<p>What's the social life like? What is Madison like? Are people friendly? What about the academics? etc..Feel free to express all your opinions about this school.</p>
<p>Well, first time I’ve check CC in ages and on the front page of college life is a thread about the school I currently attend. I’m graduating in less than a month, so here’s my opinion after 4 years here.</p>
<p>Pros:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Madison is a legitimate college town. Almost everything revolves around the university, and the buildings are truly built into the city. Tons of good food options. Always places to eat late nite.</p></li>
<li><p>Madison can be BEAUTIFUL. The university is right on a large lake. There are plenty of trees around campus. There are three other lakes near the uni. Many new modern buildings that are aesthetically pleasing.</p></li>
<li><p>People are extraordinarily friendly. I’ve never lived outside of WI, but a lot of post-docs/other older people who moved to Madison from elsewhere are always impressed with the general attitude and feel of the city and people.</p></li>
<li><p>Academics are great. Class options are mind-blowingly large; tons of options for classes to take. Profs can be hit or miss, but this is typical in college.</p></li>
<li><p>Great research opportunities. I do medical research and have been blown away with the opportunities I’ve gotten because I went to Madison.</p></li>
<li><p>Awesome sports. Football gamedays are fun, basketball team is consistently good, etc…</p></li>
<li><p>Public transportation is good. The bus that runs around campus comes every 6 minutes.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Cons:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Budget cuts are making things somewhat more difficult. A lot of cool lab classes within my major have been cut because there isn’t funding anymore. Getting grants for research is more difficult now than ever before.</p></li>
<li><p>Many of my freshman/sophomore professors were average at best. The TAs were rarely from America and were often hard to understand. Many 500+ person lectures.</p></li>
<li><p>Party scene can be somewhat obnoxious if you aren’t into it. Especially if you live in Southeast. Having puke all over Thursday through Sunday every week isn’t fun.</p></li>
<li><p>Weather can be a negative. Having seasons is great, but this winter especially has been terribly cold and depressing.</p></li>
<li><p>Offcampus housing isn’t super expensive (like SF, upper eastside NYC, etc…), but definitely isn’t cheap.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>UW has its own forum to check out:
[University</a> of Wisconsin - Madison - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-wisconsin-madison/]University”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-wisconsin-madison/)</p>