The University of Wisconsin - Madison

Date: Feb 01 2005
Major: Journalism (This Major's Salary over time)
I loved UW-Madison. The town and the University are one in the same—which I loved, as the University is huge. I loved my major—which is actually why I'm writing. I saw a couple journalism majors upset on this thing, and I thought I'd give my two cents.

Bottom line: This is a big university. Small town/high school types will no longer have a crutch to lean on. If you want to do well, you will. If you expect things to come to you, you'll feel lonely and do poorly.

I came from a mid-sized town and had a horrible first semester, because I thought things would just "fall into place." They didn't. After that disasterous first semester, I did really well—I checked out some co-curriculars (ending up at one of the two student papers) and found a decent major.

You don't feel lost at a big school if you've found somewhere to belong. Find a club, a dorm floor, something that you'll identify with, and you'll love a "big school."

Madison itself is great. It's famously liberal and open minded, but that doesn't mean people are partying in the streets—people are just open-minded.

I loved my journalism degree (undergrad)—the profs were great, funny, engaging, etc. My political science degree, while worthwhile, was not nearly as difficult to get. If you seek out professors, they are more than willing to help, give advice and do whatever it takes to see you do well.

SI On Campus rated UW-Madison as the best sports school, and it shows. People are obsessed with the Badgers, which—even though I hate football—is just cool to see masses of people walking to the stadium on a Sunday morning.

I cannot say enough of Madison. I loved it. Go there and you won't be disappointed.