Wisconsin@Madison vs. CU Boulder vs. Clemson vs. Auburn vs. UT Austin

Hi everyone, I’m a high school senior who is currently FREAKING OUT about college. I’m looking at Wisconsin at Madison, CU Boulder, Clemson, Auburn or UT Austin. I’m going to major in either biochemistry or biology, depending on the college, and hope to apply to medical school in the future.

Some things about me: I’m lazy but I also like the outdoors. I’m from Dallas, Texas, and small towns make me feel claustrophobic. I want a college that balances academics, a good surrounding town, and a good party scene. I’m smart (i’m a national merit finalist). but I don’t want to feel overwhelmed with academics. I’ve had a hard couple of years and I want a small break, but I don’t want to jeopardize my future. Money isn’t a problem. Any help? I’m desperate!

Have you been accepted to all of the above ?

What about U Wisconsin Madison: great college town (best in the country with Ann Arbor), laid back, not far from the outdoors, top academics (biology is top-notch), if you’re invited to Honors apply, and if you’re NMF look into Biocore:
http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/biocore/about.html
CU Boulder would be my second choice if you don’t want UT. It’s less strong academically than UW but it’s another cool town, lots of outdoorsy opportunities, you could get into the Honors College, and it’s relaxed enough.

(UT is obvious… so I’m assuming you want something else? Did you get into Science Honors at UT?)

I have gotten into all but UWisconsin, I applied late and they have rolling admissions.
I got into the Honors College of Boulder, but everyone at my school (teachers included) have been saying that its “beneath me” and I’d be bored. Additionally, Boulder doesn’t have that many science majors. Honestly I’m considering it so strongly because the college matches me the best personality wise, not so much academically.

I didn’t get into UT Honors. I know UT would be the obvious choice for most people in my position, but I want to get out of Texas.

Check your UWisconsin portal and plan to apply to Honors as soon as you hear back.
Otherwise, CU Boulder Honors wouldn’t be a bad choice if you want to leave Texas.

This, to me, would say “Colorado-Boulder”…

I plan to apply to Wisconsin Honors ASAP
Do you have any opinion on Clemson?

Honestly my top 2 are Wisconsin or Clemson. The only reason why I’m not really that big of a fan of Boulder is because I’m a huge ski bum and I feel like I would completely blow off school for everything else that Colorado has to offer.

I have to agree with MYOS here. My first choice would be Madison, but my second choice if I were you would be Boulder Honors. It’s a fun school with a lot going on for science majors. I don’t know where your people are getting their information, but I wouldn’t say Boulder has a few science majors. They are generally strong in STEM, particularly in physics, astrophysics, and aerospace engineering. They have graduated one or two astronauts; that you can look up. Last I was on campus, they had four Nobels teaching, and one of them I have professional experience with and he’s a hell of a teacher. I was a chemistry/English major at Boulder in the early 80s, and my science classes were great experiences. Beautiful campus, socially a lot of fun, great college town (not as great as Madison, people like MYOS have said), great weather, great outdoors. I was smart, too, and the Honors Program was just the ticket for me to find like-minded students who liked to have fun and do well in class.

By not great for science majors, I meant more on the biology side. I know Boulder is strong in physics and the like, but I’m more of a Biology/Biochemistry/Animal Sciences, and in these fields Boulder is lacking

Are all of these affordable for your family? And if so, will one leave you with more money left over for med school?

Run the numbers here:http://www.finaid.org/calculators/awardletteradvanced.phtml

If you are serious about Animal Science, then drop any place that doesn’t offer it.

Yes, I can afford all these places.

Considering Animal Sciences, Boulder drops out of the running, essentially leaving me with Wisconsin and Clemson.