<p>Bottle "blondes" vs the real thing. </p>
<p>Was the SEC even in the NCAA basketball the last couple of years? Outside Florida there is nothing. Actually same for football. A couple years ago UW beat Arkansas which was one bad play from beating UF for the championship. Year before we beat Auburn. That Georgia game was over a decade ago when Dayne was a freshman. He got better. Ask UCLA.</p>
<p>Most of our players can actually read.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Bottle "blondes" vs the real thing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hear. Hear. The natural look looks good 24/7.</p>
<p>The natural look in the south: flip flips, tshirt and shorts. The natural look in the north: Flannel shirts, and hiking boots. ;)</p>
<p>Who was the national champs at basketball last year...Florida! What about football 2 years running...Florida....Who has been in the title game for at least the last three years...SEC!!</p>
<p>Southern Belles do not need to be bottle blonde's because they have the sun to do it for them naturally.</p>
<p>But really, the SEC is not about basketball and everyone knows that. It's all about football and you truly need to experience it at least once in your lifetime. We have lived in AZ, PA, MN, and OH. Yes they have great colleges with lots of school spirit and amazing over the top fans, but it is different. It just is. At some schools game day is such an even that people dress up! Girls wear sun dresses, ladies wear skirts or dresses and men wear khakis and pledges were navy blazers and ties to the games. Think UGA, Clemson, Auburn, Bama,Tenessee and Ole Miss. Then there are the UF jorts that are a classic! If you ever get the chance you need to come down south and see what it is all about!</p>
<p>I went to a game at Alabama. About as many real hicks and yahoos as I have ever seen in any one place short of a NASCAR race. I also walked around the Bama campus and was not impressed by the talent. Same for UGA. Same at UMiss. A few knockouts and way too many well below average. Sorry dressing like it's still 1963 Joe College days just looks like you are living in the past--kinda like they actually are in many ways. Party for 4 years and then go into Daddy's insurance business. They still are barely cracking 1000 on the SAT at most of those schools. Without UF it's basically a bunch of hired hand football teams and their redneck fans. Colorful but not what college is really all about.</p>
<p>Have to speak up for the longstanding liberal/progressive tradition in Wisconsin. This extends to the rural areas as well as Madison and Milwaukee. Yes, it's a bit more of a swing state than previously, but you can't always assume rural and conservative around here.</p>
<p>Can't agree with Boomu. I'll take the Nordic Upper Midwest women every time over any Southern Belle. Like Barrons said: "real blondes (Minnesota, Wisconsin) vs. bottle blondes." :) A few knockouts below the Mason Dixon line for sure, but on average it's not a contest. Blue State vs. Red State. :) </p>
<p>It's interesting. I've lived in 11 different states in my lifetime, either for school or work, and every one of them was a blue state. I've visited red states, of course, but I could never bring myself to actually live in one. I realize that's a bias but I can't help it.</p>
<p>But let me say this for the South: the food I've eaten there has been mostly excellent.</p>
<p>True, Great Lakes Mom, but I've traveled through rural Wisconsin, and some of the looks I got in a few of those small rural towns, at a truck stop or a mom and pop store, miles from even a two lane highway, sent a chill up my spine (I'm black). On one drive across Wisconsin, I stopped into a McDonald's about 4 miles from the interstate. I was immediately surrounded by three guys dressed like Larry the cable guy only bigger. I couldn't believe it! It was "boy what are you doing here?" or something like that. I can't remember their exact words, but as luck would have it, at that very moment, a Wisconsin State Troopr walked in to buy a burger and chat up some young woman working at one of the registers. The "rednecks" immediately dispersed but never took their eyes off me. I made sure I got out of there before the trooper left. </p>
<p>So Wisconsin may not be that much different than Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. It's hard to go through this world as a black guy.</p>
<p>Anyway, one reason for my bias toward the Nordic look in women in the Upper Midwest is because I married one of those women. Half-Swedish, half-Danish. She's the love of my life.</p>
<p>Barrons-
Your description of UGA is about 10 or more years behind the times. Not sure when you went to visit BAMA and I will try not to speak disparagingly of our neighboring states, but with the implementation of the HOPE scholarship in GA, the quality of the students and the average SAT has soared. And this is coming from a Gator, who had a fair share of GA jokes in my arsenal (I now reserve the jokes for FSU, LOL). Many of the top HS students are choosing UGA over private LACs, and even Ivys. It has become very competitive and many students who were an absolute shoe-in in the past are now getting deferred or waitlisted, with SATs of 2100+. It is not your grandma's UGA, that for sure.</p>
<p>My H went to Madison. He described the women as "farm stock". Probably better that they spent much of the time bundled up in heavy winter clothes.</p>
<p>Plainsman-
No doubt that the Jewish population is higher at UW. We know many many jewish kids, children of our friends and synagogue congregants, that go to UGA. They are just fine, and there are plenty of Jewish kids. Certainly the percentage is higher at UW, and there was an incident of alleged discrimination with a female cheerleader several years ago that was a huge scandal/media event and led to the firing of the coach of the womens cheerleaders (or whatever the correct term is) and I havent heard of any problems since that time.</p>
<p>Certainly-- if you want gorgeous students, great weather, plenty of Jewish students, excellent academics and unsurpassed sports-- UF is the obvious choice. But the OP didn't put UF in the running (and Gainesville is a great college town as well )</p>
<p>Of course I favor UW. Definitely a liberal town and school. Plenty of sports- both spectator Big Ten and intramurals, plus running, bicycling, Hoofers... Plenty of studying- the first part of "study hard, party hard"- you don't have to party, but people do study. Nice Honors program, with flexibility. Plenty of research going on- including a spring symposium for undergrads. There have always been significant numbers of Jewish students- they recently opened a kosher dining facility in Res Halls. Medical School on campus that does research as well as many other sites. The weather is certainly conducive to studying in the winter. Not much of a Greek presence. Good food plan at UW- no required meals/spending amounts.</p>
<p>Your son may want to look at the respective school catalogs/course offerings online for each school- many diverse ways of meeting breadth reqs and premed ones as well as what the overall graduation reqs are at each school. Either school will have enough serious students interested in medical school and offer good courses for preparing for that- some of the other courses available at either school may intrigue him. He should check to see how each handles their Honors program- one may appeal to him more than the other (you/he can PM me about UW's).</p>
<p>Regarding going to the "best" school. The one that is a best fit will make a student do their best because they like being there. A person has the best chance of getting into medical school in their home state- think tax dollars for both public and private schools; both schools will be known quantities to various medical schools. UW has many strengths in many depts for an undergrad education, I don't know Georgia. I would not pressure your son to attend either school over the other as each school will give him "life changing"/growth experiences. My way of deciding would be to make a list of priorities and see where I placed each school onit- then I may have to go with the coin flip choice at the last moment. Whatever he does he needs to not look back and to embrace his future. Good luck to him, wherever he ends up.</p>
<p>My daughter is visiting UW-Madison this weekend as a PdD accepted candidate. The weekend visits and tours did not even start yet and she is delighted with the campus, the lake, and the CS facilities. She is a Californian, living happily at Brown the last 4 years. She is predisposed to like Wis,consin because of a professor she is following.</p>
<p>But I think it is crazy to live in such weather, and I would be miserable. I can't even figure out how they don't just stumble over dead bodies of people who just died walking between campus buildings and no one spotted them. As you can tell, I have never lived in a place it snows in. We just 'visit' snow, and I don't like it much when I see it. I have endured downhill skiiing, and my daughter loves that and snowboarding, and I hate it.</p>
<p>Barrons - What Bama did you go to?? Not the Bama that I know. UGA and most of the other schools are some of the preppiest places I have seen. When we moved here I from MN I had to get a lot of new clothes because my MN style was so far different. While kids at all campuses stick to t shirts and jeans to go to class, after that you need to think Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, and Vineyard Vines. 1963?? No way. </p>
<p>Anyways, They are both well regarded schools in top rated college towns. Except for the weather, any one should be happy at either one. But for any guy who is going to visit or rush UGA, you need to think collared shirt (pref. polo), Costa Del Mar sunglasses, khaki shorts (not cargo!!) and either Rainbows or Sperry's..... Girls like to wear dresses all the time..not fancy ones though, just sun dresses unless they are going out. You won't find much Larry The Cable Guy look there but it's OK if that is your look. But speaking of 1963, Wallaby's are making a comback....</p>
<p>"But for any guy who is going to visit or rush UGA, you need to think collared shirt (pref. polo), Costa Del Mar sunglasses, khaki shorts (not cargo!!) and either Rainbows or Sperry's.."</p>
<p>I rest my case. A bunch of pseudo preppie-wannabe poseurs. BTW BB and all the rest are all very 1963 Ivy look. Go watch Where the Boys Are with George Hamilton as the boy from Brown. Fits that look to a T.</p>
<p>Some of our "farmstock". </p>
<p>And even national acclaim</p>
<p>Folks- barrons posts a lot on the UW site and makes many annoying comments there. He accuses Badger fans of NOT dressing up et al for sports events- here he is taking the opposite view. Good for posting links, not for respect of his views.</p>
<p>Different people have different phobias- I don't understand people living with earthquakes in CA, even if minor, all the time. I also could make many other unfavorable CA climate comments. It is easier to dress warmly than to suffer from heat. A Brown grad will likely enjoy the campus atmosphere of UW.</p>
<p>One way to think of the seasons in Madison- typically no significant snow until winter break (the past two have been unusual), lots of sunshine when it's cold (and good to be indoors studying) plus nice springtimes, only hot in Sept, no real need for air conditioning during the school year. Clothing styles are another part of the package- definitely casual for UW for most. Interesting comments about the girls- does he want good looks or good brains- are the women out to get their man or are they more interested in the academics than appearances? One can twist details to suit any purpose, that is the reason to make a list of priorities. Every school has its pros and cons- choose the ones that seem to matter. The hardest choice is between two equal things.</p>
<p>"Personally, I could not do Dixie, especially if I was Jewish."</p>
<p>Speaking as a born and raised Southern Jew, I must say I wouldn't want to live anywhere BUT the south! I spent 7 years in Miami--which is NOT the south by any means--and was thrilled to come back to Atlanta. There is a world of difference between a rural town of 200 --or even 10,000, or 20,000-- people, and a city like Atlanta, one of the gems of this country. You really shouldn't make blanket statements like the above when you don't have the relevant experience.</p>
<p>BrownParent, I had to laugh at your description of "stumbling over dead bodies." It's really not that bad. There are a handful of days a year when it might get below zero. You put on a coat and a scarf and walk briskly. Not exactly fatal. On the other hand, I have been in the south when it's hot and muggy. Dear God! How anyone can live in such conditions eludes me. There's only so much you can take off, and even then you suffer. And every year when we read about the fires in California we wonder what could possibly induce people to live there. </p>
<p>Of course I know there are many wonderful things about California and the South. But the same is true with Wisconsin. You get used to the challenges everywhere. People are very hardy; next to cockroaches we're about the most adaptable species there is.</p>
<p>In fact, my son will be studying Computer Science, and among the schools he's thinking about are Wisconsin, Rice and Berkeley. So if he chooses any of them, he'll have to adapt!</p>
<p>Wis75, here is what I actually said about dress and UW and it was referring to adult alums and adult alum tailgates at other schools.</p>
<p>"Just dressing decently and having a nice tailgate are hardly shows of overpowering wealth. I have lived all over the country and this anti-snob snobbism is way more prevalent at UW than other similar schools. Go to a game at Washington, UVa or North Carolina and people are generally dressed and acting like adults who have more than a dime in their pocket. Nobody thinks anything of it." </p>
<p>I was not talking about students dressing as pseudo-preppies and going to games.
And in this discussion we are doing what is called talking smack which is what guys do when the conversation moves to sports and women. I know you were too busy being a consummate student to understand the concept. </p>
<p>barrons- I have to say that the more I read your posts the more sorry I feel for you. I have spent my time in the northeast, the midwest and Texas (its own geographic region) and am now happily settled in the south. Your portrayal is SO wrong. Yes, there are lots of pretty dressers at the southern state schools. I have seen just as many at Penn, including my own kid! Competition to get into the state flagships has greatly increased, as jym pointed out. </p>
<p>I also don't understand why everyone dismisses SEC basketball. So what if they aren't in the Sweet 16? That doesn't make the inter-conference games any less fun or exciting. We have Vanderbilt season tickets with some co-workers of mine. Even before I had any attachment to Vandy (D is now a grad student there), we enjoyed the he11 out of all the games. There is tons of school spirit and rivalry, and Vandy has made the tournament (as has Kentucky and TN) most of the past 10 years.</p>
<p>Anyone who attempts to place Wisconsin and Georgia on similar academic stata just is plain wrong. Are they in the same city--maybe. But not in the same ballpark--at least not yet. (BTW I lived in Atlanta and Austin for several years each as well as a year in Virginia). UW's faculty is head and shoulders above UGA's by most any measure. Far more highly ranked depts, far more NAS members, far more receiving major awards like Guggenheims and Early Career awards from the major science groups. Here's a recent ranking of top schools by research funding--UGA is not even in the Top group. UW profs had 124 patents in the last year. UGA 18.</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin at Madison $831,895,000
University of California at Los Angeles $811,493,000
University of Michigan $800,488,000
University of California at San Francisco $796,149,000
University of Washington $778,148,000
University of California at San Diego $754,766,000
Stanford University $679,196,000
University of Pennsylvania $676,052,000
Duke University $657,080,000
Ohio State University $652,329,000
Cornell University $648,802,000
Pennsylvania State University $644,182,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology $600,748,000
University of Minnesota $594,877,000
University of California at Davis $573,002,000
University of Florida $565,491,000
Washington University in St. Louis $547,674,000
University of California at Berkeley $546,035,000
University of Arizona $535,847,000
University of Pittsburgh $530,162,000
Columbia University $529,945,000
University of Colorado $512,794,000
Texas A&M University $492,955,000
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign $476,198,000
Baylor College of Medicine $462,375,000
Yale University $460,075,000
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center $457,696,000
Harvard University $453,156,000
University of Southern California $450,173,000
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $443,790,000
Georgia Institute of Technology $440,898,000
University of Texas at Austin $431,398,000
Northwestern University $419,985,000
University of Maryland at Baltimore $405,260,000
Vanderbilt University $376,893,000
Purdue University $372,958,000
Case Western Reserve University $369,264,000
Scripps Research Institute $367,375,000
University of Rochester $366,658,000
Michigan State University $358,097,000
Indiana University $355,004,000
University of Maryland at College Park $354,244,000
University of Iowa $346,357,000
Emory University $345,989,000
Louisiana State University $343,775,000
University of Nebraska $333,243,000
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas $333,237,000
University of Illinois at Chicago $332,176,000
University of Alabama at Birmingham $331,436,000</p>