<p>hey everyone,</p>
<p>I've been reading the threads on truman and most of them seem pretty old. I would like to go to truman in fall 2011 but I'm quite nervous about the location and the town of kirksville. Coming from africa the lack of malls is kirksville is not that big of a deal, however I'm looking for the ultimate college experience, one VERY different from my country. So I would like to know more about what you can do at truman? How do you get to other cities such as chicago? Just basically information about Truman about why I should attend it! Also my parents are a little apprehensive about me going to a school located in the' middle of nowhere' so i need a lot of points to help convince them ! Please :)</p>
<p>My son is a senior at Truman, graduating this May. He has received a wonderful education, made good friends, knows the faculty in his major really well, and overall has had a very positive experience. But I am sure the thing he would most like to change is that Kirksville is such a small town and relatively isolated. He had a car all 4 years which helped a lot, but even if you don’t you will quickly make friends and one of them will.</p>
<p>
I don’t know what it is like in your country, but there is no “typical” college experience here in the USA because there are sooo many different kinds of schools of different sizes in very different locations. In the sense that Kirksville is a college town (although it is the county seat also so it does have decent if limited stores and restaurants) you will get an experience that is very centered around the college. But even at urban universities, the college experience is what you make of it. The more involved you get, the better it is usually.</p>
<p>Truman is very safe, which should make your parents feel better. While it is a complete pain to get to Truman from any major airport, being in “the middle of nowhere” (and it is!) is otherwise not really a negative unless you really want the malls and other amenities that go with being in a bigger city.</p>
<p>BTW, Chicago is a fairly long trip. It is far more likely you would go to St. Louis or Kansas City, both about 3 hours away. You would have to have a friend with a car, though.</p>
<p>I really do highly recommend Truman, but only if you are OK with those logistical concerns.</p>