University of Wisconsin-Stout Top Questions

Apply to as many colleges as you can and don't set your expectations too low. It's ok to not get accepted somewhere. My biggest regret is that I didn't apply to enough really good school and I never was denied anywhere so I don't know how well I could have done.

Check out the college and if it feels right then that's what you should go with.

The best advice that I would like to give to my parents is that it was great having their advice as to helping me choose the best college for my interest. It is very important to investigate the different opportunities out there and the choices of colleges and what they have to offer. I want to incourage my parents to share my experiences with other friends. Other peoples' experiences shared are a great way to help others in making decisions. Parents, make sure that you and your student knows what their interests are and who offers the best experiences for your student. Always positively encourage your student to do well and let them know that you are always there for them.

Knowing about college housing contracts is something every parent should know about. Read the fine print and take any prescreening roommate surveys serious. Think carefully about each question and answer. Parents should sit down and actually talk with their child. Going to college is a huge step for kids and when they get set free anything can and will happen. College is not all about what a parent wants for their child, it is about developing unique individuals. Parents need to be there for their child but also need to support them. Too much or too little intervention can have serious side-effects.

Find a college that is the right fit for you. Ask as many questions as necessary, making sure that the questions are very important to you.

The advice I would give parents and students alike is to make sure to visit the campus more than once. Take at least one tour to get a feel for everything, and then schedule appointments with professors that teach something you are interested in for a major. Once you are a student at the college, be sure to join clubs and intramurals! I know this advice is probably given a lot, but it couldn't be more true. You will meet so many people that you never would have before. The more people you meet, the better your relationship with the college will get, and it could also open doors for you in the future. You will make friends who have the same interests as you, and that friendship will probably last a lifetime. Joining some sort of club is definitely the way to go, and will make your college experience so much better!

Go somewhere that you want, not that your parents or friends want you to go!

Pick one that you think you will fit into and just make sure to have a good time. School is important but not having anyfun makes life alot more boring and difficult to cope with!

My strongest recommendation to incoming college students and their parents in deciding what university to attend would be to fully explore all the potential universities and READ extensively about the majors that it offers. It is likely that a student will change or question his or her major at some point during the college experience. If a student is undecided in thier major when entering college, I would recommend attending a university with a wider range of majors. As far as making the most of the college experience, I would advise students to get involved! My first few years of college, I did not realize that there are more extracirriculars outside of athletics. It took me a couple of years, but eventually I found my niche in various after school clubs. Working on or off camups is also a great way to meet people AND make some extra money.

Let the students pick the colege based on what they want to do. Go to a school that has the program you want and that has a campus that you could see yourself living at. Try the campus out before you apply. Take your shoes off and actually get to know the college. Spend a few days shadowing someone and go to some classes. That's the only way you will know if you will like this college.

When deciding on a college, don't just think about what's going to impress your friends or those people around you. More often than not, I see people going to colleges that they absolutely hate, and end up transferring within their first year. Remember that college is a once in a life-time opportunity and finding somewhere that you absolutely love is worth the cost, the distance or the time it takes to complete. The real world is coming faster than you think! Don't rush through this amazing time in your life. Visit all the schools you're considering attending. Find out what students do for fun, how big the class sizes are, how friendly the campus is. Going to college isn't just about getting the degree at the end, it's about the journey that takes you to that point.

I would suggest looking at more than one school. Research the differnt schools that have the program that you are looking at and go to campus tours for all of them. You will get a really great feel for what you are comfortable with and what you like. Also, apply at more than one school just in case you dont get into the one that you want and to just plain have more options. Once you get to college, get involved. It's a great chance to meet new people and make friends. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there!

Parents and students should never follow a crowd but look at the students individual needs. That is what I did and it is the very reason I am succeeding and will graduate even though it will take me five years. I am a student with severe learning (dyslexic) and medical disabilities where I often need a lighter load or a tutor. I specifically picked Stout University because of their large special needs staff that goes all the way to help stuents succeed and I was impressed by all their volunteer organizations. It's not always just about academics but how one gives back to society. At Stout University, I was able to spend my last three January interns in Mississippi cleaning up Hurrican Katrina and now I was elected to the college Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity. This January I will be going with my college band to preform in Germany plus earn study abroad credits at the same time. This is just some of the opportunities. I encourage future students to take a good look at everything a college has to offer not just academics alone. I say, reach out to others, take the risk! GOOD LUCK

The main thing that you need to know about when choosing a correct school is that you need to visit and talk to people that go there. Along with the fact that you would really like to look into what degree you would like to go into and make sure they can help you succeed to your full potential.