<p>Indiana for business, Illinois for almost everything else</p>
<p>dstark: There is an added sports twist with some Big Ten schools - hockey! At Michigan, it rivals football in popularity. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Minnesota also have this sports bonus. A kid from NoCal may not care now, but it's easy to get sucked up in the hockey mania. I'll plug the other UM - Minnesota is in a great city, has a good sports following (even if they have to play football in the Metrodome) and good academics. Beautiful campus along the Mississippi River.</p>
<p>Also, remember about the Big 10 schools. It may not seem like it looking at maps, but there is a big difference in temperature between Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, MSU, and Northwestern compared to Penn State, Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, and Purdue. You get about twice the snow at the above colleges, and it's about 10 degrees cooler at each of them. </p>
<p>I almost applied to all the schools! I considered all of them. Really, it comes down to major and fit, because all are quality schools. The Big 10 is an academic conference, all are in the top 75 in the US News rankings, with 2 in the top 25. But when it came down to majors, only 2 of them had the major that I was interested in, and were strong in that major (Michigan and IU). Since I didn't get into UM, i'm heading to IU.</p>
<p>Wisconsin--men's and women's NCAA hockey champs this year. Huge sport here.</p>
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Also, remember about the Big 10 schools. It may not seem like it looking at maps, but there is a big difference in temperature between Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, MSU, and Northwestern compared to Penn State, Indiana, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, and Purdue. You get about twice the snow at the above colleges, and it's about 10 degrees cooler at each of them.
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<p>The poster of this comment may know geography (i.e. can read a map) but does not know climatology. So, a few comments are in order:</p>
<p>Minn. clearly is the coldest of the lot, with Iowa and Wisconsin close behind. Iowa? It's continental location, far from any large body of water, gives frequent artic cold. Ditto Wisconsin. Interestingly, in spite of the cold, neither Iowa nor Minn. get that much snow on average. The air is just too dry. But what comes, stays all winter, especially in Minn.</p>
<p>Northwestern gets a real break in winter because of its close proximity to Lake Michigan, which moderates the temps, but gives it lake effect snow. </p>
<p>Michigan and its two schools get a slight temperature break in winter due to the great lakes. MSU also gets frequent lake effect snow, which means frequent light dustings in winter. This keeps things fresh looking.</p>
<p>OSU would be next in the temp list. Being further east, gets a bit more snow, too.</p>
<p>Illinois, and especially Indiana winters benefit from their southern location. IU especially is not known for snow in winter.</p>
<p>Penn State is in a class of its own. Its continential location gives it plenty of cold weather. Its eastern location gives it more moisture leading to more snow. As an added bonus for snow lovers, it is on the edge of a snow belt swinging down from Lakes Erie and Ontario.</p>
<p>Truth is, for all these schools, winter is not t-shirt time. You'll need good boots, gloves, hat and parka at each of them, since you'll be walking long distances (except NW) to/from classes.</p>
<p>State College is actually in the same USDA climate zone as Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington, though temperatures in the surrounding "mountains" can be considerably colder. Seasonal snowfall varies from next to none to as much as ten feet.</p>
<p>USDA climate zones are based almost entirely on normal winter maximum low temperatures, and have little to do with what we feel on the ground, unfortunately. For instance, I can guarantee you that you would find State College to have much more "winter" than Bloomington. </p>
<p>It is an interesting reference, point, however.</p>
<p>Another bit of trivia is that PSU has one of the best meteorology departments in the country, and State College is the home of Accuweather. So, if you were going to Penn State, at least you'd have the best weather forecasts possible!</p>
<p>I don't know, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, went to went to UI-UC, worked in the Loop and now live in State College. I'd say the winters here are much more like Champaign than Chicago.</p>
<p>According to most people, southern Wisconsin had not been in the last 10 years or so as cold as it used to be. Well I have nothing to compare it to, but the -17 day we had a couple of months ago sure made me wonder what it used to be like and glad I wasn't here then.</p>
<p>mom,</p>
<p>You mean cold, not colder? Not as windy? Totally agree. I bet you do get a bit more snow than when you were at UI-UC?</p>
<p>Well, now I'm really confused. Doesn't the weather suck at all the Big 10 schools?</p>
<p>Here in central Illinois, we've had mild winters lately. I don't think we've had a snow day off from school in 4 or 5 years. We did have a tornado day a few weeks ago though.</p>
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Well, now I'm really confused. Doesn't the weather suck at all the Big 10 schools?
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<p>Dstark--let me tell you a story. Last year I went on a tour of the state with a busload of other folks courtesy of the University. It was the middle of May. For most of the week it was rainy and in the 40s. It was especially unpleasant up in the Lake Superior area. When we arrived home on Friday it was 70+ degrees in Madison. I turned to my seatmate and said: "Do you know what we call this kind of weather in Northern Virginia?" He said "no." I said: "March."</p>
<p>I don't think we get the bitter cold that I remember in Chicago. Probably more snow than Champaign, but it's really unpredictable. We had classes cancelled because of the weather once at UI-UC when I was there, the same as we've had here in seventeen years (if memory serves). Some years there has been very little.</p>
<p>dstark-- I lived in southern CA for eight years and prefer the weather here. I think sucky weather is really a matter of taste. :)</p>
<p>Hey, this is fun.</p>
<p>There should be a parallel thread regarding PAC-10 schools weather attributes.</p>
<p>Lloyd Carr (U of M coach, for the unaware) dies, goes to heaven (that's a stretch), and gets the tour from St. Peter.</p>
<p>Strolling down a golden lane, Carr spies a magnificent mansion on a hill in the far distance. Drawing nearer, he sees the house adorned with Ohio State flags. The surrounding Buckeye trees add delightful shade, and a loudspeaker system plays selections from the Ohio State University Marching Band as visitors arrive.</p>
<p>As they pass the mansion, Carr sees a much smaller house, well off the gold avenue, flying the Michigan flag. Realizing that the smaller house is intended for him, Carr begins to berate St. Peter, "Why does Woody Hayes get the mansion and I get this dump?"</p>
<p>St. Peter replies, "That's not Woody's house. That's God's house." </p>
<p>Tony</p>
<p>(a lifelong OSU fan with a son attending Notre Dame in the fall. I get to hate Michigan twice over!)</p>
<p>It's time again for me to promote Michigan State University. But to be fair, the academics at Indiana University, U of Minnesota-Twin Cities and U of Iowa are all excellent.</p>
<p>And, if they had strolled down that golden lane just a bit further, they would have spied a second magnificent mansion, adorned in maize and blue, owned by yet another football God...none other than the infamous Bo Schembechler...4-5-1 Woody v. Bo 5-4-1...;)</p>
<p>Radionicist:</p>
<p>Great joke. Last year I would not have understood it, but now that I am a Big 10 parent, life's true priorities are becoming clear!</p>
<p>Not as funny, but indicates loyalty:
Why is the sky blue and white?
Because God is a Penn State fan, of course!</p>
<p>By the way, if God did exist, why would she prefer football to a really great sport like field hockey?</p>
<p>That's really not a funny joke, but that's understandable coming from an OSU fan.</p>