Is Madison Just As Good As The Big 5?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Because of OOS costs, and the fact that I have spent four years in a private high school and absolutley do not want to go through another four years at a private college, my most likely school right now is UW Madison. I know it is a well regarded school, but when most people refer to the top state schools, they always mention Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA, Virginia, and UNC. I was wondering if the experience and education you would get a Wisconsin is just as good as these other schools. Would it be worth it to pay a lot more to go to, say, Michigan (the other school I am most interested in) or would it be best to just stick with going to Madison, casue Minnesota residents get instate tuition there? And is Madison just as prestigous as the big five?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>In most worlds, it’s Big Two and Next 3. :D</p>

<p>But to answer your question, is UMich worth twice the cost of Wisconsin? The easy answer is No.</p>

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<p>Not even Harvard is worth twice the tuition of Wisconsin. That’s how strong “Wiscy” is…and most of Big 10 schools, for that matter.</p>

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<p>It is comparably prestigious, yes. Maybe even moreso than some of the Big 5.</p>

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<p>Wisky is a great school and experience. I wouldn’t pay OOS tuition for any other state school if I lived in Wisconsin or Minnesota and could get into Madison IS. It might not be considered “just as good as (all of) the big 5,” but I certainly think it’s just as good as some of the so called big 5. I won’t mention names.</p>

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<p>Wisconsin is an uber research powerhouse.</p>

<p>IMHO, it’s up there with the Big 5, no doubt.</p>

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<p>barrons. Where are you?</p>

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<p>I agree–Wisconsin-Madison is a great university and if you are able to attend it with instate tuition there is no reason to go to another state university. It is also in a wonderful location–no reason to prefer to Ann Arbor in that regard either. (Charlottesville and Chapel Hill have gentler weather, but that isn’t what you are asking about.) </p>

<p>Go Badgers.</p>

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<p>Oh Wow! Thanks everyone.</p>

<p>And yea, I would actually prefer Madison and Ann Arbor over Charlottesville and Chapel Hill BECAUSE of the weather. I can’t stand really hot weather and I don’t think I could get myself to go to a school without a hockey team.</p>

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<p>Good for you Badgers. So many here on CC just assume everyone wants “gentler” weather.</p>

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<p>"I can’t stand really hot weather and I don’t think I could get myself to go to a school without a hockey team. "</p>

<p>What is up with Madison kids slamming the southern schools? UNC & UVA are amazing universities (not flyover country either).</p>

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<p>Wisconsin is a fantastic school. If you are getting instate tuition, I don’t think you can justify going to any out of state public over it.</p>

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<p>And Alexandre of course, to opine on why Ann Arbor IS worth 2x. :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>^^^I can assure you Alexandre will NOT say Michigan is worth 2x more than Wisconsin.</p>

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<p>UVA and UNC are amazing schools. They are very good. They get higher recognition exactly because they are NOT in flyover country. If you put Wisconsin on the coasts, they would be ranked as high, if not higher, than either school. You know why? The overall breadth, depth, and quality of academic programs is stronger at Wisky.</p>

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<p>^ People put UVA, UCLA and UNC in the top tier because they are uber selective.</p>

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<p>Many people at my school who apply to Berkeley or UVirginia for their reach schools apply to UW-Madison as one of their safties.</p>

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<p>Yes I know. And besides that, they’re not in, “flyover country.”</p>

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<p>Well of course Tzar09. Don’t you think Wisky would be a bit more selective if they only had 13,600 students or so at the undergraduate level? UCLA is a different story of course. A larger school, but in a state with over 38,000,000 people in it. Naturally they are going to be more selective.</p>

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<p>Sorry if you thought I was slamming those schools. I definitely was not. They’re great schools, but I spent just spent a week and a half down in North Carolina outside of Winston-Salem and with that humidity, I can tell you that I was really happy to get back to St. Paul. I’m just not made for warmer weather.</p>