University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

I would definitely focus and try really hard my first year at school. I would also remind myself that meeting a group of friends the first year is very important. Help is also always here when needed and studying definitely pays off.

I would tell myself that there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking time off to work or travel before college. In college, you're making decisions that will stick with you for the rest of your life. Most people believe that it needs to be completed between the ages of 18-22. You won't believe this now, but 18-22 is YOUNG! It's a period of time when you aren't so much physically growing, but mentally growing. Released from the small pond of high school, you're figuring out what you like and don't like as an individual, and what you're good at. So, buck conventional rules: use this time for self-exploration. There's no need to rush college!

There are two things I would have done slightly differently. I would remind myself to apply for more scholarships and grants, because college is expensive. Every bit of money helps, as it's difficult to work and go to school in addition to being a part of the ROTC program. The other bit of advice I would have given myself would be to take the tests in my AP classes, the more credits, the sooner you can pick classes, which would have made it easier to get into a few of the more popular/fun classes.

First of all, keep an open mind about where you will end up. I know you're dying to get away from home right now, and to branch out and see the world, but no matter where you end up, college will present so many new and exciting opportunities! It doesn't matter if you end up in New York or California, or you end up staying close to home, because just being at college will open up the world to you. Once you get to college, it's all about spontaneity! Be willing to try new things at the drop of a hat, accept social invitations and take any and every opportunity that presents itself to you, because that it your opportunity to experience the world, and opportunities in your college community can lead to opportunities throughout the world! Don't be afraid to put yourself in a potentially uncomfortable situation, it just might turn out be the best thing you've ever done in your life - I speak from experience! Finally, it can be hard, but try not to worry about making up your mind about your future, you have time, and it's all about the journey!

I would tell myself to get a head start on being organized. Being organized in college is huge and in highschool being organized was just not a priority. Since coming to college, having bad organization habbits has hit me hard and it is somthing i continually work at. I feel if I had been more prepared for that aspect of being grown-up, I would have potentially been much more sucessful.

Study in order to truly understand, not simply to get the A or pass. While that may seem like an obvious statement, it is the primary thing I learned during my first year at school. In high school, my focus was to get the best grade possible. I memorized as much as I needed so I could do well on that next exam. What I know now is that the education I am receiving is worth nothing if I do not understand it. While reading the textbook with the goal of genuine comprehension may be more time-consuming and not always the most exciting thing, it is the satisfaction of really understanding the material that makes the work worth it. Walking away from a final and leaving with knowledge of the subject that will not be forgotten because it was understood, rather than crammed the night before, is more satisfying than any A. Had I come to that realization before starting my freshman year, I would have walked away with fewer forgotten facts and a greater grasp of the material. College is about learning, and approaching the work with that goal in mind will lead to exactly that.

There's some good, and some bad coming your way. You need to go to counseling to deal with issues from your past that have recently come back to haunt you. Don't let your past control your future. Don't participate in drinking and drug parties. Doing so will only make life more difficult. Please, go to class. Be sure to keep your bright outlook on life no matter how dire the situation. It has helped you through many hardships. Stay in shape. It will bring you good times. Keep exploring the world and don't think your father knows everything. He doesn't.

Honestly, I think the way I went in to college was the exact right way to do it. I was overconfident about my abilities and viewed attending college not as an opportunity but as a right. I found out quickly that college is different than high school, and learned to thrive in the new environment. I got better grades, made better friends, and had so much fun. I also had the opportunity to play volleyball in college and turned all of the offers down because I wanted to go to UW-Madison so badly. I think that choice helped me more than any other I have made. I used to live on the feeling of competeing and I learned to apply that to my studies rather than on the volleyball court. I play intramurals and have a great time with my friends.

The biggest advice that I could give is for a student. When you visit college campuses, you will arrive to one and just KNOW that it feels right. You will feel a sense of compassion, community, diversity, intelligence, but most important, security. I think if you feel comfortable with your surroundings, you will have a very successul college career, and your parents won't have to worry about you as much! As a college student, you also have to remember to work hard to acheive your goals. A lot of the times, college is portrayed as a place to only socialize and party, and many times, that proves true. If you want to make it in the real world, though, you have to work harder than you play, especially because you don't really have to complete homework, just study. Something I wish I would have done earlier is to get to know your professors, for they provide a great network for your potential careers. Remember to not hesitate to ask for help, get involved in extracurriculars, and VOLUNTEER! It feels great to lend a helping hand. Finally, don't forget to thank your parents for helping you succeed :)

To find the right college always research, research, research. You don't have to attend a big league school to be considered smart or anything. Any school that offers what you're looking for is fine. If you know what you want to do, attend a school that is known for that specific field, If you're unsure maybe attend a big school that offers many majors so you can explore and learn new and different things. I believe living in the dorms for your first year is always a good way to get use to the campus and meet lots of people. You learn more about your collegues and your surroundings affect while in school. For me going home would be my rest time and while I was at school/campus it would be my academic time. Living in the dorms also expose you to new and different people from around the US and even the world, it's a cool way to meet new friends and learn about peoples cultures.

Don't let the price hinder you. Go where you truly desire to go. Money is just an object and if it's meant to be, it will happen. Don't get too stressed out about academics, you're learning to be a real person, not a robot with a perfect GPA.

A truly fulfilling college experience needs to include more than just academics. When looking for the right college, students and their parents should consider the location and distance from home, extracurriculars, the success of alumni in finding careers after graduation, social networking, study abroad opportunities, campus diversity, climate, and social life. Too many college students are anxious and unhappy with the way their lives are going, but it is important to be satisfied because college sets each person up for the adult phase of her life. A student needs to be happy at whatever school she chooses so that she can continue to strive for success. Once the student is enrolled in college, she needs to reach out and establish connections in all different areas of academics and clubs so that whenever she needs help, she is confident about where to look for advice. Lastly, nobody can get through life without friends. Once in college, reach out to other students and make friends because they are the ones who will be with person for the rest of her life.

Never settle for the school that is "practical". Choose the school that leaves you wide-eyed, anxious with excitement, and ready to start anew. Nothing comes out of being safe. Every new adventure that you go for wholeheartedly is bound to be satisfying. Put yourself out there to meet others and never hesitate because this world is filled with people who will change your life.

Finding the right college is both and exciting and stressful process. As a student who has been through that process I would recommend exploring options both close to home and far from it. College is an adventure and students have the option to either go with what is most familiar and comfortable or break away and really get out into the world to experience something new. That's why I believe it is important to explore all kinds of schools, big and small, close and far, in order to determine what kind of college experience each student would like to have. No matter what kind of school a student looks at it is important to visit and meet with counselors in order to determine if it is a good fit. To make the most of a new college experience it's a good idea to live in the dorms, this is a perfect way to make new friends, friends who will be with you most of the rest of your college years. It is important to find activites on campus to be involved in that fit interests in order to make lifelong friends. Just always remember, college is an adventure.

If I were able to give students advice about finding the college that fits them best, I would tell them to go and visit the college beforehand. I would tell them to go and be around members of the campus, including both faculty and students. I would tell them to sit in on a lecture, and to ask questions of friends who may already be attending this college. But most importantly, I would tell students to pick a school that offers diversity, in regards to the people of the campus, and also in regards to the academic choices available. College students change their minds, or discover that something else has captured their attention; the college that will best allow a student to follow their dreams, whatever those might be, is the college which should be sought out above all others. My advice for parents would be simply this: help your child to make a well-educated decision, and be prepared to encourage and suppport them in the path they choose to take. I would not recommend that a parent pull out of a student's life; rather, allow the student the space, time, and support they need to grow.

The student should attend the college him/her wants to, not the parents. There are many times the student is pressured into choosing a school by their parents. Also, even if the school you are at right now isn't the right fit that doesn't mean some other college won't be either, don't be afraid to transfer, but make sure it is for the the right reasons.

Visint a campus is key. Maybe try and stay overnight so you can see how the atmosphere changes between night and day.

I know it can be extremely hard to pick a college. Never pick a college solely without thinking about it. Don't pick a college simply because they are the number one part school in the nation. Don't pick a college because it's far away from home. Don't pick college because the weather there is amazing. Don't pick a college there because apparently they have really attractive members of the opposite sex. Yes. All of these things may be important. But they should not be the determining factor to your college. You are going to college to get an education--something that will last with you for the rest of your life. So pick college that you love. Pick a college that offers you exactly what you want. And even if you don't know what you want, pick a college that can offer you the best "undecided" studies. Choose the college that offers you an awesome education from awesome professors at an affordable price. And if the parties, distance, weather, and attractive co-eds come along with it, that's the bonus.

Finding the right college is all about finding the perfect environment. In addition to considering the academics of a university, people need to remember to think about what type of setting they want to be in. To make the most of the college experience, I would advise people to try as many things as possible and be outgoing. You'll meet many new people, and maybe even make life-long friends. Don't be afraid to try something different, because you never know what will happen.

College is about growing as a person, academically as well as finding yourself, so it is important to research your college choices. Talk to current students and tour the campus. College can be overwhelming, but the important thing is to relax and continue to try and do your best academically. In the end, the only person who can decide if the college fits your needs is you. It's about creating memories you will remember for the rest of your life and preparing yourself for a career that truly interests you. Don't be afraid to try new things or meet new people because this is what makes college an exhilarating adventure.