University of Wisconsin-Parkside Top Questions

Search carefully and with descion of the proffesion of what you want in the future.

The most important advice that can be given to students is to apply to many schools. Keep your options open and shoot high. Do not just apply to "safety" schools. Once you have gotten your acceptance letters, start your research. Find what the most important thing that you want your school to have and look for it. Do not settle. College can make or break the rest of your lives so dont fall back and let others decide for you. It is your first chance to be independent so make a wise decision. Parents, on the other hand, i would say that the most important advice would be to not push your children. Help them to make the right choice but dont make them. Let this be a growing experience and show them that your trust them. Help them to veer towards a school that is safe and that has all of the resources that is needed, such as: banks, churches, and stores close by.

Don't just pick a college because your friends are attending it. Actually look into it and make sure it is what you want. Make sure that it is either small or large enough for you, it has sport and activities that you are interested in. Most of all, make sure that it has what you are wanting to major in. I chose Parkside because it has an excellent nursing major at a lower cost. That is what I wanted. Let college be an experience you will never forget.

The best advice I can give prospective students and/or parents is to really evaluate the reasons for which you are attending university straight out of high school. General education courses can be achieved at local community colleges. The university setting, I feel is for that more involved, in depth coverage of your topic of interest. The next best advice I can give is to know what you want to go university for. Students, you can save yourself a lot of time knowing this and parents, you can save yourself a lot of money knowing this. The last piece of advice I can offer to the student is to get involved. Once you know what you want to major in, use the university to your advantage. Make contact with professors, they could find you a job someday. Find and utilize ALL the resources they have to offer, because, after all, that is what you are going to school for, right?

Look into as many colleges as you need to. Do not feel obligated to attend a school that your best friend and/or parent is or had attended. The college that you pick is for you and you alone. This is your life and you need to feel comfortable with what you decide. Do make time in your busy schedule to join activities at the schools. Everyone needs a break from homework and professors once in awhile. Have fun and do your best.

The best advice that I could give to a parent or student about finding the right college would be to go out and visit as many campuses as possible. Take the different tours that are offered. Spend the night on different campuses if the opportunity is available or even stay with a friend. Choose a school based on your career goals and not its party ranking. I would tell every student out there to go to a college that you want to and not the one that your parents want you to go to, and not to choose a college because thats where all of your friends are going. Believe me, you will make alot of new friends. About making the most of your college experience, I would suggest living in the dorms for at least your freshman year. I strongly regret not living in the dorms for my freshman year and it as an experience that I will never get to have. Get invloved on campus by joining clubs or playing intermurals. Take advantage of the tutoring center. Study hard during the week so that you can relax and enjoy the weekend.

In order to find the college that is right for you or your child, you really need to look at what type of setting would be the most comfortable. Big school or small, in a big city or a small town, focused of partying or studying, or a bit of both. I think the most important thing is to be comfortable. Also, find a school where the people are there to help you. Advisors, teachers, office personnel, everyone! You need people that will be willing to talk to you, and help you should you need it. To make the most out of the college experience, you need to try a bit of everything. Study alone, study in a group, go to a party, eat on campus, live on campus, talk to professors and advisors. All of these are important to making the best out of college. Then, use it to find a good balance of things you enjoy. You can't study 24/7, and you can't party 24/7, so find a balance of both that works for you and still allows you to succeed. Finally, everyone needs help at some time, don't be afraid to ask!

The advice I would give to students is to make sure you choose a school that is not too far away from your friends and family. You do not want to be unhappy in a school far away or to have something major happen and not have a support network readily available. Parents should look at what is affordable as well as what they see would be the best fit for their child. As for students, they should also look at what would be the best fit for them, but also whether the school offers the courses they would like to take, and whether the courses they need to take for their degree are offered frequently. Students need not apply to a school that has only one or two professors teaching what they are acquiring their degree in, as this will mean a longer stay as a college student. Also, does the school offer night and weekend courses? What kinds of courses are offered? If there are not courses offered during those times and that is when you need to go to school, how are you going to achieve your goal and acquire a degree?

The best piece of advice that I could offer anyone looking at college campuses would be to do your research! Make sure you know what the college is all about. Knowing about what the major programs offered at your potential school are, and how diverse the degrees offered are; gives prospective students the flexibility to change their mind without having to sacrifice part of their education by changing schools to get the degree they choose. You don't want to have to start over half way through. Also, know about your prospective campus's views and values, as well as the range of extracurricular activities they offer. Students need to go to a school that will bring out the best in them. The perfect combination is out there for every individual. Try not to let price get in the way of your perfect combination, because your perfect combination is your perfect education. Price worries are what FAFSA was developed for. No matter where you go to school, make sure you enjoy yourself. High school was NOT "the best years of your life." College most definitely will be.

I would advise students to make a decisionif they are ready for college or need some time to think things through (not go to college). I advise students when and if they decide to go to college, to be involved in extra activities. Volunteering is also a great opportunity to take advantage of. For parents, I would advise that the parent/child sit down and discuss the options they have, and what is best for the student and family as well. Visit the potential colleges and ask questions. What is the most cost effective way to send my child to get a college education? And finally, I would tell students life is in your hands now, you're no longer in high school. You need to make decisions, be responsible and determined to succeed to be successful in college, and successful in life as well. Giving up is failure. Success is in the eye of the beholder.