University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

Deciding on the right college is an important decision for any student. First I would recommend a fair amount of research into possible schools. This step is an important part of the process. During this period the student is able to begin to discover what they want and what different schools have to offer. Next, during the summer after the student's junior year in high school it is a good idea to begin to visit prospective and likely schools. Although schools are not fully in session during the summer, visits to possible future schools give a great deal of insight into whether a school is right for them. Lastly after the "right" college has been chosen, it is extremely important to go into the first year of college with a good attitude. If one were to go in looking for something wrong with their school or with an extremely analytical viewpoint, one would surely find something disappointing and deem their school unfit for them. Almost any student could adapt and enjoy the unique positives that make each school what it is. When starting a new year: get involved, make friends, enjoy yourself, and remember to focus on your studies!

I would tell any prospective college student to take your time choosing a university and visit the university prior to deciding, in order to make sure it is a good fit. To make the most of the college experience, I would recomend being as involved as possible. It is important to realize that you can have a lot of fun at college and still do well. To parents, I strongly advise letting your child choose his or her school with nothing but your honest advice. Students will not do well if compelled by their parents to go to a school that they do not want to attend.

Students must visit their college choices right away! In order to see yourself there for four years or more, you have like your school. After visiting the schools, it helps determine your decision because every school is different. Some schools are small, big, liberal, in an urban or rural area, and by visiting each campus, you'll find out what you like. For instance, when buying a new pair of shoes, there's a lot to think about like the size, price, and style. It's the same to think about with the university. College has to be a place that you will enjoy, but it s also expensive; therefore, you have to see if they will give you money to be there or if it's affordable for your family. Finally, once you're on campus I suggest going to every event there is. By attending most events, that is how you meet new people and find out about what the university has to offer, and plus, free food is involved. You cannot be afraid of people because they were freshmen before too and they know exactly what it was like to be in your shoes.

Just like anything else, college "is what you make of it." It is as important to choose the seemingly best fit as it is to understand that, like any new environment, there will be times of uncomfortability. The school that might not have been a first choice could end up as the best experience. Optimism is key. So is time management. It is extremely important to stay on top of schoolwork. Not reading one chapter per night could land a student a miserable one night stay in the library cramming information that will inevitably escape not long after the exam. Go to parties. Meeting new people different from different backgrounds is one of the most interesting and exciting (not to mention, educational) experiences. College is also a time for taking risks. A time to unleash passions or interests that have previously seemed daunting. Acting class? Take it. Billiards club? Join. Getting involved is another way to make friends who share common interests. What it comes down to, though, is that college is a time for experimentation and gaining a better self understanding.

Check out as many schools as possible!

Make sure that you know what you want out of your college experience. It can be little things such as knowing whether you want to live in the city or a rural area, whether it's a Big Ten school or an Ivy League school, or if the school has your major or not. You want to know that you are going to be comfortable for the next however many years you choose to go to college there. And if you are undecided going into college, make sure you go to a school with a lot of options or a place where there are many things that you might be interested in. After you get into your college, take as many opportunities as you can. GET INVOLVED. Your undergraduate career flies by pretty fast and you want to make sure that you have experienced every avenue possible. Do volunteer work, or study abroad, or get an internship, or learn a foreign language, or join a sorority or fraternity, or go to your schools sports events, and meet students who like to have fun but are serious about doing their work. Take control of your college, not the other way around

Go on a campus visit to get the feel for the campus, you'll know when you've found the right one. As for making the most of your college experience, get involved, try something new, you'll make so many friends, learn, and have great life experiences.

Once a student/family has narrowed it down to few choices within the optimal financial range, the time comes to make a choice based on emotion. Visit the campus. Sit in on a few lectures. Does it feel like home? Does this school satisfy any particular interest for the prospective student's future or degree sought? There is always doubt when anyone is making a big decision, so it is normal to feel pressured and skeptical. There will be doubt even further down the road, like when it comes time to graduate. Making difficult decisions and following through shape people into who they are, a process of discovering oneself. And is that not the purpose of college? Making the most of the college experience as a first year student can be described in one word: dormitory. The dorms are where fellow students eat, sleep, bathe, and study. There is a sanctity in this bondage, one that must be embraced, as this is where the first year student meets many of his/her friends, discovers campus activity, and learns to live away from home. Student housing provides guidance and comfort, so it is wise to considerate it a new home.

Reasearch is important, but visiting is the best way to know a school. Personally, I anticipated going to a small liberal arts college, after visiting UW-Madison, I realized how much I love the energy of a large campus. It is also important to keep cost in mind, I had alot of friends who were disillusioned when there financial-aid packages at private schools were less than they anticipated. At Wisconsin, I knew exactly what I was going to pay. Large public schools in your state can be a gret value, they generally cost less then their private counterparts and are known and respected by employers and grad schools. But a large school isn't for everyone, so again, the visit is ultra-important. Once school starts take advantage of all the first week club and activities meetings. Chances are you'll find one that is interestingand you'll save money eating free pizza for two weeks. Another suggestion is to get to know the recreation facility, when you have extra time in the first weeks you can start a routine that will help reduce stress when the essays start coming.

My advice for parents and students looking for the right college is to visit it. The main objective while visiting is for the "student" to be happy about the place they will spend the next four or so years at. It is up to the student to make the final decision. The feel of a college campus should make you feel like home. Like your existence is wanted at this college. Look around at the students too. See how they react towards each other. The students on campus will provide the most general feel of how your social life will be. If the students are kind and helpful towards each other, the campus will be easy to fit in and your new friends will be easy to be found. Make sure the college you decide to attend has plenty of challenges for you to encounter.