<p>I must say, even I am confused by this one. I really am not sure. Academically, I think Wisconsin is a stronger school, with 70 academic departments in the top ten and a stronger national reputation in the United States. This assumes you want to be in the country, however :) The business program is very strong with a top 10 undergraduate journalism department. Great marketing/PR internships in Madison and cities like Chicago/Minneapolis. I think it fits your career goals best.</p>
<p>Very different atmospheres. The time spent at each will be less different academic than culturally/socially. </p>
<p>Oh also, there are numerous ways to avoid large lecture classes at Madison. Honors classes, first year interest groups, language courses, and more. Anyone deciding between Mcgill and Madison will certainly test out of many intros as well.</p>
<p>Hey transfer, i think you should research into McGill. I mean i agree that Madison is a great school, and that it definately holds better ground in the US, but that is only because it is in the US. </p>
<p>Outside of the US, i can bet that McGill will be cited as the better school 100% of the time (not to say that madison isnt great either).</p>
<p>As for the OP, you cant go wrong either way. Both are great schools, have great departments and professors, the whole shabang.</p>
<p>The Chinese rankings ARE from outside the US. What exactly is McGill known for? Their research is just average as shown by the rankings. Classes are not small so it's not an LAC type university like Dartmouth or Brown. I would be pretty sure that outside Europe UW is better known than McGill.</p>
<p>And i would castrate myself if Madison was really better known than McGill outside the US.
Madison is no international city. Montreal on the other hand is one of the most internationally recognized cities in north america, alongside Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, LA, and Mexico city.</p>
<p>And i believe that McGill is better known in europe and asia. But europe is a for sure, that McGill is better known. McGill is one of the top Rhodes scholar producing schools in north america. I think the only North American Publics better known than McGill outside the US are UCB (for sure), and then UMich and UCLA maybe.</p>
<p>And after saying all this, i want you to know that i am not trying to diss on U Wisconsin. It is a terrific school. Incredible. But i just whole heartedly believe McGill is better.</p>
<p>And nobody can ever go wrong picking one or the other.
Ide say choose which one you like best by the atmosphere of the nightlife, area, and academics.
Unless you want to be a business major, then go to U of wisconsin...</p>
<p>I dont really get why people business major. It is dumb. It doesnt teach you how to write and doesnt help you develop critical thinking as well as a good liberal arts education does. And business grad schools like bright academics students better than young businessmen who arent exactly the sharpest in their writing and abstract reasoning/thinking.</p>
<p>They major in business because they get a good job upon graduation instead of being thrown out into the market competing for jobs at Starbucks (Unless you go to a few select elite schools and are smart and tough enough to get an Ibank job). </p>
<p>I don't think there is an iota of proof that business majors lack critical thinking or writing skills. Most business classes require several written and oral presentations. For many business undegrads there is little need to even get an MBA and often if they want one the company will pay for it. The average salary out of school at a good undergrad business school is $50K plus bonus. That's a good start in life--and paying back those loans.</p>