University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Top Questions

Of course, the acedemics are very important, but the campus atmosphere is also very important. You have to really like your campus, because you will obviously be spending lot of time there, and if it's not a supportive, positive atmosphere, that can only be detrimental. To make the most of the college experience, you should keep up with your homewor and studying so you don't get overwhelmed. You should also become involved in extracuricular activities, so you will feel atively involved in your school.

Find a college where your interests are. Don't go to the one closest or cheapest. I would do it over again if i had a chance.

Do what makes you happy, don't settle for anything less than what you had hoped for yourself or your son/daughter!

If you are a student on the brink of beginning your college career I would suggest looking at as many colleges as possible before your make your decision, and that means visiting schools, not just browsing university websites. Get a feel for what kind of atmosphere you are looking for - big or small? four year or two year degree? city or suburban? arts or sports oriented? It can make the difference between whether you love or hate a school. Make sure you have a financial plan ready beforehand. If you need aid, submit your FAFSA and apply for loans and scholarships ASAP. If your parents are paying, make sure you have a frank discussion about what is to be expected on both ends. If you know you'll need a work-study position or an off-campus job to support yourself look into it sooner rather than later, because student jobs get snatched up quickly, especially on large campuses. Don't let money be a burden that affects your social or academic experience negatively. Lastly, if you're unhappy about something, use all the resources provided to you to fix the problem. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Don't take life too seriously, and just have fun.

Chose a place where you would be most comfortable, and able to motivate yourself to be the best you can be.

In my journey through life so far I have discovered that in most situations the notorious "gut feeling" really does tend to be the right one. This of course doesn't mean to make a split second decision as to where to gain the education that will eventually determine your status for the rest of your life, but rather choose a college that feels right to you. Take off your shoes and test out the waters, if the school ends up not being all it's cracked up to be move on to something more suitable. But while you're there give it your all: join clubs, study hard, and always stay openminded.

Don't worry about money. Do what you want and what makes you happy.

Just be yourself. Our society bases the identity of each individual on so many topics that many people forget to think for themselves and make the decisions that will be best for their future. High school was a time where you find out what group best fits with your personality, and you go with it. Don't follow that group to college. Be yourself and pick the college that best fits who you are, not your friends. Being an individual and having your own thoughts is far more important than what your friends all think. By doing this you will find that the best college experience is the one you chose... that experience will be filled with great classes, finding new life long friends, and finding out what kind of a person you truly are. When you find that you can set up a future full of success, and that success begins in high school, but finishes in college.

The best advice I can give is to disregard all the pressure that is put on you to "pick the right college". Yes, choosing a college is important, but that doens't mean you'll fail if you don't pick exactly the right one. I chose to go to college at my second choice school because it's tuition was cheaper and it was closer to home. For a while I thought this was a mistake; I felt I deserved to be at a more presitigious school. However, down the road I learned that the title isn't what matters, the effort you put into your education does. Yes, my school has a high acceptance rate, but that doesn't mean it 's easy to stay there and put forth effort. You learn that you have to do that on your own, no matter where you choose to go to school. So in the end, it doesn't matter if your friend is going to UW-Madison, and you're only going to UW-Milwaukee; what matters is that you put in the same amount of effort, and get back the same (if not better) benefits.