Any one from Wisconsin?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Madison here. Nice weather we have had the past couple of days. Tomorrow will be back in the 30's, but it will be back into the 40s and 50s after that. I feel sorry for the folk in Stevens Point. Your access to opportunities is really limited. You might want to spend some time at the Marshfield Clinic if you can so you can get some experiences.
 
I am from a small little town near the Horicon Marsh. I live in FL now, but I think I will end up back there someday. Maybe....the weather is great here.
 
Originally from Milwaukee, moved in 3rd grade to St. Louis, moved back for college.

Funny how these things go :laugh:
 
I'm from Minnesota... close enough right?
 
I am from a small little town near the Horicon Marsh. I live in FL now, but I think I will end up back there someday. Maybe....the weather is great here.

Cool...I'm from Horicon. The city, not the marsh. Only zombies live in the marsh. And geese.

Went to undergrad at UW-Green Bay.
 
Cool...I'm from Horicon. The city, not the marsh. Only zombies live in the marsh. And geese.

Went to undergrad at UW-Green Bay.

I am from Horicon as well.....small world huh? Did you go to the high school there?
 
I'm from a little town up north and go to school in Eau Claire.
 
Right on, I live in the Seattle area at the moment. Are any of you applying to UW Madison?
 
From Madison, go to school at UW Milwaukee but am transferring to UW Madison in the fall to finish out the last two years of my undergrad.

What do you all do for volunteer/leadership experience in the Madison area? Lack of transportation has really hindered me from doing much outside of campus in Milwaukee, so now that I'm coming back home to Madison I'm trying to plan out what to do.
 
From Madison, go to school at UW Milwaukee but am transferring to UW Madison in the fall to finish out the last two years of my undergrad.

What do you all do for volunteer/leadership experience in the Madison area? Lack of transportation has really hindered me from doing much outside of campus in Milwaukee, so now that I'm coming back home to Madison I'm trying to plan out what to do.

well madison has good public transportation and also has three major hospitals and numerous clinics within walking distance of UW.
 
well madison has good public transportation and also has three major hospitals and numerous clinics within walking distance of UW.

Well I'll be living in Madison, with my own car, and I also have my EMT license. I'm not so much worried about the clinical experience as much as I am getting some good ECs racked up. I ride mountain bikes competitively and so far in life that's been a pretty big thing, but that's not going to count for much on an app. Anybody that has gone to the UW have any suggestions for good clubs to get involved with?
 
Well I'll be living in Madison, with my own car, and I also have my EMT license. I'm not so much worried about the clinical experience as much as I am getting some good ECs racked up. I ride mountain bikes competitively and so far in life that's been a pretty big thing, but that's not going to count for much on an app. Anybody that has gone to the UW have any suggestions for good clubs to get involved with?

I did the following:

- a 1 1/2 year long internship at the heart hospital (I'm not allowed to forward you contact information, sorry)

- 300 hours of crises counseling for families (pm me for more details)

- 200 hours of shadowing

I did some other stuff, but you won't be able to replicate what I did..so no bother giving more details.
 
I did the following:

- a 1 1/2 year long internship at the heart hospital (I'm not allowed to forward you contact information, sorry)

- 300 hours of crises counseling for families (pm me for more details)

- 200 hours of shadowing

I did some other stuff, but you won't be able to replicate what I did..so no bother giving more details.

I just counted that I have:

234 + 200 + 6,240 = 6,674 hours of hospital experience, 👍

300 hours of crises counseling experience

325 freelance medical article publications (should be over 500 by the time I apply)

pathology database development experience

Gee, I wonder if I know how the health care system works?

Pathology here I come. I'm considered a strong applicant from the admissions people that I have talked to. Now I just need some pathology experience. So I'm going to try and take some graduate courses in pathology before I apply and try to get some shadowing at the local pathology department and try to build some connections in the field.
 
Is your hometown in the Tomahawk/Minoqua/Rhinelander neck of the woods by chance?

It is, indeed! I'm assuming you're from there as well?
 
Well I'll be living in Madison, with my own car, and I also have my EMT license. I'm not so much worried about the clinical experience as much as I am getting some good ECs racked up. I ride mountain bikes competitively and so far in life that's been a pretty big thing, but that's not going to count for much on an app. Anybody that has gone to the UW have any suggestions for good clubs to get involved with?

I didn't do my undergrad at Madison, but I've heard great things about the Hoofers club. I'm thinking about getting involved in a few of their activities when I have the time next year. They're devoted to organizing outdoorsy activities, like canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, camping. I'll bet they even do some mountain bike trips. If not, I'd bet they'd be all about you organizing one!
 
I am from Horicon as well.....small world huh? Did you go to the high school there?

I did! My educational base includes knowledge bestowed upon me by the likes of Wallesverd, Doc, Hillary, and Southworth. I was on the Horicon EMS for about 4 years also.
 
Dude, geese? Microbio obviously taught us it was the botulism ducks that live there. Maybe their necks got so floppy they just LOOK like geese.

You should see the blue herons when they get botulism. Craziness!!!!!
 
I didn't do my undergrad at Madison, but I've heard great things about the Hoofers club. I'm thinking about getting involved in a few of their activities when I have the time next year. They're devoted to organizing outdoorsy activities, like canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, camping. I'll bet they even do some mountain bike trips. If not, I'd bet they'd be all about you organizing one!


Yes, I was interested in joining Hoofers as well. They also have a sailing club which would be pretty cool if you're around Madison for the summer.
 
I did! My educational base includes knowledge bestowed upon me by the likes of Wallesverd, Doc, Hillary, and Southworth. I was on the Horicon EMS for about 4 years also.

And lets not forget Mr. Meyer's gym classes and Mr. Bjork's math classes.
 
It is, indeed! I'm assuming you're from there as well?

No, but I've spent a lot of time up there and love it - my grandparents lived near Eagle River. If I don't get an acceptance this time around, I'm thinking of taking over their empty house for the summer and fall. I've checked and I think I could get a CNA job at Howard Young/St. Mary's/Eagle River Memorial, and enjoy the lovely northwoods in my spare time.
 
I'm from Milwaukee, but I go to school on the east coast now. Has anyone ever noticed how grossly little people know about our glorious state? I told someone I was from Milwaukee the other day, and they thought it was in Michigan. I don't know about you guys, but whenever someone makes fun of Wisconsin, I get really pissed off, like someone insulted my mother or something.
 
I'm from Milwaukee, but I go to school on the east coast now. Has anyone ever noticed how grossly little people know about our glorious state? I told someone I was from Milwaukee the other day, and they thought it was in Michigan. I don't know about you guys, but whenever someone makes fun of Wisconsin, I get really pissed off, like someone insulted my mother or something.

Don't get pissed. I did an internship in Ann Arbor and even people from that state didn't know much about Wisconsin at all....but they sure did know a lot about Ohio.

Just realize that you grew up in a fly over state. Not many people go to Wisconsin to vacation. Not many people move to Wisconsin to retire. A good percentage of college graduates move out of state to get a "real" job. Wisconsin is a nice state, but there are better opportunities elsewhere.
 
Don't get pissed. I did an internship in Ann Arbor and even people from that state didn't know much about Wisconsin at all....but they sure did know a lot about Ohio.

Just realize that you grew up in a fly over state. Not many people go to Wisconsin to vacation. Not many people move to Wisconsin to retire. A good percentage of college graduates move out of state to get a "real" job. Wisconsin is a nice state, but there are better opportunities elsewhere.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with your comment. I know many people who have lake homes on Lake Michigan for summer vacations. It's kind of paradoxical really. Come summer time mid westerners get out of here and head for either coast, and the people that reside there usually come into our states. I know special to Wisconsin, the Dells is a HUGE attraction to people. When we go to our place in the Outter Banks every time I talk to people down there and tell them I'm from Wisconsin, they ask about Wisconsin Dells.

Also, not as popular to everybody, but for out doors kind of people, northern Wisconsin is a huge stop also. I guess it just depends on the type of person. If you like to sit on the beach and drink Mai Thais you're not going to go to Wisconsin or the midwest in general. Tourism is still pretty big here though, so I guess that says something.
 
I wouldn't necessarily agree with your comment. I know many people who have lake homes on Lake Michigan for summer vacations. It's kind of paradoxical really. Come summer time mid westerners get out of here and head for either coast, and the people that reside there usually come into our states. I know special to Wisconsin, the Dells is a HUGE attraction to people. When we go to our place in the Outter Banks every time I talk to people down there and tell them I'm from Wisconsin, they ask about Wisconsin Dells.

Also, not as popular to everybody, but for out doors kind of people, northern Wisconsin is a huge stop also. I guess it just depends on the type of person. If you like to sit on the beach and drink Mai Thais you're not going to go to Wisconsin or the midwest in general. Tourism is still pretty big here though, so I guess that says something.

Sure there are people who do that stuff. However, there are more people who move south when they retire than north.
 
Just realize that you grew up in a fly over state. Not many people go to Wisconsin to vacation. Not many people move to Wisconsin to retire. A good percentage of college graduates move out of state to get a "real" job. Wisconsin is a nice state, but there are better opportunities elsewhere.

Actually that's really not true at all. A good portion of Illinois vacations in WI every weekend during the summer, and for better or worse, Madison appears to be a retirement destination for the elderly, supposedly because of our excellent health care and assisted/independent living facilities.

As far as college graduates leaving WI? Some people definitely do leave, but I don't think it's particularly that many relative to other states. A good portion of UW grads live here. I believe about half of UW SMPH alum practice in Madison and Millwaukee alone.
 
Actually that's really not true at all. A good portion of Illinois vacations in WI every weekend during the summer...

Oh so true. I'd say that northern WI is 80% IL folks for most of the summer, and people come for deer hunting and winter recreation too. I can understand not wanting to retire and grow old here, though - winter is rough.
 
I am former WI resident. Moved to NC in '08 to 1) live somewhere else, and 2) continue my EMS education.

I grew up in Milwaukee, and got my BS (Neuroscience) from UW-Madison in '07. Tough school! VERY competitive! I believe my GPA would have been better from any of the other UW schools but live and learn, I suppose.

For those of you searching for EC's, outstanding research opportunities abound at UW. I was a member of great lab, and got to do some neat research while I was there. It was an excellent experience.

I don't think I will be going back to WI, though. Too cold and dreary!
 
I am former WI resident. Moved to NC in '08 to 1) live somewhere else, and 2) continue my EMS education.

I grew up in Milwaukee, and got my BS (Neuroscience) from UW-Madison in '07. Tough school! VERY competitive! I believe my GPA would have been better from any of the other UW schools but live and learn, I suppose.

For those of you searching for EC's, outstanding research opportunities abound at UW. I was a member of great lab, and got to do some neat research while I was there. It was an excellent experience.

I don't think I will be going back to WI, though. Too cold and dreary!

Madison is known for a lot of things. One of them is being transient. A lot of students come to UW-Madison for school and end up leaving the state afterward. The same goes for people looking for work and building a career.

My wife and I are also sick of the cold weather and long winters. We are looking to move to a warm place.
 
I agree the winters suck here, but I forget all about that when summer rolls around. There is too much to do in Wisconsin during the summers, It's impossible to be bored. Mountain biking, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, the Dells, state street, Brat fest, Door county, camping... it's just endless. I unfortunately will be taking O Chem II + lab over the summer so my time doing the list above will be severely cut short.

Mic2377, did you do the Neurobiology sub degree at Madison? That's what I'm transferring to Madison for. Is it really that much more difficult? I was wondering how competitive and 'popular' that degree and those classes were. As for research, once I settle down and start classes in Madison I was just planning on emailing/calling the neuro professors and seeing if any of them had the spot/patience for an undergrad in their lab. Any suggestions on who to call? You also said continue with EMS; did you work on a crew around the area? I got my EMT-B license last summer and was planning on calling up Deforest and seeing if they needed any help this summer/fall. If you were doing EMS while taking classes, how was it balancing those tough upper level neuro classes, research AND running around on an ambo?
 
I agree the winters suck here, but I forget all about that when summer rolls around. There is too much to do in Wisconsin during the summers, It's impossible to be bored. Mountain biking, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, the Dells, state street, Brat fest, Door county, camping... it's just endless. I unfortunately will be taking O Chem II + lab over the summer so my time doing the list above will be severely cut short.

Mic2377, did you do the Neurobiology sub degree at Madison? That's what I'm transferring to Madison for. Is it really that much more difficult? I was wondering how competitive and 'popular' that degree and those classes were. As for research, once I settle down and start classes in Madison I was just planning on emailing/calling the neuro professors and seeing if any of them had the spot/patience for an undergrad in their lab. Any suggestions on who to call? You also said continue with EMS; did you work on a crew around the area? I got my EMT-B license last summer and was planning on calling up Deforest and seeing if they needed any help this summer/fall. If you were doing EMS while taking classes, how was it balancing those tough upper level neuro classes, research AND running around on an ambo?

Yes the science courses at Madison are competitive. The material isn't that hard though, but getting the best grades in the class is hard.

Edit: I'm just sick of driving in the snow all winter long. I would prefer to live in a place, during my adult working days, where I can relax outside in October or late Feb/early March. In Wisconsin, it takes almost until the end of May until you can relax outside and not get cold. And then just over four months later it is cold out again.
 
Last edited:
I did undergrad at Madison, so I could tell you about the neurobio stuff. First off, its not actually a major. Its termed a "neurobiology option" because you basically do a bio degree with two extra classes, 523, and 524. I took 523, which is the intro neurobio. It was an awesome class, taught by tony stretton, who was a great professor. You get to take each exam twice if you arent satisfied with your grade, so its actually a pretty easy A. Depending on how far along you are in your transfer credits, there are harder classes that count towards the degree. My attitude towards madison is that I got a great education, did very well in the med school game, but it was a tough time getting advice. If anyone has any questions about Madison undergrad and med school advice, I'd be more than happy to help, just PM me 🙂
 
.
 
Last edited:
I did undergrad at Madison, so I could tell you about the neurobio stuff. First off, its not actually a major. Its termed a "neurobiology option" because you basically do a bio degree with two extra classes, 523, and 524. I took 523, which is the intro neurobio. It was an awesome class, taught by tony stretton, who was a great professor. You get to take each exam twice if you arent satisfied with your grade, so its actually a pretty easy A. Depending on how far along you are in your transfer credits, there are harder classes that count towards the degree. My attitude towards madison is that I got a great education, did very well in the med school game, but it was a tough time getting advice. If anyone has any questions about Madison undergrad and med school advice, I'd be more than happy to help, just PM me 🙂

Correct me if I'm wrong but past 523 and 524(Neurobio I and II) There are advanced level requirements you must also take. There is a lot of leeway within that though, but I know they have molecular and cellular neurobiology and systems neuro which I what sparked me. I'm glad I'm getting some advice on the classes though, thanks. It's also good to hear that atleast 523 is a cool class, and I'll have to see if Stretton is teaching it in the fall when I take it. I'm only a soph. this year, but by next fall I'll have O Chem 1 and 2, Genetics, and Bio I and II out of the way. I wanted to take Neurobio 1, Bio chem, Physics and my second English class in the fall, and also go back to MATC and get my EMT-IV license to start working at the ER downtown.

Besmart I can agree with you on that one, I don't think anybody loves the Winter in Madison or Milwaukee because getting around is just such a pain. Well, agree with everything except the October part... Halloween in Madison is just too much fun.
 
Door County during the summer is definitely packed with IL residents. When ever I tell someone that I am from Wisconsin it never fails for them to say "oh you’re a cheese head". Time after time, people really believe that we all run around with cheese heads on all day. After that their next question is always "are you a Packer fan"? I just find it amusing that people who have never been to Wi just knows about this little state where the Packers play, and their residents stand out in the freezing cold with no shirts and cheese heads.
 
Door County during the summer is definitely packed with IL residents. When ever I tell someone that I am from Wisconsin it never fails for them to say "oh you’re a cheese head". Time after time, people really believe that we all run around with cheese heads on all day. After that their next question is always "are you a Packer fan"? I just find it amusing that people who have never been to Wi just knows about this little state where the Packers play, and their residents stand out in the freezing cold with no shirts and cheese heads.

The Dells during the summer is also FIB central.

Haha FIBs, one of my buddies is from Illinois and last year when I met him the first time I called him that he said it was the first time he heard it. I guess it makes sense, they usually can't hear it when it's being yelled at them from someone's car.
 
Doing my undergrad at UW-Madison, but originally from Massachusetts.
 
I found out yesterday that I'll be doing my EM residency at UW Madison, so it seems I'll be in Wisconsin my whole career and life. Whew! Love it here.
 
I found out yesterday that I'll be doing my EM residency at UW Madison, so it seems I'll be in Wisconsin my whole career and life. Whew! Love it here.

Congrats man, although I give my sympathies having to do an EM Residency at one of two Level 1 Traumas in the state. I think you get to rotate a little on Med flight though... the attendings on Med flight are all cool as hell, I met them last summer for EMT training.
 
Top