UW-Madison vs Northwestern...this is killing me...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm trying to make a really hard decision between UW and Northwestern. Everyone tells me to go to Northwestern because "it's obviously the better school," but I'm under the impression that, perhaps, UW's research opportunities and science departments are better than that of NU's (since NU is a very liberal arts school despite what it says about their institution with all their theater, english, fine arts, and social sciences majors). How reputable is biochemistry or biology at Wisconsin?</p>

<p>I know I'll be able to make the best out of my experience at either UW or NU, but I'll never know how my life may differ. Right now, cost is not important --- I'll figure out which school I like more and then make cost an issue. However, I know I want to major in the sciences and go along a pre-med track. Which ever school I go to for undergrad probably will not be the school I go to for med school (some might say I'm jumping ahead of myself by saying I'll want to go to med school in 4 years, but I'll just assume that for now).</p>

<p>I also hear the internships are better at NU, and the connections I make at NU will probably be pretty diverse. If I go to UW, will I have many opportunities to branch out to other types of students (different majors) or will I pretty have an overwhelming majority of friends from the individual college (or plainly the science people) in UW? How about NU?</p>

2

<p>Go to Northwestern... it's obviously the better school.</p>

3

<p>There's no wrong answer there. Don't worry about the distinctions between the details of the academic programs - I'd suggest that you pick the place that seems like the more engaging setting for the next four years of your life. BTW, I can assure you that NWern's assets in the fine arts don't at all come at the expense of their sciences.</p>

4

<p>Northwestern wins. Graduate department rank doesn;t matter for majors like biology and the better access to research (Northwestern) easily trumps high-end research you'll never see (UW). Not even a choice in my opinion.</p>

5

<p>Data mostly drawn from USNWR</p>

<p>OBJECTIVE DATA</p>

<p>Undergraduate Enrollment:
Northwestern: 8023 U Wisconsin: 30,106 </p>

<h1>and % of students who are in-state:</h1>

<p>Northwestern: na U Wisconsin: 18,365 (61%) </p>

<p>Cost (Tuition & Fees):
Northwestern: $33,559 U Wisconsin: $20,284 </p>

<p>Graduation & Retention Rank
Northwestern: 8th U Wisconsin: 49th
-% of Students expected to graduate in 6 years:
Northwestern: 91% U Wisconsin: 73%
-% of students who do graduate in 6 years:
Northwestern: 93% U Wisconsin: 78%</p>

<p>Faculty Resources Rank:
Northwestern: 9th U Wisconsin: 69th
-% of classes with 50+ students
Northwestern: 9% U Wisconsin: 18%
-% of classes with <20 students
Northwestern: 72% U Wisconsin: 43%
-Faculty/student ratio
Northwestern: 7/1 U Wisconsin: 13/1</p>

<p>Student Selectivity Rank:
Northwestern: 17th U Wisconsin: 44th<br>
-Average SAT/ACT:
Northwestern: 1320-1500 U Wisconsin: 26-30
-% of students ranking in top 10% of high school class
Northwestern: 82% U Wisconsin: 56%
-% acceptance rate
Northwestern: 30% U Wisconsin: 68% </p>

<h1>of NMS Finalists from 2005:</h1>

<p>Northwestern: 178 (9%) U Wisconsin: 31 (.5%)</p>

<h1>of 1500 scorers enrolled:</h1>

<p>Northwestern: 1998 (25%) U Wisconsin: 561 (2%) </p>

<p>Financial Resources Rank:
Northwestern: 14th U Wisconsin: 47th </p>

<p>Alumni Giving % and Rank:
Northwestern: 29% (29th) U Wisconsin: 14% (109th) </p>

<p>SUBJECTIVE DATA</p>

<p>Peer Assessment:
Northwestern: 4.4 U Wisconsin: 4.2 </p>

<p>Based on the data above, it would appear that there is considerable supporting evidence behind the advice that you have been getting to go to Northwestern. Statistically, Northwestern is the winner in every category and usually by significant margins. </p>

<p>But something is clearly holding you back from making the "obvious" choice. IMO, your reluctance to quickly commit to Northwestern is not irrational as many students can go to U Wisconsin or other similar school and have a very good experience. One such possibility for a very good experience is the research opportunities at U Wisconsin that you alluded to in your OP (although it is not as if such opportunities aren't also available in Evanston). The size of the schools and their different campus environments also should be closely considered. While on paper, Northwestern would seem the clear winner, if you feel strongly that U Wisconsin is a better fit and that you would have a better personal experience there, then I suggest that you not ignore your gut.</p>

6

<p>Biochemistry at UW is among the best in the country as are biosciences in general. Research opportunities for undergrads are abundant. Just to show the difference in commitment to sciences UW has a large complex of buildings just for the biochem dept including a large library. The biosciences at UW attract many of the top students in the school.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/history/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/history/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The active and rapidly bio industry in Madison--many founded by UW profs--makes internships close and available. </p>

<p><a href="http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=1955%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=1955&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

7

<p>Other bioscience buildings under construction</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bact.wisc.edu/MSB/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bact.wisc.edu/MSB/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.med.wisc.edu/about/irc/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.med.wisc.edu/about/irc/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://buswire.ocr.wisc.edu/leadstory/200601.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://buswire.ocr.wisc.edu/leadstory/200601.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://discovery.wisc.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://discovery.wisc.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.ballinger-ae.com/WIDMIR/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ballinger-ae.com/WIDMIR/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

8

<p>this does not make my situation any easier...
the chicago alumni association just called me telling me that I got their $5,000 per year scholarship, and they want an answer by this friday!
that means I have to make my decision 2 weeks earlier than May 1st!!!!</p>

9

<p>Congratulations on your scholarship!</p>

10

<p>I always advise UW students to go to the alumni scholarships. Generally much easier to get and not always need based.</p>