15 top-tier colleges wanted her. She chose UW–Madison. Here’s why.

A woman is pictured standing on a grassy hill, with an academic building in the background.Throughout high school, Lauren Choi stayed tightly focused on her postsecondary education goals. She wanted to have multiple options when choosing a college.

“I’m not someone who likes to feel constrained,” says Choi, of Appleton, Wisconsin.

She applied to 20 universities and was accepted to 15, a testament to her academic accomplishments and the many student leadership positions she held at Appleton North High School. In the end, she chose the only school she applied to in her home state, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, even though it started low on her list.

“I shocked even myself,” says Choi, now a freshman at UW–Madison. “The school I had never really considered became my most obvious choice.”

What won her over? A combination of things, including UW–Madison’s world-class reputation, the friendliness of the campus community and a financial aid offer she couldn’t refuse.

Read the full article online: https://news.wisc.edu/15-top-tier-colleges-wanted-her-she-chose-uw-madison-heres-why/