Wisconsin Madison, Purdue, or UC Davis

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone, I’m a high school student from Canada ( I live in Vancouver) and I have been accepted to the University of Wisconsin Madison, Purdue University, and the University of California Davis. I would like some advice regarding my university selection. I am planning on getting an undergraduate degree in Business, probably in the field of economics or finance (I know UC Davis does not have an undergrad B school but I got into their econ program). Overall could any of you who have experience with the schools help answer some of my questions below?

Money is not a huge barrier, my family is relatively well off. However, money will become a barrier if it gets excessive. I remember looking up the tuition fees etc. for the universities above and they all seem pretty similar but perhaps there are some hidden costs I should know?

I got into the pre-economics major at Purdue, but it seems like it is part of the business school. I assume this means I received a direct admit to the business school. I applied recently to the direct admit program at the University of Wisconsin Madison to their business school, but I feel like my chances for direct admit are slim. Therefore I am a bit concerned about the University of Wisconsin Madison because I was admitted to the college of letters and science pursuing entrance to business, which does not guarantee a spot in the business school. I was also admitted to the economics program at the University of California Davis. What do you think is the best program from the above?

A big concern of mine is future employment. I wish to stay in the United States for work when I graduate with my bachelor degree or perhaps my masters. I know that there is kinda an infamous reputation in the job market for screwing over international students. I want to know which school would likely offer me the best opportunity to find employment right after I graduate. Does being a Canadian citizen offer any benefits? Any advice here would be extremely valuable to me.

I would also like some general comments about how you feel about these schools. I am looking for future employment in the United States but I have also been admitted to the University of British Columbia (for econ but not in the b. school) and the University of Waterloo (Business + Comp sci). I am not really considering the Canadian schools but if the general opinion of the U.S. schools I have been admitted to are poor perhaps I will consider my Canadian options.

I would also appreciate any information that you think will be useful or relevant, so perhaps things like the weather and social life about these U.S. schools.
Thanks!

2

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Money is not a huge barrier, my family is relatively well off. However, money will become a barrier if it gets excessive
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What is excessive? For Davis, the cost will be $55k, plus healthcare insurance.

3

Well as long as it is under $65,000 USD a year it should not pose a problem. Canadian dollar is not at it’s strongest right now so if it is more than that perhaps it could pose more of a financial restraint.

4

UW-Madison will be in the neighborhood of $40k per year and Purdue won’t likely be too far north or south of that. You’ll save probably five figures per year over UC-Davis.

Undergraduate academic quality should be fairly similar. UW has the most ranked programs of the three, and the biggest research budget, but in a B-school context that won’t make much of a difference. They all offer plenty of quality majors in case you were to change your mind.

Aside from price, here are some other differences:

Madison and West Lafayette are temperate, while Davis is not. (or at least, it is much less so)

UW and Purdue are both big sports schools, especially UW. Davis is not.

UW and Purdue both have advanced social/party scenes. I am not sure if that’s the case at Davis (I’m sure there are parties… I’m just not sure how rampant the participation is).

If you can, visit them. You can compare them in other areas of fit (like some of the aforementioned comparisons), but until you see the different environments – city types, climates, commercial atmosphere, dorms, etc. – you won’t quite possess the total picture. Good luck!

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Thanks a lot for the reply. I would like to add that I am not a party kind of person. I am social (Student council for many years, debate team) but I am just not a fan of rowdy parties etc. I am a bit concerned about uw Madison due to the party reputation, I like to study and I am usually around a small group of close friends. I will also probably visit Davis since I am heading to San Francisco soon, but I don’t think I will be able to visit Purdue or Wisconsin Madison.