Name | Grade Needed | Cost per Year | Housing per Year | Suited Aspirations | Specialist Majors | Housing Options | Seasons | School Colours |
Sim State University | Grade C or Higher |                  500 |                         125 | Family, Romance, Pleasure, Popularity |  Art, Literature, Business, Philosophy, Drama, Psychology | Dorms Only | 2 Spring 2 Summer | Blue Yellow |
La Fiesta Tech | Grade B or Higher |               1,000 |                         250 | Knowledge, Fortune, Popularity, Family |  Science, Maths, Physics, Biology, Psychology, Political Science | Dorms, Private Housing | 4 Autumn | Black White |
Academie Le Tour | Grade A or Private School B or Higher |               2,000 |                         500 | Knowledge, Fortune |  Art, Literature, Economics, Business, History, Political Science | All inc. Sororities and Greek Houses | 2 Autumn 2 Spring | Red Green |
My University rules can be found in my overall Gameplay Rules, but I am posting them here also:
Can A Sim Go To University?
Sims with a D+ or lower when they return from their last day of high school cannot go to University. Otherwise, a Sim can go to University if they roll the want to on their final day of teen-hood before 6pm otherwise they age up to adult.
Wants for going to University can only be locked in on the final day of teen-hood.
If a Sim is eligible for University, they can go if they can afford to and pay upfront their costs. If they can't afford to, Sims will be entitled to a loan. Loans are repaid with a 3% interest rate per day and the bill for University is provided at the end of University when a Sim graduates or drops out (Sims don't need to take the loan out before starting or whilst at University).
Which University?
I use the system set out in the table above to help decide which University my Sim will attend. I make use of all 3 maxis University neighbourhoods and they're all set up different, offering different housing, majors, and have their own seasons and school colours.
Sim State - social and romantic relationship gains from the seasons, closest to Pleasantview (easiest for visitors) and the cheapest University.
La Fiesta Tech - skill gains all year from the season, furthest from Pleasantview and middle price but specialises in science based degrees. Sim's cannot routinely invite visitors as it is far from Pleasantview.
Academie Le Tour - social and skill gain from the season , most expensive and hardest University to get into unless your Sim went to private school. Close enough to Pleasantview for visitors.
What University a Sim can go to will depend on their grade, and they can also consider their aspiration, if they have a LTW for a certain career and affordability. Sometimes a Sim might not have the grade to attend the University and study for the major they need for their career, but that's life!
Which Major?
Sims start with an unspecified major at first. Then they can select a major if they roll the want for it.
If a Sim has a lifetime want that is career based I allow them to choose the major for a course that is good for that career track regardless if they roll the want for it or not.
If they don't roll a want for a specific major (and don' t have a career based LTW) by the end of Freshman year, I roll a random number and work clockwise around the menu of choices (ignoring Majors not offered at that University according to the table above).
I use a mod which revamps the majors associated with different careers.
Homework, Term Papers and Skill Building:
Sims work on term papers if they roll the want to. They can do homework based on their interest points for school:
0-3 Interest = Coin Flip Monday, Wednesday and Friday (heads = do homework, tails = don't do homework).
4-7 Interest = Do their homework Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
8-10 Interest = Do their homework every day.
Sims can gain skills naturally though gameplay but cannot be forced. However, if a Sim rolls is in their Senior year and rolls the want to graduate I will do what is needed to allow them to get the minimum passing grade which may include skill building.
To give my Sim a chance all housing options are supplied with some extra items that allow them to gain skills e.g. telescope (logic), dartboard (mechanical) and a piece of exercise equipment (body) that they cannot otherwise do naturally (e.g. cooking/cleaning). I also have a mod that allows creativity to be gained from diary writing. My Sims are not forced to use these items but if they want to or do so on their own they may gain some vital skills.
I do not consider the want to be on Dean's list a reason to force Sims to do homework, term papers or skill build.
I do not consider fears a reason to force Sims to do homework, term papers or skill build because if they don't want to do something to avoid the fear that's on them!
Misc:
If a Sim passes Sophmore year they are allowed to change their Aspiration if they want to, it is rolled and randomly decided and I decide if I want them to change it or not based on the outcome.
Pre-made Sims (e.g. Mortimer Goth in Pleasantview) can have University degrees allocated to them. I do this using the Counterfeit College Diploma mod.
Sims can fail out of University (and that's okay!).
I use the University of Life Mod, which means Sims that did not go to University or dropped-out can still earn additional want slots by reaching certain career levels.
I use mods to reduce the length of University to 8 days, and change the time of classes to later