<p>Hey, I'm currently in my senior year and I live in South Jersey, so I'm surrounded by two very cultural and diverse cities, Philly and NYC. My question is, is which of the two cities would be a better fit for someone like me? I'm doing engineering so the level of the schools department doesn't matter, considering they're very close on US News Rankings. Any insight into which I would like more is better. I know nothing about either city other than the fact that Minneapolis has lots sports teams.</p>
<p>You can choose one of the best college sports towns in the US or one where the pro teams rule. The atmosphere at UW games>>>>>>UMN games which in football are dismal affairs. Most consider Madison to be a more lively fun campus with a 24/7 student body.</p>
<p>This thread has more info.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-wisconsin-madison/1015798-uw-31-1-osu-18-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-wisconsin-madison/1015798-uw-31-1-osu-18-a.html</a></p>
<p>Is there any reason that you selected those 2 schools over other options, particularly if you live in southern New Jersey? Also, just for clarification, should I assume that UW is Wisconsin and not Washington?</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you asking which school ( UWis or UMinn) you should go to?</p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year? UMinn is cheaper than UW, but neither would be affordable if your parents aren’t going to pay much.</p>
<p>What else do you want in a school?</p>
<p>Just telling us that you want to major in engineering is not nearly enough info.</p>
<p>-I already know my stats are good enough I’m not wondering academic wise, I’m wondering “fun-wise”.
-University of Wisconsin.
-I’m applying to these two because they have good programs and don’t cost ridiculous amounts of money. I don’t have as many options around here other than PSU and Rutgers that don’t cost a fortune to go to, and I’m applying to Rutgers.<br>
-My parents said they’re gonna pay 15K but subject to change, that number isn’t definite.</p>
<p>It is good to hear that you have included Rutgers and PSU. Remember when you apply to out of state public schools, the out of state tuition can end up being close to some of the private schools in your area such as Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell.</p>
<p>Yeah it’s ridiculous how much OOS is, and we only have one good university with engineering (TCNJ is a good COLLEGE, not university…) I don’t have many options.</p>
<p>“Fun wise” it’s UW and it’s no contest. PSU would be second then UMN and last RU.</p>
<p>Well you sound confident in that. Any reason to back it up? I’m not only looking for going to games and going to parties, even though I definitely want that. I like to explore stuff as well.</p>
<h2>*I’m applying to these two because they have good programs and don’t cost ridiculous amounts of money. I don’t have as many options around here other than PSU and Rutgers that don’t cost a fortune to go to, and I’m applying to Rutgers.</h2>
<p>My parents said they’re gonna pay 15K but subject to change, that number isn’t definite. *</p>
<p>Well, it’s true that UMinn might be affordable** if your parents pay more**…OOS cost is below. If your parents only pay $15k and you take out a $5500 student loan, you’d still be short several thousand dollars. </p>
<p>You mention that your parents may pay more, so find out if that’s true and how much that would be. </p>
<p>UMinn Cost</p>
<p>Out-of-state tuition and fees:… $16,503<br>
Room and board: …$7,576 </p>
<h2>Books and supplies: … $1000 </h2>
<p>Direct costs …about…$25,000…plus below costs</p>
<p>Estimated personal expenses:…$2310 </p>
<h2>Transportation expense:… $600+</h2>
<p>I don’t see how UW can be affordable.</p>
<p>Out-of-state tuition and fees:… $24,233<br>
Room and board: … $7,435 </p>
<h2>Books and supplies: … $1,040 </h2>
<p>Direct costs…about $33,000 Plus below costs</p>
<p>Estimated personal expenses:… $2,310 </p>
<h2>Transportation expense: … $580 </h2>
<p>PSU would also not be affordable.</p>
<p>how do you plan on paying for the costs that exceed your parents contribution?</p>
<p>And…keep in mind, these are this year’s costs. Next year and the following years will be higher. you may find yourself quite short in a couple of years.</p>
<p>I think you need a couple of financial safety schools. </p>
<p>Please, don’t be one of those kids we see every spring who realizes that he and his family cannot come up with the costs for any of their college choices.</p>
<p>Maybe you need to do a little reading. Most college guides that go into such things would back me up. (Yale, Fiske, Princeton Review, etc). Not sure what you mean by explore. Madison is not huge–about 250,000 or so, but for the size there is plenty to do. Chicago is relatively close with busses running from UW to downtown several times/day. Chicago is a great city for young folks.<br>
Madison makes most Best College Towns lists. </p>
<p>[What</a> Makes a Great College Town?: 10 Great College Towns - US News & World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-great-college-towns/]What”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-great-college-towns/)</p>
<p>Madison definitely has more of a college-town feel, and it’s a great college town. Minneapolis-St. Paul is a very lively, vibrant urban community, the heart of the nation’s 16th-largest metropolitan region and one known for being, pound for pound, very strong on the arts, culture, music, theater, etc, as well as having all the professional sports. That gives the college experience a very different feel; I think it’s fair to say many UMN students are drawn to city life away from the U, so it’s perhaps for them a less campus-centered experience, but some prefer that. Minnesota is considerably cheaper for OOS students, one of the top bargains in that category. Academically I’d have to say UW Madison’s definitely a bit stronger overall, but Minnesota is very competitive with/comparable to Wisconsin in many fields. It’s true, as barrons says, that Chicago is a great city for young folks, but so is Minneapolis/St. Paul. The difference is that at UMN you’re in the city 24/7, while at Madison you’re likely to get to Chicago maybe 2 or 3 times/yr.</p>
<p>I can get over having to pay back loans, I was gonna live with my parents for a year or two after grad school. I don’t have any options even in my own state if I wanted to be loan free. And these schools don’t cost 50000 to go to and they offer great engineering programs. And you’re making Madison sound good right now. It’s still about even though</p>
<p>Yeah. I want a mix of college and city life. I also can’t afford almost any private school. Only applying to drexel cause the co-op saves a lot of the tuition</p>
<p>I just came back from a trip to Madison to visit my daughter who is in grad school for CS there. It is a really fun town. The college rules it. Everyone is walking around in school colors or Bucky shirts. There were lots of areas to explore. The college has the most excellent student union, Memorial Union, with a massive terrace and pub right on the water. There is recreational boating right there too.</p>
<p>From the school to the Capitol building is State Street which is blocked from cars. This is lined for blocks with restaurants and taverns and is always lively. That’s where she said the undergrads hang.</p>
<p>She lives more East. I went to Willy Street and the Willy street fair, lots of great food vendors were there and I was told they usually park on campus. Willy street has a great, but expensive coop. Also lots of restaurants and taverns. </p>
<p>There are tons of places to see music and lots of free outdoor music in season. </p>
<p>I’m sure there are lots of parties. The people I meet were really liberal, cosmopolitan types, but I didn’t meet too many undergrads. Lots of meat eaters but tons of vegetarians too. I quite enjoyed it and it is killer easy to get around on a bike, pretty flat, lots of bike paths/trails.</p>
<p>When the football is on the pubs are full and the crowds are roaring.</p>
<p>Ok I can’t deny that. If it’s like that that sounds awesome. And left-wing is where it’s at. Do you guys think a 1250/1600 on SAT’s and 3.63ish gpa from NJ(extremely competitive high school. Top 150 are really smart and I’m 72) could get me in? I have straight A’s this year and I’m retaking the SAT’s in November. I’m hoping to get like a 1320-1340/1600 and my GPA will go up to about 3.7</p>
<p>I can get over having to pay back loans, I was gonna live with my parents for a year or two after grad school.</p>
<p>There are a few things that you haven’t considered…</p>
<p>1) YOU cannot borrow large amounts of money. Your parents would have to co-sign your loans (and qualify for EACH year). Will they do that??? It sounds like you’re considering borrowing about $80k total. Will your parents co-sign for that much money? Will they qualify?</p>
<p>If you aren’t CERTAIN that your parents will co-sign then ask them. Most parents will NOT co-sign loans (which surprises many kids).</p>
<p>Federal Direct Stafford student loans (no co-signers) are limited to the following amounts…
frosh year $5500
soph year $6500
Jr year $7500
Sr year $7500 </p>
<p>2) Your job after grad school may not be located anywhere near your parents home. (It’s also very likely that your job will be located somewhere near your grad school.)</p>
<p>3) You’ll be about 24/25 years old when you get out of grad school. You may be in a relationship at that point and not want to move back to Jersey because your significant other lives elsewhere. Either way, a 25-26 year old doesn’t want to live at home.</p>
<p>I talked to a guy who payed off a $120000 debt in 3 years. And my dad works for Lockheed Martin so we could pay it off. Also I still don’t know where I will be doing graduate school. And who knows about the relationship thing, but with a mechanical engineering degree I could probably get a job at Lockheed from my dad, or with a ChemE, my friend’s dad owns a company that needs tons of ChemE’s. I’m good for paying money back after I’m done.</p>
<p>If you want a mix of city life and the campus feel, then UMN>>>>>>Wisconsin. Don’t get me wrong, Madison seems to be a great college town and it’s in a decent sized area. But if you’re looking for a big-city urban environment and a campus feel: UMN all the way. </p>
<p>And don’t believe the crap about Madison being more fun. They’re both huge Big Ten schools. You can sit in your dorm room, get lost in the crowd, and be a loner at either school. Or you could go out to frat parties, college sporting events, and campus group events at either school .The “fun” ecxperience has way more to do with your personality than it does the actual campus in this situation. Just remember that in Minneapolis, there’s a lot more to do than party =P</p>
<p>I have never seen UMN on any top fun school lists, ever. It’s half commuters and the rest often go home weekends. You go to parties and bars in Madison and you meet other students. In Minny you meet working people. And nobody thinks a gopher football game is fun–unless you are the opponent. The nice new stadium is half empty and few students bother to go. </p>
<p>That said I’d try to keep my undergrad total debt below $30K. Plan on working summers and saving.</p>
<p>I’m also from NJ originally. Near Flemington/Clinton area.</p>
<p>Here’s a post from a UMN FAN/Alum on their football board.</p>
<p>"Great post as far as it goes, KoolAid. But you missed the most important factor of all. Since 1967 the Vikings have been one of the most successful NFL franchises in terms of division/conference titles won and Super Bowls played in. During the 43 years since the Gophers last won a Big 10 Championship the Vikings have owned football in Minnesota in every way possible because they are almost always in the mix.</p>
<p>The large majority of Minnesotans couldn’t care less that the Gopher’s lose on Saturday because they have the Vikings game to look forward to on Sunday. Compare that with Michigan Wolverine fans. If they start losing their only option is to start cheering for the Detroit Lions which has probably been the least successful NFL team during the last 43 years. Give me a break. The two situations are in no way comparable.</p>
<p>The Vikings success has made it easy for the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, President, and Administration to ignore the the lack of success of the Gophers football team because the students, alumni, and fans have cared far more about the Purple since Bud Grant won his first division title in 1968.</p>
<p>The Gophers also have a pathetic alumni base. It is absurd to compare it to the alumni bases at Michigan, Stanford, Texas, Wisconsin or any of the other schools that have to compete with NFL teams. People who graduate from those schools are extremely proud to let you know about it and they love to give money to their alma mater. When is the last time you heard someone bragging about graduating form the U? I don’t think I have EVER heard someone bursting his buttons about his U degree. The Legislature, Board of Regents, and the Administration deserve ALL of the blame for this because they let the U’s academic standing deteriorate to extreme mediocrity since the 1960’s.</p>
<p>The Gophers situation is unique in all of Division I football. No other school compares to what any coach that is hired will have to contend with at the U. Most of you guys are setting yourselves up for huge disappointment. Whoever the new coach is will be facing huge hurdles in order to turn the program around. I don’t think it is going to happen. But I will still have my very good season tickets at Gophers Stadium to watch Big 10 football on fall Saturdays. </p>
<p>[GopherHole</a> Message Board Community - View Single Post - Are Vikings to Blame for Poor Football Program?](<a href=“http://boards.gopherhole.com/boards/showpost.php?p=277837&postcount=25]GopherHole”>http://boards.gopherhole.com/boards/showpost.php?p=277837&postcount=25)</p>