<p>I saw this on the college forum. Do any UW former freshmen (or any upperclass men) have any UW specific advice for entering freshmen?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>See advisors... a lot. They will help you out.</p></li>
<li><p>Network. It's a big school. I think there is a relationship between the amount of people you meet/know well and how well off you'll be. I went to Madison knowing no one, and I knew hundreds after the first year. This set me up for classes, clubs, jobs, whatever.</p></li>
<li><p>If you're against partying, that's fine, you can still find people who don't enjoy it. However, I used to think people who drank a lot were somehow inferior and stupid... but youu're going to meet kids who are very intelligent, get top grades, and still go out.</p></li>
<li><p>Learn the bus route system. The 80 is your friend.</p></li>
<li><p>State street is really fun, a lot of great places to eat and things to do. You'll learn to love the late night places where food exists.</p></li>
<li><p>The greek system is not overwhelming at Madison, but in my opinion, despite some negative sterotypes you CAN meet really cool people through it. I recommend atleast trying it out.</p></li>
<li><p>HAVE A CELL PHONE.</p></li>
<li><p>Be open to all types of people. Gay/Straight/Liberal/Conversative/etc etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Get used to people protesting on State Street or handing stuff out. Just be poliete.</p></li>
<li><p>Be safe when you go out; try not to walk or go out alone.</p></li>
<li><p>Halloween is amazing. Pepper spray... hurts.</p></li>
<li><p>Private message me with any questions you might have.</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>If you're from the east coast, don't feel the need to segregate yourself off. I forgot that one.</li>
</ol>
<p>Thank ya much!</p>
<p>I guess I would encourage freshman to come up with a plan for graduating. Almost all Madison students stay longer than four years - many six or more - but staying longer is not required and if you would like to complete your degree in the standard timeframe, you can do it. Just go through the catalog and be very aware of what requirements you need to fulfill and have a plan for how to do that. It's unlikely that anyone here, even your advisor, will encourage you or help you to graduate on time, so this is your responsibility.</p>
<p>Also, I had a bad first year here as a result of enrolling only in 100+ student lecture-format courses. If all your freshman classes are huge and impersonal, just remember that you will be able to get into smaller group classes later on. Also, if you're really into your field of study, try to get into seminar classes as soon as possible. Our department had both senior capstone seminars held every semester and sophomore seminars in alternate semesters. You will get to speak and get a sense of your classmates' personalities through these courses, and so is a great place to make friends if you enjoy being around other people serious about your academic subject.</p>
<p>Also, there is a good chance you will not be able to enroll in any of your top-choice classes since incoming freshmen and transfers register last. You can, however, approach instructors on the first day of class and asked to be waived in (move quickly if you are really intent on a course, though; the new rule is that they can only accept two additional students for each course). No professor I asked to waive me in has ever turned me down, and I've asked to do this for about fifteen or twenty classes.</p>
<p>On a side note: you can save money by figuring out which textbooks you need early on (at least several weeks before classes start) and ordering them online rather than buying through the bookstores. </p>
<p>Perhaps most importantly, get involved in student organizations and friendships early. You will probably not be able to meet many friends through classes as you did in high school because massive freshman seminars mean you won't get to hear your classmates speak. You can meet them through student organizations, though, and the number of Madison student orgs means that there is probably one for whatever subject interests you. Their meeting times are listed on the TITU board just as you enter the main doors of the Memorial Union.</p>
<p>Enjoy your time here</p>