The University of Wisconsin - Madison

Date: Apr 07 2009
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm an engineering student at UW Madison and when i got here it wasn't quite what i imagined. I thought i wouldn't have to deal with the idiotic kids from high school (although they do help in keeping the curves low). A vast majority of the people here can't wait for thursday, friday, and saturday night to get some alcohol in them. Despite this, i was amazed at how hard these students studied during the week. There are a lot of kids here and there are many that don't follow the party crowd, it just takes some time to find them and when you do, you could have a great time. Early on in your undergraduate studies, you'll have classes with non science/math majors and it will surprise you how they were even allowed into the university, which is contrary to the prestige i imagined when applying to the school. This review may sound mostly negative, but i believe the school is great once you get settled into the right place, with plenty of people to share your interests. There are plenty of clubs and opportunities for those that are serious about their education. The teachers: mixed bag; i've had some great teachers who really are excited about their subjects and teach out of their authored textbooks, and then i've had a few lazy ones that could care less and shouldn't have been paid a cent. Another point is that about half of your teaching comes from teaching assistants (graduate students), who are usually helpful but not really inspiring. If you're into sports, there are plenty events here for you; i particularly enjoy the hockey and football games, although they can get quite expensive if you go to them a lot. This brings up another point: cost. I chose this school because i thought it was better than most other in-state schools but not as expensive as better, more prestigious schools on the coasts. I don't have the experiences to tell you whether or not it is better than other schools in the UW systems, but even if you sacrifice a supposed education advantage to go to another UW, you'll save a boatload in living expenses. In conclusion: Whatever your type, you'll be able to find your niche, even if you have to put up with some jerks. If you're a preppy business jock, you'll feel at home right away (if you can get into the school of business), and if you're somewhat a nerd (like me) you'll have to do some sorting, but you can find your place.