University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

Hey Victoria, listen up now! Relish the carefree aspect of your senior year, because "everything's gonna change" in college. No-one will be looking over your shoulder making sure you're doing your homework, rather than skypeing your friends or downloading music on I-Tunes. And the parties! You think you know parties? Well, understand that college can be a nonstop party - until the grades come in, that is. Then the party's over, and you'll have your parents to answer to if you don't excel in your studies, while staying in shape and doing community service as you've been raised to do. This is your last chance to get yourself organized, because once your parents deposit that final box in your dorm room and kiss you goodbye, you're on your own. Nobody to clean your room, do your laundry or replenish your personal supplies; for heaven's sake, how will you accomplish it all if you don't make a plan and stick to it? You'll be doing everything at the last minute, that's what, pulling all-nighters because a paper is due, and you chose to play first and pay later.

I am extremely satisfied with my decision to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison. However, if I could go back and change something about my senior year, I would have decided to take more AP classes. I did take two my senior year, but didn't try too hard and only got credit for one on the AP test. Some of my friends at school came in with over a semester's worth of credits. Money is a major factor for me. My parents divorced and spent most of my college fund on legal fees. If I took more AP classes I would have been able to get more college credits and potentially graduate a semester or two early. This would have saved me tens of thousands of dollars.

Relax about college. It will be a difficult journey, but plenty of people can help you along the way: advisors to get you on the right track to getting a degree; teachers, teachers aids, free tutors, and other students to help whenever you are in a bind and cannot understand something; and counselors to aid you through a personal crisis. You will meet very talented individuals from around the globe each with amazing stories and backgrounds. - just talk to them and you will learn more than you could ever imagine. As for paying for college, make sure to talk to your advisor and check online. Also, do not be afraid to ask people for help regardless if you just need help making a resume, writing a scholarship essay, or need help choosing what classes to stay away from. Trust me, it will save you a lot of headaches and missed opportunities. Lastly, remember college is not all about the academics, there are tons of amazing activities you can join and even more friends you can make in the process. In the long run, getting involved will definitely help when it comes to getting jobs or furthering your education.

Continue on to school as soon as you graduate from highschool. The continuation of education from highschool to a university makes the transition smoother. The least amount of time you spend away from higher education the better you will do in your pursuit of a higher education.

I would have encouraged my old high school self to be not as preoccupied with extra-curricular activities and allotted myself more time to "discover" who I was as an individual and allowed myself the time to explore the fine arts and become more cultured. I feel sometimes people get to overwhelmed with being the "best" and most involved student that it takes away from who people are and their foundational character that makes them a genuine and sincere person.

I would tell myself three things. One, college is rough. Plain and simple. No one is there to hold your hand, no one is there to help you with every little problem, and no one is there to pick you up when you fall. You have to be strong and be able to do it yourself. Two, meet as many people as you can freshman year. People always tell you to meet new people, but really go out there and introduce yourself to everyone any chance you can get. You may meet your best friend that way, hey, you may meet your husband. Three, take time to just be. When you are walking to class, stop and absorb the moment. These are the times of your life and you will take for granted the little stuff unless you just stop and capture it. Look at the trees on the hill, smell the sandwiches from the sandwich cart on the corner, listen to the bell tower ring. Those are the moments to remember. Those are the moments that you can share with your friends. Those are the moments that make the tough times worth it.

I would tell my 18 year-old self this: You don't know what you want yet. In fact, it will be a long time before you know what you want in a career, lifestyle, relationship and anything else. So for now, just soak in every experience you can. Go to the art opening. Attend the speaker series. Take the strange-sounding elective. Go abroad for a semester. Befriend people who are nothing like your high school friends. And let every one of these experiences shape the person you become, and the life you carve for yourself. A lot of young people succumb to the pressure to define their goals before they really know what those goals should be. I say give yourself time to figure out who you are first. That doesn't mean 'float by'. You still need to study, apply for internships, build relationships with professors, keep your grades up and do all the other things that will keep doors open. But don't worry so much yet about which door you'll choose. You might even find it chooses you!

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