“If you are not open to new things, you might not realize that there might be something that is a better fit for you.” – Jennifer DeRoche, adviser for the College of Letters & Science

What our ideas of college are before and after we enter school are two different things. However, even after we have completed some college, misconceptions may still linger. Whatever stage you are at, it is not too late to shake some stubborn myths.

Myth: You will only find success if you attend a prestigious college.

New idea: You can excel at the college or university of your choice.

Dean Richard Meadows of the College of Letters & Science said that attending a prestigious college may help, but what counts the most is student performance.

“If you go to a very prestigious university, but have a very mediocre academic record, that’s not going to be particularly impressive to anyone,” said Meadows. “If you go to a large public university like this one but have an outstanding record, you’re not at a disadvantage.”

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee also has its own advantages.

“In comparing UWM with a more prestigious university, the likelihood that you will have direct access to the faculty is greater here,” Meadows said. “One thing that our students do not often do is take advantage of developing relationships with the faculty.”

Myth: You must find the perfect college.

New Idea: Try one, and maybe another.

If you are still assessing whether you have chosen the right university, consider that more than one match may exist.

“The choice of a college is so individualistic that there probably are perfect colleges for specific individuals,” Meadows said. “But at the same time, it’s also true that for some, a fairly large number of colleges could be quite perfect.”

Meadows said that a measure of a good college is one that meets the student’s needs for intellectual and social growth.

“You need a place where you are comfortable and challenged,” Meadows said.

No matter what college you choose, it is good to figure out how to get the most out of the experience. Since a student is likely to have many careers over his or her lifetime, Meadows said it best to “learn how to learn.”

“You also want to develop good habits,” Meadows said. “Be adventurous as well; take courses that you don’t know anything about. You may find a career that you never imagined having an interest in.”

Myth: You need a major right away.

New Idea: Let your favorite classes decide your major.

Undecided students may fear that the classes they take won’t count. Freshman adviser for the College of Letters & Science Jennifer DeRoche assures students that the degree program is more than a major.

DeRoche pointed out an example in the College of Letters & Science: Out of the degree requirement of 120 credits, usually only 35 to 45 credits count towards a major. That leaves room to start with courses that fulfill other degree requirements, while discovering what is right for you.

Even if a student has chosen a major, exploring other options is a good idea.

“If you are not open to new things, you might not realize that there might be something that is a better fit for you,” DeRoche said. “If anything else, it can help you reaffirm what your interests are.”

Myth: Feeling homesick is immature.

New Idea: Ease into your new home at your own pace.

The transition from living at home to being on your own is a big one, so there is no need to freak out if you feel out of place.

“Some students need a more gradual transition. It doesn’t make you immature, just different,” said peer mentor James Carviou. “A lot of students end up going home a lot the first few months. They tend to gradually phase that out as they become more comfortable and engaged at school.”

To ease the transition, Carviou suggested getting involved in student organizations. He also said Sandburg Hall is ideal for meeting people.

“When you are living in the same environment, you get to know people at a level outside of school,” said Carviou.

Myth: College is the best time of your life.

New Idea: College is the stepping stone to your best life.

The quality of college life depends on the person. Stu Tentoni, counseling director at the Norris Health Center, said there are often two subsets of students: “Those who do schoolwork to the exclusion of a personal life and those who have a personal life to the exclusion of schoolwork.”

Tentoni said the first group will look back and feel they did not experience enough social opportunities and growth and the second group is in jeopardy of not finishing school.

The key is making the best possible effort to achieve balance and remembering the upcoming advantages to being in the “real world,” he said.

“Once people have disposable time and money, it’s amazing what they can do with life,” said Tentoni.

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