University of Wisconsin-River Falls Top Questions

One piece of advice... VISIT THE SCHOOL! I am currently a tour guide for the University of Wisconsin- River Falls, and I cannot tell you how many people do not visit the school they were accepted to until the day they arrive for registration! It is important to visit each school you are thinking about attending so you can get the overall "feel" of the college's atmosphere. I remember visiting the 3 schools I was accepted to, and the moment I arrived on campus at my current school, I immediately thought, "This is the one!"

You dont need to know your major before going to college, get your generals done while you decide what you want to do.

Help your kids pay for school, there's enough stress from having to go full-time, achieving high grades, staying involved, and maintaining a social life.

Take every aspect of the college into consideration. It's not only about the size of the school or classes, but also about the teachers, students, and how closely their programs fit the degree you are going for. For example if you wanted to become a veterinarian but the school isn't geared toward helping you prepare for vet school, it might not be the best choice. If you are unsure of your degree path then make sure the college offers a wide variety of possible degrees that follow your interests. Don't just go with what is familiar either. Look for things that might be different for you so you can open yourself up to new experiences. Just try to take everything that you feel is important into consideration, such as proximity to home/family if you plan to visit a lot, or types of activities you know you want to be a part of, also look for activities that interest you but you've maybe never had the chance to participate in before.

When you are looking at a potential school the three things to examine are academic programs, student organizations, and the location. Look for a school with diverse programs, because chances are that the student will change their major. Also, pick a place that the student can imagine living for four or more years. Students often forget to closely examine the social setting of the schools locatoin. Student organizations should be examined as they are good to be a member of. Student organizations look good on a resume and are an excellent way to make friends on campus.

Don't go to college for a girl/boy/relationship.

One of my favorite quotations by Tom Landry (former coach of the Dallas Cowboys) is "today I gave everything I had and what I kept for myself I lost forever." This quotation reminds us that it is truly the things we do outside of ourselves that will make an impact on our world. Yet, when you are choosing a college you are choosing to invest in yourself, and this investment is what will allow you to give back to your world. It is important when choosing a college to choose one that is going to best equip you as an individual to give back to others in the the way that you want. I majored in Communications and minored in Spanish, now I realize that I want to return to graduate school for a degree in International Education Development. Through the process of figuring out how I wanted to give back, I figured out which college and program will be the best fit for me. So take a good look at your life up until now and ask yourself what you want to give, and that will help you figure out what you need to get from your college education.

Advice I would give parents and students is that they should take their time to look at multiple different schools to get a good understanding of what you want in a college. For the students, you are usually starting out new so live out side of your normal box. Take risks with that you do, while being safe at the same time. Have fun and enjoy yourself, these really are the best years of your life.

Go with your gut, you'll know if it feels right

Decided what you want your major to be before picking a school.

In high school, we are nervous about what college to pick and what to major in. We bite our nails over test scores and timidly wait by the mailbox for the letter that decides our fate. This is the traditional student ritual and it's imperative that we hear something new: it's NOT the biggest choice we will make in our lifetimes. Once you arrive on that campus, whether it is your first choice or your eleventh, you will find a place. If that place doesn't suit you, the next four years will not be the hell you pay for. Transfer! Transferring is more common than any high school counselor lets on. We make mistakes, college choices included. It can be fixed within a semester. Once you find your spot on campus, always keep in mind that friends will come. Even with a campus of 300, students manage to find friends. You are never alone--someone else out there feels just like you do. Go find them. Classes will be some of the most difficult encounters you will fight. But there's always help ranging from study groups to tutors. The trick? Apply yourself.

Be as supportive as you can in your child's choice, embrace their activites. Dont push your child to hard, but offer them guidence.

When looking for the right fit one needs to know themself. What do you want most out of college? A degree that will allow you to accomplish your goals in life? A place to find a future spouse? Affordability? or maybe you are a religious person and that determines where you are going to attend? Regardless of what your desires are one must look to see what the college they are looking at offers and based on that help them determine what the best fit is. Another aspect to look at is how willing are you to push yourself, to discover how much you really can achieve. College is the time to realize who you are seperate from the family and friends you have had for years. It's a time to open your eyes and heart to the world around you and grasp every opportunity to make you into a more fulfilled person. By choosing to go to college you are already saying you are searching for something you don't have right now. Do not be afraid to take a chance and make your life worth living. Do not waste it, it's the only one you got.

Find an inexpensive, comfortable college. It will give you lasting friendships and far less debt!

Sometimes the right college finds you. After high school I found myself in River Falls after a series of un-happy accidents kept my deposit from being on file in time in Eau Claire and enrollment was frozen at all the other UW system schools. It may have been a series of unfortunate events that brought me there, but it was the best thing that ever could have happened. I lived on campus for four years and in that time I met some of the nicest people. It's amazing what you can have in common with a total stranger. I graduated this past summer and what was once a daunting future that I thought would never come is now a home that I miss and a family that I can't wait to visit. As I am now a teacher and a cheerleading coach, my advice to future college students is simple. Talk to people. Meet people. Make friends. Stay out of trouble. Keep it legal. But above all else, take it all in while you're experiencing it, because it will go by fast. College is a place for discovery; who will you become?

Pick a school that you feel good at. You will know that a school is good for you. Dont try to force yourself to like the school. Its ok to change where you are going. Sometimes the school you start out at isnt the school you finish at.

Many of my high school peers wondered why I chose such a small college when my class rank, GPA, and standard test scores were high enough for acceptance to a more prestigious school. It was hard to explane, but I knew none of those schools would be the right school for me. Choosing a college is more then just choosing a degree, it is choosing your environment for the next several years. When looking at colleges, it is important to look at the size and feel of the city the school is in. Some people just do not do well in a big city while others do not do well in a small city. Besides city feel, Professor attitude is another very important aspect of a school. I chose my college because I knew that the class sizes were small, never taught by teaching assistants, and that the school tried to hire professors that were student focused rather than research focused, so I knew my professors would never be too busy to help me understand a concept. Although many people might not know of my school, I know I'm getting a good education, and am happy where I live.

In making a decision as to what school to attend, pick one that is the right size for you. Don't pick one that is going to overwhelm you by the amount of students. Smaller schools tend to have smaller classes so professors get to know students on a more personal basis. Larger school have large classes so professors don't always learn all of the students names. To make the most out of college, join every group, team, association, and club that you are interested. If you join something and find you don't like it, at least you tried! You don't want to regret your college experience, because most people only get to experience it once!

Be realistic in what your needs and expectations of a school are. Stick with something that you're comfortable with and don't give into the peer pressure of your parents, high school counselors to attend a school with a big name, a certain professor, etc, if you're not comfortable with the idea. Once at college, socialize, network and make the most of your contact with professors and other students. They're human too and often, are a great springboard for ideas, research projects, or just random questions about life in general. Don't sweat the small stuff! Life is a series of experiences and if you're too caught up in everything else, you'll miss one of the greatest experiences of your life.

I would advise parents and students to visit as many campuses as possible and to ask lots of questions during your tours. Chosing a college is an important step, and you should chose the one that feels right for you. I believe the most critical aspect of enjoying your time in college is to make sure you feel comfortable in the environment. I knew within fifteen minutes of setting foot on my campus that it was where I wanted to complete my degree. As far as making the most of your college experience, I would advise incoming freshman to meet as many people and get involved with as many organizations as possible. If you live in the dorms, keep your room door open and you'll meet lots of freshman who are in the same homesick boat as you are. College will prove to be much less stressful if you do what you need to do when you're supposed to do it. Weeknights are for homework, weekends are for fun. You can do both as long as you keep your priorities straight. Stay focused and have fun- college is an amazing experience.

If you know what you want your major to be look into schools that speciallze in that major, like in wisconsin stevens point and river falls are known for their agricultural and conservation courses. Do some research to know what school is best for your major, and if you are undecided in your major pick a school that intrests you and offers a variety of courses. To make the most of the college experience i think it is important to make friends, i lived in the dorms my first 2 years and i am still friends with all the guys i lived with in the dorms, some are my roomates now while others play intermurals with us and we see eachother very often, making these new friends right away helps you enjoy your life at college.

For making the most of your college experience, get involved with anything and everything that you think you are interested in. Try something new, out of the ordinary. Don't be afraid to ask for help, it will only benifit you in the end and there are people out there who are willing to help. I was afraid during my school years and I regret that because I know I could have done better if I just would have pushed myself and simply asked for help. When trying to find the right college, I would consider all possibilities. You have to first decide whether you want to go to a technical, community or university. Then you should decide on the location, what type of majors the school offers. Visit each school you are thinking of attending several times and ask as many questions as you can to get as much information as you can for each school. Weigh out the pros and cons of each school and then imagine yourself at each school and where you see yourself attending for the next few years of your life.

The advice I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college is that you will know the second you set foot on campus. They need to have a gut feeling about the college. Regardless of what colleges tell you what you want to hear, they have to want it for them. The advice I would give parents and/or students about making the most of the college experience is that they need to make the best of every situation they are in. Make sure to explore each aspect the campus offers to expand their horizons.

The most important thing to look for when selecting a college is to make sure you like it there because if you don't like the college then you will not learn well no matter how good of a program they have.

Parents should let students decide and pay for it them selves. As students look at schools it is important to find a school that has strong Greek organizations that play a positive role in the educational atmosphere. I firmly belive that involvement in a Fraturnity or Soroity can help any one through college and make them a better person.

Choose based on what you want not if you have a boyfriend or other friends or parents that want you to go elsewhere because being a transfer student is hard

Focus less on getting into a "prestigious" college and on what all of your peers are doing, and focus more on who you are, how you learn best, and what will be a comfortable fit for you. There is a tremendous amount of pressure on high school students to know what they want to do and who they want to be and to apply for and get into the schools considered the "best". Consider and weigh what you spend and what you get out of your education. There are many good schools out there where you can get a more than adequate education that do not cost $30,000.00 per year and place you in debt for years after you have finished. Diversity and exposure to other cultures around the world is very important to today's college educ ation. Look for a school that has a good program for international study, as well as who has professors from around the world. Visit the school and spend some time on campus to get a feel for it...is it friendly, open and safe feeling. Sit in on a class or two to see if it is stimulating.

Make sure that your soon-to-be college student is being realistic. There is a very good chance they will get home sick so being far far away might sound good but might not be the best choice. It helps if the student can rely on you as parents. It helped me deal with stress knowing I had my parents to help me with paying my way through school. Making the most of their college experience, encourage them to stay the first couple weekends at school. Also encourage them to join a club or intrumurals or other activity it really helps making friends. Also let them know that drinking is not the only way to have fun. But also be understanding and helpful if they get into trouble. Make sure you still are aware of what they are doing who they are hanging out with. In general be supportive be apart of their lives and also give them some space to grow.

Visit! There is an untangible feel that you get from various universities that can greatly affect your experience.

My best advice would be to prioritize. There are many things to consider, like the best school for your major, financial aid, and the proximity to home.

It may sound cliche, but go to the college that "feels right" to you. Don't choose it just because you have friends going there, or your family went there. Do it because you want to. When you are finally in college, get out and meet new people- they could become lifelong friends. Don't be afraid to try new things, and get involved!

Find a school that makes you feel at home. That way you know you can be yourself and make the most of the college experience. The people you meet will become your school family and friends for life.

Check out more than one college. Tour as many as you feel necessary. ASK QUESTIONS! Try to talk to a current student at the college. Go on-line to research the statistics of the college (graduation/retention rate, etc.). Apply early. Keep those grades up in high school starting as early as 9th grade. Work hard, be serious when you visit a campus. Maybe visit a couple of times depending on the time of year you visit. Parents should check out the various scholarship web sites. School counselors are valuable resources for scholarship/application information. Take your time filling out the applications (check for spelling, re-read what you've entered) and remember, if you get into a college and it turns out not to be the fit you thougt it would be you can always transfer to another college (maybe your second choice). No reason to stay in an environment that isn't comfortable, that could affect your learning and grades. I think a person can function much more easily and succesfully if they're secure in where they are attending school. Lastly, enjoy the journey. Visiting colleges can be a great experience. They all have their pros/cons.

First, make sure that you have a goal. Many people come to college simply because they don't know what else to do. If you don't have any goals work for a while until you decide on some, otherwise you will not have motivation to succeed. Second, throw yourself into things. It is perfectly fine to be busy, many people accomplish more when they have more to do. A lack of activity can make you feel like you have no focus, nothing to work hard for. If you are interested in a club or auditing a class go for it. The worst that can happen is that you will have to stop, the best is that you will make many great friends and learn leadership skills to qualify yourself more fully for life after school. Third, no matter how busy you get, sleep enough to succeed. It will not do you any good to work hard if you kill yourself with a lack of sleep and caffine overdose. Fourth, never forget to make time for your friends, even if you flunk out of school your friends will still love you and might employ you in the future.

I would advise them to apply to a school close to home even if they think they want to go far away. By not doing so, my choices were limited when I decided to stay closer to home.

I encourage everyone to be sure that they are going to be on a campus that makes them feel most comfortable. Education standards are important when choosing a school but if you are happy with the surroundings or the size you arent going to be able to do your best. Take advantage of every opportunity you get because once out of college this chances becoming harder and harder to come across.

When looking for the right college it is import to decide how big of campus you want, what is there specialty, how far you want to go, and cost. I have found that the biggest deciding factor for me was the surroundings of campus. i enjoy the natural surroundings of an agriculturally based small town with only 6,000 students. You dont have to go far to find peace and quiet. But always remember that no matter what you need to go somewhere that makes you feel the most comfortable or it will be the worst 4 years of your life.

Finding the right college: there are many factors, like if the school has a program that a student is interested in, urban/rural, class size, school size, community size, cost, housing- there are so many factors. Once you're there, the most important thing is to get involved. Find something outside of class that you're passionate about, whether it be a sport, a club, a group, anything that gets you active in the University or community. You'll learn so much more- about yourself, others, and the world- than you'll ever learn inside a classroom.

Choose a college that has a good program for what you are interested in, but also has other things that you are interested in outside of your academic life. Go somewhere that is far enough away from home that you aren't always going home, but close enough that you can go when you need to. Overall, don't base your decision on anyone but yourself because you will probably regret it in the future.

I would say don't limit yourself to certain colleges. I was dead set that I was going to an in state college, but now I sort of wish that I would have checked out colleges in the next state over. Also I wish I would have researched private colleges too. Each school has something different to offer and I limited myself to two colleges. It would have been better if I have looked at a wide range of colleges, instead of wondering whether that school would have been good for me.

Campus size and class size were two of my most important factors in choosing this college. You want to pick a school where you think you will fit in, and I think UWRF is a place where anyone can fit in. To make the most out of college, try everything. Join as many groups as you can on campus, and meet as many people as you can. You don't want your college experience to be something you are going to look back on and wish you had done it differently.

Find a college that you love and that makes your happy with where your going and who you want to be.

Go somewhere you want to go. Don't go because your friends or family are wanting you to go there because they are/or did. This is the best time of your life and if you let someone choose it for you it may not be the postive experience that you want it to be. Most students have some type of idea what they want to go in so look at schools that have your programs so when you get there you do not have to worry about transfering to another school. Make sure the college you choose is going the comfortable for you and your needs.

Visit the college during one of the college visit days that occur during the regular semester so you can be there and see how the campus is during the school day. You need to make sure that you feel comfortable at that university and what the university has to offer for education and after curricular activities. You need to check out the program and compare the program and the success rates with a degree from that school to make sure that the program being offer is outstanding because that is the reason you are going to college for a degree and you want to make sure that the program is accredited and a well known program. Make sure your student finds balance between school and social and become involved in the campus some how. Live on campus at least one year the experience is amazing and I feel that everyone should have the experience of living on campus. Life on campus is a totally different experience than living off campus. You only attend college once make it count!

Do a lot of research before choosing a college to attend. Even if you don't know what your Major will be right away, choose a college based on the variety and availability of classes, as well as a good social atmosphere that you think you will fit into. Visit each campus you are considering and get a feel for each one, choose the one that most interests you personally. Don't choose a college to attend based on what others think, or if your friends are going there or not, etc. Make this choice for you and you only. It's generally pretty easy to transfer schools but it's easier to find the right school for you right off the bat.

In order to find the right college is to first look for the major that you are interested in. When you find the colleges that your major is or think your major may be, then look for the estimated price per semester that it may cost. I chose to go to River Falls mainly because it had my major that I really wanted and the cost was very reasonable. There is no reason that anybody has to pay such an extreme amount to go to a college. The only reason anyone pays so much is just because of the name of the college. I get the same education from River Falls as I would at Madison. When you find the school that you believe is right for you then look at all of opprotunities that the school offers. Whether it be groups, fraternities/sororities, or extra curricular activities, you must find the school that will keep you interested not just because of your major but because of the friendships that you will build by interacting with other students and socializing with everyone. Above all, it must be a college that you believe you can have fun and become an individual.

Find something affordable for at least the first two years. THere is no sense wasting your money at the big name schools when you are just doing generals anyway.

Parents, help your kids pay for school. My dad refuses to even co-sign on a student loan and my financial aid loans don't even come close to covering my tuition. I have a part-time job but I have to support myself so I ended up turning to a loan company that turned out to be a little sleazy and it looks like I will probably be about $70,000 in debt by the time I graduate because my loans have such high interest rates. My tuition is only $6,000 a year. Constantly having to worry about finances and how I'm going to stay in school makes it hard to focus sometimes. If I had some help from either one of my parents, and I don't just mean money, it would make things a lot easier. Students, become involved with your school. Don't fall into a routine of sitting around or partying. Find things that you enjoy doing; maybe you could even help some people. Self-affirming activities will help you feel inspired to reach your full potential and to feel part of something bigger than yourself.

Visist the campus you want to attend and make sure you like the setup of everything. Don't be afraid to ask quwestions!

Talk to graduates from that school or even students currently enrolled. Research the graduation rates as well as the transfer rates. Review course catalogs and compare with other schools to get the most diverse classes offered. Know yourself and what you want out of the university i.e. your goals and determine campus sizes as well as costs. Note if the school's housing is mainly on or off campus; because socializing will be impacted heavily by off a lot of campus housing and "suitcase colleges". Also research and make sure the school has any needed organizations. Lastly, check the location!!