First semester impressions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Missouri - Columbia
1

<p>Hey everyone, I'm currently a freshman at Mizzou. I just wanted to check in and try to give everyone my impressions of Mizzou up to this point. </p>

<p>Some basic information about me: I'm a Walter Williams scholar from the DC Metro area and came to Mizzou because I thought I wanted to be a sports journalist and loved Mizzou's campus and the feel of the town. Unfortunately, I've already decided that sports journalism isn't for me, and for a wealth of reasons, I've decided that I'm transferring back east at the end of the year.</p>

<p>[disclaimer]</p>

<p>I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from going here; just because Mizzou wasn't right for me doesn't mean it isn't right for anyone. Everyone needs to make their own decision about college not assume that the experience of one person, no matter how similar they may seem to you, will equal your experience. I'm sure others have a different view of Mizzou than I do and will disagree with me; all I can do is provide my view. If my view isn't the majority view, there's nothing I can do about that.</p>

<p>I can't make your college decision for you. I can, however, provide you with more facts to help you make a more informed decision. A lot of that information will be negative, not because I have a bias against the school but because most of the information not readily available is negative and I haven't had an overly positive experience so far. That doesn't mean that you won't have a positive experience.</p>

<p>I'm only relaying information and opinion. It's up to you to decide how important or unimportant this information and opinion is and how you want to use it to make your decision about Mizzou.</p>

<p>[/disclaimer]</p>

<p>People</p>

<p>So far, the vast majority of the people I've met have been reasonably nice people. Even within the Walter Williams Scholars, you'll find some a**holes, but they're in the minority. The people I've met will not be the reason I'm leaving. There is a preponderance of people from Missouri, even within the J-school (although it's definitely less so there). Whether that's a positive or negative depends on each individual. I haven't found it to have much of an impact on my experience.</p>

<p>On-Campus Activities</p>

<p>It's a big school, so there's a lot going on, with anything ranging from distinguished speakers (Lisa Ling, the head of the US Communist Party among others) to Humans vs. Zombies. If you want to be busy, you can be busy without too much difficulty. The Maneater is fairly easy to get involved with also. I've only done a few stories because the sports opportunities are much more limited, but I know others who are hard core into it, and they seem to be enjoying it.</p>

<p>Campus Itself</p>

<p>The weather is off and on between good and bad. It's been a little colder than what I'm used to back east, but not overly so. Keep in mind that while the campus may not seem all that big on the tour, when you're walking it every day, you realize how big it really is. I don't consider that a negative necessarily, just something that people should realize.</p>

<p>Housing</p>

<p>Not sure if this information is being relayed by the university, but there is definitely a housing shortage on campus now. It used to be that Mizzou could guarantee housing to anyone that wanted it and signed up on time, but that's no longer the case. Freshmen are still guaranteed housing if they don't sign up late, but returners will have to go through a lottery for about 1400 spots starting next year based on factors such as violations and involvement on campus (don't know the specifics). The overwhelming majority of undergraduates move off campus after freshman year.</p>

<p>Mark Twain</p>

<p>Twain is a long way away from most of the dorms on campus. Most dorms are in the south, whereas Twain is on the northwestern edge of campus. The upside is that it's closer to Columbia, and you get to know the people who live there very well because you don't hang out with people from other dorms that much. The downside is that it's further away from almost everything else and you don't meet as many people.</p>

<p>The dorm is old, and the rooms are small, but the suite style bathrooms are sweet. It's getting renovated after the fall semester next year, so I don't know what it'll be like after that or where they'll house the Walter Williams FIGs in the meantime.</p>

<p>FIGs</p>

<p>Again, there are upsides and downsides. The upside is that you get to know the people in your FIG pretty well. In Mark Twain, however, that really isn't needed because you're on the same floor as your FIG anyway. The downsides are that you meet fewer people and you have to at least start out in all of the FIG's classes. The 1 credit FIG Proseminar or whatever it's called is a bull**** class. You do stupid assignments that aren't at all helpful, and I basically feel like my intelligence and maturity are insulted and I'm being treated like I'm in middle school. The other major downside is that you're less motivated to actually go through and pick classes you want to take. I ended up taking an Honors College course called The Ancient World which is pretty much a worst nightmare course for a person like me. I should've dropped it earlier for sure, but I think I would've done more research into classes to take if I hadn't been in a FIG. Overall, don't think that you have to be in a FIG to meet people.</p>

<p>Coursework</p>

<p>For me, it's too easy. Not including my two one-credit pass/fail courses, I have at least a 97% in 3 of my 4 classes. Given, I went to an excellent public school (not trying to be pretentious, it's just a fact) and I'm taking a light courseload this semester, but I'm having a much easier time maintaining good grades in college than I did in high school. Just keep in mind that you may have a harder time challenging yourself than you would at other schools.</p>

<p>Walter Williams Scholars</p>

<p>The people are generally nice, as I mentioned before. However, there are two things that you should definitely know about the Walter Williams Scholars that you won't hear from Mizzou.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Just because they have high ACT/SAT scores doesn't mean that living with them is going to lead to a studious atmosphere. There is a giant mishmash of every kind of person in Walter Williams scholars, from the people who are completely focused on school to the people completely focused on partying and everything in between. In general, it feels like a single-floor version of my high school. There are people that study a lot, and there are people that don't at all; not everyone puts school as their top priority. They're also not necessarily the best behaved; for several reasons the 2008 class of Walter Williams Scholars isn't even listed on the J-school website.</p></li>
<li><p>In my opinion, the Walter Williams Scholars on the 7th floor in general harbor a "we're better than everyone" attitude. It's not their fault because I think the school encourages it to an extent, but it has led to the rest of the building holding animosity towards our floor and using small, random incidents as justification for hating us. I can't speak to the experiences of the people in the Honors Journalism FIGs on the 5th and 6th floors, so maybe it's the same there. But it's definitely present on the 7th floor.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>If I could choose again, I would still live in the Walter Williams FIG just because the people I've met are cool. Just keep these things in mind when choosing to be in one of the FIGs. You don't have to be in the Walter Williams FIG if you don't want to be; there are Honors Journalism FIGs in Schurz, and I don't consider being in the Walter Williams FIG absolutely necessary (or being in any FIG at all).</p>

<p>Journalism School</p>

<p>The intro journalism classes I took are both blowoffs (J1010 and J1100), but other than that I can't say anything other than that, from what I can tell, Mizzou has an incredible wealth of resources. If you want to do journalism, this is the place to be. My only advice would be to try to be fairly sure about it. The J-School is the most prestigious school/department on campus, and, save maybe the business school, nothing else is that highly regarded. I'm of the belief that the prestige of a person's school doesn't matter, but if it matters to you, it's something to keep in mind.</p>

<p>Columbia and Weekend Activities</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I find it boring. There are some good restaurants and stuff and a couple movie theaters to the south of campus, but other than that, I've found that there isn't much to do in the town on the weekend. Most of my weekends are spent at a movie theater, at a restaurant (although not many people I hang out with want to spend money at a restaurant) or just hanging in the dorm. I've lived in the suburbs of a big city my whole life, however, and it's possible I'm just not trying hard enough.</p>

<p>Greek Life</p>

<p>Unless you're at an off-campus apartment, if you want to party, you're going to be at a frat. The tour guides will tell you that you don't have to be involved in Greek life if you don't want to, and that's true, but the fraternities and sororities dominate the party scene, as should be expected at a school isolated from any big cities. I haven't been to any yet or tried to, so I can't speak to what the people in them are like. However, I've heard that it's either tough or expensive to get into a party if you're a guy, which is probably the case at most schools.</p>

<hr>

<p>If anyone has any questions about my post or points that I didn't address, I'm more than happy to help out. Again, you need to make your own decision about college. While I'm not happy with my experience at Mizzou, most people that I know are happy. My experience will without a doubt be unique from those of others. I'm just here to provide an insider's perspective and tell you the things the campus tour guides, guidebooks and internet don't tell you.</p>

2

<p>Steelerfan, I have been wondering how you’re doing at Mizzou after interacting with you on CC last year. You might be interested to know that my son (a sophomore) recently dropped out of the j-school and switched to political science. We were surprised–but not shocked. The lesson here is that when you’re super-focused on something at age 17-18-19, it’s risky to assume that you’ll follow that path forever. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with changing your mind. We’re glad he did, before it was too late (meaning so late that he’d take more than four years to finish college). </p>

<p>(By the way, here’s my disclaimer: My son has no interest in CC. As a parent, what I post here is an accurate description of what I hear from him.) </p>

<p>To continue: He has no desire to transfer, just because he likes it there overall (he is a city kid with very liberal politics, so it is really different). He does plan to come back East after graduation, but meanwhile he’s on an interesting journey in the middle of the country. He has good friends and likes his life there.</p>

<p>As for intellectual rigor, introductory courses at Mizzou do not seem to have been difficult for him. But he has liked his professors (except, unfortunately for two in the j-school!). He’s always compensated (even in HS) by learning more on his own–reading more by a writer he likes in a literature class, finding out more about some aspect of botany, etc.</p>

<p>Though he’s happy, I still did some hand-wringing when he changed majors. Journalism and agriculture are the best programs at Mizzou. (My son has a fairly low opinion of business students.) But political science? After a little helicopter parent activity (too complicated to explain here), I feel better. He wants to go to law school, so where he goes for undergrad is not such a big issue. However, if you go to Mizzou from out of state, be prepared for a lot of baffled stares.</p>

<p>Steelerfan, your post shows that life’s about trying things and not being afraid to change course if your choices don’t work out for you. Now my son is researching law schools, figuring out what courses he should take and what LSAT/GPA he needs to get into the schools he would like to attend. Who knows what’ll happen next? As a parent, I’m flexible!</p>

3

<p>Day before yesterday, I was sitting in a restaurant in suburban D.C. and noticed a couple at the table next to me. The man had on a Mizzou sweatshirt, and because I am originally from Iowa, I had to say hello. They were both Mizzou grads. He was a math major and teaches middle school math in Maryland. She holds a Ph.D. in a science (I don’t remember which one) and does AIDS research at NIH in Bethesda. They can’t wait to get back to the Midwest. Things are different in the middle of America. After reading the OP, I thought this was slightly amusing. Most people on CC would probably consider NIH to be pretty close to the top for a research scientist.</p>

4

<p>^^ I should add that my husband is a Missouri native with a PhD from Mizzou and has had a very successful career! You are right, and I should also have said that being there is good life experience for our son. He needed to get outside the East Coast bubble.</p>

5

<p>Thank you, steelerfan, for your post. Your words of wisdom are good to use in looking at any school, not just Mizzou. Is the school too big, should I join a FIG, will there be enough to do on the weekends, will I fit in being from out of state. Although some things you mention as negatives, I think will be positives for my son. But some negatives that I thought he may be able to overlook seem to be major factors in your dislike of the school. While Mizzou appealed to me as a parent with its location and pricetag, we do get many baffled looks when we tell people that our son has applied and been accepted there. </p>

<p>I would invite you to research another college review website where a student reviewed Saint Louis University, another of son’s choice in the midwest area, where a student bemoans the fact that they did, in fact, transfer out of Mizzou to attend SLU, and how they now miss life at Mizzou now that they’re in a big city school. </p>

<p>My advice to you is that you do give the school one more semester, and see if there’s something else there you’d like to major in. If the school was a fit for you, there are a lot of majors there to choose from, which is what appealed to me. </p>

<p>Take your winter break to do some soul searching and talk things over with your folks.</p>

<p>Will be sending good thoughts your way and hope that you have a good rest of your freshman year.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>That’s exactly what I was trying to get across with my disclaimer: what I dislike others may like and vice versa.</p>

<p>I’m not transferring until the end of the year because I think that would be too complicated and a little bit hasty. However, I’m pretty much convinced at this point that I’m transferring. If I was in love with Mizzou, I would stay because I’m not worried about the education I would get from the business school (my likely new major), but, as I made clear with my above post, I’m not completely happy with how things are going for me socially. I’m planning on using my second semester to take classes I want to take, confirm that business is what I want to do, and figure out where I want to go from there.</p>

<p>One last thing to add: I’m pretty sure that that I’ve seen the parents of one or two current Walter Williams Scholars posting here. I don’t think it’ll be a problem, but I’d ask you not to tell your son/daughter about this post. Combining some of the information about myself on here would make it extremely easy to identify who I am among this year’s Walter Williams Scholars, and I don’t want my friends getting the impression that I’m trashing them on the internet.</p>

7

<p>I’m an Out-of-State freshman journalism student as well and I’m also living in Mark Twain. I’m not Walter Williams like the OP, but I am in the honors college for what it’s worth. My experience at Mizzou has been mostly positive thus far. A few comments:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>To me, it has been the exact opposite. I have found the campus to be quite manageable despite thinking that it was huge after touring it. None of my classes are more than a ten minute walk, including my statistics lecture that’s housed on the other side of campus. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>The WW Scholars certainly seem to feel that they’re better than the rest of their peers. As a 5th floor honors FIG student, I can say that this attitude hasn’t trickled down from the 7th floor. I’d agree that there is a bit of animosity towards the 7th floor students, but at the end of the day it’s all pretty much childish nonsense. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Agreed…if you don’t want to read a ton of ancient works over short periods of time, don’t take this class. </p>

<p>A few of my own opinions:</p>

<p>-Social life seems to revolve around Greek Life. This played a major factor into my decision to pledge this semester, which made it a more intense semester than I had planned initially. Pledging is a major time commitment that I wasn’t necessarily prepared for. That said, I think Greek Life tends to get a bad reputation in general and so far my experiences have been almost entirely positive in regards to my fraternity. </p>

<p>-As the OP said, people are generally nice. Like any other large school, it’s pretty much a mixed bag. Being from the northeast, I haven’t seen a huge difference in the people except that the midwesterners tend to be a little more friendly. </p>

<p>-As for FIGs, the class itself is BS, but at the same time I have met some of my best friends in the dorm through my FIG. I personally recommend it because it’s not much extra work (if any) and it’s a good way to meet a few people with similar interests. </p>

<p>Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.</p>

8

<p>Thank you both for your posts. Big Thank You on the honors course “non rec”. This might have been one my son would have taken because of his studies of classical languages, so glad we were forewarned. Glad for the second viewpoint on size. This has been a major concern for son’s college choice. </p>

<p>To the transfer, take classes next semester that you will not find anywhere else. Take advantage of what Mizzou uniquely has to offer you. Enjoy the movie theaters and the extracurriculars and the rec center. And enjoy the less strenuous course work. It’s likely that you will transfer to a more difficult school and will be missing those less challenging courses. </p>

<p>I also want to warn you that you may find some credits will not transfer, especially if you’re going to a more selective school. If you have someplace in mind, it would serve you well to talk to someone in admissions before registering for next semester’s courses.</p>

<p>If you were lucky enough to get AP credit for some general ed courses, don’t be surprised if you won’t get that credit at your new school. I would make sure your new school would accept any general ed courses you might want to take next semester. That’s why I’d advise you to take a “fun” yet educational course, like maybe a film course or other humanities course while at Mizzou.</p>

<p>Good luck to you and thank you both for your posts.</p>

9

<p>Hey boys, </p>

<p>What the heck, here’s my $0.02 too. I’m a junior now, and also a girl, so probably have some different viewpoints. </p>

<p>PEOPLE: I love 'em. I grew up in St Louis though, so Midwesterners are all I know. It’s great being close enough to home that I can pop in for a weekend, but far enough out that my parents aren’t visiting all the time. My friends are incredible and some of the best people I know. I am so glad I chose Mizzou, if only because I’ll graduate with a tight group of friends and very passionate people.</p>

<p>ON CAMPUS ACTIVITIES: I agree totally. Tons to do if you’ll get out there and do it. I’m actually in the process of starting a new student org right now.</p>

<p>CAMPUS: I guess I’ve just gotten used to it. I hardly notice long walks any more. I do pay attention when I’m scheduling classes though because I don’t like to have to walk all the way across campus, like, ever. I try to keep mine clustered in the same general area (GCB and east, for those of you that know your way around campus).</p>

<p>HOUSING: I lived in Discovery my freshman year and it was a pretty good dorm experience. Nothing fabulous, nothing horrible. Nice rooms, quiet surroundings, not a great community feel. I was definitely done with the dorms after one year, but I did make some good friends while I was there.</p>

<p>TWAIN: No opinion, really, other than from my friends who lived there when we were freshmen and loved it. They were all in the teaching FIG though, so didn’t have to deal with J-school or engineering.</p>

<p>FIGS: Agree completely</p>

<p>COURSEWORK: If you want it to be hard, you have to make it hard! I had a pretty easy first semester also and then realized that it was a waste of my parents’ money for me to come here and not be challenged. So I filled my schedule with interesting classes and honors courses and haven’t looked back. I know Mizzou’s just another state school, but I also know that the education I’m getting here is high quality and I’m beginning to make my mark here. It’s awesome and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I’m a biology major, pre-med, by the way.</p>

<p>COLUMBIA: Compared to St Louis, Columbia’s like a big town. My friends from small towns though think it’s quite a big city. It’s a lot more fun when you can enjoy the nightlife (I just turned 21) or if you don’t expect hoppin’ clubs. I mean, we ARE in mid-Missouri after all. If you think house parties with anywhere from 10-100 people and 0-10 kegs are fun, then you’ll love it. If you’re looking for a night on the town, Columbia’s not for you.</p>

<p>GREEK LIFE: I’m pretty heavily involved with it and think it’s something I enjoy in college but will likely not continue on with in the future. It’s something that I can only do once, and only while I’m in college, so I just figure…why not. It’s opened up a lot of doors for me and has introduced me to one of my absolute best friends, so that’s worth it to me. </p>

<p>Like them, I’m happy to answer any questions or provide another viewpoint.</p>

10

<p>Also, a word on transportation. Having a car isn’t necessary because you’ll meet people who live in-state who have their own cars, and people will be making enough Walmart runs that you’ll be able to get there. There isn’t a Walmart or grocery store within walking distance of the school that I know of (someone correct me if I’m wrong). Same with big movie theaters. But it doesn’t really matter freshman year because other people will have cars.</p>

<p>As far as airport transportation, do what you can to find a ride with a friend who lives in St. Louis or Kansas City when you’re going home for breaks. The MoX shuttle is there if you need it, but it’s a pretty big rip-off if you’re a student IMO. My way home for Thanksgiving break, they put us in a cramped, uncomfortable van, and it’s almost $100 round trip before tip. I just canceled my reservation for my trip back tomorrow because I found a ride from a friend in St. Louis (saved $50 from it too). If you absolutely can’t find someone who can give you a ride, then obviously that’s what you have to go with, but don’t do that unless it’s absolutely necessary.</p>

11

<p>Lots of good information here, thanks for posting your views.</p>

<p>I just have a few quick questions if anyone’s got the time. Interestingly enough, all of my questions have to do with Mark Twain. I know that it’s likely going to be closed due to renovation next year, but I talked with one of the Res Life directors a few weeks ago and he said the plans weren’t final and it might not happen, so I’m still keeping it in my options. (He also said that if it was renovated, the FIGS would move to Hudson.)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>You gave an interesting description of the Walter Williams Scholars in Mark Twain, but would you happen to know much about the Engineering FIGS in Mark Twain as well? I’ll be entering as a Computer Science major, and was hoping to be accepted to the Dean’s Scholars Program FIG for Engineering.</p></li>
<li><p>On the Res Life site ([Department</a> of Residential Life](<a href=“http://reslife.missouri.edu/housing2/hall_mark_twain.htm]Department”>http://reslife.missouri.edu/housing2/hall_mark_twain.htm)) it says that the only room style available in Mark Twain is a “Typical Double Room” - yet upon examining the floor plans, it seems like almost all of the rooms are Double Suites - which is true?</p></li>
<li><p>How’s the food over at Mark Twain Market? I’ve eaten in Plaza 900 a few times and have been told that’s the best cafeteria, but as Mark Twain is a fair distance away, I’d assume most students living there would tend to just to eat at Mark Twain Market most of the time?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks again for the info.</p>

12

<ol>
<li>Double Suites: 2 rooms ( = 4 girls or 4 boys) + bathroom.<br></li>
<li>Mark Twain Market stands between the best (Plaza 900) and the worst ( don’t remember which one). After three months being in dorm D. can not stand pizza and sandwiches anymore :-)</li>
</ol>

13

<ol>
<li><p>Engineering lives on the 1st and 2nd floors, so I rarely if ever find myself there. The few engineering people I’ve met have seemed pleasant enough, but I can’t say anything beyond that. </p></li>
<li><p>They’re all double suites, meaning two doubles, each containing a sink, have an adjoining bathroom that contains a shower and a toilet.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s college food. It’ll feed you, but most people eventually grow to dislike it just because it’s college food. My opinion is that food is going to be mediocre wherever you go to school, but that’s just me. Plaza is definitely better, although I never eat there because it’s almost a 10-minute walk, whereas Twain is just down the elevator.</p></li>
</ol>

14

<p>How would an OOS engineering major not in honors fare is such a big school?</p>

15

<p>I would recommend people to stay away from Walter Williams FIG, and say any Journalism FIG in Mark Twain. There are other journalism FIG’s in Hatch, Schurz, etc. which are in better locations on campus, nicer dorms, and for whatever reason, Mark Twain attracts some of the creepiest, annoying Journalism kids.</p>

<p>As for the party scene, as mentioned, there are two party scenes, the frats and then house/apartment parties. The frats are probably going to be too much hassle for the average guy not in a frat, who doesn’t know too many people in the frats. I know a friend I know in a frat was telling me about how his frat will take the girls for a group in and not let the guys in. But if you want to party in frats, it’s really not that hard. Simply make a legitimate friend in a frat, and you’ll get in no problem. (Just as if you were in a frat, you’d let your friends in). The frats might get a bad reputation, but I don’t think they have any obligation to let random guys in.</p>

<p>There are always parties going on off campus at apartments/houses. Usually of the bring your own beer variety, but that’s good, just have to have a friend who is over 21 to buy you some alcohol. (And at these parties, people will probably offer you a beer, jello shot, shots of whiskey/vodka/tequila etc, some hits of weed, etc. as long as your not a raging douscher).</p>

<p>steelerfan, you might just want to give it another year and wait it out before transferring. I know I enjoyed the first semester of my sophomore year than I did my freshman year socially. Even if you and the people in your dorms you know aren’t partying a ton this semester, if you move off campus like a lot of students at Mizzou, it will be you and your friends that you made in the dorms/freshmen year elsewhere who will start throwing some of the parties off campus when you’re sophomores, juniors, and seniors.</p>

<p>I think college is no different than high school, in where it gets better each and every year. You’re knowledge of the place your at will increase every year you’re there, you’re social circle will grow, and you’re fun level will grow as a result. If you’re just not enjoying it socially, and that is the only reason you’re transferring, you might want to think twice, as a lot of students who transfer somewhere have a lot of trouble socially. You just need to keep meeting new people and making new friends, before you start finding the right friends for you long term. I know that personally, only one of the friends I hung out with a ton my first semester of freshman year are still within my main circle of friends that I hang out with routinely.</p>

<p>Just keep your head up, try to meet new people, and don’t ever, ever, take another honors course that looks boring just by the name of the course, because you’re eyes will fall out from the resulting boredom from the course.</p>

16

<p>Actually my D. is very happy to be a part of Walter Williams FIG because:

  1. They are very tight community ( at least girls ), so she made a lot of friends during a few weeks.
  2. She knows the entire floor; and they have a lot of activities just there :-)<br>
  3. The majority of kids are absolutely normal kids who hang out until 2-3am, go to movies, frat parties, etc. </p>

<p>Yes, Mark Twain dorm is pretty old, but she likes the location: 5-10 minutes to all her classes + almost downtown.</p>