University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

I wish I had known that despite the size of the student body and campus, UW Madison can be as large as you would like for it to be. Also, I would have wanted to know that although it makes things easier to choose a major early in your college career and take classes in that area, it is imporant to also take classes that interest you outside of that major as they have proven to be some of the most influential classes I have taken at UW.

I wish I had recognized the importance of organizational skills! After Welcome Week, with its parties and revelry, it was difficult getting into a routine that would permit me to excel in my studies as well as stay in shape physically and give time to the community, all of which I had done in high school. I also wish I had realized that many students in the dorms would pressure me to spend more time partying than studying, so I could have prepared myself better for those temptations and spent more time at the library with other like-minded students.

never trust the advising. Figure everything out for yourself

How to study better for exams. I also with I had more technological software training in high school.

Living in the dorms isn't required freshman year, but you should definitely do it because otherwise it will be very difficult to make friends.

Live your life to the fullest, don't worry so much about grades. As long as you try your best, you will be fine, but it's important to allow yourself to cut loose and have fun. Don't get totally hung up in the academics. Live a little. These are supposed to be the best years of your life.

I came from a small highschool where everybody knew each other to a huge university where it is easy to get lost and confused. I wish I had been given advice on how to advocate for myself and establish connections with faculty who could help me, because now as I enter my junior year I still don't know where to turn for help regarding my major and my future choices. When attending a university with 30,000+ students its easy to be anonymous; I wish I had put myself out there so that I stood out from the crowd.

I wish I had known the best places to study, the best places to eat, and the best places to get some good alone time.

How expensive housing is.

I wish I had known more about what the work load would be like. You never really find out until you are in the middle of everything. Also I wish I would have joined a few more clubs right off the bat. Extra Curriculars are a great way to have fun and get to know other people.