If you are looking for a university overflowing with school
spirit, look no further than the University of
Wisconsin – Madison. On game days, most
spectator sports sell out their home games and the campus is a sea of red, one
of the school’s colors.
You have to love the spirited football fans that regularly jump up and
down in the stands between the third and fourth quarters (check them out on YouTube) and flood the
field at the end of the game, regardless of score to celebrate the “fifth”
quarter with a dance on the field.
Campus enthusiasm extends beyond sports, however, with legendary
snowballs flights and too many traditions to count.
I was surprised to find myself surrounded by water and
enjoying the views of a large and lovely lake from the heart of the
campus. Located on an isthmus
between two lakes, the campus has a lakefront section and a more urban
neighborhood. With 29,000
undergraduates and a total student population of 42,000, UW Madison, is a huge
place. There are 8 schools within
the university and 42 libraries.
Our tour guides mentioned classes of 600 students with discussion
sections of 30 and indicated that many freshmen classes had 300-600
students. Officially, the
university states that 10% of their classes have more than 100 people and 10%
have less than 20 people. Academically, there is almost everything you could want here for the assertive student to take advantage of.
UW Madison is required by law to limit out of state students
to 25% of the total population, including international students, which in 2012
accounted for 10% of the total.
Clearly it is not easy to be admitted to UW Madison as a non-resident. However, once admitted, most students
stay and graduate at a high rate and mostly with 4 ½ years. It is a vibrant, active campus in a
pleasant, small city, which is also the state capitol. Californians would be right at home on the lakeside beach when the weather gets warm!
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| Union Terrace Beach |
Who would be a good fit here? A high achieving, independent,
confident student who would be happy in an environment where there is not too
much racial diversity but tons of opportunity for jumping during football games
would be a perfect fit if he or she also had a really warm coat!
