<p>I'm a freshman at the University of Minnesota and have been accepted to transfer to UW Madison. Of course I'm THRILLED because UW kicks ass but at the same time, I LOVE living in Minneapolis. I'm from the Twin Cities so it's home to me, and it's just an amazing city. U of M has kind of been lacking in campus cohesion and school spirit, and that's why I decided to apply to transfer, but the idea of leaving Minneapolis is really sad for me. I think a lot of this is because I'm an art/art history major and Minneapolis has a great art scene, and I have my car on campus and live 20 minutes away.
At the same time I feel like I'm limiting myself because I'm so close to home.</p>
<p>I'm also worried that the amount of partying at UW would be a bad influence on me, because I do like to party and I'm afraid I would get really sucked into that scene. </p>
<p>Should I look into going to UM-Ann Arbor for spring?! AHHHHHHHHHH! I don't know what to do with myself!</p>
<p>I don't even know what kind of advice I'm looking for but I just kind of needed to vent, haha!</p>
<p>When you live in Wisc, you think that couldn't be a place on earth that could be colder. Then you go to MN and you find yourself fighting a polar bear for a blanket and dream of the Florida that is Wisconsin.
;P</p>
<p>The difference is that the UW students can balance their partying and still balance difficult academics. If you can't handle it, you shouldn't go.</p>
<p>I think Minnesota is a strong school in certain areas, especially at the graduate level. However, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a much stronger school that is a peer of Michigan. If you are okay with leaving behind friends and family, go to Madison. But that is a personal choice.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is definitely a notch below Michigan. Minnesota is drastically underrated as a university. You are happy there and don't want to leave. No one is making you. Stay there. You can make school spirit, that's not a good reason to leave a place you like.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is definitely not a notch below Michigan. 70 Academic departments in the top 10 nationally. A prettier campus. Better social life. More accessable to government for econ/poli sci majors as that it is in a state capital. 10K less a year. Michigan cannot compete in many of the sciences with Wisconsin and certainly not in other fields like journalism and communication. Mifflin Street Block Party and Halloween. Not being stuck on North campus. Ranked #3 and #4 for total R&D output. An incredible number of PhD's from both schools who end up teaching at one another. This: <a href="http://marksphotos.smugmug.com/photos/32912511-L-1.jpg%5B/url%5D">http://marksphotos.smugmug.com/photos/32912511-L-1.jpg</a></p>
<p>The schools are as clear peer institutions as there have <em>ever</em> been. Both the University of Michigan and Wisconsin readily publish this. It's especially not worth it for out of state. It would be almost 60 thousand dollars more to attend Michigan from the state of Minnesota than Wisconsin. Bad advice.</p>
<p>If they are "peer institutions", then why is Michigan receiving a peer assessment rating of 4.6, while Wisconsin's getting a 4.2? Why has Michigan always been a top 25 school, and Wisconsin never a top 25 school in the US News ranking?</p>
<p>No one is advising this person to leave Minnesota to go to Michigan, what are you talking about?</p>
<p>Ok, Michigan is a better school then Madison. It just is. This is coming from a person who lives in Madison, downtown, in the heart of the UW campus. Michigan is a consistent top 25 school, has a better enviorment, and I like the people much more.</p>
<p>As for the roiginal question. As I have said, I live here, and take it from me, stay where you are. Minnesota is a fantastic school, has a rather nice campus, has some very strong academics and is well respected nationally. I personally believe that Minnesota is the most underrated school in the nation and you should be happy you go there, I wish I did. UW has an insane level of partying, and you either love it or hate it (I hate it). I hate walking around drunks on the street, I hate that people treat drinking as an activity, and I hate the fact that people here look at you funny if you aren't down for taking double-digit shots each and every night. The campus is extremely boring with little to do (except drink, like the students always do). The scenery has a couple of blocks but in general just looks like a wanna-be chicago with a very little downtown. If you love being near family and friends I suggest staying, Madison is overrated, and I am actually here, and very disappointed.</p>
<p>I think its a really tough decision, I completely know how you feel. I am in a similar situation. (Possibly transferring from UC-Berkeley to Northwestern). I do not love Berkeley (too big mainly) but at least its familiar whereas if I leave, I will have to start over and have no guarantees if I will like it better.</p>
<p>However impossible it is for me to decide, I think that if the only reason you are thinking of leaving Minnesota is that you think you are limiting yourself, STAY! If you like the atmosphere, the academics, the friends & family, the art, etc, there is no reason to leave because UW or UMich are ranked better or because you think that you should live farther from home.</p>
<p>You can always go somewhere FAR for grad school or for jobs. You have plenty of time to live other places. </p>
<p>Anyways, obviously the decision probably has more complexities than you stated in your post and I wish you luck!</p>
