University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

One of the first questions to ask yourself is how far away from home do you want to be? College is scary , and you may feel more comfortable being closer to home. Knowing you can hop on a bus and be home for the weekend is very comforting, even if you never find the time to do it! Ask yourself how you will get back and forth. It makes a difference with you and your family. Next, think about what profession interests you. If you have an idea, then look for colleges that match your interests. If not, no worries, just enroll and pick classes that interest you. Your counselor can help with that. Find out which are the "Freshman" dorms and stay there. It's fun to meet new students in the same boat as you. Get involved with something you are passionate about. I love volleyball, so I am playing on UW Madison's Club traveling team. It's so fun and I've met some great friends. It keeps me in shape and busy so I am forced to budget my time well for my schoolwork. I love my school. Go Badgers!

Campus visits are often touted as the 'absolute best' way to get a feel for a school and decide if a college is right. However, I would suggest talking to students who attend the specific college, particularly those who have been to the same high school as the prospective student or who come from a similar background, about their experiences. It is not only the lecture halls and football stadium that constitute one's college experience. It is the interactions with teaching assistants and professors, the availability of courses that interest the student, and late nights with Starbuck's Coffee to name a few. Learning from other's experiences at a college is an invaluable tool in the college selection process. With regard to making the most of the college experience, there is one thing above all else that I would say: Do not be afraid! Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to new people right away, don't be afraid to join that organization that seems cool, don't be afraid to take risks. Courage is key, because at the end of the day, college is entirely what you make of it.

They not only should look at what type of academics the school has, but also what kind of clubs and extra curricular activities are offered, the demographics of the school, and what kind of a setting the school is in (rural vs. urban, etc.). I definitely recommend visiting a school at least once before deciding to attend it. Visiting the school can bring a whole different light to your perspective (and not always a good light). I think it also helps to search the internet to see what kind of opinions are out there and what the pros and cons are about the schools you're looking at.

Be sure to visit all different types of schools. I had never even considered the school I attended and just happened to apply because the application was one of the easier ones. I visited all different types of schools because I wasn't sure at all where I wanted to go, and ended up visiting the school I would later attend. I am thankful everyday that I did take the weekend to visit that school because I could not imagine myself anywhere else after graduating. Always remember to keep an open mind.

Figure out what's best for you.

Talk to current students and professors

When you visit a college you will know right away if you are a good fit, run with your heart.

To find the right college, I would say just go with your instincts. Visit the schools you are considering and see where you could picture yourself (or your child). I had absolutely no clue where I wanted to go to school but once I stepped onto the campus at UW-Madison I could see myself there and felt the most comfortable. Don't waste time comparing ratings, choose the school where you feel most at home. To make the most out of the college experience, realize that grades are not the most important thing (they may be important if you are trying to attend graduate school after, but they are not your only priority). Personally, I believe my college experience was more valuable socially than academically. I don't mean to downplay Madison's academic excellence- I just think the life-long friends I made are more valuable than anything I may have learned.

The most important factor to consider when visiting a college to determine if it is a best fit for you, is talking with current students, not just the tour guides. Interacting with students and asking them how much they enjoy the college is the best feedback you could get when determining the how other students feel about the decision they made in attending that prospective university. You can read a students body language and facial expressions when describing how they feel about their school. Typically wide smiles clue you into the fact that they are enjoying their college experience. While college is about getting the best education, it is also about developing as a person. Being away from home for the first time gives a person a sense of individualism that makes them realize they are now on their own. College is about experiencing many different things to find out who you truly are. Make the most of your college days, because one day you're going to look back on them and realize you would not want to change a single thing about those days. Live, learn, and discover who you are.

In high school, I had convinced myself there was one university I belonged at. Unfortunately (or rather fortunately for me) upon visiting this instiution, I realized it was not the school for me. Conversely, after visiting a school I had not focused much of my attention on, I realized it very much was the perfect school for me. To truly gauge a school, it is imperative that applicants visit before making such a crucial, life-altering decision. It is only when visitng a school that a prospective student can really sense and feel what a school is about, and possibly see themselves there in the future.