Why Marquette?

[thelost]

What made you want to go to Marquette... its top 2 on my list now and was wondering if one thing made you want to go there?

[OneMadWarrior]

I liked the city campus and the fact that the Jesuits are quite possibly the greatest educators on earth.

[OneMadWarrior]

Plus the smaller campus is nice. I dont wknow what COllege Station is like. But Milwaukee has a lot to offer as a city for any college student.

[gjreda]

Great Jesuit school in an urban setting that was far enough from my home in the Chicago suburbs, but not too far that I can't bring home laundry for my mom every so often. 

Seriously though, for me, it's just one of those things that is hard to explain.  It's been great having a very good major sports team to watch (thank god I didn't go to SLU).  I love the city.  There is always something to do but at the same time you are not overwhelmed by the size of the city as you could be at other places (Fordham for me).  Most importantly, it is a top notch education.  The vast majority of my professors have been amazing and truly want to see every student succeed.  You are not a number, ever.  Professors are very welcoming and almost everyone I have had (even in one of my classes with about 150 students) knows all of their students by name.  It always nice to note that the school is getting more difficult to get into, which means the collective value of every MU student's degree goes up a little bit as Marquette continues to build on its great name.  It's difficult to determine, but you just have to go to the place that you think is best/right for you.

That all may sound like some MU marketing blurb or something, but to be honest with you, when I first got here I wasn't sure if this was the place for me.  I didn't mind being here and I loved the people I met, couldn't have lived with a better group of guys on McCormick 9.  In hindsight though, I couldn't have made a better decision.  I love it here.  The people are great and it's just a place that becomes home to you.  I'm a junior and it's weird just thinking that I will be graduating in a year.  The school really becomes a part of you.

That's my advice.  Best of luck with your decision, but just do what you feel.  For me, it's really a hard thing to explain.  It's a feeling.

[thelost]

thanks anymore responses would be nice... i discovered the school on total accident with my dad. My brother goes to ND and we were bringing his car home so we made a trip out of it and went to 6 games (a brewers game obviously) and stopped by the campus and it felt like home and met my educational standards

[BigSky]

This is an easy one...80 degree weather and bikini  clad co-eds in flip flops everywhere....wait a minute wrong school.......maybe it was because of the overreactive message board fans when Marquette doesn't go 32-0 in hoops......

For me:

My situation was playing a sport, good jesuit education, wanted to go away from home for new experience,....good size school, not too big, not too small, a lot of high school kids I believe have a tough time with this aspect of college choice.  I would never have gone anywhere smaller than MU.  I also had known someone well who attended MU and had a positive experience there.   

If you do go to MU, the two best pieces of advice I can give you.

1)  Get involved in the things you think you might like, regardless of what they are...if you like them...great...if you don't you'll find something else that you will enjoy.  Your close friends at MU often times are the kids you meet your first two years in your dorm, and your activities and interests are often times formed at these times too.

2)  Take the time to find out about professors before choosing classes.  Ask around.  Who has a strong/good reputation as a professor? ...not just an easier grader... Don't also just take classes to fit your schedule....if there is a supposed interesting but challenging class with a good prof at some inconvenient day and time...even if it is hard or challenging...take it.

Try to visit your top handful of schools if you can...and do so while school is in session.  And go to places central to activity....the Union, a class....a game or whatever....and get a feel for the schools and compare.   


Curiosity?  Where are you from? ....and what type of high school expereince did you have? Where else are you looking?   I have spent a lot of time at many colleges and Universities.......and might know some in your consideration. 

[HoopDreams]

As far as I am concerned, greatest school in U.S., absolutely wonderful people here. I would never have gone anywhere else. And Milwaukee is great.

[thelost]

austin, tx a top 100 high school rated by newsweek

looking at A&M and texas as well, from my brothers experience going out of state would be nice and marquette has made the most since so far because most public schools out of state arent any better than A&M or texas so ive been looking at private

[MUsoxfan]

I'm from Chicago and at the time was considering a school in the south....TAMU, Auburn or Ole Miss.    In the process I was applying for what I feel to be the best scholarship on earth (Evans) and I was therefore limited to schools I could pick.   Most of them were Big 11 schools and I hated the thought of going to one.  I'd die if I ever had to wear Illini Orange.  I then picked MU as my top choice was rewarded the scholarship. It was the single greatest decision I ever made in my life.

I strongly recommend anyone that even considers MU to do their best to go.  If I ever have kids, I'll do the same to them.     

[caltruda]

Also as a person who went to college out of state (I went to high school in NJ), the biggest selling point for me was the fact you could get right into areas that were part of your major the day you set foot on campus. I was a broadcasting major and I was able to interact and participate with the TV, radio station and newspaper in my first semester. Additionally, the professors I had were aggressive in steering us towards internships, etc.

I also was accepted at Missouri, but decided not to go because you had to essentially re-apply to the J-school after two years of general courses (note: that was as of 1991) as opposed to Marquette, where I was in Basic TV production my fall semester freshman year.

And being from the New York metropolitan area, having downtown Milwaukee less than two miles away was a huge draw for me as well.

Either way, best of luck in your selection process and hope you'll join the blue and gold.

[MUfan12]

There are a couple reasons I can give off the top of my head. First, the people at MU are outstanding. From professors to the Jesuits, there are some wonderful individuals who are always available for help. MU students are a different breed as well, from my experience they are some of the most well-rounded and thoughtful people. The core curriculum really helps develop this, you have to learn how to think in several different areas, and because of this you will develop a base of knowledge in several areas.

MU is a small school that feels big-time. You will likely see someone you know on your way to class everyday (which I might add is a much, much shorter walk than UT or A&M- comes in handy during the winter). You get smaller class sizes, and a more tight-knit campus that you would see at small schools, and D1 athletics and nationally ranked programs academically that you would see at bigger schools. It really is the best of both worlds. And, there is nothing like a sold-out Bradley Center for a big game

Best of luck with your decision... keep us posted on your choice. Hopefully we'll be able to welcome you to the Marquette family!

[tower912]

When the drinking age was much lower inthe old days , I came for a weekend.   The first night was a unbelievable floor party.  I took a schollie exam the next day with a hangover.   The second night I played basketball until 3 am at the rec center.    Two sets of great people.   The jesuits are really great.  The size of the school felt right to me. I genuinely liked Milwaukee and the fact there was so much to do just off campus or a short bus ride away.   Coming from Michigan, I could get home by Amtrak, plane, or bus if my folks couldn't get me.   Other than when I was paying off my student loans, I have never regretted it for an instant.   Good luck to you in your decision.

[mu03eng]

I discovered Marquette despite my attempts not to.  I had my heart set on going to Penn State, my dad went there and I was raised Blue and White.  I wasn't even really looking at other schools, and really didn't know much about MU other than there basketball program had faded from what it was.  My cousin went to tour Marquette and my mom made me go with.  Turned out to be one of the best things she ever did.

One of the decisions was because I wanted to play soccer in college and couldn't do that at PSU but MU had room.  More importantly though, was the "big city" living which meant there was more to do.  The smaller classes sizes and almost one on one profesor access was very appealing.  I never had one class that I didn't feel I couldn't talk to my prof after class or at their office to get more help.  Plus as I was told by someone on my tour Marquette held their own when it came to partying.  Could have gone to Penn State but I realized I just prefered a little bit smaller of a school that wasn't in the middle of nowhere.  Marquette was some of the best experiences of my life.  Highly recommend it.

[ozmetal71]

I had quite a few cousins who were going there at the time I was starting to look at colleges during sophomore year of high school.  Junior year I went to a basketball game and walked around campus.  Campus was certainly totally diffferent than what I was used to(grew up in an ND family), but I really liked it, and had a gut feeling of comfort and felt like I belonged there.

Marquette also offered the Les Aspin Center for government in DC, and I knew all along that I wanted to major in political science, so it was a natural fit.  Also, Marquette had a lot of study abroad programs as well.

I also wanted a mid-size school that had big-time Division 1 athletics, but not one with 40,000 students and a massive campus.  And, I did like the fact that Marquette's campus, while small, was very well-kept and that I had big-city options for fun in Milwaukee.

Marquette provided me with an outstanding education and allowed me to grow as a person.  I am extremely thankful for the experiences that I had at Marquette and am very proud of my alma mater, and the future is indeed very bright for MU.

Make your own decisions, but you really can't go wrong with a Marquette education.  I don't know if you will find an MU graduate who didn't love Marquette.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I chose MU for a few reasons:

#1 I came from a private catholic highschool, so going to a private college seemed like the next step.

#2 The size was right, I looked at Minn. and UW, but both felt like I would have been lost. I wasn't always the most dedicated student, so I was a little nervous about going to such a big school. I actually liked that MU took attendance and that the classes were small. I felt like it would keep me accountable. I'm not a huge partier, but I had a feeling that going to UW would have been a short experience because I probably wouldn't have gone to class.

#3 The campus is the EXACT OPPOSITE of how I grew up. I grew up in a rather rural setting, which l loved, but college (and MU specifically) offered me a chance to go somewhere that was totally different. College is the best time to move because you will automatically get a new peer group when you get there.

#4 I'm really glad that I came to MU because I met some amazing people. MU obviously is full of kids from upper-middle class and upper class familes, but it is also full of a lot of kids from working class families (like me). I also liked that the school really wasn't snotty like some others. Most of the kids were dressed very casually, and not many (if any) kids werre driving around campus in their new cars. Also, Greek life was not very big at all, which I also liked. I never really liked the idea of the whole "greek thing".

[mviale]

My dad grew up in Cali and worked in Philadelphia and had no ties to MU.  He would always say marquette was a good jesuit school and had a nice basketball program.  My dad passed away when I was a HS junior and regardless to say my interest in college waned.   However, in recalling my Dad's advice, I took the plunge to enroll in Marquette after graduating from St Joes Prep in Philly.  It was a culture shock to say the least, but I was very impressed with the kids and teachers willing to give you the extra attention that is missing in large schools.  I almost flunked out my Frosh -Soph years, but started to focus in my Junior and Senior years.

I reflect fondly on my days at MU and probably why I return here every week as we all have this connection.

[Cheese_Ed]

If you grew up in Austin (where I live now), you're going to find Milwaukee one helluva cold slap in the face come Nov-Mar (or Oct-Apr).  Then if you come home for summers you be back just in time for 102 degree June-Aug  .

I love the city of Milwaukee and tolerated the weather while I was there.  I grew up in Wis. but soon after graduation I had to migrate South.  I believe that last winter I was there (93-94) it hit -60 with windchill.

The quality of education is certainly high.  The urban setting is a plus for some, a drawback for others.  The cost is going to be much higher than a state school in TX, if that's a concern... plus you have a long commute home.

A tough choice, picking a school.  I had good times, and I'm hooked on MU BBall, but I'm not sure I'd go the same route if I had to do it all over.   ???  I do have other complaints besides the weather, but a lot of comes down to personal preferences, I think.

[muarmy81]

I was stationed at Ft. Hood TX for the past 4 years and have to say that the central texas area is really nice.  The party scene at College Station is great (And you know that Austin isn't too far away either...yeah 6th St.) and having a football program adds to the draw of the university. (Woooop! or whatever they say in Aggie land)  With that being said I had a great time in Milwaukee and would do it all the same if I had to make the decision again.  The class size is a big draw because when you're sitting in a Fluid Mechanics or Thermodynamics class not understanding what's going on you can easily talk with the professor during or after class.  Milwaukee is definitely what you make of it and it keeps improving with new business and buildings.  Even though I live in Atlanta now I still look forward to visiting the campus and catching MU games at the BC.

[Avenue Commons]

What made you want to go to Marquette... its top 2 on my list now and was wondering if one thing made you want to go there?

Two reasons: Cheese and Beer.

[muarmy81]

Ahh yes the sweet smell of yeast...depending on which way the wind was blowing you could get your "pavlovian" senses tingling for beer

[🏀]

Fluid Mechanics.......headache forming.....ahhhh!

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Milwaukee is definitely what you make of it...

I agree with that completely.

I visited a lot of friends at different schools all across the country, and I liked them all.

Some were better than others... but if you are a person who is active and likes to be involved, you will find plenty of people and activites at any school that you go to.

It doesn't matter if you like going out to the bar, or if you are on student government, as long as you are social and get involved, you should have a good/fun social experience.

I would recomend joining a club sport when you get to any campus. Even if you only play for 1 year, you will make some friends who might not live next door to you in your dorm. There nothing wrong with dorm friends, most of my friends were made that way, but joining a club sport (or other club) can help expand your network which is helpful for new students.

[IAmMarquette]

Ahh yes the sweet smell of yeast...depending on which way the wind was blowing you could get your "pavlovian" senses tingling for beer

It's either yeast (mmm... beer...) or the tannery, which is not so pleasant.

[Cheese_Ed]

Ahh yes the sweet smell of yeast...depending on which way the wind was blowing you could get your "pavlovian" senses tingling for beer

It's either yeast (mmm... beer...) or the tannery, which is not so pleasant.

Back in the day we had a 3rd aroma on some days - the burned chocolate smell of the Ambrosia Choc. Factory.

You know, Jeffrey D's old workplace.

[Avenue Commons]

Milwaukee is definitely what you make of it...

I agree with that completely.

I visited a lot of friends at different schools all across the country, and I liked them all.

Some were better than others... but if you are a person who is active and likes to be involved, you will find plenty of people and activites at any school that you go to.

It doesn't matter if you like going out to the bar, or if you are on student government, as long as you are social and get involved, you should have a good/fun social experience.

I would recomend joining a club sport when you get to any campus. Even if you only play for 1 year, you will make some friends who might not live next door to you in your dorm. There nothing wrong with dorm friends, most of my friends were made that way, but joining a club sport (or other club) can help expand your network which is helpful for new students.

Such is life. One of the best things about Marquette was learning that if you were with a good group of people who were your honest friends, you could have fun anywhere, even in the middle of one of Milwaukee's ghettos. Looking back I feel sorry for people who never got to experience what I did at Marquette. These are the same people who now never want to try anything new, only want to go to popular places, and never want to live on the edge a little bit. I've had more fun in dive bars and at house parties than I've ever had at fancy bars or in the trendiest clubs.