Opinion | UWM’s Reality Is Better Than the Perception

Determining where to attend college is one of the trickiest decisions as a young adult. Most of us are 18-year-old high school graduates who are encouraged to make choices that will affect the rest of our lives. Throw hard classes into the equation and college turns into quite an intimidating experience.

In and around the city of Milwaukee, a lot of stereotypes and stigmas of this Midwestern rustbelt city are visible: crime, traffic and homelessness are all perceptions I used to have about Milwaukee. These same perceptions are also reasons why I did not want to attend UW- Milwaukee, but now graduating from the school is one of my top goals.

Currently, there are 29,768 students attending UW-Milwaukee; this number sounds overwhelming, but you should be the next student. UW-Milwaukee offers 179 degrees including 94 undergraduate, 53 masters and 32 doctoral. Speaking of options, you can join any club on campus at any time; if you name it we probably already have it. Milwaukee is the most culturally and racially diverse city in the state and students come from more than 80 different countries to this city to attend UW- Milwaukee alone.

As a student here at UW-Milwaukee, I have the privilege of associating myself with the diversity of students as well as the diversity of the city. I enjoy attending theater, museums and meeting students from all over the world; those are all things I would have never been able to appreciate without attending UW-Milwaukee.

The city of Milwaukee can be known for crime but UW-Milwaukee has a student funded and operated transportation system called B.O.S.S- Be On The Safe Side. It is your personal taxi service and is included in your tuition for convenience. The university wants to keep their students safe; to avoid walking alone at night you can just call B.O.S.S. to get you to your destination. The traffic can be hectic but you can save yourself the money and stress by leaving your car home and riding the Milwaukee County Transit System buses. The city’s bus system features extensive routes throughout the county and offers a number or routes that travel near the university. It also includes a specific line to bring commuting students from suburban areas to the university.

When attending a new school a lot of us are nervous about not fitting in. The beauty behind UW- Milwaukee is that no one fits in; everyone is so different that will never feel pressured to fit in or be afraid to become who you truly are.

I have finally realized the beauty underneath this big city and university. Becoming open minded and diverse are just some of the many reasons attending this school is beneficial for young adults. Be a part of the 2019 graduating class; there will be no regrets. You might not believe me but there are 29,767 other students that would agree.