10/23/2026
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫
This National Transfer Week, we’re celebrating Southwest Tech graduates who took their education to the next level by transferring and continuing their college journeys.
Their stories are a reminder that Southwest Tech can be both a destination and a starting point for achieving bigger educational and career goals.
Matt Schneider, a native of Muscoda, works as an advisor at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬? I completed two associate degrees at SWTC in 2005; one in Business Management and one in Marketing (no longer exists). I was drawn to SWTC based on earning SWTC credit in high school, it was close to home, affordable, and has great instructors.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧?
I was interested in working in sales and marketing after graduation. I worked as the sales and marketing manager at House on the Rock Properties from 2005-2013.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?
I was not sure I would go back to get my bachelor’s degree, but frequently thought about it. I had met with an Upper Iowa University rep at SWTC and that always stayed in the back of my mind. Once I started working at SWTC, I quickly took the opportunity to return for my bachelor’s degree.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐨𝐰𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲?
I graduated from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor's degree in administration (2016) and then I also have now finished my master’s degree in business (2024) from Amberton University.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
Keep an open mind about transferring. Even though your initial plans may not include transferring, remember that those options are there as life changes. I was not even certain to attend college, and I now have two associate degrees, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree. The older I have gotten, the more I have enjoyed learning.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬?
I enjoy working with students through their own transfer plans and options. I also look forward to future opportunities at Southwest Tech to use my experience and education.