<p>I’m considering between BU and U of Wisc Madison.
I really don’t know where I should go.
My major is double; Biochem and Business.
Tuition for me; it doesn’t matter, cuz I’m out-state for Wisc.
And I think, one of worries for BU is “grade defleation”</p>
<p>Give me advice please~</p>
<p>I actually transferred from UW Madison to BU my Junior year. </p>
<p>Academically, I think they're both decently even. UW is a great public school for those who know about it. A lot of people in academia do, but there are a lot of other people who think it's just your average public state university. </p>
<p>BU definitely has a name everywhere, but if you're on the East Coast, some people definitely are not big fans of BU. I was really excited and felt good about my decision to switch to BU, but it is hard being in Boston with schools like Harvard and MIT right across the river. However, the nice thing about BU is that it is a private school, so it's better for networking, etc. </p>
<p>One problem I had with UW is that the classes are HUGE. I thought I wanted big classes, but I had 400 and 500 level courses with 80 or so kids. My smallest class was 40 students (not including discussion sections). BU is a lot smaller, and you get individual attention where the professor knows your name. They are also amazing and some will blow you away.</p>
<p>I honestly don't notice BU's grade deflation too much, but I think it depends on what department you're in. I have a better GPA at BU than UW, but then again I feel like BU has higher expectations, and I like that. I feel like I deserve every grade I am receiving. I get more individual attention and feel like I am making the most of my college experience. </p>
<p>I think, however, you should really consider the student bodies and location of each school. They are both an ENTIRELY different college experience. Madison is a city of 200,000. If you're from a decent sized city, this takes some adjustment. The people there are slower moving, and it just has a rural feel. </p>
<p>The students are incredibly different. Most UW students are from rural Wisconsin, and if you're from a more urban area, this takes some getting used to. There are a lot of kind of ignorant people there (I don't mean this to sound harsh) who don't know that they're ignorant because they don't care to leave the state of Wisconsin. They think that because they've seen Madison, they've seen the world. A lot of the students there didn't party in high school and are definitely letting it all out now. When you're not studying, you're partying, plain and simple. And I'm talking partying as in going out and seeing how drunk you can get. Not just hanging out with friends and getting drunk. I'm talking only seeing how drunk you can get. The kids are also quite pretentious that they go to Madison. They see it as some kind of Harvard or something, simply because it's the best school in their state and they have friends at the other branches. If you're not hanging out with the Wisconsin kids, the other major group is the rather wealthy New Yorkers and kids from Jersey. They're um, very into money, and VERY cliquish. It's like they're trying to live some upscale lifestyle...only they're in Madison. </p>
<p>BU is just, well, a completely different school. I feel like it's more grad-school-esque if that makes any sense. The students are a bit more independent and just feel very mature. Parties aren't nearly as insane (which is good and bad). </p>
<p>My favorite part of BU is the diverse student body. There are students there from every state, every social background, and every country! I went from having friends from small-town Wisconsin to good friends from Japan, New Zealand, Bolivia, and Mexico. And the student body gets along pretty well. Everyone there is insanely open-minded. It really takes a lot to make someone blink twice. </p>
<p>BU, if you haven't noticed already, is pretty insanely liberal... but kind of an apathetic liberal, if that makes any sense. And yeah, you won't find very many religious people there. There are a lot of cynical, sarcastic people walking around BU, but all are pretty intelligent. They are city kids. Urban life rules. </p>
<p>Academically, I don't know what to tell you. I never really understand BU's reputation at all. BU is great because of the amazing professors, networking, and having a more popularized name...but that can also be a bad thing. Madison is just overall respected by everyone in academia. I have yet to bump into anyone who had any qualms about UW. But there are a lot of other people who have never heard of it. Anyway, I hope I helped.</p>
<p>good post nicole</p>
<p>Quite possibly the best post i've read on CC. Thanks Nicole! I just hope I get into BU now :/
How's the social life at BU? The parties? Much more mellow than UWisc's?
Also, how are the guys? It seems to get a rep. that alot of the guys are gay. It'd be nice to have some friends who umm...arent?
Thanks! -Jeff</p>
<p>HAHA dude, whether gay or straight, you should be happy about that.
OK, 60% of the students at BU are girls. Half of the other 40% are gay. Half of the 20% of the straight guys are in relationships. You can deduce it a lot more, but at this point you have like zero competition of getting girls. And frat parties, I find, are awesome, but im also a girl, and it's difficult for guys to get in unless you know the brothers or have 10 girls with you, but there shouldnt be a problem finding parties, especially since, besides BU, you have about 70 other colleges in Boston. Keep in mind that im a student and have lived there for a year already but dont know anything about UW if thats where you're also thinking about.</p>