University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

The academics are rigorous. You can expect to be challenged academically. Those of us who easily got a 4.0 in high school found that it is not that easy at UW Madison. Professors challenge you to critically think about yourself and the world around you. Expectations are steep and graduating from UW Madison is quite an accomplishment.

Academics as I mentioned are very challenging. I can't speak for everyone, but as a business student its very difficult to get an A. I would say that the hardest courses require 30+ hours per week of studying outside of normal lecture.

The academic life at UW-Madison is perfect for me. If you want to get to know your professors, most are open to creating a first-name basis with you but if you prefer to sit back and take in lectures without personal attention, you can have that too. The TAs are usually great as well, and sometimes I like my TAs much better than my professors. I enjoy most of my classes probably because there are so many to choose from, you can pick the class and professor you want to enjoy your class. Most classes are time consuming and require A LOT of work but it is so worth it and definitely a part of going to this University. The work load is easy to accustom to and once you have, it seems awkward to not have homework or studying to do. If you manage your time well, you will have plenty of time for fun as well. There is a distinct difference between discussions or labs and lectures. Most participation is done in discussion where there is minimal participation in lectures. Although some professors make a strong effort to increase participation or at least encourage questions in lecture. Students are generally not competitive and many grab opportunities to work in groups UNLESS there is a class curve. If the class has a bell curve where a certain percent of students get an A and a certain percent has to fail. This is not very common anymore. The most unique class I have taken was Human Sexuality (Psych/soc 160). Many people fight to get enrolled in this class and it is VERY VERY interesting!! Personally, I am a psychology major and am also working towards a business certificate. The psych department is going through a curriculum change but the department offers many awesome opportunities such as research experience as a research assistant. I currently work in an Infant Learning Lab that studies how infants and toddlers aged 7-28 months learn language. This is one way to interact with a professor outside of class. Otherwise many students find it very helpful to go to office hours!! Overall, I can tell I have learned a lot and my education seems to be useful for applying to graduate school for my future. Not really sure if it is preparing me for the career world but I am only a sophomore!

The classes are generally large, so there is not a lot of personal contact with the professors. I have had many inspiring professors, especially later on in my undergraduate years. I am majoring in zoology and have minors in both environmental studies and German. Zoology is really interesting; you get to learn about animals! The environmental studies program is great--I wish I had taken more of these classes when I was a freshman and sophomore. The department changed my perspective of the world and how we use it. I highly recommend students take at least one environmental studies course. Madison has many opportunities for studying abroad and ensuring your credits transfer back correctly. I studied abroad in Germany and had an amazing time! Classes at Madison are challenging and require many hours a week studying, but all the students are in the same situation, so you won't be the only one spending late nights at the library!

I really enjoy going to class and learninnbg at UW Madison. We have some brilliant professors many of whom are world renowned. Ttghere are many academic resources available to us and we have a over a 90 percent retention and graduation rate.

The academics at UW Madison are extremely top-knotch. The administration as well as the student body recognize the standards of excellence and intelligence that they are held to and strive to achieve. While the lecture sizes may appear intimidating, it is equally stimulating, and it is easy to seek help when needed with material. The discussions for classes are much smaller and allow for one on one time with about 15-20 students and a knowledgeable teaching assistant. The teaching assistants are highly qualified, and are usually doctorate students that can make time available for you if you need it. There are also many different resources on campus that can provide further assistance like tutoring programs, study groups, and the Writing Center; it's really up to you to make the most of your resources and seek out what help you need. And don't think that using these resources is discouraged because everyone does it, and in such a competitive atmosphere it is encouraged for you to do whatever fits your personal needs to achieve the most you can. Most professors don't know your names because the lectures are so large in many classes, but if you make the effort to attend their office hours, most really reciprocate the effort by remembering your name and providing as much help as they can give. It also helps establish yourself and make some useful connections. I remember how scared I was to go to my first office hours with a very prestigious english professor I had freshman year, but the payoff was insurmountable. In a 350 student lecture the professor now knew my name, and I felt that I had established myself as a dedicated student, and from then on I was encouraged to come to him for any further questions. My first year, I took mostly general classes, and I was very happy with my decisions to get a taste of different types of classes so I could narrow down what career I would like to pursue in my future. I specifically remember taking general chemistry, and while my high school course prepared me well for it, I realized that at the college level, chemistry is definitely not something I want to pursue. My first year was a huge change from high school, because classes demand so much more, but it really helped me realize what my strengths are and where my true interests lie. I recently declared myself an english major, and I couldn't be happier with the decision because I discovered that my strengths lie in reading and writing, and I truly enjoy the challenge of english classes. At such a competitive and large university, it is essential to stand out from the crowd, and while it is completely up to you to establish yourself, there are so many resources at UW Madison that can help you discover your strengths and how to shine.

Often at Madison, as a freshman/sophomore you just have a number of large lecture classes, with 300 students and complete anonymity. Some people love this, some hate it, but it's a very different atmosphere from a small class. Students study every weeknight, and also in between classes. There are over 50 libraries on campus, and they're always filled with students studying. I'm a Psychology major, and Madison's undergraduate psychology program is one of the best in the country. As a senior, nearly all of my classes are small in nature, and you get really good face time with professors. People tend to form friendships within their major a lot of the time, because you end up taking classes with the same group of people over the years. Academic requirements are strict and difficult, but as long as you choose a major you're passionate about, the work will be interesting and you'll be motivated to do well.

Academics at the University of Wisconsin definitely vary. There are programs that are stronger than others. From what I see, the sciences, education, business, and school of agriculture are the true strong fields that this school serves, but any degree from UW Madison will look great on a resume to be honest. Students DO study here. It's a big boy school and the degrees don't come without a little bit of elbow grease. Libraries are ALWAYS brimming with students studying and working. Just a tip: College Library is cool, but it is also overrated. Memorial library is a great place to study, and most large buildings (chemistry, education, business) have libraries of their own. The Grainger (business) library is fantastic. Although there is (somewhat of) an academic vibe at UW, students tend to be laid-back and encouraging rather than cutthroat and competitive. My FAVORITE thing about the University of Wisconsin is that students do have intellectual and meaningful discussions outside of the classroom. Hearing conversations about agricultural techniques and quantum mechanics on the way to class is great. Above all, when I talk to a current student of alumnus of this institution, they always sound, and are, educated. Even our athletes, an academic gray-area for a lot of big schools, sound educated. Current Badger star running-back Montee Ball is always well spoken and polite during interviews; however, I can't say the same of all of this year's Heinemann candidates.

Since Madison is a large school with hundreds of majors, classes vary greatly depending on what you study and the amount of coursework you choose to do each semester. This being said, I think that classes in general are challenging, but also rewarding. Introductory and survey classes usually consist of lectures, taught by professors, and a discussion or lab led by a TA. I've never had a TA teach a lecture; professors lecture, answer questions, and even administer tests. In discussions and labs, TAs help us understand lecture material, and we often do exercises and activities to expand upon the material we learned that week. This is true for most of the classes I have taken for my English and psychology majors thus far. In my literature classes, discussion is a time for closer examination of text, advice about writing essays and taking exams, and group discussion of things we touched on in lecture. The same is true for many of my psych discussions, in which we discuss possible social implications of lecture topics, TAs answer questions and give advice about the material, and students work together to thoroughly understand tough concepts. As you get increasingly specialized within your major, classes generally get smaller and more specific--which provides ample opportunity to interact more with professors. Psychology is the biggest department on campus, with more students choosing to study how the mind works than anything else. One of my favorite classes was Introductory Psychology, the basic class required for all psych and business majors. It was a lecture of about 200, and a discussion of 15 students and 2 TAs. Discussion was helpful because we did hands-on activities to understand things the professor said in lecture, and I remember giving and listening to presentations about specific topics. In this way, you get the professor's lecture, which usually matches the textbook and emphasizes material on the test, and you also get help from your peers and TAs in a more concentrated environment. Class participation is central to discussions and labs, in which group discussions are the main focus of the 50-minute classes. Professors encourage student questions in lecture as well. For psychology in particular, students discuss topics outside of class all the time. We see things that we study at work in real life, and it's fun to be able to talk about it with a friend in your class and see that your work has paid off. Overall, classes are challenging yet interesting, and I have found professors and TAs to be very helpful and available. Students are not overly competitive, and we get through tough classes by utilizing the resources available to us and by working together.

Class sizes are generally pretty big at UW-Madison, but certain majors have small class sizes or else you can make these large classrooms feel small. This, however, requires that you be proactive in your education (sitting in the front of the class, talking to professors after lecture or at office hours). When you show initiative the professors love it, but the responsibility is YOURS. As an English major, I can testify to some of the shortcomings of these large class sizes. It is difficult to get a professor to critically review your writing in a class 300, and often the TAs simply cannot offer the same perspective. There are venues such as the Writing Center where you can bring your work for good critique, but again this requires that YOU make the first step. Competitiveness is not much of an issue here, mostly the students want to help each other, compare notes, and get good grades together. Quite often, we get together for study groups, which also is a good place to make friend with people who share your academic interests--the community at UW-Madison is one that will keep you afloat when you fall on a particularly hard semester.

If UW-Madison has its faults, academics are not one of them. I can't imagine many improvements that could be made to the system. It does require some effort on the student's part to seek out opportunities such as research jobs and internships, but there are many readily available. In the intro-level classes, the professor will likely not know your name unless you frequent their office hours. However, there is a great remedy to this problem, teaching assistants! The TAs at Madison are top-notch. My British Lit professor said that 4 people were chosen out of 200 applicants to be the TAs for our class. TAs are always on your side and often do everything they can to help you succeed, including offering advice for the future. Students at Madison have a reputations for "work hard, play hard", so studying is often intensive. Class curves make competition necessary, but I have found many study groups that ensure my success in college. In addition, the university hires tutors in various subjects for free. Well, free is a relative term. Let's face it, you're still paying tuition. Being a Zoology and English major, I've had a variety of classes from Physics to Ecology to Native American Literature. My favorite class so far has probably been Intro to Psychology. The professor, a practicing psychologist, was extremely personable and approachable. The class, though not in my primary field of interest, taught me a lot about the human psyche and even took a look at what happens every year on State Street during Halloween! Both of my major departments have been great. My advisors have helped me choose great classes, and I will be graduating a year early due the classes being very easy to organize. The school also accepting many of my AP and high school/community college credits. I have found both my departments to be more geared towards learning for its own sake than job preparation, but that is predominately what I came to school for. Madison's School of Business and engineering departments are more for the ambitious, go-getter types. Overall, I couldn't ask for two better departments to be involved in.

At the University of Wisconsin, every student has the chance to get a first-class education. There is an incredible range of schools and departments, all of which aspire to achieve national prominence. The faculty is among the best in the world and the resources are phenomenal. The Helen C. White and Memorial Libraries are two major hot spots on campus which are frequented on a consistent basis throughout course of the year. Students use these libraries to rent books for research assignments, read between classes, discuss ideas with classmates, and to access online resources. The student attendance at the libraries is telling of the academic culture at the university, as students have passionate investment in their coursework. My classes have mostly been in the humanities, as I am a History and English major. During my first and second year at the school, the courses I took in these departments were mostly surveys. English surveys tend to cover about a century of literature in a given country or region, and aim to explicate the thematic progression of these works over time. In History, each survey would also cover about a century and focus on how the social and political context of different countries affected and related to one another. These classes were crucial in providing me with a fundamental basis of knowledge in each major. Additionally, they helped to direct my interests towards more specific course topics in later years. As I entered my junior year, the classes in each major became smaller and had more distinct topics. These classes provided a more intimate basis for interacting with my professors and provided a class atmosphere of freer discussion. Overall, at the University of Wisconsin, academically the sky is the limit.

At the University of Wisconsin, every student has the chance to get a first-class education. There is an incredible range of schools and departments, all of which aspire to achieve national prominence. The faculty is among the best in the world and the resources are phenomenal. The Helen C. White and Memorial Libraries are two major hot spots on campus which are frequented on a consistent basis throughout course of the year. Students use these libraries to rent books for research assignments, read between classes, discuss ideas with classmates, and to access online resources. The student attendance at the libraries is telling of the academic culture at the university, as students have passionate investment in their coursework. My classes have mostly been in the humanities, as I am a History and English major. During my first and second year at the school, the courses I took in these departments were mostly surveys. English surveys tend to cover about a century of literature in a given country or region, and aim to explicate the thematic progression of these works over time. In History, each survey would also cover about a century and focus on how the social and political context of different countries affected and related to one another. These classes were crucial in providing me with a fundamental basis of knowledge in each major. Additionally, they helped to direct my interests towards more specific course topics in later years. As I entered my junior year, the classes in each major became smaller and had more distinct topics. These classes provided a more intimate basis for interacting with my professors and provided a class atmosphere of freer discussion. Overall, at the University of Wisconsin, academically the sky is the limit.

Academics are rigorous here. My experience in the English Department has been a difficult but rewarding one. Sometimes classes are small, but even when they are too big for the professor to know everybody, their Teaching Assistants always do. They have been a great help to me in honing my writing style and argument skills. I liked how they would prompt us with questions in discussion and then sit back for a while and let us discuss. Some of the most insightful discussions I have had are the ones where the TA says the least. In lecture, the Professors always incorporated a wide range of knowledge and resources, giving us background and history of authors and their works, as well as presenting different interpretations. Nothing was ever set in stone, but we were encouraged to make our own observations and question the validity of what we were taught based on what we learned in lecture as well as what we saw in the text ourselves. I elaborate here because I feel that it is demonstrative of the learning environment of the whole campus- we are not told what to think, but how to think and judge for ourselves, which is pertinent to both getting a job after school as well as pursuing learning for its own sake. UW Madison encourages learning for its own sake but doesn't leave students to pursue whatever willy-nilly. There are many resources for helping students find a career path and keep on track with it. There are advisers and resource centers and aptitude tests, whatever you need to plan out your academic career.

Depending on your major, some of the classrooms may be very large in size, over 100 people even. Although it seems very impersonal, many classes have an added discussion class that runs during the week after lecture by a teaching assistant who is majority of the time a grad student. They help to go over key points and students are able to ask questions and get that intimate classroom feeling. Being an English major myself, many of my classes are small and intimate and we always sit in a circle so we can have a great open discussion. Teachers are always helpful to facilitate discussions and never pressure you to participate or answer if you do not want to. I have found many teachers to be extremely helpful and open to meeting outside of class, to discuss grades, essays, etc. Students all over campus take pride in their school not only because of the football team but also because of how great of a school it is academically. We are all fortunate enough to get into this school and it seems that students all try to study and work hard. Yes we like to party and celebrate, but we also study and do what we have to do, you can see that throughout state street in the coffee shops, at the union and of course at the library.

The academics at UW Madison are challenging and competitive, but also entertaining and relaxed in many aspects. Large lecture halls for general classes focus less on each student individually and more on teaching the information accurately and concisely. Professors are treated with respect, and will not learn individual students' names unless they show up to office hours routinely. Smaller discussions contrast this atmosphere with a more relaxed, personal feel. Almost all TA's are friendly and run informal discussions. They request to be called by their first names and encourage all comments, no matter how outlandish your ideas may seem. Speaking with TA's out of class is just as rewarding. They are always keen on discussing your thoughts and never refuse to offer their help and guidance. Students at Madison are generally very passionate about their studies. Conversations on campus are often focused around concepts learned in class, politics, or environmental concerns. However, intellectual conversations usually end up as discussions about weekend parties and sporting events. As an English major, I have been content with every class I have taken in the English realm. Professors offer an equal emphasis on the content in literature covered in class and your writing needs individually. Over all, I am very pleased with the challenging academic feel on campus and the classes I have taken.

The coolest thing about Madison is it truly has an academic culture. I'm sure it's not quite like, say, Amherst, but for a public university of its size, it really is impressive. In my favorite classes, it was easy to forget that you were taking a class for a grade, ostensibly to help you get a job in the future, etc. etc.-- in short, I often felt that the classes were fulfilling in themselves. Individual professors are probably the biggest factor in this-- I think simply by virtue of truly caring about what they study, this sort of culture kind of comes about organically. And the students play a huge part in it too. I can't help but laugh, very empathetically, when I see a tentattive freshman who clearly wants to say something but is nervous about how to say it. It's a natural self-consciousness that everyone seems to get over very quickly. This extends beyond the classrooom as well. I've gone so far as to get drinks with TAs and professors (always after the class had ended, of course), along with fellow classmates. Scholastic pursuits aren't really considered separate, it's just part of life. I suspect it has something to do with the water (of which there is plenty-- seriously though, it is a very picturesque campus, and I think that just does something to your brain). This is definitely one of Madison's strengths.

The academics at UW Madison are of the highest quality. You have to be dedicated to working hard in order to do well at this prestigious university.

Classes are tough. And that's understating the matter. It falls on you to get stuff done. You have to take responsibility for getting your homework and your reading done, and for asking the professor or the TA for help. They won't baby you. There's a lot of reading to do. At least for me, anyways. I'm an English & Classical Humanities major. Science/Math majors will probably read less, but have more homework. A lot of the classes work like this: There's the professor, who teaches a large lecture two or three times a week. Then, you have a discussion section with a TA once a week. In lecture, you take notes and listen to what the professor has to tell you. Sometimes they'll take questions, but it depends on the professor. Then, in section you go over readings in more detail and you can ask your TA questions. TA's are also the ones who grade exams and papers, so a lot of your grade is dependent on them. That's usually how the lower level classes, in the 100s or 200s work. As you get to more advanced classes, the professor will teach smaller classes of 20-40 students, and there won't be a TA. I think this system works pretty well, but it sucks when you get a TA who is a really harsh grader - your grade is really dependent on them.

Wisconsin is a big school so it is to be expected that at least your introductory courses will be big lectures. In these big classes, the professors will only learn your name if you make an effort to ensure that they do. They want to know the students and love when you come visit them in office hours. The more advanced level classes get smaller and the classes start to not have teaching assistants. In these classes the professors always know your name and they are usually very approachable and often fun to talk to. Class participation is fairly common but it depends on the type of class. In lectures, participation usually only involves clarifying questions. In small classes participation is often required and included in the structure of the class. Classes are usually either twice a week for 75 minutes or three times a week for 50 minutes. Many classes also have discussion sections that meet for 50 minutes once a week. My favorite class I ever took was History 345, Europe from 1945-Present. I should say that I am a History major and I am obsessed with the cold war but the professor (Professor Boswell) was an incredible lecturer and the made the time go fast. My least favorite class was Calculus mostly because the math classes move quickly and expect you to apply the examples they teach with little or no further explanation. This is not necessarily true with the lower level maths and even the lower level calc classes but it is true for 221 and 222 (first and second semester calc). Students are not generally competitive but some of the specialized schools have stronger competitive atmospheres. The business and journalism schools are competitive for admission and probably have the highest reputation for being competitive. While the specialized schools are targeted towards certain careers and openings for specific job opportunities, most of the liberal arts majors are targeted towards focusing in on your interests more than preparing you for a specific job. We do, however, have a career services center that will help students figure out good career options for them based on their interests and skills. The general "breath" or core graduation requirements are well balanced and require you to take an appropriate number of science and liberal arts classes in order to balance out each student's education. individual major requirements vary based upon the major but generally they are well planned out and easy to complete in a 4 year period. Wisconsin students are smart and learning occurs both in and outside of the classroom. Many students study in the library (we have about 42 on campus and 3-5 major libraries that students study at) and many others go to one of the various coffee shops located all around campus and the surrounding area. No matter how you like to study, there are many options to fit your style and location around campus.