In Wisconsin, you must have a down coat and snow shoes. They are cheap here especially if you buy them from the outlet stores. There is one outlet mall very close to Madison.
It's about 80 Miles away. UW-Madison has one of the most beautiful campus and you'll love it in summer. BUT winter is the very cold there. It can go all the way down to -30 C and it lasts for almost 6 months. I am moving south ;)