<p>If Barrons ruled the world Wisconsin would be ranked right up there with Ivies. Luckly he doesnt.</p>
<p>Actually when it comes to quality research benefitting the US and the world UW does far more than most Ivy schools. That's why is one of the top 3 research schools and top 5 in technology productivity in the US. One UW invention alone is credited with saving 100's of thousands if not millions of lives. (Warfarin)
Add in the Vitamin D in every glass of milk, the Social Security system and you have a start at some of the things UW has done.</p>
<p>I honestly think threads like this do a DISSERVICE to any prefroshing look at schools. There are so many anecdotal claims and pieces of information passed on as fact without any sort of basis in truth. </p>
<p>There is no undergraduate rank in political science, fyi. UMRunner, I'd really like to see the qualitiative and quanitative differences between the schools on political science. I too, when given the choice between UM and UW researched the schools to an obsessive degree of depth. I found that while on the graduate level Michigan ranked higher (we're talking top 5 vs. top 10-15, a minimal difference) at the undergraduate level one would be paying 40K more for the same education. Both have outstanding profs, same size classes, internship opportunities, programs in DC, etc.</p>
<p>People with this choice should just go to the school they're more comfortable at. It's like Harvard and Yale, they're both great, rankings won't tell you which one to go to. Go to the place you want to be.</p>
<p>Michigan...when you get out of college it has a better rep. people see that. </p>
<p>it's gonna cost a lot anyways so Mich all the way.</p>
<p>Wis-is the current Men's Division I Cross Country Champs
I guess that would be the only reason, and I heard they signed landon peacock but who knows...</p>
<p>Right, that or the 70 departments in the top 10 in the country, being located in one of the coolest college towns in the world, and yeah, costing 40 thousand dollars less.</p>
<p>You know. Or that.</p>
<p>University of Michigan</p>
<p>Not to be too picky Transfer, but Michigan costs roughly $7,000/year more than Wisconsin. So it is $28,000 more expensive than Wisconsin over 4 years...not $40,000. And you said that $40,000 is 2 years of Law school. That also isn't accurate. One year of Law school costs $30,000+ in tuition alone...$45,000 if you include room and board. </p>
<p>Still, that's nothing to sneeze at. However, when you put it into context, is there truly a huge difference between spending $130,000 and $160,000 for one's education? It is a huge investment no matter what. Might as well go to the school that fits the individual best.</p>
<p>Michigan is a FAR superior school. From a family with a bunch of wisconsin alums, I must say Michigan is a much better school.</p>
<p>I agree with the last statement of Alexandre's post in regard to the personal choice factor. These schools are too similiar and the personal factors will be the most important (I exclude certain things like the national reputation of Ross making it a good choice for UM students, or someone interested in medical microbiology who would have world class opportunities @ Madison) aspect in the choice. The 1-2 line blippy responses by some of the posters on this thread would lead an unsuspecting reader to believe we are comparing Iowa State to UCLA.</p>
<p>Also Alexandre, I suppose it is not 40, but a 30K a year difference. While I think you make a valid point about 160 vs 130K, it assumes parents for OOS students are not taking a part (if not all) of the tab. Knowing dozens of OOS students @ Michigan and Wisconsin, I know that students end up assuming some of that debt yet many of the OOS students are upper middle class and many from elite high schools (and wealthier parents) in Chicago, NY, California, New Jersey, Mass., etc. In my expierence the parents can pay ~20K a year leaving me with almost* a year of law school that would be saved at Wisconsin. I'm glad you recognize that is nothing to sneeze at, but when comparing peer institutions that change matters. I often feel that high school students on CC are out of touch with how 30,000 dollars (or more) can affect loan repayment and other graduate studies.</p>
<p>As for other misc. posters, I understand that Michigan has many programs which outrank Wisconsin. Ross and the engineering departments are two that come to mind, but I also note that Wisconsin is ranked in the top 15 at the undergradute level for both. Not exactly comparing night vs day. Further, Michigan has a 4.5 to Wisconsin's 4.2 peer institution rating by the US News. Now, these are differences, but this thread makes it seem like you are comparing two VASTLY different schools. Michigan and Wisconsin share an enormous amount of research, Phds who end up teaching at the other school, and UGs who end up at the others graduate programs. Even the Dean of admissions @ Wisconsin comes straight out of Ann Arbor. In my opinion, without a specific reason (say you are an english major) the schools are more ALIKE than DIFFERENT and this thread lacks any critical analysis, instead relying on 1-2 line blips. I am utterly unconvinced that your history, english, womens studies, jewish studies, or acturary majors (just to show some random majors) have a much different UG expierence at either school. Neither school will make one attractive to a graduate program or employer without doing well AT the school. Getting in will not make you automatically successful. Graduates from BOTH schools win Nobel prizes and the like, and graduates from BOTH schools also attend Wayne State or Marquette law school (not to diminish the law school, but to show that it's what you do at college, not the school in this case which will help you achieve life goals). Any difference for the majority of students will be too marginal to consider one "soooo much better" than the other.</p>
<p>Futher, I would make the argument that there are many majors for which Wisconsin is a better choice. Many hard sciences are top notch at Wisconsin and other humanities such as the communication and journalism department @ Madison. One reason why I turned down Michigan, even if I were to spend the extra money, is that Wisconsin offered a better education for those interested in political communications, political rheotric, and things of that nature. It's a school with SEVENTY departments in the top ten in the nation. Yes, Michigan will have just as high of a number, if not more, but people, this is not apples to oranges.</p>
<p>I agree. Michigan and Wisconsin have far more in common than not. Chosing between them is like chosing between say Chicago and Rice. Yes, Chicago is a little more prestigious, but both are incredible universities with very similar characteristics (small, urban, serious etc...). It is in the small differences that those considering both must focus on. Which setting is more ideal? Which university offers more when it comes to the individual major? Does one school have an advantage over the other where some graduate programs admissions and specific professional placement are concerned?</p>
<p>Wisconsin brings in the tie-breaker.</p>
<p>Yes, it is true--UW has better looking students.;-)</p>
<p>GO MICHIGAN!!!!
(yes I'm aware of my user name ;) )</p>