University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

There are so many things I have gained from my college experience at the University of Missouri. It was there that I have made wonderful lifelong friends, and developed a strong support system through professors and advisors. This college has helped me to challege myself, expect more of myself and have the confidence I need to follow through, and appreciate and respect others who are different than me. It was here at the University of Missouri that I became the person I wanted to be and to me that is the most valuable thing I have gained from my college experience. Thank you MU for helping me attain my goals, despite the challeges I have had to overcome due to my learning disability. You gave me the support and knowledge I needed in order to be successful in life.

I have gotten a second chance. I spent my first two academic years at a junior college. After graduating with my A.A. I joined the Marines and learned what real manual labor was about. Since then I have placed more emphasis on my education to embetter my quality of life than ever before. I feel like a new world has opened up to me since first attending 'Mizzou'. The quality of education and the academic environment here feels like it's world class after coming from a junior college. I definatly feel that these factors have given me a second chance at a carreer I would want to pursue.

The experience that I have received since being in college, is very different from high school. The professors will teach you what you need to know to be successful. College is a place where they prepare you for the real world. They care about what you do after college because you represent them. As I think back on high school, I use to play around. Now that I'm in college I put away all childish things. I realized that college is very fast pace. There is no time to be missing class because you don't feel like it. I will get all my education because somebody just paid for me to go to school to make a difference in these United States of America. When you look at this world it should inspire you to want to be in college, and be the best you can be at all times. Being in college has been so valuable to me because I am the ninth person to gradauate from high school and go off to college,in my family. I have to be an example to my peers and my family no matter what.

Attending college has allowed me to interact with a variety of people who represent the population I'll be working with professionally upon graduating. I once had a house cleaning business, which was isolating and intellectually dissatisfying. Being in school--around many people--has taught me about others' values and belief systems that I will encounter in the workforce. I prefer to work alone, but being in school has taught me how to work with others in group projects and get along with others who I must interact with on a daily basis. *Overall, being in school has made me more skilled in interacting with others socially, which is crucial in the workforce and in life.* Because advisors and teachers always tell us students that the workforce is so competitive, I had always assumed my future employers would have unrealistically high expectations that I wouldn't be able to meet, and I feared I wouldn't be successful professionally after graduating. However, being around 30,000 other students has put into perspective the reality of the professional world. I've realized that most people who graduate will find jobs, and will make professional progress throughout life, so I can, too.

Even though I am only a freshman, college has taught me a lot. The first day of class, I suddenly became a proffessional adult. The job discription was criptice but so far I've learned to fend for myself (clean laudry and groceries don't magically appear anymore). Along with triple checking the sylubus and how to correctly write an e-mail, I've learned that being ahead of the game is the easiest way to succeed. College has shown me that, like high school, there will always be idiots and temptations, but being an adult is figuring out how to appropriately include both into your life. From here on out, the choices can be life-altering and it helps to think of the big picture--and what you may be giving up--whenever you feel like a frat would be more fun than outlining a speech. My one piece of advice for someone who starts to feel lost: find a friend who knows what they're doing and is nice enough to explain things slowly. Above all, I have matured and I can only hope that I will continue to do so for the rest of my college experience.

From my experience at MU, I have a feeling of accomplishment and independence. Coming to MU and having a dorm room on my own during my freshman year, and an apartment off-campus on my own this year, I feel good about being self-reliant, self-motivated, and am enjoying my classes tremendously. I've met a lot of professors and had the privilege of work-study for two years, and have been able to work for them in many instances. They have been as much a guidance in helping me determine a major as my academic advisor. I'm glad I've come to MU and hope to be able to continue attending and finishing up my first 4 years in Columbia.

During the first few weeks of my freshman year I couldn't help feeling a bit lonely, I was away from all of my family and freinds, in an unfamiliar bed and an unfamiliar city. What I quickly learned was that joining organizations is a great way to feel like you're not alone. I joined the Marching band, and I joined a service sorority for the bands at Mizzou, and by getting involved I realized that everybody else here was feeling the same way that I was. Meeting people is difficult, especially when the only place you really have for introductions is during a class when everybody is trying to pay attention. My advice to new college students would be to get involved in activities that you are interested in, and the University of Missouri-Columbia has something for everyone! Whether you interests are Marching Band, Art, Music, Sports, or Academics, there is something for everyone.

So far, I have recieved a lot of knowledge, met a lot of new and nice people, and most importantly I dont regret choosing to attend the University of Missouri. I was nervous at first because I did not know what to expect and I am the first in my immediate family to attend college so I did not have any role models to show me the ropes. Once I stepped foot on campus, I was instantly welcomed and honored for making it thus far. Attending college was the best decision I've ever made coming from a high crime rate neighborhood. Being able to weigh out my options and finally live in a peaceful enviornment where I can further my education is the greatest gift and opportunity I could have ever received. I thank my mom for encouraging me and now the positive peers and energy I am surrounded by. I am going to take advantage of it and use it to move forward in life. My overall experience has, thus far, led me down a path where I know the only way to go is up and success is right around the corner.

In my brief time here at the University of Missouri-Columbia I have found the value in diversity. I discovered the ability to self-motivate myself to work when I want to, managing my time so that I can accomplish my goals in life. I have also had my interests in fields such as chemistry and biology piqued as teachers teach me amazing amounts of theoretical knoweldge that they then explain in a real world setting- demonstrating it's usefulness. I hope to further my experiences here by further participating in research related activities, hopefully volunteering in a clinic setting, and much more. I know that without having attended this school I would never have met the great friends I now have, the great memories, the knoweldge, the experiences both academic, co-curricular, and social. I do not know if I would pick this school again if I had the choice, but now that I am here, I am glad.

As I am still attending the two year Community College in my area, I have felt blessed with the opportunity to attend such a great school, with such a wonderful environment. When I take a seat next to a stranger on the first day of the semester, a few weeks later that stranger will become my best friend; or when I take a stroll through town and see a professor of mine, we will always stop and chat for a few minutes. However, school is not all about making friends, it is about the educational growth. As I grew up attending high school, I always loved to be challenged in everything I did. Everyday I spent in class, my college prepatory school followed its duty of teaching me how to best succeed and raise to the everyday challenge my professors would someday provide. A challenge that I, to this day, would still very much enjoy.