<p>Illinois resident with a lean toward pre-med type major. </p>
<p>31 ACT with a 3.9 gpa and top 15% rank.</p>
<p>Which of these schools is kinder in regard to aid etc...for out of state residents? Campus life and local communities, which are more fun? Any other comments and feedback on these schools would be great. We have visited Wisconsin but not Indiana yet.</p>
<p>Two great schools in two great college towns. It would be hard for most college kids not to enjoy either Madison or Bloomington. I think scholarship (merit) aid for out of state residents is much more likely at IU. I’m not sure if there’s much difference in financial aid. Good luck!</p>
<p>Madison more fun and better sciences. IU better with fin aid.</p>
<p>Bloomington is just as fun as Madison. Wisconsin a little higher on the prestige scale, if that matters to you. Bloomington not as cold. Go with the money.</p>
<p>I currently go to IU and my sister goes to Madison. We had almost identical stats, she got no aid, I got $8,250/year.
Also, we are both Illinois residents.</p>
<p>Bloomington and Madison are light years apart socially. And Madison is a better school on nearly every academic measure. Don’t know about aid. Visit both and decide.</p>
<p>Indiana is a great college town. Unfortunately you might know the University has a reputation as hard partying. That said…I know LOTS of people who went/go there who are NOT partiers. A stellar performance at IU got my niece a full ride at Michigan for law school AND admittance to Columbia Law school (which is the one she choose). I rarely see a doctor here in Indiana who did NOT go to I.U. Their medicine program is great, and they have other great attributes/schools as well (music, business). The campus is gorgeous. You’re an hour from Indy. Not a huge city but at least the capital with plenty to do. I just heard from some kids admitted for 2010 that tuition went up. But your stats start you with an automatic $9,000 scholarship. Plus probably a Hutton Honors College scholarship ($1000-$5000) - I’m pretty sure you don’t have to be a resident for that either. You can also ask your school to nominate you for a Wells Scholarship. Very few given, fewer still for OOS residents BUT…it’s a full ride. You probably do have to go see Indiana. If it truly ends up being between these two…you definitely need to visit. You can spend the night in a dorm, attend a class. I know nothing of Wisconsin, sorry. Good luck.</p>
<p>Indiana and Wisconsin are not light years apart socially. They both have student populations with a majority of people from the midwestern state in which they are located. Wisconsin has the edge in many academic areas- but not music or business. And not enough of an edge to turn down money.</p>
<p>I have been to both-they are significantly different socially. IU social life is frat dominated to a much larger degree than UW. Madison has much more to offer than Bloomington. IU is very midwestern, Madison a little edgier. Madison has the med school on campus–IU’s is in Indy.</p>
<p>“A stellar performance at IU got my niece a full ride at Michigan for law school AND admittance to Columbia Law school (which is the one she choose).”</p>
<p>You mean she decided to go to Columbia Law even though Michigan Law was free? That makes no sense to me at all!</p>
<p>If $ is the issue IUB is the choice. If you have some wiggle room consider Madison.</p>
<p>But, yes socially VERY different. IUB is Greek and conservative and UW is more liberal. Madison is a state capital and city of 200k in a metro area of 500k, while Bloomington is about 70k in a metro area of 180. More options. IU’s music school is legendary - great if you are in that department or enjoying a campus concert - though undergrad Business isn’t much different according to US News. Otherwise, nearly every other field is better at Madison.</p>
<p>I had to laugh at the statement that IU is conservative. My freshman daughter at IU had appointments with 2 different doctors in the week before she began her studies in Bloomington. Both are enthusiastic alums and each, after congratulating her on her excellent choice of schools, warned her about the liberal orientation of the campus. It’s all a matter of perspective! As far as the Greek life at IU, many, many local students attend IU and the majority of them that I know did not go Greek.</p>
<p>IU’s Greek population is 17% according to their website.</p>
<p>Yes, Madison might be a touch more cosmopolitan than Bloomington, but I still wouldn’t say the difference is huge. Remember- all the New Yorkers are flocking to IU now (per the WSJ article a year or so ago). There are a lot of rural Wisconsin residents that are quite the equivalent of the Indiana “Stoneys”.</p>