University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

When one begins to search for the university that is right for him or her, several facets should be taken under consideration. The first of these is, what kind of education do I value? The main division here is between liberal and practical education. Liberal education is a mix of several different disciplines, meant to allow a student to explore their own personal interests and abilities. This exploration can often help students discover new subjects that interest them and talents previously unknown, creating a more well-rounded and overall educated student. However, this sort of exercise in character building has become more expensive and taken criticism, giving way to the practical method of education. In my view, practical education is simply an expensive intensive job training program. For instance, students of Mizzou's School of Journalism waive their liberal study of a foreign language in order to study more journalism classes. This type of system justifies the cost of school through its practical application to a career later in life, not in its benefits to one's character or overall skillset. Whether mastering many subjects or just one, the most important part of college is participating in it. Study hard.

Visit! Attend football games, walk around campus, observe the students. Are they happy? Friendly? Go with your instincts when choosing a college; you're going to be eating, sleeping and breathing this school and the town it's in for the next 4+ years. Once you get there, let go of your fears and open up to the world around you. Work on campus, make friends with people that dress and think differently than you do, and surround yourself with those that will support you and your endeavors. My personal favorite - study abroad with your best friend. Open your eyes, ears, and heart to fully absorb the culture (and take tons of pictures! :) And above all, take time for yourself every now and then. Don't sweat the small stuff, and when classes get tough, remember that "this too, shall pass."

Definitely weigh the options you are considering and make sure you visit each college you are considering! You never know what may stick out to you at a particular university until you step foot on the campus and see it for yourself!

choose and out of state school and go somewhere that challenges you physically and mentally

A person just knows when he or she has found the right college. You feel it when you step on the campus. You see the energy and spirit in the students and know that you want to be part of that. I think visiting colleges is extremely important. You can get a better sense if you will feel comfotable in that environment by visiting. I think this was most helpful for me. After visiting my school, I knew that it was where I wanted to be. There more I learned about it the more intersted I became and couldn't wait to start my time here.

I would say that it is important to attend a college that is not only academically challenging, but also socially challenging. Going away to college is a great experience in its own. When kids stay too close to their parents it's easy to run home instead of learning to deal with their problems on their own. These kinds of experiences help to mold and shape the way kids will handle their problems in the future. My advice is don't be opposed to sending your kid far away; it may be the best thing for them!

Change is a wonderful thing! Although it's great to come into college with an idea of what you'd like to become after your 4 years, it's a tremendous growth experience when you alter your plans. Learning to accomodate new information and take advantage of educational opportunities is a pivotal experience and will open countless doors. College is a fantastic opportunity to test the waters in areas that you're interested in. Change your mind while you have the freedom! Take advantage of classes that interest you, but always lean toward the ones that also present a challenge, therein lies your best chance to learn while enjoying yourself. Any campus where you, as a student, feel as though you could grow as a person and seek your perfect education is the campus that is meant for you.

Look at a lot of schools and talk to actual students that attend them!

My best advice to parents and students is to start looking for colleges early in high school. Narrow it down to a few colleges based on academics. Go on visits for a day or a weekend to a handful of them to better understand the social aspect of the schools because reading about the social activities is nothing like actually being able to experience them. Let the prospective student make the decision as to which college they felt the most comfortable with because they are the ones that have to spend the next 2-4 years there. Advice to parents: be actively supportive of your child's choices. Also be involved in their academics like asking about homework, tests, and grades. Tell them how proud you are of their academic successes which is motivation to keep their grades up. Advise for students: get to know the other students in your dorm because alot of them will be in your classes and study buddies help when test time comes! Go to sporting events to support your school. And always keep in touch with your parents, because they love to hear all the stories about your new, unique experiences!

Tour more than once. Attend a class or two. Really get into it and see if it "fits".