UW - Milwaukee, La Crosse, Stout, or Whitewater? (Madison, Wales: best school, university)

[jwhalun08]

Greetings to everyone on the lovely City-Data - Wisconsin forum! I chanced upon this website a while back, but, until now (despite all that you folks have to offer), never bothered to take a moment to register. At the time, however, my girlfriend (future wife) and I were at somewhat of a crossroads in terms to our plans following college. In more than a few ways, we were quite certain that our long-term future existed beyond this nation's borders. And, in fact, we were seriously considering moves all across the world--exhaustively researching the possibilities that existed (and still exist, of course) across Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand. Among those, England and Scotland were two exceedingly attractive options that only seemed more and more like a sort of fantastical destiny with each passing day. Between those two countries (or the United Kingdom (adding Wales and Northern Ireland), more broadly speaking), the United States truly has little to offer in comparison. Culture (given its proximity to Europe), progressive, noble government (universal healthcare, no guns, a wealth of mass transit options--true heroes of the public), and a forward-thinking consciousness are three of the fundamental maxims that set the UK in stark opposition to the US. Ultimately, though, with consideration given to other factors--the fact that we're children of the Great Lakes; our families live in the midwest; and with the rather (/unfortunately) esoteric knowledge regarding the potentially apocalyptic future that awaits the Western world as it runs out of the cheap energy that fuels our comfortable lifestyles--we decided against a move abroad. If and when the latter problem(s) materialize(s), we are both confident in the ingenuity of the American people (us) to make it through this transition--even though we are currently a very individualistic society at this particular point in time. And this sentiment really gets at the heart of the issue: While we often feel, like Kurt Vonnegut (if you don't know him, read him), that we don't have a country, we are Americans--for better or worse. Despite our troubled history, we have the highest hopes for the future. Anyway, before I digress any further (as nice of an introduction as I suppose this is), I'll get down to the subject of my actual question.

[jwhalun08]

As previously alluded to, we both live in the midwest--specifically, Athens, Ohio, where we're currently attending (finishing) our undergraduate degrees at Ohio University (no, not Ohio State). And though we met here at school, we were both born and grew up in Cleveland--she on the east side of town and I on the west. The story of how we came together is strange or other-worldly to most that hear it, but it's also one that should wait for another time, since, again, I'm failing to get to the point.

In deciding on where we wanted to pursue our graduate degrees (that is, the state in which we would then live and work), the choice was a rather straightforward one. We're completely disenchanted with Ohio (if we ever were from the beginning), aren't interested in Pennsylvania, with its proximity to New York and Maryland (its identity seems to clash between midwestern and the eastern seaboard states it borders; I've family there, as well, and I've just never felt much of a connection beyond the Pittsburgh area), know the rather laughable unviability/unattractiveness of Michigan, especially the LP, are uninterested in the virtually invisible Indiana, and are deterred by the prohibitive cost of living in Illinois, or what should maybe just be renamed "Chicago" (which is a quality in and of itself that elicits disdain).

In order to qualify the above paragraph for the sake of clarity, we didn't decide on Wisconsin by any kind of process of elimination. On the contrary, we've truly fallen in love (with the state, not each other...but we still are with each other ). And I'm sure all of you are able (or should be!) to understand the basis behind many, if not all, of those reasons. The state embodies so many different elements that it's enough to be its own country--which is probably the reason why so many Americans harbor rather ambivalent conceptions of Wisconsin in general. Is it a pastoral paradise or a modern metropolis? It's a rather even mixture of the two, and that's exactly what makes it great--which is exactly why I cannot understand why people bemoan cities like Milwaukee for their lack of a cityscape--whatever that's supposed to mean. It's upsetting that this kind of ignorance seems to reign supreme--that, somehow, in order to be a "good" city, you need to have x number of foreboding, revolting skyscrapers...to be a veritable concrete utopia on the scale of New York City (I abhor NYC, by the way, as I expect any normal human being would). Anyway, to go further, I think Wisconsin also possesses a degree of anonyminty, probably because of its more northern status. I won't laud your state any further, but I will ask you to be proud! You have something very special--something altogether unique to the whole of the United States.

So, to get to the topic at hand. My girlfriend and I will be attending one of the UW schools listed for graduate school (I'm going for a Masters in Education, she for a Specialist's Degree in School Psychology). To a large extent, our decision will be based heavily on the amount of money either of us receives in the form of a scholarship/grant or an assistantship. But I'm wondering if you have any knowledge--however rudimentary--on the schools I listed. And, secondarily (or if the original question is a bit too specific), I was hoping to get any pertinent/useful information regarding the cities in which those schools are located (what I should look out for, things to keep in mind, advice, suggestions, etc.--anything).

I appreciate your help and look forward to getting to know you all!

[RemiJP]

This is the longest post I have ever seen on city-data! (You may need to edit it down in order to get more answers). Is there any reason why you aren't considering UW-Madison? I could be going out on the limb by saying this, but because it's the largest college in the UW system, it's possible that you are more likely to find funding opportunities, or, at the very least, obtain a job in a professors lab as a research assistant.

[ggggoat]

Yeah, that was pretty intense, I gave up half way through, but basically if you are small town people, the latter three might be alright, but if you guys are from/enjoy living in a city you will not be happy there. However, those three have more so that traditional college town feel, whereas with UW-Milwaukee, it's more like you live in a cool large city that happens to have a college. From what I understand, Whitewater is great for business but otherwise isn't the best, Stout just no, La Crosse is supposed to be the 2nd best school academically in the state, and then Milwaukee is a close third. However, with grad schools individual programs really differ school to school, it's important to see where is the best fit and how the individual program stacks up.

As the previous poster suggests I would also seriously consider Madison, the best academically and size-wise inbetween Milwaukee and the others, and very progressive. Milwaukee is also gonna be relatively liberal overall, however depending on what part of the city you are in it could range from extremely liberal to conservative.

[hankejp]

hahah, you 2 made it further than I did. 1st line was it for me. LOL

[jwhalun08]

Whether it happens to be a vice or virtue, brevity is not something I possess, I'm afraid.

Here's my explicit question, since you all seem to loathe reading (though I admit, it was a lot of writing):

My girlfriend and I will be attending one of the UW schools listed for graduate school (I'm going for a Masters in Education, she for a Specialist's Degree in School Psychology). To a large extent, our decision will be based heavily on the amount of money either of us receives in the form of a scholarship/grant or an assistantship. But I'm wondering if you have any knowledge--however rudimentary--on the schools I listed. And, secondarily (or if the original question is a bit too specific), I was hoping to get any pertinent/useful information regarding the cities in which those schools are located (what I should look out for, things to keep in mind, advice, suggestions, etc.--anything).

[jwhalun08]

Oh, I should have mentioned that UW - Madison isn't an option for us, as attractive as it may be. That decision essentially came down to my girlfriend because Madison only has a doctoral program for School Psychology--not a Specialist's Degree.

[jwhalun08]

Originally Posted by ggggoat

Yeah, that was pretty intense, I gave up half way through, but basically if you are small town people, the latter three might be alright, but if you guys are from/enjoy living in a city you will not be happy there. However, those three have more so that traditional college town feel, whereas with UW-Milwaukee, it's more like you live in a cool large city that happens to have a college. From what I understand, Whitewater is great for business but otherwise isn't the best, Stout just no, La Crosse is supposed to be the 2nd best school academically in the state, and then Milwaukee is a close third. However, with grad schools individual programs really differ school to school, it's important to see where is the best fit and how the individual program stacks up.

As the previous poster suggests I would also seriously consider Madison, the best academically and size-wise inbetween Milwaukee and the others, and very progressive. Milwaukee is also gonna be relatively liberal overall, however depending on what part of the city you are in it could range from extremely liberal to conservative.

Thanks, that was all very helpful. We are from Cleveland (suburbs of), as I mentioned, but really don't find big city living appealing...at least in its current form. Most cities in general--not just in the US, but throughout the world--tend to overreach on their sheer size and scale and sprawl way too far out in all directions, with the end result being that they are anything but walkable. You see this far less in Europe, but sprawl is a fact of life everywhere throughout the modern world. If you want anything to blame, look no farther than the automobile.

I've been reading some encouraging news lately about Milwaukee securing the money to build a streetcar system, but other than that, how walkable/livable is it? Could we get around just fine (groceries and all) without a car? Is the campus area safe?

Just from reading some posts here in regard to La Crosse, it seems like a wonderful town--and the pictures remind me a great deal of here in Athens, Ohio.

Ultimately, this is about the best program available, then money, and then location. I would have never guessed La Crosse has a stronger university than Milwaukee, though. Go figure.

You seemed quick to dismiss Stout. What's so terrible about it? (Hopefully I'm not asking a stupid question...). And what else, if anything, can you tell me about these more rural communities that would be helpful?

[Allan Trafton]

Stay in Ohio!

[jwhalun08]

Originally Posted by Allan Trafton

Stay in Ohio!

Only a non-Ohioan could imagine such a possibility. 'Fraid not, friend-o.