University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Top Questions

Follow your instincts!

Research all of your options before choosing a college. Make sure the one you do choose is the best one for you. Always try to remember that college isn't easy, no one said it was, but you'll adjust to this new aspect of your life eventually. Try to always be involved in something, but don't neglect your school work. Having a social life is important, especially if it pertains to your career, but if you don't do your school work than you'll have a much harder time attaining the degree you desire. Money is important when it comes to school, don't waste it. Also, if you want to go for something and find out it's not the right thing for you, then get out of it as soon as possible and find what it is that you do want to do. College is about finding yourself and what you want to do with the rest of your life, so please don't get stuck in a job you can't stand b/c that'll just make you miserable in the long run.

Make sure that the college you are attending, is a college that is going to interest, it should be a college that meets all of your needs. I think it should be diverse so that you can meet all kinds of people, it should also provide a lot extra cuuriculum activities and make sure there are place on the campus where you can get jobs and tutoring.

"If you do now what no one else will do, soon you will be able to do things no one else can do." That quote from my father (and his father before that) embodies a kind of work ethic that has been instilled in me since birth. A work ethic that is sadly absent from many of my peers.

Campus visits are key. You don't know if you're going to like some place based on a website alone. The best way to check out the school and the surrounding community is to visit.

Pick a college with an active fraternity/sorority life. A lot of learning has come from my classes, but the things I've learned from interacting with strangers could never be replaced by a good job or money.

In order to find the college that is right for you, you need to find the program that is right for you. Then you will be able to decide which school has the best opportunities to excell.

Let your child decide for themselves and that a better reputation does not mean a better fit for your child or even a better school

know what you are looking for in a school

If you have a dream job or major, it's best to go after it. It's good to have a back up major or school, but it should also be a school that you are in love with. It's best to think of the things that you love about a field of study and a school instead of who your friends are going to be or whether or not you're scared of leaving home. One mistake that some students make is being too scared of leaving their friends and home and because of this they settle for a school that they love, but it's not their dream school or dream major. This is bad because they're just going to wish they would have given their original major a try. Making friends is easy, and getting away from home is a great learning experience; wishing you would have gone somewhere else and had a different major isn't.

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.

Do what you can to get first-hand experience at the campus. Tours and information sessions are very helpful. Stay with friends or do camp-in programs before committing to a university. To make the most of your experience, do things to challenge yourself. Try to get into honors programs, join organizations, take on leadership roles on campus, and try something new. Since attending UWM, I've joined the Honors College and the Business Scholars Program, been a VP of a marketing club, I play intramural sports, take sailing lessons, have had a plethora of jobs, and attend school events. I hated school the first semester of my freshman year; I was home sick and felt disconnected from my school. Once I got involved, I absolutely fell in love with my school and community. My biggest piece of advice is to get involved! It makes the transition from high school to college not only easier, but fun!

Check out ALL expenses. Develop an in-depth budget.

Dont go to just a school because your friends are there go somewhere that you will enjoy and fill comfortable.

As early as a junior in high school, make sure you set a lot of time to check out college campuses while school is in session. That way, you can see what it is really like during a normal school week and see how the current students feel about their campus. As a parent, don't push your child to attend a school you want them to. Instead, encourage them to attend a school where they think they will be able to succeed, which is what both a parent and child wants in the end. Getting the most out of your college experience means getting involved. Join clubs related to your majors, form study groups within classroom settings, volunteer to help children or people with disabilities, join a sports team, or even sign up to tutor other students. College life is what you make out of it.

I would suggest to parents and students to find a college that is similar to the environment in which they live in now. Also, find a college that is fit for the student financially. Make sure the college offers a broad range of courses, and that the student's major has great importance to the college. Additionally, find a college that will best fulfill his or her needs as a student, and one that offers a large amount of activities such as clubs, sports and vollunteering oportunities. Lastly, it would be important to find a college that has the right social setting for the student, so he or she would feel comfortable, not out of place.

When you go to orientation, take note of all the groups and resources on campus. It's very beneficial in the long run to get familiar with the campus library--take a tour! Never be afraid to change your major; a little paperwork beats taking a lot of expensive classes that you're not interested in anyway. And, most importantly, don't race through classes in college. When you graduate, you shouldn't look back and say, "I took a lot of classes, but I feel like I didn't retain anything." If the professor isn't making you excited about a course, try to find some way to apply to everyday life to put together your "big picture."

Just be open minded and try not to worry. Dont base your decision on financial aide either, make trips to all the campuses you are looking into. All universities and colleges have their own feel and you won't know if its for you till you go there. Also, dont worry about making friends, there is always such a wide student base you will never have trouble finding people with similar interests.

shop around! the best choice is out there!

Looking back on the three years I have spent in college, I can now say that I have grown more than I could have ever imagined. College is not only a time to expand your knowledge academically, but also personally. I have learned a great deal about myself, and who I want to be. It is important to keep an open mind and take in as much as you can. Seize the moment, and take advantage of all that your school, and surrounding community, has to offer. This is the beginning of the rest of your life!

I would tell them to pick the college you like the most because college will never turn out the way you think it would.

Really find a school that is known for the major that you want. If you don't know, go to a school in a location that you want to be in, and don't be afraid to transfer when you figure life out.

research research reserach

I suggest researching potential colleges on a deeper level. Often campus tours highlight the positives of their school and are led by students who are trained to answer parent/potential student questions a certain way - which is not necessarily the most accurate description of an institution. Potential students should first have an idea of what area they want to go into or pursue a career in, such as business, science, or liberal arts. Then seek colleges that have well-known programs in their area of interest and still fit their budget or what they can afford in terms of loans. At these schools, visit with an advisor and have them be blunt about what is expected and the average GPA of the current students in that program. Then see if you can sit in a class or lecture and get an idea of the professors at that institution and difficulty of their teaching. Finally, I would suggest that potential students ask random students on campus about their experiences and what they should expect and avoid. Often, students on campus who have no obligation to the school job or organization-wise, will be more honest about life on campus.

Really think about the environment you want to spend the next four years in.

Take into consideration not only the reputation of the program, but their plans for the future. Plans to re-vamp the progam while you're their may mean you get the short end of the stick...or the long end when half of your classes no longer count toward your major. Also take into account that even though private schools are more expensive, they tend to grant far more in financial aid and provide significantly better educations. Always want the best for yourself and do what you can to get it. Don't settle for something less because you don't think you can afford it or swing it. Moving away from home is hard, but sometimes, it's best to be at a better school farther away. Your parents will be there for you no matter how far away you are.

Don't underestimate the value of 2-year tech schools to help fill gen ed courses. It is a fast, easy, and much less exspensive way to fill those requierments.

College does not define who you are, be yourself, be happy, and always remember the sun will rise...

I would say make sure you visit your college campus before you make the final decision. Make sure that the enviroment of the campus is something that you like. Go to a school where the campus atmosphere is welcoming and warm. Don't pick a school just because your friends are going there, because when it comes down to the time to pick a major the school you chose may not have what you want. Research the school; ask former students what they liked most about the school, and what they liked least, and asked them what they enjoyed most about attending that college.

Sex

Make sure to take into account not only the reputation of the college, but the neighborhood where your kid will be living, the nature of the classes, and the availability of essentials (grocery store, laundrymat, clothing store, etc). Also remember that kids still need their parents (in general) when they go off to college, and try to choose a college that won't take too long to get to if your child needs you. Try to take a tour of each campus and dorm environment before committing to anything.

find a college that you want not your parents my sister went where my parents wanted her to go and didn't enjoy it as much. My dad was sceptical about the school i chose but once i showed him all the different opertunitys and how well rounded all of them were he changed his mind and agreed with my choice. Do your resurch and make sure you like the surrounding community.

Relax and enjoy the process.

Know what you are looking for in a school, have an idea of what you would like to major in and see where the different schools are rank for being in that field. Make sure that you get a good roommate, because they can make or break the experience of your freshman year. Also, try and avoid a college that is known for partying, you will not get the experience you want if there is a large drinking scene.

Choose wisely.

Find the university that has your program and activities that interest you.

All the college brochures in the world cannot give a perfect view of their college. The best way to pick your location of higher education is to go to the schools that offer degrees in what you're interested in. Only by visiting college campuses can you make a decision that you should be comfortable with. While there, look into some of the student groups available; Fraternities and Sororities can help you academically, socailly, and professionally. Any decent fraternity/sorority can help you find a career after college. The bottom line is to pick a school that you will feel comfortable in and one that you can make new friends in. You cannot do well in school, if you're not having fun.