University of Wisconsin Reviews

The dining halls are far better...

The dining halls are far better than expected, although they can be a bit monotonous after a few months. The best of them all is Rheta's. It has everything and the students who work there are amazing and friendly. But if you are looking for something a little different, State Street is the place to be. You can get anything from Italian to Mexican and beyond. Try Cosi; it's one of my favorites.

Well, there is always State...

Well, there is always State Street. A variety of restaurants and stores that have lots of overpriced food and material goods. I wouldn't call off campus walking distance, but you can get to other restaurants and stores and malls by bus easily.

For freshmen, it's mostly just a...

For freshmen, it's mostly just a lot of pot smoking and drinking. I know some kids who snort coke on occasion, but it's nothing out of control.

Police on campus are awesome, so...

Police on campus are awesome, so long as you are under control. They will occasionally go into bars and give out tickets to scare people, but I’ve shared a beer with a cop on a few occasions.

Varsity sports at Madison are...

Varsity sports at Madison are insane. They might not be the best, but football dominates the fall. Basketball and hockey rule the winter and spring. If you can get tickets to the games, get them. It’s so much fun and just amazing. You get up in the morning, get a little drunk, and then go to the games. Even if you don’t drink, the games are still a lot of fun. The student section is crazy, and it’s impossible to not have a good time. Intramurals are a lot of fun, too. There are so many different sports you can do. You will definitely be able to find the one you like.

Well, as a guy, I was in heaven. I...

Well, as a guy, I was in heaven. I had fun—let’s put it that way.

There is a decent amount of weed...

There is a decent amount of weed smoking, but it depends on who you hang around with. You can do it or you can avoid it.

Drugs are pretty big here. There’s...

Drugs are pretty big here. There’s tons of weed, and then probably a bit of everything else—cocaine, shrooms, and a lot of pharmaceutical abuse (Ritalin, Adderall, and any pain-killer you can get). This is not to say that everyone is on drugs, because most aren’t.

I know of prescription drug abuse,...

I know of prescription drug abuse, cokeheads, and marijuana use, but none of it is forced on anyone. Or at least I haven’t experienced that.

If you go here, you’re going to...

If you go here, you’re going to meet people who do drugs. If you want, you’ll find out how to get them. If this bothers you, it’s easy to ignore these people and this scene, but if you’re social, you will run into it. The guys in the drug scene are usually well-educated and laid-back, so you’re not going to be bothered by them if you want nothing to do with them.

I love Wisconsin. It’s an...

I love Wisconsin. It’s an excellent university with a fun atmosphere. I think I made the right choice in picking this university four years ago. If I had to go back and choose again, I would choose Wisconsin. I have had my highs and lows at this university, but that is to be expected with anything in life.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier...

Overall, I couldn’t be happier here. I know of no one here who has transferred, and I never hear people complain. Classes here are incredibly hard, but once you find the balance between partying and studying you will never want to leave this school.

In the summer, the weather is...

In the summer, the weather is either beautiful or humid. Fall is Madison’s best season because its always crisp and just cool enough out. Winter can be harsh, so make sure you have the warmest winter jacket you can possibly find. Everyone in Madison either owns a Columbia or North Face winter jacket. Outside of that, wear what you want, and have clothing for a wide variety of weather.

I have no regrets about coming...

I have no regrets about coming here, and there is no place I would rather be at school. It is just so much fun that I don’t even want to graduate. I am prolonging my time here! I love it too much!

Teachers are all great here, but...

Teachers are all great here, but you will have many classes taught by teaching assistants—which is common at any large university, really.

Instructors are great depending on...

Instructors are great depending on your year. Typical freshman and sophomore level lectures tend to be very large, so learning really takes place in the discussion classes led by TAs. Sometimes, I feel a bit overwhelmed at the size of the classes, but once you break down into discussions, it is normal. As you progress, your level of interaction with your professors increases, and you get more one-on-one time with them, which can either be good or bad.

I live in Kronshage, which is on...

I live in Kronshage, which is on the Lakeshore side of campus. The rooms are a little bigger, and you can arrange your room more than you can in the Southeast dorms. It is quieter out there, so you can study on the weeknights if you need to. Plus, buses stop right there, so it’s not a big deal to get around campus.

It is predominantly white—but,...

It is predominantly white—but, hey, it’s Wisconsin, after all! Compared to my Chicago suburban high school, it is not as diverse. However, you will find people of color on campus and international students. There is a big push towards multiculturalism on this campus.

It’s very diverse in terms of...

It’s very diverse in terms of personality and different types of people, but not so much diverse culturally.

The campus isn’t very diverse, but...

The campus isn’t very diverse, but it makes an effort to be. If you aren’t white, you won’t be the only person of your minority, but there is definitely a majority of Caucasian students.

It’s hard to walk to class here...

It’s hard to walk to class here without checking out at least a dozen people in this town. Most of the people you’ll meet are Thursday through Saturday partiers, and Sunday through Wednesday studiers. It’s all about trying to juggle work and play at this school. You have to do both.

There are so many bars, you would...

There are so many bars, you would definitely need a fake ID. I like going to the KK and the State, though there are so many fun bars. Madison definitely doesn’t lack things to do for fun.

The bar scene is good in Madison....

The bar scene is good in Madison. Wisconsin has the highest ratio of bars to people, and pretty much everyone likes to drink. If you have a fake ID, assuming that you are under 21, there are lots of places you can go.

It was good to go away, and I’ve...

It was good to go away, and I’ve met great people. I’m a theatre major, and I have met great people in that area so far. Madison is a cool place to be.

If your idea of fun is partying,...

If your idea of fun is partying, meeting people, etc., live in Sellery or Witte. If you'd rather spend your nights quietly reading books, doing homework, and doing other lame things, live in Lakeshore.