Quick Links
As your teenage Sims grow up inThe Sims 2, they have the opportunity to pursue a higher education at one of the prestigious universities available. Here they have the chance to explore the world as a young adult and make all new choices, without many of the consequences of being a traditional adult.
Additionally, many more opportunities await them after graduation, including new career paths! Everything you need to know to set your Sim up for success in a post-high school scenario is detailed below. Don’t wait to get started on your education as soon as possible, or you may miss your chance.
How To Make A University
Before you may send your Sims to college, you’ll need tocreate a universityfor them to attend. You can do this by clicking on thegraduation cap iconin the upper left corner of the worldview screen.
There arethree universities available by default–one for each of the base game’s default neighborhoods.
If you’re not sure which one to go to, you cangenerate all threeand scope them out first!
You can always choose the optionto create a brand new college campusfrom scratch, though you will need tomake all the lots yourself!
How To Go To College
Once yourSim becomes a teenager, you cansend them to college. There are a couple ways to do this if youhave an existing family, or you’re able to gostraight to a university and create a new familyof young adults to experience college life.
If you don’t go to college as a teenager, you’ll completely miss your opportunity.
Apply As A Teenager
By using a phone or computer, ateenage Sim can applyto colleges. Thisis completely free, and they can choose any university they like. While going to college doesn’t cost anything, it’s a good idea tosave money for them by obtaining scholarshipsso they can enjoy life without worry.
Create A Student
If you don’t want to send any existing teens to college or if you’d prefer to jump right in to college life, you cango to the sub-neighborhoodand use theCreate A Student menuto start building your Sim.
This function is the same asCreate A Sim, but you canonly make Young Adults.
How To Get A Scholarship
There areseveral scholarships your aspiring student can earnwhile they’re a teenager, including ones based on merit and grades. These scholarships havevarious amounts of Simoleons available, and not all of them are for good reasons.
The money obtained from scholarships isdirectly applied to your college student’s fundswhen they reach university.
The money will increase their starting funds from day one, enabling them tofurnish their dorm, shop around town, and avoid working in the dorm cafeteriafor a while.
A Body skill of 8 or higher.
A Charisma skill of 8 or higher.
A Cleaning skill of 8 or higher.
A Cooking skill of 8 or higher.
A Logic skill of 8 or higher.
A Mechanical skill of 8 or higher.
A Creativity skill of 8 or higher.
750 Simoleons
Young Entrepreneurs Award
A teen has reached the top of their career (level 3).
A teen’s grades are an A minus or above.
A teen contracts Vampirism or is a Zombie.
1,500 Simoleons
Should You Live In A Dorm Or Rent?
The next decision to make in college iswhere to live. There are several opportunities for your Sims to move throughout their days at university, and we’ll break down thepros and consof each living situation.
Benefits Of A Dorm
Dorms are free! Your student getsa small room to themselves, but has access to all the facilities in the common areas. They can alsowork on-demand at the cafeteriaon-site.
There will also beseveral other Sims out and aboutsharing the lot with you. This means there’s adecent pool of people for your Sims to befriend, but it also comes with complications.
Not all Sims will get along, andsome dormies are messycohabitants. They mayleave books and assignmentsall over the common areas, leaving you to pick up after them.
Benefits Of Renting A Home
While youcan’t buy a property in a college town, you can rent a house for your time in school. Thesecost a great deal moreconsidering that students often enter college without a lot of funds, but it is possible to do with enough determination.
The downside is that it’sa large investmentthat eats your student’s funds, and theywon’t get to keep itafter they graduate. Additionally, there areno dormies to socialize with, so you may need to go out more oradd roomates to keep them company.
However, there’s a lotmore freedom in a house. You’ll havepeace and quiet, or the ability tohost wild partieswhenever you’d like.
Benefits Of Greek Life
While you can’tmove into Greek fraternities and sororitiesright away, you can befriend members and laterjoin the housefor a more social and active experience in college.
How To Graduate From College
Themain purpose of college is to graduate, which can be done if youcomplete all four yearsat university. These years are not made up of days, like a standard Sim age bracket, but instead of hours.
Your Sim willhave 72 hoursbefore having to take their final exams. Their exam score isbased off their grades, which can be boosted bygoing to class, doing assignments and completing their term paperon time.
Declare A Major
When you go to college, you candeclare a majorto determine your focus in school. This helps you Simnarrow down their ideal skillsto increase.
You candeclare a majorat your Sim’s computer. Below are your options and the compatible careers:
Psychology
Business, Law Enforcement, Paranormal, Education, Law, Intelligence
If you do not declare a major before the end of sophomore year, thePhilosophy major will be declared for you.
You can change your major at any time via the computer, in case your Sim wants a different career path down the line.
Graduate On Time
After your Sim takes their final exam, theyhave 72 hours to throw a graduation party, say their goodbyes, and take the taxi back to their main neighborhood.
Once they leave,they can’t come back, so it’s important that theytake anything they own with them in their inventoryor make what friends they can before heading home.
If youdrop out of college, you can’t come back, soprioritize graduating if your Sim has a specific career goal!
When you graduate, Sims will have access tofour new career tracks. They also get aboost in the career trackwhen hired,moving up one to three levelswhen theygraduate with honors.
