We just heard back last night that my son is on the wait list for Wisconsin Engineering. What are the chances he will get in? Would a visit help? I know its a lot flight, but want your thoughts.
Also how does Wisconsin compare to Virginia Tech & Florida (still waiting) for engineering, and overall student experience? We just returned from VT this week - great academics (he enjoyed his meetings with the faculty), but we didnt see much school spirit (or anyone at all!) in Blacksburg and 9pm at night when we went out to dinner 
Finding that good academic/campus life/school spirit mix is hard we are finding out.
Wisconsin engineering overadmits to engineering majors and then weeds them out with GPA requirements for progression. For some majors, these may be as high as 3.5 in major and 3.0 overall.
https://www.engr.wisc.edu/academics/student-services/academic-advising/first-year-undergraduate-students/progression-requirements/
https://www.engr.wisc.edu/app/uploads/2016/01/First-year_GPA_requirements_for_progression_2019-20.pdf
A waitlisted student who is subsequently admitted is probably at the bottom edge of HS academic credentials among the new students, so would probably be at higher risk of falling below the weedout GPA later.
Thanks UCBalumnus - good point. VTech has progression requirements too but probably not as stringent as UW? VT requires a 3.0 GPA at end of freshman year for Mechanical Engineering and potentially a 3.5 GPA (plus interview & essay and demonstrated interested research) to get into Biomedical Engineering at end of his freshman year. But my son has done high school summer programs in Biotech/Biomed, is currently looking to do Biomed Research Lab work this summer at his state university (prior to leaving for college) … and hopefully secure Research work as a freshman in whatever college he goes to - so he realizes he needs to compete from day 1 and keep his grades up too because making it as an engineering major isnt easy. But he also like to have fun (played basket ball and football), is social and is looking for a school with balance.
https://enge.vt.edu/content/dam/enge_vt_edu/undergraduate/coe_com.pdf says that students in the engineering division at VT are assured their first choice major, except biomedical engineering, with a 3.0 GPA.
It looks like biomedical engineering is a competitive admission major at Florida as well: https://www.bme.ufl.edu/academics/undergraduate/FAQ .
Just an FYI, you need a 3.5 to progress in Biomedical engineering at Madison. It’s really steep.
Looking at UW’s engineering ranking they are #14, so just one step below VT’s #13 (making them the same IMO). Choose what you like engineering-wise.
I’m not quite sure why students weren’t out and about in Blacksburg when you visited. The school most definitely has plenty of school spirit and tons of things going on. Were folks perhaps engrossed in March Madness on TV at the time? (Just a thought.) We’ve never been to Blacksburg and not seen tons of students all around, both on campus and in town.