The most common question I get on panels or tours is, “You're from Wisconsin. Why are you going to school in Wichita, Kansas?” To be fully honest, it is a very long story and journey. It all started in the fifth grade when one of my extended cousins was getting married in Wichita and my grandma wanted to take me to see her sister and family for the first time since 2012. Five of my cousins who live here all graduated from Wichita State. Ever since that wedding in November of 2015, my grandma and I kept coming back to visit my family here. My family here would dress me up in Wichita State gear as a joke and I slowly started to love the city and the school.
Photo courtesy of Sophie WalterI started looking at colleges the summer before my junior year of high school and I wasn’t fully sold on moving far away from home, but it was still on my radar. My grandma took me to Wichita for my 16th birthday and on my actual birthday, I toured Wichita State. I immediately fell in love with the school, and I remember calling my mom back in Wisconsin and saying this is the school I see myself at and I want to go to. She was happy for me but wanted me to keep my options open, so I did. However, Wichita State checked all my boxes, like having your bedroom with laundry in your dorm room and all the security measures to make sure students feel safe.
Photo courtesy of Sophie Walter
Another big thing I was looking for in college was a good study abroad program. Wichita State has a great deal of partnerships with universities all over the world and with some of them, I can pay WSU tuition to live abroad. For me, that was a huge deal. I’m a business student so all the opportunities that are provided through the Barton School of Business were also a huge selling point for me because I could get an internship in the field I was interested in before graduating college. Even if you are not a business student, there are many opportunities for students to get jobs and internships so they can get experience in the field they are interested in before graduation.
In November of my senior year, I came to Wichita State to compete in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, which awards three $64,000 scholarships. Even though I didn’t win, this competition was the final push I needed to go to Wichita State. I met so many fellow students, professors, mentors and one of my future roommates/best friends. So, I encourage people to apply to DSI if they can because it is such a meaningful experience. One of the major things I got out of DSI was being nominated for the Student Ambassador Society. I didn’t know this at the time, but it was one of the best things that came out of this experience.
Once arriving at Wichita State I felt nervousness and excitement, but slowly that started to fade because even though I was over 12 hours from my family and everything I had ever known, and I was ready to get started.
I joined the Student Ambassador Society (SAS) and since then have so many amazing people. Some of my closest friends are in that organization. I get to talk to prospective students about my experience and through that I have felt less alone. Joining SAS is the best choice I have made here because I meet so many people who help me realize I have a place here and want to stay. Also, it opens doors for me like working as a Shocker Navigator and as a student assistant in Admissions. So, my biggest piece of advice is to get involved whether it's with an organization, Greek life, or an on-campus job because you will meet the best people and find your home. I truly believe coming to Wichita State from Wisconsin was the best decision possible for me and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
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