Life in Madison

Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, offers a quality of life second to none. Featured in the July 1996 Money magazine as the "Best Place to Live in America" out of the 300 largest U.S. cities, Madison offers a strong economy with plentiful jobs, outstanding health care and a range of cultural activities usually found only in cities far larger than this. Home to approximately 215,000, Madison is situated on an isthmus between the areas two largest lakes, a setting that offers impressive beauty, a compact and vital metropolitan area, and a wide variety of recreational activities.

Madison's climate brings four distinct seasons with blue skies, golden leaves, clear water and sparkling snow. The city's 200 parks offer hiking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds and the free Henry Vilas Zoo. Just an hour away lie peaceful retreats among the woods, gently flowing streams, and lush valleys of southern Wisconsin. Madisonians enjoy nearby downhill ski hills, extensive cross-country ski trails, a nationally ranked trout stream, and more bicycle trails than any other state in the nation. These qualities combine to make Madison one of seven "Dream Cities in the United States" for outdoor enthusiasts according to Outside magazine in July 1995.

Cultural activities abound, from the summer open-air Concerts on the Square by the Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra to theater, opera, and ballet at the Overture Center for the Arts. Independent theater groups, including the highly acclaimed American Player¹s Theater in nearby Spring Green, offer year-round variety on the stage. The area hosts concerts in a range of venues, including the annual Isthmus Jazz Festival, as well as an array of night life that only a university town can offer. For those seeking an escape to the "big city" Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis are within a few hours drive.

Madison is economically healthy, with ample opportunities in education, government, industry, finance, health care, and biotechnology. The public schools are among the best in the country, with more recipients of the Presidential Award of Excellence than any other city in the United States. Commutes are short, the cost of living reasonable, and the crime rate low.

Madison's unique blend of features and opportunities make it a premier place to live and learn. For academic excellence, unparalleled clinical opportunities and beautiful surroundings in which to spend these important years of your life, join us at the University of Wisconsin.