<p>I went to UW for undergrad and always saw Michigan as a slightly better school. I believe my opinion also follows public perception. A few people have recently said UW and UMich are actually peer institutions in terms of quality of faculty and student body, job placement, difficulty, etc. Is this true?</p>
<p>around here they are "peer schools" but UMich is a little bit better, but i guess it depends a lot on major too.</p>
<p>They are similar enough but i always give Michigan the bump when it comes to Econ, Business, and engineering. Other than that i have no idea.</p>
<p>^Agreed, except for the last sentence.</p>
<p>they are often mentioned together, along with uva</p>
<p>They are peer institutions, but Michigan does have the edge. I also remember reading that Wisconsin suffered from funding problems in the past, I don't know if this is still the case.</p>
<p>I believe the term "peer" institutions as a rough grouping. Michigan and Wisconsin are "peer" instititions just as all the Ivies are peer institutions.</p>
<p>Actually Wisconsin has done much better than UM in state funding lately with a good increase over the next 2 years while UM is flat at best. UM has increased tuition more to make up the gap. This last year UW passed UM in total research funding. Wisconsin is stronger overall in the sciences and several other areas not offered at UM such as Atmospheric Science, Journalism, etc. UM has an edge in engineering and business but UW is still very good in these too. So I would say peers overall.</p>
<p>I'd also say the gap from Harvard to Brown is MUCH larger than any gap between UM and UW.</p>
<p>^^ I agree. But I'd also mention that Michigan's endowment is much larger than UW's. The student fees is a bit of a problem, though.</p>
<p>Which one would have more research opportunities for undergraduates?</p>
<p>I imagine either would have plenty of research opportunities.</p>
<p>Michigan has [url=<a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/%5DUROP%5B/url">http://www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/]UROP[/url</a>], which might be something to consider.</p>
<p>Barron,
You forgot to mention Agriculture and Food Science. Wisconsin is very strong in both.</p>
<p>p.s. Don't you miss Babcock ice cream?</p>
<p>Michigan is one of the pioneers in undergraduate research:</p>
<p>"In February, 1997, the National Science Foundation awarded the University of Michigan a Recognition Award for Integration of Research and Education (RAIRE) for its efforts as a research university to integrate undergraduate learning with research.</p>
<p>In including the UM as one of 10 universities to receive this award, the NSF honored two UM programs: </p>
<p>The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, and the
Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program."
University</a> of Michigan RAIRE Reports</p>
<p>UROP is open to all incoming freshman students...you just have to sign up (first come first served).</p>
<p>What about UC Berkeley and UCLA, are they peer schools of UW and UMich too?</p>
<p>Can someone post the endowment fund of these schools please? Maybe their enrollment stats too separated ugrad population and grad population.</p>
<p>UMich and UVA are in every list I see for public ivies/top schools.</p>
<p>
[quote]
p.s. Don't you miss Babcock ice cream?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There's nothing like it!
:)</p>
<p>UW has the same residential program for WISE</p>
<p>Women</a> in Science and Engineering (WISE) - Home</p>
<p>Undegrad research
Undergraduate</a> Research Scholars</p>
<p>UW-Madison:</a> Undergraduate Research Opportunities > index</p>
<p>UW has endowment funds spread out in several funds. The total is around $5 Billion which is less than UM's $7 Billion but not way smaller either. But UW gets much more state money for buildings.</p>
<p>I think Michigan and Wisconsin are peer institutions. There are, however, a couple of differences.</p>
<p>1) The main difference (academically speaking) between Michigan and Wisconsin are the professional programs, particularly Business, Law and Medicine. Michigan is generally considered elite in those three fields...Wisconsin isn't. Michigan's excellence in the professional programs definitely helps its "prestige" factor.</p>
<p>2) Michigan's endowment stands at $7.1, tied with Columbia at #6 among all US universities. </p>
<p>3) Michigan is considered more "exclusive" than Wisconsin, but that doesn't really matter.</p>
<p>In short, Michigan is just another Wisconsin with top ranked professional programs and a huhe endowment.</p>
<p>Michigan. By two lengths.</p>
<p>Believe it or not I fully agree with Alex's analysis. UW is working hard to close the gap in professional schools--especially in Business and Medical School. The Business school is completing a new MBA wing and recently secured additional tuition revenue for business programs and a large ($85 Million+) donation to enhance the business programs. The Medical School was the main beneficiary from over $400 Million that went to the state when Blue Cross went public. The money is to go to enhance medical education and service in the state. So there is some money there but reputations are very slow to change--especially for professional schools.</p>
<p>OTOH UM would love to have UW's patenting and licensing expertise and programs. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation was the first and remains the stongest of its type in the country. </p>
<p>Wisconsin</a> Alumni Research Foundation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>