<p>I've got a kid deciding. We know quite a bit about both schools and have visited both, but it's a close call. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I have loved UWisconsin the times I have been there. A big and lively mega-university on the lake in a vibrant city. Uof Rochester is wonderful too being a nice sized university with a great conservatory and ample academic offerings.</p>
<p>This is what I have recommended ot others here. Have him spend a day envisioning himself at UW and another at UR. Hopefully he has visited both and has some first hand knowledge about each university and the surrounding city. Hopefully this exercise will help in clarifying the decision he is facing. Because they are quite differeng universities he should be able to visualize which better suits his personality, needs and desires.</p>
<p>I, too, am familiar with both schools. I think your son needs to decide if he is going to like the huge school party sports Big 10 university atmosphere or the smaller more focused university atmosphere. Both have their plusses and minuses. Madison is a nicer city than Rochester and if he is into college sports, UW sports are wonderful. Classes at UW tend to be very large at the into levels. Students have to be diligent to access professors as much of the discussion and labs is handled by graduate teaching assistants. Most students are living off campus by junior year. </p>
<p>UR doesn't have a Div. I sports scene and the frat scene is smaller. Classes tend to be smaller and professors are more accessible. While UR has grad programs, most of the grad students are in the medical, business, or education programs which do not involve undergrads. So there are some TAs at the undergrad level, but not a lot.</p>
<p>I don't know if you have visited Madison, but at the link below you'll find
some UW pictures I took last May.</p>
<p>My older son went to UofR. Great school. I don't know about Madison, but Rochester is cold, cold, cold, cold in the winter.</p>
<p>Digi:</p>
<p>Madison is cold, cold, cold, but not cold, cold, cold, cold.</p>
<p>According to Yahoo's weather info, for January the average highs and lows for Madison and Rochester:
Madison: 27 and 5
Rochester: 31 and 17</p>
<p>Except for the day it was -17, I really didn't think it was that cold here this winter. Lake Mendota melted by the end of March, which was earlier than last year. Maybe after a year and a half I'm getting used to the cold.</p>
<p>One of my cousins went to UW Mad and is now heading a team at Intel Research Lab...Its a real good place from what he said. They have a cool hockey team too. The academics is great and there ar great oppertunities.</p>
<p>As far as the weather goes, it is colder in Madison and snowier in Rochester. UR has the underground tunnels that connect the classrooms. It has been warmer here in Madison the past 5-6 years or so. I don't know if that is a pattern that will continue. As far as the temps go, I doubt you would find a lot of difference, but there is definitely more precip, both rain and snow, in Rochester.</p>
<p>The pattern might exist in Rochester too. D stated there were scattered flip-flop days this Winter.</p>
<p>This thread has digressed a bit as my kids could care less about weather. Dudedad, how does your daughter like Rochester?</p>
<p>Loved all four years. On to grad school next Fall...</p>
<p>Thanks, and enjoy the graduation!</p>