University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

Before attending Mizzou I wish I would have known how important financial aid is and why it is stressed the way it is when applying to colleges.

I wish I had know that the school is HORRIBLE at giving financial aid. Even though I got a 32 on the ACT, I only recieved $2,000 a year and a loan that accures intrest while I'm in school! ....and that was it. The school has little to no merit based aid so if your set on attending Mizzou find some alternative scholarships because the school won't give you any money. It isn't horribly expensive, more so than other MO colleges, but it really sucks how I have to scramble for funds.

I wish I had known that it is more of a state school and many students go home on the weekend or on four-day weekends. I also wish I had known that many of the students recieved scholarships because they are residents of the state Missouri, whereas I am not a resident of Missouri and am very limited in my scholarship availabilities.

I wish I'd known at the beginning what I wanted to study, and how to get the most out of my classes.

I wish I had known a little more about the campus. I did not realize how large it was, and how close the maps make everything look. I have to say though, being able to ask othes about the locations of buildings and/or parking garages really opens the door to making friends and establishing yourself.

I would have liked to have know more about the high quality of the professors, as it would have excited me even more to study here.

Before coming to the University of Missouri in Columbia I wish I had known how much more difficult a college test was compared to a high school one. I probably should of assumed this but it still managed to catch me off guard and make my first round of test quite challenging. Also there is a big difference in a school like MU and a smaller liberal arts school, the classes are harder. Your GPA will be lower than your friends' GPA's at a small school.

I wish I had known or rather grasped the concept of time management. In high school, I never studied but I got good grades. Mizzou is a big school and it's a sink or swim environment. The amount of activities and parties and just distractions are so numerous, it is very easy to lose sight of what you're there for and to sink in a sense. Time management is key, it's vital. Utilize it. Embrace it. At any college you will need it.

The workload is every intense. I would say that you need to study at least 2 hours for every hour that you spend in class. Also it is essential to go to class. Believe it or not professors really notice and they take note. If you are in a big lecture class, it would behoove you to sit in the first 3 rows to get away from distractions. Make sure you go to professors office hours as much as you can to develop a relationship with them.

I wish I had known the campus layout better, as I was completely lost the first week or so. I also wish I had known some of my professors or been able to talk with former students in deciding which classes to select.