@“aunt bea” I really appreciate your words. However, I do not only consider “Weather”. The point is, I am a typically arts student, so after doing research and referring to all the answers I have, I came to realize that Madison may be a better choice for me. Thank you!
Both schools are very good, but different.
In many ways UCD feels like a school in the Midwest with a small college town and a flat, large campus. My wife loves it. Unless you are in the honors program, you might find it difficult to get classes you need to graduate on time. It is in a good location with 1.5 hours either to SF or to Lake Tahoe. Weather is generally mild (40s-50s) in the winter and can get very hot (but not humid) in the summer. It is very well respected in the SF Bay Area.
UW is the state flagship and gets the attention and resources that come with that, especially since it doesn’t have the same competition for love California schools do with UCB, UCLA, UCSD, CalTech, Stanford, USC… Madison, the Capitol, is a fantastic, pretty location. Lots of school spirit, some of which comes from great athletic teams (their basketball team was just in the championship and football team was also very good). I think it would be a great place for a traditional all-American college experience. It gets cold. Very cold! I grew up and went to a Midwestern college similar to UW and hated the weather, but everyone is different. My D is heading to UMichigan from the SF area over the UCs, partly to experience something different.
Good luck.
So sorry @susanlu, the following has to do with another post, so I beg your permission to hijack your thread and answer the above:
@Dr. Google, very insightful that I did have a very hard life (past tense). I always try to shoot from the hip since I was so familiar with that aspect figuratively and literally. Not fun growing up and seeing violence. I’ve worked with a lot of high school students and their parents who were always disappointed at the lack of getting into certain schools. I don’t think I’m unbalanced yet, just too direct and I try to be too much of a parent.
Re husband, glad you are following up: Not one friend from UCSD, honest truth, lab partners in classes, yes, but most were commuters, since housing wasn’t really available at that time. (It somewhat bothered my husband. I remember all of that. They did have one housing project, but the name used by the students was/is very derogatory -I’m hoping that changed) Everyone left the school after classes-jobs, lives, etc. That tradition seemed to continue, somewhat. Stanford had great housing, he made friends with housemates. Dr. Google: How was your experience at UCSD in the 70’s different? It was a very small student body. How many friends/acquaintances did you make there that continued off-campus?
@aunt bea, I never went to any UCs. Grade wise I could technically went to UCLA back in the time that there was a chart base on SAT and GPA. I was also a commute student but I had a great experience. I was never a social butterfly, that was my brother, I had a great learning experience and found fantastic job afterwards. So I too was poor, came here as immigrant, survived with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for years. But thank goodness there was no violence.
My experience of UCsD came from my daughter. Sorry if my post misled anyone.
@Sidkane addressed problems in getting classes at UCD. My son is finishing up his 2nd year at UCD and has not had any problems getting classes unless you are inflexible with your class times. He truly has had only 1 class that was a problem due to a conflict with another class and was not able to fit into his schedule, but so far so good and on track to graduate in 4 years. You do have to plan out your class schedule in advance since some classes are offered only once or twice a year and need to take that into consideration.
@Sidkane, my dd is a rising senior at Davis, she’s never had a problem getting classes and she chose not to go into the Honors program in freshman year.
She didn’t know what it really entailed and wanted to be with “regular” students. Agree with @gumbymom. You have to plan your class schedule in advance.
@Susanlu, have a great time in Wisconsin!!!