Dana Calamia

For Dana, UW-Parkside was an affordable, close-to-home option...not to mention that all of her advanced placement credits were accepted.

"Parkside is small enough that you can sit down in any class and know someone else in the room," she says, "but large enough that they offer all the activities and classes that I am interested in."

Dana loves the location: "I can chose from a hundred different restaurants in Kenosha and Racine, but I also have acres of woods surrounding me!"

The trick may be finding the time to visit all those restaurants. Dana is one involved student: Circle K volunteer club, Parkside Student Government president, Residence Life student academic mentor, math and economics tutor, Ranger Bear mascot team, women's rugby...you get the picture.

"You have so many opportunities," Dana says. "You'll learn so much both in and out of the classroom."