Auburn in their bowl game this year, and did so with their 2nd Heisman Trophy finalist in 4 years so they have football. While Madison itself is obviously more urban than Tuscaloosa the state of Wisconsin has exceptional hunting and fishing opportunities. OP should go to whoever wins on Sept 5th in Arlington.
On Wisconsin.
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I would recommend Wisconsin for political science. It has had one of the outstanding departments in the country for roughly a century; Alabama just doesn’t have the depth or history in that discipline that Wisconsin does,
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Is there a ranking for poly sci for undergraduate? Where does it say that “for roughly a century” that any particular school has an outstanding Poly Sci undergrad dept?
Typically, a school with a good law school is likely going to have a good poly sci undergrad.
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But I am not even sure if you would qualify for that much at Alabama with your ACT
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? The student, at this point, qualifies for a 2/3 tuition award. He still would have a few opportunities to retest in the fall and get a higher score and get free tuition (ACT 32 or 1400 M+CR).
No matter where the student goes, he should take both the SAT and ACT a couple of times in the fall in hopes of getting an even better score.
I don’t know that friends should be a reason to choose a school, but I certainly don’t think football should be a reason unless one is playing on the team.
You can begin with this. While one could argue that this is self-promotion on behalf of Wisconsin’s department, if you asked the opinion of colleagues in other reputable departments – peers at Michigan would be a good place to ask for starters – they would likely verify this information as accurate:
Alabama and Wisconsin are not peer institutions. Alabama is a solid university while Wisconsin is excellent. If cost is the same, I recommend Wisconsin.
Let us establish fit first:
- Wisconsin is as much a hunting/fishing state as Alabama
- Nobody at Wisconsin will judge the OP if he listens to Country Music. We are talking Wisconsin, not NYU!
- Wisconsin isn't too shabby at Football either. 90,000 stadium, strong tradition, consistant Rose Bowl appearances etc...
If the OP were considering Wisconsin and UT-Austin, I would have recommended UT-Austin because it is a slightly better fit. If the OP were OOS for both and Alabama cost significantly less, I would have recommended Alabama. But since cost is the same, and considering Wisconsin’s decidedly better academics and reasonably good fit, Wisconsin makes better sense.