University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

It is hard to describe the "typical" Mizzou student; Campus is so diverse. I haven't been here for very long and feel like I have seen it all. I don't think anyone could feel out of place; there is a crowd here for every type of person imaginable. Everyone interacts with one another, after all, we all have something in common, the greatest school in America. When I walked into my first class I expected to be all alone and under-dressed. To my surprise, three people talked to me within the first five minutes and there were multiple people in sweat pants (just like I had wanted to do but had decided against.) At that point, I knew I was in the right place. Be yourself and let Mizzou work its magic.

Most of the diverse groups at my school congregate within themselves with the exception of those in Greek like. Its not because there is prejudice, its just the way it is. No one could really feel out of place here. I really believe there is a group of people for everyone here. The general attitude of the students is welcoming also. Most student dress casually for class, such as jeans and a tee shirt. Four table in the dining hall. Four girls who are suit mates, someone sitting alone studying, a few guys who just came from the rec, and 2 Asians, Most of the students at my school are from the Saint Louis, Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri. There are many students at my school that are obviously wealthy, however there are also many students who have students loans and are from middle class families. Students at my school are politically aware, however, no one takes a very strong stance, we all take in the information and form opinions, but there are no strong campaigns or predominately favored party. Students do not talk about how much they will earn one day, rather they discuss how far they are going in school.

Mizzou has over 300 student organizations! If you're interested in it- chances are there's a group of people who have already created an organization you can join! These groups are the best way to meet new people and really get involved with something you love. People always ask how hard it is to get involved on such a large campus- but truth is, it isn't at all! Mizzou campus is pretty casual when it comes to attire. I personally wear sweatpants and tee-shirts to class, some students dress nicer and some dress even worse! While there are students from all over the world, if you walk up to a random person on campus they are most likely to tell you they are from Saint Louis or Kansas City!

In my opinion, Columbia is a beacon of light and hope in the MidWest. It is largely because of Mizzou that it is so. I grew up in Columbia and was totally fine with going to college here because it is a wonderful and diverse community of people and interests. Unlike the rest of the state you can can see people from varied ethnic and national backgrounds all the time on campus, and their perspectives are valued and welcomed in many ways. Evidence of this is everywhere: there’s a large international resources center, a multicultural center, an LGBTQ center, and more. There was a controversy this year where someone had written a racial slur on campus, and the entire community was outraged at the disrespect towards others. This prompted a lot of positive dialogue, and to me it signalled that diversity is truly valued here, and not just a catch phrase. Personally, I am friends with many international students as I was one myself, and Mizzou makes it very easy to feel comfortable, no matter who you are. It is large enough to be substantially diverse yet small enough that you see people you know all the time. Even if you grew up at a high school where everyone seemed to match the same demographic, you are bound to add some different people to your friend group at Mizzou, and that’s a wonderful thing!

There is a large variety of students at Mizzou. There is a good amount of jocks and Greek people, but they aren't the ones you see on campus. The majority of people on campus most of the time are the artists, intellectuals, and the geeks (I say geek with upmost respect!). It's nice to walk around campus and see groups of people sitting on the quads studying, talking about life, painting, taking pictures, or just throwing a ball around. My experience with race at Mizzou is that racism isn't even a thing here. No one cares if you are white, black, asian, spanish, etc. What matters is your personality and who you are.

There are people from every spectrum of society. Although we are all different, we are really One Mizzou.

Students that are pretentious, and not interested in meeting people tend to have a hard time on this campus. Academics are valued here, but if you're not planning to lift your head out of a book...ever, then this may not be the campus for you. The majority of students are middle class, but what sets people apart more so than their economic background is their open (or closed) mindedness. It's not a stuffy campus, it's social and without pretense. Christian groups have a strong presence on campus, but multicultural, LGBTQ, Muslim, Jewish, African American student groups are also prominent. There is a 'speakers' circle' in the middle of campus, where we have tons of different social-awareness projects and protests all the time. Ironically, I have found that being a white, middle class girl has been a disadvantage to getting involved because most of the tight-knit clubs focus on minority groups. Ah well. But really, if your dig a little, and Google a little, I'd bet you can find what you're looking for. Because Columbia is a college town we tend to bleed democratic blue, but because we're smack dab in the middle of Missouri there are many left-wingers on campus as well. It makes election season ripe for passionate debate.

As I said earlier, I have run into every type of person at Mizzou. No matter who you are or where your interests lie, you will be able to make a connection with something here. Since I'm a journalist on campus, I make an effort to observe who the people around me are and what they're all about and I have seen LBGT groups, NPHC fraternities or sororities, and bible studies all over campus. I would consider myself a pretty eclectic person and I have been able to do something with all of my interests from STRIPES safe ride service and charity organizations.

While the University of Missouri has growing enrollment rates every year, I still feel like every person you meet has mutual friends with you, or is just a few "degrees-of-separation" away. The best part of this is the networking opportunities that it creates. The student population prides itself on being diverse in every way imaginable (race, gender, religion, geographically, socio-economically, politically).

There are people from all over the country, and even the world. Although the most predominant group of students is white, I would not consider African Americans or Asians a minority on campus. We also have a strong wheelchair basketball team so our campus is very accessible to disabilities.