Hi! Im an international student studying at Iowa but just got admitted as a transfer student at Madison. I’m an Economics and Data Science major and while I think we can all agree that Madison is better than Iowa, I’m just trying to gauge how the better ranking and reputation of Madison translates into better opportunities for the students. The reason I’m considering transferring is that Madison has a better program for my major (#13 in Economics as compared to Iowa which is #209) and it is more prestigious. However, I have done good networking at Iowa and have made good friends too so I just want to ensure if transferring to Madison would be worth giving all that up for because I keep hearing people say they’re both the same and it’s really not worth it. All that I’m considering in making this shift is the quality of education and if the better ranking and reputation makes it worth it to change schools; money and weather is not an issue. At the end of the day, i simply want to be employable in the US and if the chances of that are higher with Wisconsin I’m willing to give up all that I have in Iowa. I just want to know if it is worth it. Any help is appreciated! Thank you!
There was a recent identical thread.
They are both great Big 10 schools. Not sure where you got your ranking but there’s a million rankings.
If you’re well established at Iowa, what would you gain by transferring?
You write - “All that I’m considering in making this shift is the quality of education”
Why do you think the quality of education is better? Rank does not equate to quality.
Ask the schools for their career outcomes. Yes as a university, Wisconsin is higher ranked but in the grand scheme of life, that matters little.
As for staying in the US, as an international student your expectation should be to going home, not staying, regardless of where you study.
Good luck
Here’s the Iowa database. I can’t find similar for Wisconsin. But you can ask them.
As an additional resource, this current analysis places Madison 23rd nationally when considered by faculty publishing: Economics rankings: US Economics Departments | IDEAS/RePEc.
If things are going well at Iowa, I would not risk a transfer during undergrad.
If you were going on to a graduate degree in Econ, then you could consider doing that at Wisconsin (among others).
But this doesn’t necessarily equate into better job opportunities - and even if it did, the student is an international- - and likely won’t remain.
In most cases, a student at U Iowa and Wisconsin will have similar challenges and successes.
In your home country (or part of the world), where you may wind up returning to, do rankings matter?
If so that should be a major consideration.
Wisconsin has a much bigger “name” globally. If that is important to you, you should consider switching.
I note the OP states:
True. But as others have pointed out, finding a sponsoring employer here in the US is not easy (especially for a non-CS/engineering major), so OP also needs to consider how her degree will be valued in her home country.
Agree that the OP needs to consider the post-graduation employment situation in countries where that is more likely than the US, although for the small chance of employment in the US, whether the economics major at each school is considered “econometrics and quantitative economics” (CIP code 45.0603, i.e. counts as a STEM major) can matter.
I always wonder why kids apply to transfer - then ask if they should go.
We know rank matters to OP. In the US, most employers aren’t going to nitpick - Iowa vs Wisconsin. Don’t know about where the student is from - so how it’s seen in the home country but I find it hard to believe an employer will rate Wisconsin as a superpower and Iowa in the toilet - but again I don’t know.
I’ll just say this to OP - when you transfer it’s about more than rank. You are starting again. You don’t have anyone to eat with or have friends. You don’t know any professors. You don’t have your on campus comfort spots.
You note this as a risk (friends). Do you want to leave them and start fresh where many friendships have already been established?
You applied to transfer for a reason - I hope for something more than rank.
But it’s not just as simple as - it’s a better name - (while I understand the argument I don’t necessarily agree that translates into outcomes).
In the end, you have to decide if the tangibles you are giving up are worth venturing into the unknown.
Again, something is eating at you as you decided to apply to transfer.
But only you can decide if giving up stability for a new and unknown path is worth it.
I won’t be returning back to my home country. I do plan on staying in the US
I’m double majoring in Economics and Data Science, both of which would be considered STEM
I would think better ranking and prestige would translate into the university having access to better known faculty and research opportunities. Madison is ranked #13 for Economics and has a really good Data Science faculty whereas Iowa is below 100 in Economics and the Data Science courses are taught by the Computer Science department (which I know from experience is very bad).
How do you anticipate getting an
H1-B visa? Just making sure you have an executable plan.
If you want to take the plunge, then take the plunge.
I tend to think these are two Big 10 universities - and in the reality, there’s not much difference.
Ranks (and I can find Wisconsin much lower than 13 and Iowa higher - just depends on the study you are using) - but they are lists developed by someone - for whatever the reason (to sell or inform) - and they are using data that works for them.
Perhaps Wisconsin is “better” - but I’m guessing for 95% of kids - not.
But you have to do what’s best for you - if you truly believe so and want to make that jump and start again, then that’s what you should do.
I would check career outcomes of both vs. studying third party rankings. As Wisconsin doesn’t seem to publish them by major, you’ll have to ask the school.
Interestingly Econ is in the Tippie College of Business (very up and coming) and reports 96% success - with a $51K Median salary. At UW, it’s in the College of Letters and Science and has 1400 students - so it’s a large major. I cannot find any info on outcomes - I’d want to know that before jumping. It always surprises me that some schools make career data difficult to find - that would personally bother me (lack of transparency).
You might also check to ensure all your credits will transfer.
Companies, if you’re able to stay here and that’s no assurance despite your desire, they’re not looking at saying - such and such school has better professors or more research opportunities. That’s make believe - and yes influences people like yourself.
But no matter what you decide - if you hustle and take advantage of the resources at either place - you can have a successful educational experience.
Good luck to you know matter what you decide.
yes H1-B. According to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, both Economics and Data Science are considered STEM
But you must find someone willing to sponsor you - you may be eligible but it doesn’t mean you will find a sponsoring employer.
You might ask Wisconsin for outcomes of past students. Iowa the same - to see how their international students have done with remaining in the US.
With layoffs and buyouts happening, and the unemployment rate ticking up, it may become tougher than in the past and I don’t think it was easy.
I wish you luck - but my main guidance is - don’t just look at a rank.
Acquire and compare actual data - and from that, then make your decision.
Is the outcome data at Wisconsin from Iowa compelling enough to have you make the change?
I would not look at a ranking (and I don’t find any with Wisconsin that high) - but I would look beyond - because the ranking isn’t getting you hired or sponsored.
Again, best of luck to you.
I’m also looking to go for grad school after so i wouldn’t be looking to find a job and settle right after undergrad.
Again, ask for info - the where you go undergrad, depending on major, likely won’t overly impact where you go for grad school - unless PhD.
Depending on what you study, for some majors, business for example, one would typically work a few years before going to grad school.
Again, make the best decision for you but personally, I’d ask for hard data and not go by what a rank says. Both schools can tell you where their Econ grads attend grad school. I can’t imagine there’s a large difference in where they attend but Wisconsin will have more - as the program is larger.
You might also look into a combined program.
Here’s Iowa’s.
You’d have to see if Wisconsin has similar and as a transfer, would you qualify?
You can make a decision by your gut - or as a Data Science person, you can ask for data so you can make a better informed decision. That’s up to you.
Good luck.