Truman State University Top Questions

Academics at truman are very good. i am proud to know that my diploma from truman will be looked well upon by other schools. the teachers are very intelligent on their particular subjects and even though they may be a little too smart for their own good sometimes i am lucky to have this education!

I love it at Truman, but compared to my friends's stories at their colleges, Truman demands way too much. My course load even during a 12 credit semester can be ridiculous. I feel like I'm constantly doing homework, always studying, teachers never give a break, and constantly staying up late, missing activities, etc. because of my homework. Some of my professors didn't even know my name by the end of the semester. I think students are studying at least 6-8 hours a night, including weekends. I know I have spend over 20 hours in two days studying for one test. I feel like there is so much pressure to succeed and do well, but no one helps you actually achieve this. I feel like the academics need to be toned down a bit.

Truman is getting a very good reputation as a pre-med school, and is known to be pretty solid everywhere else. The students, only half-jokingly, refer to the school as the Harvard of the Midwest. Most of the degree programs are pretty tough, and most of the students have graduate school aspirations. The professors do really get to know you after a while, and most of them are pretty good. The economics department is reasonably solid, and the faculty even lets you do research during your undergrad years. The school puts on an undergraduate research conference every year to showcase the variety of research done by Truman students. The students really care about class as a rule, and it can be competitive, but never spiteful.

Academis at Truman are AWESOME!!! I truely feel like I received the best undergrad education possible! The teachers push you, and you learn so much from it. The professors definitely know you by name, and you can become really close with your major professors. Many Truman students go on to grad school, so classes are geared towards that, especially exercise science classes. Since Truman is a liberal arts university, every studen leaves with a wide variety of knowledge. Your JINS class your junior year ties together multiple disciplines. Many students dislike these classes, but mine was very enjoyable (it was about religion, health and healing) and it was a good way to emphasize why a liberal arts education is important and how it can be applied to your future career.

Truman is a liberal arts school. Naturally, students are required to take core "LSP" classes over a broad range of disciplines, as well a courses within thier major. Sure, there is always one or two subjects that we despise or feel ungifted in. But if you're not interested in anything more than just CHEMISTRY or BUSINESS or ENGLISH, then you will find the LSP requirements very cumbersome and quite annoying. Don't come to Truman. I truly believe Truman is dedicated to developing the life-long learner who has an appreciation and knowledge of many different subjects, and that is why I came. But please, please don't be that person who chooses Truman and then complains constantly about what it requires. We have enough of those!

The professors seem to learn your name fairly quick. My favorite class was either Spanish or Public Speaking. The teachers were amazing and invested in the students. My least favorite class was biology because the teacher used powerpoints that were pretty much of no help as they were word for word out of the book. She overcomplicated things, but couldn't explain them in latent terms. I also disliked it because I felt she was trying to impress other staff members with her tests instead of test us on our comprehension. The tests often times blew me out of the water; I had a hard time even understanding what was being asked. Students study fairly often and if they don't keep up you will find them pulling all nighters to get the work completed. Class participation is very common and some teachers base a percentage of grades on it. Students have fun when they get free time, but are very intelligent for the most part so intellectual conversations can occur. Students seem pretty competitive, although, I think many get burnt out to carry it through the whole year. World Music is probably the most unique class I took. I am a ComDis major and feel that the staff members are experts in their field. Often times they can be very intimidating. My major classes was one of my hardest because I was really challenged with the amount of information I was supposed to obtain and elaborate on. Time spent with professors out of class is a rare occurence. Truman emphasizes life long learning but it is my hope that Truman is geared toward preparing us to market ourselves for our desired jobs. I guess I will see in five years how that goes.

This school is way to hard. Truman strives for excellence but fails because the classes are often irrelavant in respect to the real world.

Every professor I've had at Truman, including general education/liberal studies program professors, remembers me and my name. It's nice to be able to meet with your professor to discuss problems or your progress in class. The professors are very open to that and are concerned about progress. I've only had about two classes in a large classroom, and it was because it was a general education class (like Chemistry and Statistics). Students study pretty often, even for the general education classes, but it's not overly time consuming if you know how to manage your time -- and you HAVE to know how to manage your time. I would definitely say that class participation and intellectual conversations outside of class are common. Students also definitely compete academically because success is so important for many students, but certainly not all of them. Truman's academic requirements are different from regular public universities because it's a liberal arts school (and the only one in the state of Missouri). It's a really unique experience, but it's certainly not for everyone. The education at Truman is not geared toward one job in particular because of the liberal arts program, but it prepares students for work, without a question. Truman also prepares students for further education, like graduate school, because there is a lot of focus on thinking critically.

"The professors know your name" is the new slogan at Truman and to some degree its true. Some professors do know your name, others don't care as much. Overall, professors at Truman, challenge their students. Truman is set up so that each student is challenged, a student has to take classes in each field. Thats the beauty of a Liberal Arts Eduation. In general, if you're a student at Truman, you're a nerd, and deep down enjoy the academic challenge. You don't go to Truman if you want an easy degree. You go for the satisfaction of leaving in (hopefully) 4 years knowing that you worked your butt off and accomplished the goal you set out for. You may not have always gotten the grade you wanted or desevered. But you suvived and you walked away all the better for it.

Professors are very accessible, and although the school is demanding, it is very manageable.