Joelle - Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison - Class of 2013

I wanted to go somewhere out of state that was a large school in a college town. I wanted big school spirit, a fun social life, and strong academics. I wanted to get away from California, get to know new sorts of people, and experience the seasons. I really liked the vibe in the Midwest and thought people were extremely nice. I was ready for a fresh start.

Looking for big fun in a big school

I decided to apply to four Big Ten Conference schools, including University of Wisconsin where my brother goes. As backups, I chose three other schools that seemed to have the features I wanted but were closer to home. My mother made me apply to one school in state in case we had big money issues. West Virginia University and University of Florida were random choices I picked because they are big party schools.

It comes down to Wisconsin

After getting into my first choice, Penn State, I was very disappointed to find out that I was accepted for the summer semester instead of the fall semester. My parents were already concerned that Penn State was more expensive than the other schools that accepted me. Starting in the summer meant I would be taking an extra semester, which would add to the cost. Then I looked at University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin and decided Wisconsin was a better fit for me. I felt more connected to the place because my mom went there and my brother goes there. I love everything about the school: the fun college town, big school spirit, a huge campus with infinite possibilities, fun social life, and a reasonable cost for an out-of-state college.

My ups and downs

Because I applied to ten schools out of state, I had to change all of my essays over and over because none of the schools accepted the Common Application. This made the process longer and more challenging. On a positive note, I believe that I ended up with the best outcome possible. I definitely don't think about Penn State anymore because I am so excited about Wisconsin now.

What I learned

I started the application process in early October. Since some of my schools had rolling admissions, I had acceptances by November. I knew much more about my status in the college application process much sooner than everyone else. It was a really good feeling to have.

I would definitely consider applying to colleges in big college towns because you get a really fun college experience at these schools. The entire town revolves around your school, there is a lot of downtown night life, and there is an active sorority and fraternity scene to help you make friends and have fun. It could be the best time of your life!

The money factor

Luckily my parents are taking care of that, while I use my own money for spending to go out at night or any shopping that I might want to do.