College is very different from high school, but don't let that overwhelm you! The Rural Peer Advisors- current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - went through the same transition from high school to college and put together tips and helpful information to help make your transition smooth and successful.
File: Making-the-Transition-to-College_handout.pdfWhile it's tempting to think you need a lot of stuff, avoid falling into the overpacking trap with this handy list of packing dos and don'ts from current college students!
Resource designed by Rural Peer Advisors- current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students (grades 9-12) through the process of college-going.
File: College-Packing-List-Handout.pdfYou've got a lot going on in your senior year and it's also supposed to be fun! Let us help you organize your to-dos and make sure you aren't dropping the ball on any college-going activities through this handy checklist.
Designed by the Rural Peer Advisors - a team of current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students (grades 9-12) through the process of college-going.
File: Post-Secondary-Preparation-Checklist_Incoming-Seniors.pdfNavigating the world of financial aid can be tricky so we've created a resource to help you understand the terminology and some strategies for sourcing aid to help cover the costs of college.
Designed by the Rural Peer Advisors - a team of current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students (grades 9-12) through the process of college-going.
File: Financial-Aid-Handout.pdfOf the college admissions application, the essay is probably the single most important piece. This is your chance to share who you are beyond your academics. It is the primary way holistic admissions readers are going to learn who you are as a person - your goals, formative experiences, challenges you've overcome, things that interest you, etc. You want to make sure you get the essay right, especially if you are applying to competitive colleges and universities.
Designed by the Rural Peer Advisors - a team of current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students (grades 9-12) through the process of college-going. This handout gives you all the tips and tricks to writing essays that knock the socks off of those reading your application!
File: College-Essay-Tips_Handout_CRW_2024.pdfRecommendation letters are a key element of a college admissions application. You also need recommendation letters for scholarship applications, so it's important to make sure they are done right and are effective at standing out. A good recommendation letter gives a holistic view of who you are as a person and shares key information that might not be elsewhere in your application packet.
Designed by the Rural Peer Advisors - a team of current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students (grades 9-12) through the process of college-going. You can help your recommenders out by doing a little work ahead of time. This handout gives you all the tips and tricks for getting the best recommendation letters!
File: Brag-Sheet_Handout_College-for-Rural-WI_2024.pdfLearn tips from current college students on how to navigate adulthood - living on your own and being in control of your life for the first time. Your guide to surviving college and being successful!
Resource designed by Rural Peer Advisors- current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students transitioning to college and becoming adults.
File: CRW-Adulting_handout.pdfThis worksheet takes students through a series of exercises in how to use the bucket method to sort and identify the colleges and universities that meet your needs and wants. At the end of the worksheet is a list of common terms used in higher education, as well as a list of resources to help you with exploring college options.
Designed by the Rural Peer Advisors - a team of current UW-Madison students from rural and small town communities - to aid high school students (grades 9-12) at the start of their college exploration journey.
File: CRW-College-Search-Process_handout.pdf