Academics

Madison is an elite school, so difficult classes are to be expected. In order to both save money and avoid taking classes that are much more difficult in college, such as Calculus 2 (Math 222 at Madison) make sure to take AP tests and take them seriously! I was able to do well in my first semester at Madison, but it took a lot of time in the library to make sure I studied enough and got all my work done. However, I found it very possible to have a very active social life while balancing it with school work!

The rigor of the university depends on the course load. 13-15 credits is my recommendation for an incoming freshman, and be sure to be completely prepared with a plan for the next four years. Your classroom experience will be a lot more difficult if you don't have a stable plan.

UW- Madison is ranked top 50 nationally in academics for a reason, it's not the easiest school to go to. But it is definitely manageable, and you will succeed with hard work, and have fun at the same time.

The classes here are hard, but if you put in the effort then you will be fine. If you find yourself having trouble in a class all you have to do is use one of the many different resources that campus provides.

My dad studied engineering here. Although he failed a class, and he had to spend a few weekends inside studying, he still graduated and is at the top of his company right now. My mom studied education, and she said that the course work was hard, but the hardest part for her was finding a job after college!

The classes range from very easy to very difficult, depending on the subject, but the course number is usually a good indicator of the difficulty of the class. If you seek out the right classes, then you will have ample opportunities to meet faculty and other students. However, this requires some personal commitment--academic advising is for the most part optional. You can make your schedules as demanding or as easy as you want. To get the most out of an education here, look for smaller, more obscure classes. And take advantage of the gen ed requirements to take interesting, crazy classes!