Missouri University of Science and Technology Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Paul

Take ap classes get ahead, have fun, stay involved life like you dont have any other life to live

Cassi

I'd tell myself that studying is key, to learn as much as possible through textbooks that were available, to take advantage of the help sessions that were offered, as well as join study groups. I'd tell myself not to stress about not knowing anyone at the school, as it is easy to make friends here. A lot of the students come from similar backgrounds and are really easy to get along with, regardless of what their major is.

Brandon

Choose a major. Pick a college that is known for excellence in that major.

Michael

First decide on the general carrer track you want to take, be it medical to engineering, and find a well respected college where you know your potential will be reached. After a year of school, decide your specific degree, as doing it too early can be limiting. Most of all, find the college that can match your learning style, as well as promote your abilities so you can be prepared for your carrer.

Kelli

Not all schools are the same. Just because it was the best option for one student, doesn't mean it's going to be like that for another. Don't pick a school unless you can picture yourself there in the future, and you're happy. You might get an education, but in my experience the environment is just as important as the professors you have and the classes you take. When I found UMR, i got this overwhelming feeling in the pit of my stomach that said "this is your school". And I decided to attend there because I felt comfortable there, and it had everything that I needed to make my college experience great. To truly be happy, and to become a successful adult, I believe every student should find a school where they get that great feeling, where they know that they will be truly accepted and loved, throughout their entire college carreer.

Gary

Make sure they go to a college right for them and specializes in what they want to do.

Elen

I would first ask the person what they enjoy, what makes them excited. Therefore, they should seek a college/university that offers something along those lines. Whatever makes them feel complete and drives them to be a part of that is a major factor in choosing the right college/university. For me, my goal is to build and fly space vehicles and I believe that the school I have chosen is the right one. So the parent and/or student should find out what they have enjoyed the most so far and the student should go after that thing they have enjoyed.

Kimber

When choosing a school, visit the campus and get a good feel before deciding to enroll. In order to make the most out of the college experience, do not shy away from school work to become more social. It's important to make friends and have fun but being involved with the college will give you your social outlet. Join extra-curricular activities and student design teams to make a difference. Always make sure your school work comes before any social activities.

Franklin

My advice to students trying to find the right college is to know yourself. The toughest decison is knowing what type of environment you want to be in for the next 4+ years of your life, also think ahead on what you would actually like to do for the rest of your life. Alot of degree field show you the money you can make with that degree, but what is money if you cant enjoy yourself at your place of work.

Jarred

I wouldn't have good advice for that besides find a place with people who like to do what you like to do.

Michelle

The best advice I can give is to make those campus visits, and then do more than just the tour. Talk individually to the person in charge of the department you're entering. Also, taste the food in the cafeteria, not just what they give you on the tour. It will make a big difference in the meal plan you select, which could save you hundreds. Tour the town, find the nearest grocery store, and then find a bank that your parents can easily transfer money to, because chances are you will blow your savings within the first year or so. Look at the Greek life as an option, you may not think it's for you until you meet some people, or you may decide it's not for you after all. Each house is different, so don't make a rash judgement. Most of all though, keep your GPA high in the first few semesters because after that school gets hard!

Jared

Start early and take your time. Visitnig a college is a good way to get to know it. One of the most important things about a college is staff. Staff members (example: advisors, fin. aid workers, etc) who want to help you succeed are more valuable than anything else.

Michael

If you plan to go to a very hard college, ask the students what they believe to be the hardest classes. For example, most of the students as Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly UMR) will say that they are the math classes. Then go take those classes at another college and transfer them in.

Anna

It's difficult to decide on the 'right' college. There are many factors to consider: size, social life, academics, location, extracurriculars, etc. First off, don't pick a college based on the social life. While you want to be happy and have friends, wherever you are there will always be people around you to make friends and have your own kind of fun (even if its not what society considers fun!). Personally, I don't beleive that there are many bad colleges out there. They all are trying their best to teach you all they can. In the end, one major is as good as another. Finally: never pick a major because you will make a lot of money! Especially if it is a difficult major, it is hard to force yourself to learn something that you don't enjoy. Major in something so that 10 years from now, you can wake up every day and be happy to go to work because you are doing something you enjoy!

Alex

The best advice to anyone looking for the right college is to find a place you think you will make friends. It is important that the school of your choice will help you succeed in your future, care about you as a student, and has much to offer for housing and meals (etc.). However more importantly, if you find the school that you are able to make friend then all those other things will work themselves out. Every school has many benefits and many pitfalls. If you are happy and enjoying your time at college, then those benefits will come easy and the pitfalls will be even easier to overcome. If you are happy and enjoying your time at college you will find everything you need.

Gregory

what is most afforfable yet, provides good education. also, the eviroment (in general) that the school is/has. most 18 year olds don't exactly know what they want.

Cynthia

I would suggest touring several schools and trying to talk tostudents that attend the college. Make sure the colleges are in your price range or you can get enough financial aid. Look at schools geared towards what the student is interested in studying, but if the student is undecided, then look at schools that offer a broad range of majors. Make sure the student is happy with the size of the college town and campus as well as the types of extracurricular activies offered. Also, ensure the student is positive about the ratio of genders and ethnicities. I personally struggle with the exceeding amount of men compared to women at my school. Don't be afraid to choose community college if the student is extremely undecided. On the other hand, I would recommend starting at a university as a freshman in order to meet a lot of people and develop strong friendships. Dorm bonding is a big thing for social success.

Jeff

Find a college that suits you. Some people, like me prefer smaller colleges compared to bigger ones. Make sure the surroundings of the college suit your needs. If you need to be in a city to have fun, don't go to a school in the country. If you like the outdoors, don't attend school in the concrete jungle. Be active, don't hide in your room all day because you don't know anyone, get out there and find people to hang out with. It was hard for me going to an out-of-state school because I didn't know anyone, but as soon as I got the courage to look for people to hang out with, I gained an incredible amount of friends. Good luck with your search!

Laura

You need to make sure you go to a school that has what you're most interested, and even your second and third choices. After a year at your school and you find out your major isn't what you want to do anymore, having your backups offered there also will be a great help. Meeting people is extremely important. Your first two weeks spend as much time saying hi to random people in class or at lunch as you can. Pick at least one or two organizations to join, even if you don't stay involved in them, you'll meet a lot of people that way and you'll have something to do other than homework.

Keith

Talk to your high school counsellors, and look online. Make a list of things that you think you may wish to do after you graduate, find a list of degrees that will allow you to do those things, and then find colleges with those degree programs.

keith

I believe the most important thing is to go to a college that fits you long term goals. Don't think about the parties and girls think more about a job and your career.

Rebecca

When choosing a college, always visit the campus before you make your decision. When you visit, choose a time when class is in session, sit in a couple of classes (if they will let you) and talk to some of the students. Explore the campus and the surrounding town. From these activities, you should be able to determine whether or not you fit the college or if the college fits you. Once you are in college, make time to study and do well in classes (you're there to get a degree, why not earn a decent GPA too?). Also, allow time to relax from studying, because too much studying will stress you out. It is possible to have a socal life and do well in college; study groups are great at this.

Frank

Chose a school based on your needs and your wants, not just the school that gives you the best scholarships. Finding the school that matches your personality is harder than being accepted into an Ivy League program. Visit different campuses, apply to the schools where you are most comfortable, and get to know the faculty. Campus visits show you the personality of a campus like pictures or videos never could. Don?t apply to the schools where you wouldn?t want to just spend the day on the campus. If you aren?t enjoying the atmosphere, it will become a detriment to your college career. The faculty has the most influence on how you will be spending your time while in college. Sit in on a class, talk to the professors of your Major, and make sure you are friendly with the secretaries and faces of the department.

Ji

Have knowledge about the school from alumni and professors. Planning off-campus livings and financial aid.

Frank

Start early in selecting the right college to attend, and keep your mind open. Start off with a list of many colleges that sound like they could work, and narrow them down slowly but persistently by talking to your counselors and teachers who know you enough to help you decide. Try to visit colleges you are seriously considering, or at least talk to students from there that have similar interests; through e-mail, in person, or on Facebook. Take a variety of classes in high school to give you an idea of what to study in college. Only get into a school or field if it seems right for you, not because someone told you to or because you think it would make you look good. Once you get to college do not be afraid to branch out, try new things, or switch majors or even schools if something does not feel right to you. Focus on your studies, and learn beyond the basic requirements of courses that you enjoy. Also, join extracurricular activites and groups; those are important too. Finally don't forget to keep a reasonable social life; friends are important-you can learn from them too.

Neil

Look also at the community that the college is located. Make sure you have a planned budget throughout the year, including gas and vehicle maintenance. Also make sure that the social atmosphere at whatever school you choose is what you want, ie. make sure its somewhere you can spend four years or more if needed. Finally, check the avaibility of jobs for graduating students in both your major, school, and people graduating from that school with the same majors.

Rachel

Talk to as many current students as possible on campus visits to determine if you would really fit in. Be picky. Don't get stuck at a degree/field-specific school if you think you might want to change majors later. Focus on doing well in classes from the very beginning. It's too difficult to fix your GPA later on. Attend your classes. It makes a bigger difference than you realize. Make best friends in the beginning. Be open to new ones.

Chris

No thanks

Krista

Talk to students that already attend the university.

Jeremy

To make the most of any college experience, you have to get out and do things. College can be demanding, but it will eat you alive if you cannot create a good balance of work and social interacting. One must also stay focused on work when it needs to be done and try to not fall too far behind because it's near impossible to catch back up.

Patrick

Find a college where you feel most comfortable, and that has alot to offer.

Danny

n.a.

Daniel

Choose the college that fits your personality best. I chose an engineering school because I have a passion for learning how things work and because I've built contraptions in my room since I was young. I still do. Everyone has something that they are interested in and they should choose the college that allows them to pursue those interests. Get active, make friends, and get out of your comfort zone. If you dive in and get involved right away, you'll have plenty show off in an interview. Along with that, having a good group of friends will build your character so that you can impress employers and land the job of your fancy. I wouldn't have had a fighting chance in landing a Co-Op if it weren't for my involvement at the fraternity and taking on leadership roles in design teams at school. I also would have missed out on some of the best times of my life and the best friends in my life. Last, but not least, do your homework and study! To sum it up, do your due diligence in school, get involved, make friends, and do what you want!

Samantha

Parents: You remember the story of Tom Sawyer and the whitewashed fence? No one wants to do something they are obliged to do. You have already picked out what school would be best for your child, but you have to accept that if you try to force your child to go there, it will become the last place they want to go. Try to find several schools that you would be okay with and casually point out some of those schools' redeeming qualities and some of the other schools' downfalls. In this way, you can quietly encourage your child to choose a school that will be a good match for them. They are listening, they just don't want you to know that. Students: Talk to your parents. After you visit a school (which you must do!) then sit down with them and make a pros and cons list. Keep all of these lists and use them to decide which school will be your best match. Whether an item makes the pro or con list, will aid your discussion with your parents. It will help to match how they see you, with who you are and what you need.

Kohryn

I think it's most important to find the school that's right for you and your major -- even if there aren't very many campus programs, you'll still meet people and make friends without having to deal with all the campiness and cheesiness of on campus activities. Even if you make friends though, realizing that you're attending a school that does not truly cater to your major, and doesn't cater to your other interests you'll always feel like you missed pursuing them. Just because a school has other factors that interest you like having few or many students, having a good teacher to student ratio (preventing lots of large lecture classes), or is close to your home--all of these factors are important, but if the school is great except for the fact that your major is not well represented, the school is not the right school. Keeping your major (and your other interests, which could lead to a minor or a second major) in mind is the most crucial thing when picking a college.

Brad

Make sure you visit the campus (especially during a normal school day). Walk around to see what the campus experience is like there; every campus is different. Find someone (either via friends, Facebook/MySpace, anything) who has attended or, better yet, is attending the college and ask them how they feel about it personally. If this person knows you, ask them if they feel that the college would be a good fit for you. Ultimately, you need to look inward and figure out what the heck it is you're trying to do. Are you serious about getting the best education money can buy? If so, try searching Google for some respectable, neutral sources for reviews/ratings about the "top college" in your chosen area of study. The final decision is yours, so make sure you find a place where you could see yourself graduating and entering the "real" world from.

James

Visit! And don't just visit on the days that are "tour days." Show up and surprise the campus when they are not expecting it. Walk around while students are attending classes. Try to talk to random students, they are actually going through what you will be going through. Try to get a feel for the atmosphere there, because it really sucks to end up somewhere you hate. Also be sure of your choose, because transfering is very hard, and you never get as much money in scholarships if you transfer. Don't choose a school becuase of its good reputation, this is most likly based on its prevouse history. Unfortunatly some schools right now think that they need to change what they have been doing right for many years. They end up destroying what they had going on. In the end you have to visit, and find out for yourself.

John

Visit colleges and find the ONE that mkes you comfortable and gives you that "wow, this is where I belong" feeling.

Alexander

Study, study, study! Make good study habits right of the bat and continue them. Studying is the key to success at college.

Keith

If I had to give some advice it would be to students and I would say; "dont pressure yourself about things like social life and money those things will come, focus on bigger more important things like the quality of education you will recieve or the job placement of the college."

Scott

Choose a college with special empasis on your chosen major, as well as one with a smaller, tighter community. This will give you the most oportunity for education beyond the classroom and the curriculum.

JUSTIN

check out professors.

Bryan

For most parents and students the underlying factor is cost, sadly that should rarely be the case. When applying over several colleges, the area of study you wish to persue should be well known and in competition with other near by colleges. This allows the the students not to be filled into a college just because it is the only one that offers the needed programs and it was affordable. With regards to living life as a college student, one key phrase summons it up: "don't be stuck in the dorm rooms all day, get out and live". You don't want your entire college experience to be remembered as the blank wall opposite your couch.

Joe

Make sure that you are happy at the school or you will never make it 4 years. You will know the school you want to go to when you visit for the first time and you are excited. If you aren't excited, it's not for you. Find a place to live that is social enough for you. Don't live in a place that you don't think you will feel comfortable in socially. Keep focused on what you will do when you graduate, but make sure to have fun while you're in school.

April

Don't let money be the issue for not going to college. There are lots of grants/scholarships and even loans out there to help pay for it. Make sure the college you want to go to has the program you want. Decide which college and what program you want to study while in highschool, don't wait until after you graduate. If you can, try to go for a college that doesn't have a lot of students in each class. You could try a college where the instructor will be able to help you outside of class. See if the college has ways to help you find a job after you graduate. Don't let intelligence be an issue for not going to college. I'm sure there are loads of colleges that will help you with most problems you have in school.

Breenae

For parents and/or students faced with the decision of picking a school, dont panic and dont settle. Make your decision based on where you see your future going. But you also have to take into consideration location, money, and the best program for your major. Are you the type that gets home sick and want to run home every weekend. If so stay close but not to close. Far enough so that you can focus. Some time the best school isnt the most expernsive. Dont make your decision solely off cost, but dont put you self in a financial strain. Unsubsidized loans are the loans where interest occurs as soon as you money is dispursed and you dont want to be knee deep in debt. Dont pick a school based on the parties. Its ok to have fun at school, but you really need a balance. Cherish college, the real work is harsh.

Aaron

The advice I would give to parents and prospective students is to choose a school that reflects your own personality, your own ambition, and your choice in carrer. You have to choose very important qualities about the school, such as size, focus on athletics if you are an athlete, availability and ease of living quarters, and the availability of on campus activities. However, whichever school you do end up choosing, it all comes down to finding your niche at that school. Whether that means having a close group of friends from high school joining you there, or joining an athletic team or club or activity that you are interested in, all that matters is to surround yourself with people that all want to achieve what you want to achieve, and allow them to push you to achieve your goals. So long as you can find yourself surrounded by people like that, it will be so much easier to adjust to college life, and you will have a much higher chance for success than if you try to go through it on your own.

my

find something you want to do, then do it

Kevin

Meet with your class advisors, and try to get a set path made out early. The sooner you know what it is that you want to major in, the easier it will be to graduate on time. Also, this is a school you want to attend without transferring in. I was a transfer student, and I tend to notice that I appeared to have a rougher time getting used to the campus life as compared to someone who had came straight to Missouri S&T.

Alexandra

The best way to find the right school depends on what the student wants to major in. I want to major in engineering and I knew that so I went to an all engineering school. If you're not certain which major you're going into, but have some ideas choose a school that is strong in at least one of your possible majors, but also has some of the other majors you may end up going into so that you do not need to switch schools in the middle of your college experience. Also, be sure to choose a location that suits you and also go for a college that works for you financially.