Uni of WI, Eau Claire vs La Crosse (Milwaukee, Madison: transfer to, good schools)

[along21]

first let me thank all the folks on this forum, read a lot in the past few days and manage to get so much information it was great.

Soon i will finish Santa Monica community college (CA) and i'm looking for a nice good university to transfer to. since living in CA is so expensive and i'm also looking for a change in life style, i'm looking for affordable options and both the universities of WI in Eau Claire and La Crosse seems like an option.

i will be happy to read your views on which one you think will suite me better.
i'm 23 years old, i grew up and grew up most of my life in Israel (parents worked for the consulate there) so i feel more like an international student than a local. i'm not a shy person but i'm not a big party guy either.

where do you think will be easier for someone with my backround to meet new people and create a good life.

thanks

[golfgal]

What do you want to study?

[along21]

my major will probably be Finance or something else under "Business"

[ndheah]

I live about 15 miles from Eau Claire, and work in Eau Claire...I love it :-) Great city, too small for me though. Just waiting for wife to graduate from college to move!

[7G9C4J2]

One of our two offspring goes to the UW-La Crosse, and really loves the community. It's not a huge city, around 50K people, I believe, but has a lot of character and charm. The bluffs overlooking the Mississippi river aren't anywhere near as spectacular as the Pacific coast, but for the Midwest, they're awfully pretty.

One caveat, though, since you mention that you're not a partier: the UW-L has a well-deserved reputation as a party school. For a while, until the city council put a moratorium on issuing new liquor licences, there were more bars per capita in La Crosse than in any other city in the US. They're about number three in the nation now, but you can still find at least one and often several bars in almost every block downtown.

Academically, both the UW-L and the UW-E are quite selective and rigorous. My sister interviewed for a position as a chemistry professor at both universities (got offered the job at both, too) and chose La Crosse because she saw the school's philosophy as being a little more geared toward helping students succeed than Eau Claire. At least in the chem department, it was very much a "sink-or-swim" attitude at Eau Claire, and a couple of the profs on her interviewing committee actually seemed quite proud of the number of students they flunk each semester. But they're both still demanding schools.

I am not as familiar with Eau Claire's programs and specializations, but La Crosse has at least a decent business department. In all honesty, probably the best business curriculum in the UW system is Whitewater's. But you can get a degree in business at most or all of the four-year campuses in the system.

Good luck in your move and future academic career!

[Alt Dach]

Flip a coin-La Crosse is prettier, Eau Claire closer to twin Cities.
Truth is the only world class UW is Madison.

[NicePolishBoy]

Oshkosh is probably a better choice for a business program than the others, even if it is an unattractive city.

[radraja]

WI is a big change from CA. It may be a culture shock for you. And a weather shock...coldest winters ever!

I know you're looking for a change, but have you visited the state at all? Don't move somewhere without visiting.

College life in WI is basically getting drunk in someone's basement every night. Or getting drunk in a bar every night, if you're old enough. A non-partier may have a hard time fitting in in this state. Especially in the towns you're looking at (my sister went to La Crosse and alcoholic drunk fests were basically her life).
It's nothing like what you'd be used to in CA. There isn't really any city life, or the things to do that come with it. So people party a lot.

Good schools, good towns, but definitely make sure it's what you're looking for.

[Tenn.Sunshine]

I think that coming in from CA, Madison might be the best transition city for you, and then Milwaukee. I say that simply because there will be more to do in those two locations than the ones you are currently looking at.
I also agree that you ought to come to the state and have a look around, becuase the internet can only show you so much. Personally - I love Wisconsin, and think it is a great place to be! I hope you get to come and check it out for yourself soon.

[lizmagee]

I live in Eau Claire but I'm not going for business so I can't help you with that, sorry But I can reply on people saying that unless you're a drunk there's nothing to do here.
Yes partying is very big in both towns, but I don't party and I have something going on every weekend. Eau Claire is a big enough town (60,000+ I think in 2000) that there's plenty of other things to do. But they are right, you might want to check out the area before moving here. But good luck!