Sorting out college just got easier. By attending the annual Open House at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), you can find out about the basics – financial aid, housing and advising. But you can also make a connection that launches you on your academic journey.
See all that Wisconsin’s second- largest public research university has to offer new students at the Open House on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 29 and 30.
Held at the UWM Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., the popular event provides a user-friendly landscape of activities, showcasing the academic majors available at UWM and the career choices associated with them.
Open House hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Onsite registration takes place on the ground level of the Union.
Dive into the many academic departments’ exhibits and demonstrations – where the real fun is.
Play the online game that identifies your true political ideology (Political Science).
Experience the “Chaos Generator” (Physics).
Write creative captions for postcards and pictures and “get published” (English).
Show off your musical skills on traditional Latin American instruments (Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies).
See what lives inside a drop of water (Biological Sciences).
Meet the deans of individual schools and colleges on Friday from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Alumni Fireside Lounge in the Union.
For a physical view, take a campus tour led by a UWM student, or climb aboard a trolley for a faculty-narrated tour of Milwaukee’s East Side and lakefront.
Not one size fits all
Within walking distance of Lake Michigan and in the heart of Wisconsin’s largest city, UWM offers a ton of options and benefits, like more than187 degree programs to choose from, world-class faculty and lots of different ways to learn – from Honors College to residence hall-based “Living Learning Communities.”
In fact, UWM can claim some unique degree programs. It has the largest College of Health Sciences in the Midwest, the largest nursing program in the state, and the only accredited programs in architecture and information resources in Wisconsin.
On top of its offerings, UWM’s diversity extends to its student body. This year’s enrollment includes across-the- board increases in the numbers of students of color.
Aid available
At UWM there are many ways to help pay for college. Financial aid takes a variety of forms, from scholarships and grants (which don’t have to be repaid) to fixed-rate, low-interest loans and federal workstudy options so students can earn while they learn.
The UWM financial aid website, www.financialaid.uwm.edu, is a great resource for getting started.
Applicants will also get help filling out and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which is required for obtaining government aid. Once the FAFSA is filed, UWM sends a list of the kinds – and amounts – of aid available.
Applying early, during February before the fall semester, gives prospective students the best chance of receiving the maximum assistance available.
Outside of government aid, students should research scholarships – even if they think they don’t have the grades. Deadlines for most scholarships fall between November and March.
“Some scholarships are not based on academic merit,” says Jane Hojan-Clark, UWM director of financial aid. “There are a variety of criteria – for example, talent, leadership and community service.”
For more information on Open House 2010: www.openhouse.uwm.edu or call (414) 229-2222.