UW–Madison’s Clifton Conrad spoke with WalletHub recently about the role of college towns and their importance for students.
Conrad is a professor emeritus of higher education and former Vilas Distinguished Professor with the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
The story explores how colleges influence the communities in which they reside, and why it is important for incoming students to consider the culture, population, and economy of college towns when making their university selection.
WalletHub spoke with Conrad on Nov. 28, among other experts, about the importance of location for college students.
“Place is something to seriously consider, depending on one’s expectations for a college/university education,” Conrad says. “Many vibrant universities are located in ‘cities/towns’ that offer learning opportunities outside of campus, e.g., theater, music, activism, and far beyond.”
Conrad also encourages students to expand their horizons when choosing a college: “More often than not, I think it is worth seriously considering going out-of-state, i.e., exploring new territory that gets individuals out of their ‘safe spaces’ and invites them to have diverse experiences with a wide range of stakeholders in higher education.”
Read the full interview with Conrad in WalletHub.