<p>Well today I received my acceptance letter to UW-Madison and am waiting on my letter from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. However, I am torn between the two. I want to go for business (accounting), but I can't really decide where. So any advice on the pros and cons of each would be great (or even another school I should think of applying to: 29 ACT composite 3.9 unweighted cumulative gpa top 5% in class).</p>
<p>Thanks : )</p>
<p>These are pretty evenly matched schools for your purposes. Wisconsin is probably a little better undergrad school overall but Minnesota is making big strides---they jumped 10 places in the current US News rankings from last year, and likely will move up again as they're becoming much more selective and working hard to bring up their graduation rate which has dogged them in the US News rankings in the past. For business, they're pretty evenly matched school---Wisconsin ranks slightly higher in US News for undergrad business schools (Wisconsin tied for #13 with a bunch of schools, Minnesota tied for #21 with a bunch of schools), but if you examine those rankings more closely there's only a sliver of a difference between Wisconsin's rating of 3.9044 and Minnesota's 3.7325. </p>
<p>I think it's a matter of taste. Some people like Minnesota's location in the heart of one of the nation's liveliest and most livable cities. Others prefer Madison, without a doubt one of the nation's great college towns. That's something you need to decide for yourself.</p>
<p>If you're a Minnesota or Wisconsin resident, either school will cost the same under their tuition reciprocity agreement. If you're OOS for both, Minnesota will be significantly cheaper: $14,756 OOS tuition and fees, versus $21,820 OOS tuition and fees at Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Yes, bclintonk gave a good summary of the trade-offs. The U of MN is my alma mater, so of course I will talk it up, but it's hard to go wrong at either college. It may be that Minnesota will experience less budget stress than Wisconsin in the next few years--check news sources for predictions about that.</p>
<p>They both are good schools, and almost evenly match. If you really cant decide, then selecting the one in our state may do better.</p>
<p>bclintonk, you really made some good points. I live in Wisconsin so it will be the same price, but I just can't decide. So Minnesota is starting to become more selective? tokenadult, could you touch on some of your experiences at the U of M? I have friends and relatives that are or have attended Madison, but I haven't heard very many stories about Minnesota.</p>
<p>While they are the same prince, UW has a higher overall ranking and a better Bschool, so go to UW, especially because it's such a great college town.</p>
<p>I assume you are aware that you can't apply to the business school at UW until sophmore year. I don't know if the same is true at UM.</p>
<p>Yes I am aware of that, and at Minnesota you're admitted into the business school as a freshman.</p>
<p>You now apply to UW-Madison business school after completing 24 credits 'in residence' which need to include the 4 pre business classes.</p>
<p>My standard advice to students who live in one place is to study somewhere else. (Note that I didn't live out of my home region until AFTER college graduation, when I lived overseas.) There is a lot of learning that comes simply from living in a new place you haven't lived in before. So if Minneapolis is farther from home than Madison, that might be one reason to prefer Minnesota for your business studies--that will provide you with more new experiences. </p>
<p>I didn't study business at Minnesota, but it's my understanding that that is one of the best funded and fastest rising parts of the University, because of all the endowment money that supports the Carlson School of Business.</p>
<p>go to Wisconsin... its a better univ. than mn.
hello!</p>