Minneapolis versus Madison (for a Student) (budget, debt, job)

[cbeley]

was talking about the other other thing.

hmm? other other thing as in, the sports?


By the way, about Minnesota and people not graduating, for students who make a legitimate effort and don't switch majors in the middle of the year, UMN has a 4 year graduation guarantee.

As for that being an advantage, I've talked with my high school guidance councilor, called up the engineering department at UW, and talked with a teacher who was recently a student there and they all said if you make a legitimate effort and aren't picky about times, you won't have a problem. Plus, I personally will be going in with a bunch of credits so I'll get a little higher priority than other students.

[huggybear28]

Your concerns seem to be about bus fare, students at Minnesota per semester can get a bus pass for $62. I never bought one as I always lived very close to campus but if you plan on riding the bus frequently then it is a good option. I know it is not free like Madison but metro transit cannot take money from property taxes like Madison can. Thus they try to break even through other sources.
Also for wait lists all four years I was at the university I was never put on the wait list for engineering or general classes. As long as people look ahead, they should have no problem getting the classes they need. As long as you remain a full time student and register on time you should not have any problems. I have heard about students getting wait listed at Madison as well. I expect both schools due to their size have this issue.

[golfgal]

Honestly, EVERY college or university has wait lists for popular courses. There are only so many prof's available and so many hours in the day. Not everyone is going to get into every course they want, exactly when they want. A lot of problems with some college students complaining about not getting into a class is more because they aren't willing to take an early morning class or a night class, etc. Not that this is always the case but most people still graduate in 4 years as long as they aren't changing their major every semester, planed out their courses well, etc.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Honestly, EVERY college or university has wait lists for popular courses. There are only so many prof's available and so many hours in the day. Not everyone is going to get into every course they want, exactly when they want. A lot of problems with some college students complaining about not getting into a class is more because they aren't willing to take an early morning class or a night class, etc. Not that this is always the case but most people still graduate in 4 years as long as they aren't changing their major every semester, planed out their courses well, etc.

Maybe time restraints were a cause, I dunno. I just heard it from so many people that it seemed like common knowledge. There are also conflicting schedules of courses. A student needs class A, B, and C but class A and B are offered at the same time. So one is going to have to get put off.

I do know people who have graduated in four years, I am not saying that it doesn't happen. Maybe it happens more often then not, I dunno. My only information comes from a very tiny portion of the student body, and a majority of them took 4 1/2 to 6 years going straight through every semester until that graduated.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by cbeley

hmm? other other thing as in, the sports?


By the way, about Minnesota and people not graduating, for students who make a legitimate effort and don't switch majors in the middle of the year, UMN has a 4 year graduation guarantee.

Never mind about the other thing, but yeah, I guess it could be sports.

What happens if you don't graduate in four years? That is an absolutely ridiculous guarantee that was probably conjured up by the admissions office as a recruitment tactic. I bet the clause is summer school.

[huggybear28]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

What happens if you don't graduate in four years? That is an absolutely ridiculous guarantee that was probably conjured up by the admissions office as a recruitment tactic. I bet the clause is summer school.

The four year guarantee says that if you sign up for it, take all of the classes your adviser recommends, and do not drop classes you should be able to graduate in four years. If you end up not getting int a class and have 1 or 2 left over because you were wait listed the University will pay for those classes for you. I do not believe there is a summer school clause in there as when they started promoting it they said if you did not graduate on time you can take those classes you missed in the fall. I don't know if it is as much of an admissions ploy as just a way to try to get more students to graduate in four years. Their four year graduation rates are lower than Madison and I think this is where the program came about. They really are trying to raise the percentage of people who graduate in four years to improve the school's rankings.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

Maybe time restraints were a cause, I dunno. I just heard it from so many people that it seemed like common knowledge. There are also conflicting schedules of courses. A student needs class A, B, and C but class A and B are offered at the same time. So one is going to have to get put off.

I do know people who have graduated in four years, I am not saying that it doesn't happen. Maybe it happens more often then not, I dunno. My only information comes from a very tiny portion of the student body, and a majority of them took 4 1/2 to 6 years going straight through every semester until that graduated.

I am not saying it doesn't happen, it most certainly DOES happen but the point is it happens EVERYWHERE, big or small. I went to a small private college and there were times I couldn't get into the classes I wanted there too. Most people that don't graduate in 4 years are more due to their own cause then not being able to get a class, maybe they changed majors 1/2 way through their sophomore year and pretty much had to start over, maybe they refused to take classes at a certain time, who knows but that is USUALLY the case not so much not being able to take a class at all.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by huggybear28

The four year guarantee says that if you sign up for it, take all of the classes your adviser recommends, and do not drop classes you should be able to graduate in four years. If you end up not getting int a class and have 1 or 2 left over because you were wait listed the University will pay for those classes for you. I do not believe there is a summer school clause in there as when they started promoting it they said if you did not graduate on time you can take those classes you missed in the fall. I don't know if it is as much of an admissions ploy as just a way to try to get more students to graduate in four years. Their four year graduation rates are lower than Madison and I think this is where the program came about. They really are trying to raise the percentage of people who graduate in four years to improve the school's rankings.

Most people want to get their education over with as quickly as possible-which probably is one reason why those Get Your Degree In Three Years online programs are popular. More and more universities are lengthening four year degrees into five years or longer just for a BA. Some of this is due to co-opting, but it is also a reason so get an extra few bucks out of students--especially since more and more students are doing their first two years at CC first.

Basically, what you are saying is that if you don't make it within four years then the school picks up the tab on missed classes. Doesn't seem like much of a guarantee as it does a promise.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by cbeley

This worries me about the world as a whole >_> Can't people be happy about things other than sex and drinking (not that I am saying sex is bad...but, there is more to life than sex ...).

However, I know some people from my school going to Madison and they aren't the drinker/partier types...In a way that is reassuring that not everyone there is going to be an obsessive drinker....

The good thing about any large college is that it's easy to find a "niche" with other students who enjoy the same things you do. Of course there will be a non-drinking (or lesser drinking) crowd at both schools. Then again, sometimes these non-partiers become big-time partiers when they get to college.

Originally Posted by golfgal

I am not saying it doesn't happen, it most certainly DOES happen but the point is it happens EVERYWHERE, big or small. I went to a small private college and there were times I couldn't get into the classes I wanted there too. Most people that don't graduate in 4 years are more due to their own cause then not being able to get a class, maybe they changed majors 1/2 way through their sophomore year and pretty much had to start over, maybe they refused to take classes at a certain time, who knows but that is USUALLY the case not so much not being able to take a class at all.

I would agree with this. The small colleges are just smaller versions of the big ones, have the same problems. Keeping in touch with your advisor is a good thing, too. I don't know about the advising process at either of these schools, but at the U of Colorado it's not required, which means some students try to just figure things out from the course catalog, word of mouth from other kids, etc, and end up taking an extra semester or year to make up required courses they didn't take.

[huggybear28]

I would say definitely the four year graduation guarantee is more of a promise. But at least it motivates the university to get you into any classes that are required as they do not want to pay for those classes you missed out on. If anything I would say it is a win win situation for both sides as they get more students to graduate in four years and the student has the advantage of them working harder to get you into classes. Most of the time professors have no problem allowing you into their classes if they are full especially if your class is required. Although for general classes, professors tend to be more hesitant on letting people in after their classes are full as they know you can take other ones.

As for advising at Minnesota every semester before you register for classes you are required to meet with an adviser in the hopes that it will help you pick the right classes so you do not go that extra semester. You get to choose that adviser and when you do, ask for a professor in your major as they will obviously know what is best for you.