Any Walter Williams scholars on this forum who can share your experiences as part of this program?
Had you also considered the Ernie Pyle scholars program at the Media School at IU? Any significant advantages of one program over the other?
Thanks in advance.
I’m not a Walter Williams scholar, but since there aren’t a lot of other people on this forum I can tell you what I know. A lot of the Walter Williams scholars (there aren’t a ton, like maybe 40 in the freshman class) live together on a couple of floors in Mark Twain residence hall; I’m friends with a few of them and they’re all pretty close are in a FIG together. They have a couple of benefits, like a study abroad scholarship, and faculty advisor, I think, but other than that they’re just like the other journalism students. Everyone who’s a Walter Williams scholar is also a part of the honors college, so that gives them those benefits too. I think it’s what you make of it.
If you get admitted to the Honors College are you automatically in this or is this a separate designation that you are invited to? My son has been direct admitted to the J school and admitted to the Honors College through the alternate app process. I think he will want to live in housing with other J school people. If there is a honors and J school together, that would be perfect. Sorry to butt in on the thread, but as the other contributor pointed out, it’s pretty quiet in general here. Nice to see some discussion. My son is definitely leaning towards Mizzou.
If he meets the [url=<a href=“https://journalism.missouri.edu/programs/undergraduate/starting-your-program/journalism-scholars-and-walter-williams-scholars/%5Drequirements%5B/url”>https://journalism.missouri.edu/programs/undergraduate/starting-your-program/journalism-scholars-and-walter-williams-scholars/]requirements[/url] then he is automatically admitted, but if he had to apply for alternative admission then I’m guessing he doesn’t meet the automatic admit requirements. In Mark Twain, they have regular honors journalism housing and also Walter Williams, so he could still be on an honors floor and get that experience.
Thank you @CE527M. I thought I understood that there was regular J school honors and then other levels. Sometimes it’s a little confusing which is which, but I think that housing option will be great. He really was impressed with the Honors presentation and I am excited for the opportunities he will have.
Just something to consider - Mark Twain is on the literal outskirts of campus. Yes, it is new and nice, but it is also very far away from a lot of things. I know of a few people from my school choosing to do journalism but live somewhere more in the center of campus.
That’s true, Twain is on the outskirts of campus, but I think it’s worth it to be in a journalism community (whether that be TLC or FIG), and all the journalism res halls are on the outskirts of campus (the others, College Avenue and Hatch, are on east campus). Plus, Twain’s close to downtown. Living closer to the center of campus means living in a res hall with very few other journalism kids, which isn’t a bad thing, but if @CAMidwestMom thinks her son would want to live with other journalism kids, then Twain’s the way to go, especially if he’s honors.
Thanks @CE527M, this is very helpful info and thank you also @whitespace. I actually pulled up a map and looked at three halls, Hatch, Twain and one other one College something? Plus, there is the option of Schurz, but that’s just Honors as far as I can tell and not J school. Anyway, it did seem that any of those choices are on the outside, but Twain looks to be all on its own whereas the others are closer. Is that right? I did think the location of Twain, by Peace Park, might actually be cool, but he will have to decide. I do think he will pick it if he can due to wanting to be with Honors J kids. Thank you again!
Correct, College Ave, Hatch, and Schurz are on East Campus, which is about a 7-10 minute walk away from the center of campus. The center of campus is about a 10-15 minute walk from Twain. The big thing people say is that Twain is closer to the j-school, but that wouldn’t be more applicable until the second semester, when he’d probably take more journalism classes. The first semester his classes will be all over campus. I live on the East Campus side and it’s nice to not be too far away, but I’m jealous of the Twain kids who can walk to the Taco Bell right near them and everything else that’s right downtown. It’s all on its own, so dining hall options are limited aside from the one there, unless the residents feel like walking, but on the upside, yes, it’s near Peace Park and also MKT Trail.
Thank you again. Can I ask if you know much about Greek life?
I know some general things about it. I didn’t rush and can’t speak to specifics on different chapters, but I know general things about it as a whole.
Thanks, I appreciate you answering questions here! I am just wondering if being in a fraternity will be too demanding time-wise w/the other stuff he has going on. He was initially not interested in Greek life, but he has a friend in a fraternity and now has changed his tune a bit. My d was in a sorority at another MO school and it was very demanding time-wise, but in some ways, it was a good thing as they had mandatory study times etc.
No problem, always glad to help!
I think it’s what you put into it. There are mandatory study times and stuff like that, and it’s definitely a significant time commitment, though I think he can choose exactly how much of a priority he wants to make it. Someone who serves on the exec board for their fraternity, for example, will spend significantly more time involved than just a regular member. There are also a couple times when he’d be busier, like Homecoming week when the sororities and fraternities make floats and do skits. Greek Week (which is coming up) is also another big one. I guess it depends on how demanding his classes and plus the other activities he’s involved in. Typically, most Greek students are pretty heavily involved with other stuff and they seem to manage, though, of course, you also have your students who will just party all the time and their grades will suffer.
My daughter is a WW Scholar who does not live in the FIG. So far she has really enjoyed the program. She did join Greek LIfe and is enjoying every aspect of Mizzou.