In 2008, Madison Area Technical College seemed like the ideal location to start my secondary education. I arrived in August, just before the start of the fall term, a recent graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School. The jump from a town of 10,000 to Madison’s nearly 500,000 residents contained many surprises, and ultimately, learning experiences.

 Now it’s 2014 and I have been taking classes at Madison College the entire time. I started in the graphic design program, and am now extremely excited to be the Editor in Chief of the Clarion.

With a nice handful of degrees and certificates to prove the time well spent, I have also gathered wisdom from my six years here. Having been here so long, there are definitely a few habits I have now that I wish I had started sooner. Here are a few ideas to make the most of your Madison College experience.

1. Start your homework right away. 

Your best work is not going to be what your brain can scramble through in the 10 hours before a paper is due. I wish I had given myself all of the time my teachers allowed on my assignments. 

 2. Count your class time as paid time.

Classes are expensive, even at Madison College, where tuition is about half of what regular universities cost. To make the most out of your class time, remember how much it costs to be there. A three-credit class costs about $550. Over the course of a 16-week semester, each class period works out to approximately $11.50. Skipping class is like eating that money and not spending it on your education.

 3. Expand on your interests with extra-curriculars

We are a diverse school with a plethora of interests and activities represented in extracurricular opportunities. Intramural sports, clubs, the Yahara Journal, (and the Clarion!) are all great ways to make new friends and learn more about your particular interests. It took me four years to finally get involved with the paper when I could have spent that entire time polishing and publishing my craft. 

4. Take advantage of transportation opportunities

If the parking lot has got you do wn, consider taking public transportation. Madison College offers a bus pass for degree-credit students. The Truax parking lot also has several saved spaces for students who carpool.  In 2010, the Student Senate launched a campus shuttle program that delivers students between Truax, Downtown, South, and West campuses. The shuttles are much faster, quieter, and more comfortable than the typical Metro ride. These programs are available at no additional cost for degree credit students.

 5. Find ways to double-dip. 

Interdisciplinary learning has shown to be an effective teaching tool. If you’re taking several classes at once, be sure to consider how they could be related to each other. Is a paper topic for one class applicable for a project in another?

 6. Look for student perks

There are many advantages to being a Madison College student, both on and off campus. Marcus movie passes cost only $5-7 at the athletic desk. Many retail businesses in town also offer a student discount with a valid ID. Madison College’s own TruStyle Salon, Marketplace Cafe, Gateway Cafe, Whole Bowl, and Wolfpack Den all give 10% off to those who pay with their student OneCard.

Lastly and most importantly, be open to change. Education changes who you are as a person, so be prepared to come out better than when you came in. If you are willing to open your mind to new things, there are no limits on what can be accomplished.