University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Kelsie

I love it! It has a beautiful green campus, one of the prettiest in the nation and Columbia, MO although in the middle of nowhere as some people would say since it is mid Missouri is so eco friendly and you barely need a car, you can walk everywhere. Also everyone is so welcoming and kind; college student or not. Our Journalism program and football and basketball teams bring in diversity and a lot of students from all over, including, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, the list goes on and on.

Angela

The school is a good size. While there are many people, it is easy to know everyone. There is definitely a lot of school pride. This comes from sports and our rivalry with KU. It is a college town of the midwest. The downtown area has something for everyone whether it is shopping, eating at all types of restaurants, concerts or bars. People can definitely choose their own lifestyle. If one feels like being social, there are always large groups of people hanging out on campus. However, if it is time to crack down and study, Ellis library offers a quiet escape for ultimate concentration. With the Student Success Center in a central location, it is easy to get the tutoring or advice you need for that perfect GPA. The Career Center will also help students every step of the way to build a resume, do mock interviews, and write cover letters, so life after college is much less daunting. The University of Missouri is perfect for students striving for success. The four core values of the college are Respect, Responsibility, Diversity, and Excellence, and these are the things people get out of their college education at Mizzou.

Shelby

There's a lot to be said about Mizzou. When I first applied here, I chose it as a backup school, which ended up being the most financially affordable option for me and I have not regretted coming here since the week I first began. The best and simultaneously worst thing about Mizzou is its size. University of Missouri - Columbia has over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled at any given time. This means, that if you don't really ask questions or find and utilize your resources, you can easily get swept under the rug. However, if you do take advantage of all that Mizzou has to offer (and trust me, it's a LOT) the university will really set you up for success. The biggest thing here is that you determine the quality of your education. If you want to slack off and just grab an easy (albeit expensive) degree, no problem. However, if you want not only a degree, but an experience that truly prepares you for the professional world, you definitely need to actively pursue it here. If you are proactive about your education, Mizzou can open so many doors for your future. Another benefit of being such a large school is the professional network you're included in just by graduating. Mizzou has been around for a long time and passionate alumni are spread across the country in every field imaginable. Mizzou graduates form a pseudo-family that you're automatically initiated in after graduation, and this holds a lot of weight in the working world. Mizzou has a beautiful campus that is very student friendly and always buzzing, day or night. When I'm on campus, I always feel safe, no matter what time of night and there is always something to be doing. I love to sit in the tower of memorial union and hang out on the internet, or study in the upper levels of Ellis library where I can look out massive windows onto the rest of campus. The recreation facility here is relatively new and has been rated as one of the best in the country. I'm not an athlete by any means, but I've never felt intimidated to be at the rec. Also, Mizzou just finished construction on the brand new Brady Commons which is another great place to meet up for a group project or even just for lunch from one of the five or six restaraunts offered inside the building. In fact, Columbia is a great town to be a student in, in general. Downtown is very student friendly, offering restaurants of all cuisines, coffee bars, book shops, hip boutiques and eve a vespa dealer. It's definitely a place to see and be seen, especially in the bar scene on the weekends! During football season, all of downtown is decked out in black and gold and packed with fans. As I said before, alumni love Mizzou and students are wild with tiger pride. Columbia is a definite college town.

Jon

I think this school is great. Whenever someone asks me where I go and if I like it, my answer is always the same, "Mizzou, and it's awesome". The school is located in one of the best college towns in the country. The school is basically what everything here centers on, and that leads to amazing school spirit in all things Mizzou! It also builds a sense of community. Even if you are not a sports fan now, once you come here you will find yourself cheering for Mizzou and hating Kansas in just a few short weeks. Many people say that they don't want to go to a school that is so big, but I find it to be a perfect size. There are always new people to meet and endless possibilities to get involved. I am glad that I decided to come to Mizzou, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Emily

We have a lot of school pride when we are doing good but when we have school pride it's AMAZING! My school is the perfect size between being a small and a large school. Being from Chicago, it is refreshing seeing some southern hospitality. Columbia, Missouri is 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} a college town.

Whitney

Overall, I think Mizzou is a great school! Mizzou has great school spirit as well as just a fun atmosphere. My favorite things are the fun activities going on around campus. There are lots of activity fairs with free t shirts and there is free food constantly. The rec center is the other best thing about Mizzou. It is an incredible facility and has lots of fund stuff like a rock wall and spa in addition to the typical things at a rec center. The one thing I would change about Mizzou is the process for obtaining sports tickets. With the student ticket combo, you get football tickets and the "opportunity to get basketball tickets" (which means you pay, wait outside really early on various pickup date, and hope you are one of the first 4,000 students so you get tickets to that set of games). Though it is a large school, I think there are opportunities to get involved in student groups that make the student body seem smaller because it allows students to get to know each other and meet people with common interests. Within the city and state, Mizzou is a very respected school, though I don't know how it is viewed overall. People tend to have a very high opinion of the journalism school as well as the medical school, though those aren't the only quality programs Mizzou offers. Located in Columbia, Missouri, Mizzou is definitely in a college town. Campus backs right up to downtown, known as "The District." and there are tons of bars and restaurants within walking distance of campus. One experience I will always remember occurred the first week of my freshman year. It was the week we moved in and just got to know the campus before the semester actually started. I went to watch the movie "UP" on a giant outdoor movie screen in the middle of campus and afterwards, the university had arranged for a bunch of busses to take us to target where the opened especially for students from 11pm to 1am. We got a bunch of free stuff and were able to buy anything we needed. On campus i spend a lot of time at the student center because there are places to eat as well as tables for studying or hanging out and talking. I also spend time at the library when I really want to focus and get things done. The most frequent complaints I hear from students are related to the cost of tuition and textbooks as well as the frequent construction that goes on around campus.

Allison

The absolute best thing about the University of Missouri is that you can pretty much do anything you want! We have multiple colleges within the system, and hundreds of different majors, minors, and emphasis areas to choose from. The endless choices don't stop there - you can choose one or more of our 500+ student organizations, multiple dining plans and halls, single or even suite style dorms, and there is ALWAYS something going on. Your education at Mizzou is like a fully loaded and customizable car. For out of state students, this comes at a price, but it is cheaper than attending a private university (plus, there are even MORE options for aid and scholarships). The town grew around the school, so it is catered to students - concerts, bars, restaurants, clubs, late night diners, and ALL within walking distance. Pile on a heaping helping of Mizzou pride (which never goes out of style) and you officially have the coolest school in the Midwest.

Nicholas

My overall opinion is that Mizzou is a wonderful school that has a lot to offer everyone. It is not a "one-major" school. Upon first arriving many people feel as if the school is too large, but once you integrate yourself in to the campus it shrinks considerably. This is especially true if you join Greek Life or become really involved in your major/clubs. Columbia, or CoMO as students call it, is definitely a college town and has been recognized as one of the best in the country. The campus is gorgeous and fairly easy to navigate once you become acclimated. The downtown area is just a short walk away, and the perfect size. Just big enough that there is always something to discover, but small enough that one would not be intimidated. One experience I'll always remember is meeting some of my lifelong friends the first night of school while riding the big bronze tiger on Tiger Plaza.

Bridgit

Overall, the University of Missouri is a great place to go to college. Coming from out of state, I had no idea what to expect when I first stepped foot on campus before accepting my admission here. However, the second I stepped on campus, I felt at home. The campus is beautiful and has newly renovated buildings across the campus. Everywhere on campus, you can see different groups of people with many diverse interests. Seeing this, I knew right away there would be people at the school I fit in with. Additionally, the downtown area is an amazing college campus--with many restaurants, clothing stores, and other shops, I couldn't ask for a better downtown area. Although all of these factors contribute a great deal to my opinion on Mizzou, the one thing that made me love this school so much is everyones school pride. No matter how different everyone here on campus is, one thing is for sure, we are all Missouri Tigers and take pride in our university.

Landon

Any school you attend is going to have its pros and cons, but I honestly believe the pros heavily outweigh the cons at MU. First of all, the athletics program is getting better exponentially faster. Our basketball team is currently ranked #4 in the country, and has been getting better and better the last few years. Our football team last year had two players drafted by the NFL in the top 10, and has had many others go in the first round in the last five years. MIzzou is the founder of homecoming, and every homecoming is a sports spectacle, and there is nothing else like it in the country. We have the number one journalism school in the country. Students from all over the country come to attend MU for its very prestigious J-School. MU has a state of the art Rec Center, which is arguably the most expensive and most impressive rec center in the country. If you are a fan of wrestling you would enjoy MU, for its wonderful and top shelf wrestling program. MU is a wonderful school, and ranks in the top 100 of USA Today's list of best colleges in the nation.

Landon

Any school you attend is going to have its pros and cons, but I honestly believe the pros heavily outweigh the cons at MU. First of all, the athletics program is getting better exponentially faster. Our basketball team is currently ranked #4 in the country, and has been getting better and better the last few years. Our football team last year had two players drafted by the NFL in the top 10, and has had many others go in the first round in the last five years. MIzzou is the founder of homecoming, and every homecoming is a sports spectacle, and there is nothing else like it in the country. We have the number one journalism school in the country. Students from all over the country come to attend MU for its very prestigious J-School. MU has a state of the art Rec Center, which is arguably the most expensive and most impressive rec center in the country. If you are a fan of wrestling you would enjoy MU, for its wonderful and top shelf wrestling program. MU is a wonderful school, and ranks in the top 100 of USA Today's list of best colleges in the nation.

Shafi

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Chauntee

Attending Mizzou has been one of the greatest decisions of my educational career. As a minority woman, it can be difficult to feel like I am represented on campus, and that discouragement can either propel or dispel a student's ability to adapt to a new environment. There are over 400 different student groups, however, for students to figure out where they want to be and the assortment of international students here helps to create a more universal environment. Columbia, although generally considered a college town, is definitely growing, and I look forward to seeing how much things change after I graduate because the student population constantly demands more from their surroundings. The school spirit here is undeniable. Mizzou students adore being at Mizzou. Sports culture is fundamental in bonding students from all over the world, and the environment of campus during sporting events is incomparable. Black and gold swamp the entire scene and if you aren't a tiger, you will definitely feel out of place. It amazes me how quickly students can encompass a location during giveaways or announcements. Depending on where you are on campus, there are totally different vibes. Memorial Union has a more bistro-feel, full of artistic intellectuals sipping a Starbucks latte or typing vivaciously on their laptops. The Student Center, however, constantly buzzes with a variety of students, from sky-high basketball hunks to bespectacled engineering experts toting their computers with glee. On the south side of campus, you'll be overwhelmed with a variety of greek houses and decorations, especially during our Homecoming celebrations, which is an unforgettable time of year. My biggest complaint? I would love to see more acceptance in Columbia, overall, since conflict between the Black Culture Center and anonymous racist students have been problematic. The discomfort and disrespect one feels from knowing someone abhors their presence on campus can be bewildering. I am hopeful that this intolerance will lessen in the future as students take pride in their backgrounds and educate others on the importance of being aware. Even though this issue can be a sore spot for minority students, we will always love our Mizzou. The reaction I get from letting Missourians know where I attend school is baffling! They are always enthusiastic, however, coming from Kansas City, Missouri, there is indeed a border war between Kansas University and the University of Missouri, but my heart lies with that glorious black and gold. Our world-renown Journalism school has become a site of interest for innumerable students and parents alike, and I can only imagine how our population will expand after I graduate. I look forward to being an alumni of this amazing school.

Andrea

Mizzou is an amazing school. It is in the center of Columbia, MO, which is also called CoMo. Columbia is definitely a college town. A college town is a place that is buzzing with a college atmosphere. Mizzou is such a prevalent university, the students take over Columbia when school is in session. The campus is big - thirty minute walk across the entire campus. Mizzou is a place for those with school spirit. If you love sports, this is definitely the place for you. Students and faculty are obsessed with the Mizzou Tigers. Everyone knows our mascots name, and merely everyone goes to the football and basketball games. Although I love Mizzou, it is expensive. It is not as generous with scholarships and smaller schools, so that is something to keep in mind. As a freshman, there are plenty of ways to get involved and feel at home. There is a massive amount of organizations. Some organizations are just for fun, some are for service, and others specialize in certain majors. The dorms are newly renovated, and the dining hall food is actually good. It will take you a while to adjust to Mizzou, but it will be worthwhile when you do.

Shafi

Columbia is the quintessential college town. We're not so big that Mizzou is not an important part of the community but not so tiny that every knows each other. For a town of 100,000 people, it's surprisingly diverse and Mizzou's reputation both in the academics and athletics leads to one of strongest school pride's I've ever seen.

Kaitlyn

the best thing about the school is the campus. the one thing that i would change is the dining. I feel that my school is the perfect size it isn't to small but it isn't too big its just right. Usually when i tell people that i go to mizzou the first thing they ask me is how are the people there. I spend a lot of my time at the student studying. The town that my school is in is the perfect example of a real college town everything you need is within walking distance. There aren't really any big controversies on campus there definitely is A LOT OF SCHOOL SPIRIT.The most frequent student complaints is just about the food but you're get college food that you don't like at any college you go too.

Tessa

Coming from a small town growing up, I will admit I was a little nervous when I chose to come to such a large university. However, all my insecurities were eased quickly when I saw the dynamic of the student body. With so many organizations aiding the opportunity to get involved, you are able to become a part of a smaller, close-knit community. Also, there is an overwhelming sense of unity between the students and faculty when you become a tiger; this campus epitomizes school pride and bleeds black and gold. However, one of my favorite aspects of living in Columbia is the downtown scene. There is a wonderful mix of cozy coffee shops, record stores, boutiques, bars and restaurants, and best of all, the famous "Hot Box Cookies". You can walk around, explore, and soak up the Midwestern charm of the community in its entirety. I think what I appreciate the most about Mizzou is that I am receiving a great education from professors that push me to fulfill my goals, yet the social experiences are just as plentiful. I couldn't envision a more perfect college town.

Danielle

The best thing about my school is its traditions. It definitely adds to the college-y feel of the campus. I think the size of the campus is perfect. It is large enough to give you the big school experience, but you can make it as small as you want through clubs, social and academic fraternities, and freshman interest groups during your freshman year in the dorm. Being from out-of-state, the first year traveling home, people were confused as to why I went to Mizzou. But now, the university is gaining more notoriety, and people are more familiar with the school and its programs. When I'm on campus, I divide my time between the brand-new Student Center with restaurants like sushi, sandwiches, and Italian, as well as laptops you can borrow to complete work, comfy couches and warm fireplaces. It is the perfect place to lounge in between classes. I also go to our main library, Ellis Library to get some peace and quiet to get my class work done. Those two places are definitely the best to socialize, eat and get your work done. The college town atmosphere is fantastic. With downtown right on the north side of campus, it opens up a whole new world. Eateries, coffee shops and clothing shops are basically on campus, giving you a bunch of options during your free time. The school's administration is wonderful. The deans of the various colleges are always willing to make time for students to come in and visit. The most recent controversy on campus was about switching conferences from the Big 12 to the SEC, or Southeastern Conference. We know that they have the best interests for the university in mind. The once experience I'll always remember is when we beat the University of Oklahoma, the #1 team in the nation in football, on our 99th Homecoming. Homecoming is a huge deal here, and it made it that much better. ESPN Game Day was here, and after the game, we pulled the goal posts out of the stadium and took them downtown to cut up and distribute to everyone. It was by far my favorite college memory.

Connor

Mizzou is a very active school. There are many positives throughout the campus environment. The best thing I would say about the school is the rec center. It is by far the best in the country. The gym is beautiful, as well as the pools being out of this world. The one thing I would change is the food. The food here is the most common complaint amongst students. It becomes repetitive and the overall choices are unimaginative. The size of the school is perfect. Columbia is a perfect college town which benefits from the university. The administration that I've dealt with is very caring and want each student to achieve. School pride is rampant throughout the campus, you will not turn a corner without seeing black and gold.

Shivan

The best thing about the University of Missouri is that it is constantly improving. Since I was a freshman, all the dorms were renovated and several new dorms were built. They built a new student center and bookstore. The list goes on. If you like big schools, this is the right school for you. On campus, I spend most of my time at Pershing. It is a building that has a computer lab and market. Great place to study. Overall Mizzou is a great school. At times you might be frustrated with the freshman level classes that "weed out" students, however, the education at this institution is top notch. The social scene is equally good. There are many school run events/ student run events.

Kristyn

In my opinion, Mizzou is an amazing school. I really love everything about it. Some people think it's too big, but really you just have to know how to adapt to it. If your in a class with 350 other people, you have to make yourself known to the professor by either raising your hand and getting involved in the discussion, or going to his office during office hours to introduce yourself. When people ask what school I go to, they are usually impressed when I answer with Mizzou. In Missouri, this is a very prestigious university and it is very well thought of. Another aspect of it's fame is it's dedication to sports. I would say that Mizzou football is more popular in Missouri than the St. Louis Rams. And since St. Louis doesn't have a professional basketball team, the Mizzou basketball team also gets a lot of attention. There is a HUGE, and I mean huge, sense of school pride. I promise you that if you are walking on campus, you will see at least ten people wearing some kind of Mizzou apparel; That is the absolute minimum. Students at this school are so proud to be a part of the Mizzou family. Another thing I really love about Mizzou is how much the administration puts into giving the best to it's students. When you walk around campus, it's really beautiful. There is always some kind of new project going on whether it's renovations or a whole new building. The campus is also within walking distance to downtown Columbia, which is really nice when you want to go out to eat or go shopping. It also adds to the "college town" experience. When you walk around the Mizzou campus, it is so big that you feel like you are walking through a small town and you sometimes forget that you are on campus. The dining facilities are also very impressive. They already have so much variety, but my only suggestion would be even more variety. This is because when you have a dining plan and you have to eat there three times a day, it's so easy to get tired of the food quickly. I really don't hear a lot of complaints about this university unless it's about specific professors or specific classes. Lastly, one thing that I will never forget about Mizzou is the welcome back barbecue. I met some of my best friends here. It was a huge party right in the street in the middle of campus with dancing and food and games and so much more! This is when I really got excited that I was a part of Mizzou and I will NEVER forget this night!

Sam

I honestly can't think of anything I'd change about Mizzou, besides the fact that my college education has an expiration date of 4 years. I love it here, I really do. Being from the suburbs of Chicago, I came with absolutely no friends. Throughout my years here I have managed to find not just friend, but a family. I wish I could put into words the way I feel when I walk through the Quad on a Football Friday. The leaves have all changed and the campus is full of life in preparation for the weekend's big game. The electricity in the air is something you can only relate to by experience, and writing about it now makes me smile. Mizzou IS college. This is the place where school spirit and pride live amongst a diverse, yet enthusiastic student population.

Sam

I honestly can't think of anything I'd change about Mizzou, besides the fact that my college education has an expiration date of 4 years. I love it here, I really do. Being from the suburbs of Chicago, I came with absolutely no friends. Throughout my years here I have managed to find not just friend, but a family. I wish I could put into words the way I feel when I walk through the Quad on a Football Friday. The leaves have all changed and the campus is full of life in preparation for the weekend's big game. The electricity in the air is something you can only relate to by experience, and writing about it now makes me smile. Mizzou IS college. This is the place where school spirit and pride live amongst a diverse, yet enthusiastic student population.

Haris

Mizzou is an incredible institution. There is no single glorifying attribute to the school, but rather several, unique aspects that make it the top choice for many Missouri high school seniors, and students around the world. Firstly, the school is very large. There are over 30,000 students currently enrolled. I love the size; there are always new people to meet and befriend. Many prospective college students worry about the school being too big or too anonymous: Mizzou is not like that. While it is natural to see new people often, it is very easy to make friends within the residence halls, in classes, in study areas, and around campus. People in this region of Missouri are very welcoming. Along with being welcoming, people here are also very proud of the Tigers. This is Tiger Country and no one will let you forget it. School pride is in heavy abundance. Black and gold are flown through every inch of Columbia. Mizzou students, parents, staff and even local Columbia residents are all Tiger fans, and are very proud of it. Columbia is a relatively large town. It is not a city, however. The downtown area consists of several blocks that meld mid-20th century architecture with modern tastes, exhibited through the many unique and beautiful shops along Broadway St. Columbia is definitely a college town; the stores, services, and restaurants are primarily appropriated for college students. The outskirts of the town and the residential areas even cater to college students. I love going to Mizzou. When I tell people I'm a Tiger, they either ask about the Journalism program or reduced football ticket prices. I'm generally more eager to talk about the J-School (even though I do get in incredible discount on football tickets.) Mizzou's Journalism school is the oldest in the world, and is known as being the top Journalism school in the country. Famous for "The Missouri Method," a method of instruction that blends real-world experience with classroom learning, the J-School is very popular. I am actually a journalism student and can say with great pride that I attend Mizzou's J-School, (and love it.) While at the school, I noticed several things the tour guides don't tell you. The first was the food. Several of my other classmates complain that dining hall food at their colleges is horrid. I can't say that for Mizzou. Mizzou's food is incredible. The dining halls provide a vast array of food, including several specialty places, like Sabai (Asian fusion) and Baja (Mexican.) On a strict diet? Mizzou dining halls are stocked with very healthy options, and each one has a full salad bar. Plaza 900 has a soup bar next to the deli. The second thing about Mizzou is the sheer number of student services. On-campus there is a wellness resource center, for weight management, smoking help, mental and emotional aid services and for general sickness. There is also a women's center (not to be confused with the gender studies department), a multicultural center, (not to be confused with the international center, which acclimates international students to college life,) a writing resource center, a financial aid center, and a student success center, which helps students plan for life beyond college. It is very clear that the administration cares about the individual student. The services provided at Mizzou are endless. Another great part of Mizzou life is the recreational complex, nicknamed "MizzouRec," or "the Rec." On an ESPN survey of US college rec centers, Mizzou's was voted #1, and for good reason. It is enormous: dozens of basketball courts, hundreds of square feet of workout space, full of machines, treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and free weights. There are 3 separate weight-lifting rooms, a cardio room, a rock-climbing wall, a martial arts studio, racquetball courts, volleyball courts, a track (my domain) a dance studio, and fully equipped locker rooms. The rec is for many, Mizzou's crowning achievement. Besides the food, the student aid, and the rec, the thing I love most is in the middle of campus. There is a large stone tower, known as Memorial Union, dedicated to the lost soldiers of WWII that sits nestled between Lowry Mall, Ellis Library and Water Hall. It is beautiful, stunning even. Inside is a Starbucks, a Wheatstone bistro and several dozen meeting rooms. I spend much time there: endless supply of coffee, warm, well-lit study space, towering windows showing off a beautiful view of the tower and a small chapel. It's my favorite place to be on campus. It's not frighteningly quiet like the library, and it has public computers. I love it. The final aspect to life at Mizzou that makes it an incredible school is the scenery. Columbia is beautiful; there are many forests to trek, run and bike through, there are winding country roads for lengthy car rides, there are horse farms for riding. It teems with natural, mid-Western beauty. Mizzou's campus is also incredible. Jesse Hall can be seen from most spots on campus. Lowry Mall is a pathway of old brick in the center of campus, shadowed by glistening Memorial Union. All the buildings are either of white stone, making them look quite majestic, or of red brick, mostly around the Quad, which look classic and stunning. The Reynolds Journalism Institute and the Trulaske College of Business look more modern, but are breathtaking inside. Mizzou may not be the school for everyone, but if anything, the campus can be truly appreciated.

Allyson

Mizzou is definitely a place that holds many traditions. As a Tiger, we take pride in our development of the first Homecoming. We just celebrated our Centennial Anniversary, and it was one of the coolest experiences! We love our athletic programs and each student develops a bond with the campus, the traditions and the and their peers. As a member of Greek Life, I have really enjoyed participating in activities that take place each semester. We are offered opportunities to be involved with the school's traditions in many ways. We have hands-on experience in Homecoming and we even have our own large-scale event in the spring, Greek Week. There are so many ways to get involved at Mizzou, and everyone finds their niche.

Nikki

I love Mizzou! Sure, there are a couple things that I don't like so much but that's to be expected. Overall, the University of Missouri is a great school; and I wouldn't change my decision to attend Mizzou for anything. The campus is pretty big but reasonable; I can get just about anywhere I need to go in ten minutes. There is an unlimited amount of things to do; One can, honestly, never get bored. There is an activity for everyone. Heard that before? Well, here it's true. If you somehow manage to not find something you like, you can make your own. Sounds unbelievable, but it happens all the time. The food is absolutely delicious, and you can get it just about anytime you want. Down town Columbia is a ten minute walk from campus, so the fun truly never ends. My favorite part is the school pride. Everywhere you look, it's a sea of black and gold. Game days are a must and everyone gets super excited. Everyone that attends Mizzou loves it.

Miles

My overall opinion of my school is that it is an awesome place to attend college. This is because it is a well recognized university and also has a very fun an active student body. The best thing about my school is how we rally around our team. My school's overall morale is much noticeably higher during football and basketball season. The campus becomes lively and upbeat following successful games. Sometimes I wish my school was a little smaller, student body wise, or a little larger physical space wise. I do not have a problem with the number of students that attend my university. The problem is the congestion created by the masses. Issues arise such as, no where to park, too many people at the gym, too many people at the library, crowding ect. When I tell people where I go to school they are usually either impressed or jealous. They always assume I am having a great time there and many people make numerous trips here throughout the school years for visits and sports games. Most of my time spent on campus is in class at the business school. This town is a college town. Over holidays and breaks the town is barren and awkward compared to what it is like when the students are here. One thing I will always remember is when my school's football team beat the number 1 team in the country and the students ran onto the field and took down the goal posts. The most frequent student complaints are about studying for finals and bad nights out at bars.

Breanna

The best thing about the University of Missouri is that, despite the large volume of students, it feels like we all have something in common. There is so much Mizzou pride, even among students who are not interested in sports, that it just makes the overall mood on campus light and positive. It's fun to live in a college town where most of the local businesses are willing to give discounts to students. When I tell people where I attend school, I never have to do any explaining beyond "I go to Mizzou." From there, people automatically understand that I am getting a well-rounded education at a respectable college that is known for its school spirit. From an administrative standpoint, I think the University of Missouri does a great job of keeping track of its large volume of students. There is a system for everything, and when glitches happen, there is someone there to help you smooth it out. The most common complaints from students come during registration time--classes tend to fill up fairly quickly. However, the advisers are very helpful in helping students obtain a spot in the classes they need to take. To sum it all up, Mizzou is a large school, but it's easy to find a comfortable and familiar niche. Having so many students, mistakes with the administrative systems are bound to happen, but they are easily corrected. Overall, I think the university runs very smoothly.

Kristen

I absolutely love Mizzou. The campus is beautiful, the professors are very knowledgeable and well educated and the social aspect is unlike anything else. As a student, if there were one thing I could change it would be the cost! But it's literally the price we pay for a great education. Some could argue that Mizzou is too large, since they don't put a cap on enrollment, but I think it is perfect. Students come from all over the world and it's a very diverse group of people that all bring something to the table! Columbia is definitely a college town, with towns of things to do on the weekends and local events that are open to students! One of my favorite things about Mizzou is tradition. We celebrated the 100th homecoming this year and it was absolutely incredible! Once a tiger, always a tiger- the town was packed with alumni of all generations! Another awesome tradition is "7 things to do before you graduate," but you have to be a Tiger before I can tell you what they are!

Paul

I was very happy to go to Mizzou, even if I have never been a rah rah super spirit kind of person. If you live in Columbia as a young person, people seem to expect that you’re a Mizzou student, and you almost get preferential treatment in some ways (as long as you don’t drive erratically). On game days, you can’t escape the Black and Gold spirit. I’m not a football fan, but I still went to a few games and had a blast because of the energy of the fans and the great tailgating food. More importantly for me, the school had a lot of diverse classes that matched my interests, and my major allowed me to take classes outside of my focus field. For example, I was a photojournalism major, but I spent a lot of time in the art, french, and sociology departments, taking drawing, french literature, and sociology classes that may or may not have contributed to my major. This is very important because you can take one class that is so interesting to you that it changes what you want to do in the long run, even if it was never part of your declared major. My best experiences at Mizzou were possible because they had programs to travel and study abroad. Through Alternative Spring Break, I was able to travel to Florida for a service project for only $200, doing things I was proud of instead of a typical drunkfest spring break. And I still saw beautiful sights and met beautiful people. Further, the international center is incredible. I organized my study abroad trip in Lyon, France through them, which was probably the best experience of my life. They are so helpful and legitimately concerned for your safety and education. There are programs to many countries, not just the popular Western European ones, and I wish I would have had time and money to study abroad more than once. Many Mizzou students study abroad, and it is because Mizzou as a school puts a lot of value on international relations that their incredible programs are possible.

Joshua

I have now been at Mizzou for a little over 3 years now and have enjoyed every second of it. They have provided me with many tools to succeed in the future that I look forward to using. The pride at my school is unbelievable and you are reminded of it everyday. The sports teams bring everyone together and give you a sense of family. My favorite thing about Mizzou is that it is the perfect college town. Downtown Columbia is located right behind campus so you are within walking distance for everything. This includes things such as grabbing a bite to eat at the numerous and unique restaurants, going to the bars, or seeing a movie. It is a big enough city to have anything you could ever want, but is also small enough to where you don't have the ridiculous traffic or chaos that you see in larger cities such as St. Louis. I spend most of my time on campus at this business school. It is a brand new building and has all of the modern technology that you could ever need. It is a great place to study because it has many study rooms and computer labs where you can get all of your work done. The most frequent student complaint would be that it is too crowded. Mizzou is growing rapidly, which has caused dining halls and buildings to constantly be crowded. Other than that, students seem to love the university and have no major issues with it.

Melyssa

The best part about going to Mizzou is the people. Mizzou is a giant mixing bowl, full of people from different parts of the world. Meeting new people is so much fun here, because each person is different in their own way. One of my favorite things to do is to go down town and people watch! Speaking of downtown, that is another one of the best things about Mizzou. Downtown Columbia is full of things to do. There are multiple venus for concerts, theaters, MANY bars, art studios, and so much more. If you can't think of anything to do, just go downtown and walk around. Something will catch your eye and entertain you for the whole night. A personal experience is when my Mom came down to visit. I had no idea what she wanted to do so we decided to walk around town for a little bit. We walked in front of this dueling piano bar and decided to go in to see what it was all about. We had so much fun! My Mom was singing and dancing the night away! You never know what you'll find downtown! I absolutely love it!

Taylor

One of the best things about Mizzou is the tradition. University of Missouri is said (or debated) to be the birthplace of homecoming, therefore Homecoming is always a big deal and lots of fun. There are plenty other traditions such as rubbing David R. Francis' nose, the columns, engineering shamrocks, Peace Park Bridge, etc. Another thing I love about Mizzou is school pride. Out of all the schools I visited I noticed the most pride here. If you're walking to class almost everyone is wearing something related to Mizzou. From Alumni to current students, everyone is proud to say they're a Tiger. Personally my school is just the right size for me because my high school had 4,000+ students. However, I have met people around campus whose graduating class was only 12 people! It really depends on your personal preference. Columbia is also a great town. It's got boutiques, restaurants, bars, bookstores, and a lot of other quirky places. The only downside to CoMo is if you want to go outside downtown/campus area you definitely need a car or a bus pass. On campus I spend a lot of time in the student center. It was completed in 2010 and has lots of restaurants and comfortable places to sit and study. Overall, I really have nothing bad to say about Mizzou. My experience has been extremely positive and has helped me really grow as a person!

Erin

I found the intense Tiger pride a little intimidating and overwhelming when I first visited Mizzou, but after spending my young adult life here, I fully understand why it exists. No school is perfect, but I couldn't be more proud to call myself a Tiger.

Maddie

I wanted to meet people, study anything I wanted, go abroad, join clubs, watch speakers, not be babied or hovered over by professors, and have the quintessential "college experience" - which, of course, doesn't exist out of prime time television. But I think I did pretty well. The campus is compact, and there's a definite feel of being "on campus." There are two other small colleges in Columbia, and a shared old-fashioned downtown area with coffee shops every five feet. It's a nice compromise between homey-midwest town and liberal college town, brimming with 20 somethings. I hang out downtown most of the time, which feels like being on campus, but I don't have to be locked up in a dreary library to get my work done. For better or for worse - football brings Mizzou together. No matter what you study, believe or do on a Friday night it's kind of important to (at least pretend to) care about the Tigers. Personally, I don't really like watching mini-giants crash into each other, but I love the spectacle of homecoming parades, crowds of tailgaters and cheering crowds filling downtown bars. The major controversies surround the administration's favoritism of both the football program and the Journalism school (in funding and recruitment promotions). I have been very disappointed with academic advisers - some are wonderful and some are rotten. The downside of a school this side is the lack of personal attention and individual relationships with professors. You kind of have to work at it, but it's possible to build these relationships, but it requires a bit of effort. Downsides aside. I'll always remember studying abroad in Argentina, staying up all night in the lounge with my dorm room floor, celebrating homecoming and discovering that I am addicted to salsa dancing.

Maddie

I wanted to meet people, study anything I wanted, go abroad, join clubs, watch speakers, not be babied or hovered over by professors, and have the quintessential "college experience" - which, of course, doesn't exist out of prime time television. But I think I did pretty well. The campus is compact, and there's a definite feel of being "on campus." There are two other small colleges in Columbia, and a shared old-fashioned downtown area with coffee shops every five feet. It's a nice compromise between homey-midwest town and liberal college town, brimming with 20 somethings. I hang out downtown most of the time, which feels like being on campus, but I don't have to be locked up in a dreary library to get my work done. For better or for worse - football brings Mizzou together. No matter what you study, believe or do on a Friday night it's kind of important to (at least pretend to) care about the Tigers. Personally, I don't really like watching mini-giants crash into each other, but I love the spectacle of homecoming parades, crowds of tailgaters and cheering crowds filling downtown bars. The major controversies surround the administration's favoritism of both the football program and the Journalism school (in funding and recruitment promotions). I have been very disappointed with academic advisers - some are wonderful and some are rotten. The downside of a school this side is the lack of personal attention and individual relationships with professors. You kind of have to work at it, but it's possible to build these relationships, but it requires a bit of effort. Downsides aside. I'll always remember studying abroad in Argentina, staying up all night in the lounge with my dorm room floor, celebrating homecoming and discovering that I am addicted to salsa dancing.

Abbie

As the first public university west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri-Columbia is all about tradition. Mizzou invented homecoming, a tradition we keep going strong today. It's a great college town where students truly get that "college experience"- both in academic experience and life skills.

Laquisha

I love attending the University of Missouri. I am very involved on campus and I have met tons of new and interesting people. As a member of student government, I have worked closely with the administration and they really are committed to doing what is best for the students. The best thing about MU is that there is something for everyone. We have hundreds of organizations. They range from student government to helping African children to legalization of marijuana. Whatever you are looking for, we have it. You will find somewhere that you fit in. The school is very large (30,000 students) but it certainly doesn't feel that way. It is easy to find a group that you fit into that becomes like family. There are tons of places to hang out on campus. The student center has a lot of restaurants, couches, and even fireplaces. It's a nice hangout. Columbia, Missouri is completely centered around the university. There is Tiger pride throughout the entire city.

Jordan

Personally I think Mizzou is overall an amazing school. The atmosphere around the beautiful campus is update and there always seems to be something going on. There is nothing more exciting than a game day, you are surrounded by black and gold and high energy fans everywhere you go. Most faculty are concerned with your success and are willing to help. Columbia is very much centered around the University and so it is definately a college town. With that comes lack of parking, which is probably the number one complaint of students.

Emily

I love Mizzou! Yes, I'm biased because I go here but I love it. It's a big school but it doesn't feel as big. There's so many organizations to get involved in and there is so much school spirit. That's what made me love Mizzou was the first football game I went to. I got to experience the Mizzou spirit and energy and I fell in love with the school. It's the perfect college town, everything is in walking distance that needs to be. I wouldn't change anything and if someone tours the school they'll realize why so many students fall in love with it.

Melissa

I had four great years at Mizzou, which started a week before freshman year, and didn't end until I graduated. The alumni network is huge, and even in Chicago, I run into Mizzou grads all the time. It's a big school, and it might be easy to get lost in the crowds for some, but if you put in the effort, you'll find yourself part of a wonderful community, full of tradition and with the recent resurgence of sports, a lot of school spirit and pride. The school is wonderful, but the town is equally awesome. There is a reason why so many grads are reluctant to leave after graduation. As far as small cities go, Columbia is just about as cosmopolitan as they come. There are, of course, plenty of bars to choose from, but the restaurant selection is stellar for the area. (Seriously, if you visit, check out Flat Branch and their Chokes and Cheese Burger.) There is a thriving local arts scene, and the District is good for an infinite number of strolls down 9th Street and Broadway. There is a little bit of clash between the Townies and the college students. Obviously, some of the locals are not going to be wild about loud parties - this is made easier by the fact that, for the most part, the groups self-segregate. Most students that live off-campus concentrate in East campus or certain apartment complexes. It can be hard to drink underage without consequence (MO is a Minor in Consumption state). It's not a particularly diverse place by the numbers, if that's high on your list of importance, but there are plenty of different types of people. And, it seems like lately, the tuition and fee increases have been pretty extreme. But, that's just college and the nature of decreases in state funding of higher education... whee!

David

The best thing about Mizzou is everything is setup to meet people. Beyond the traditional class structure and lecture hall, all of the campus is made for making friends and developing lifelong relationships. For example, every year there is the activities fair that showcases every club on the campus. Its a good way to find something you can dive into and enjoy. I would of changed about my experience is taking more risks meeting people. I was very preoccupied with going to the biggest parties, and popularity. It didn't amount to much. I would of now simply invested myself in my student activities and hobbies to meet people. When you think the college experience, the size of Mizzou has got it. Its a good fit. Close friends and family reacted very positive to my selection in going to Mizzou. Its sheer amount of people and activity provided opportunity to be successful and happy. I spent a lot time on campus at the Alumni Center (University Club), Eilis Library, and the Student Success Center. I worked as server at the Alumni Center. It's one of the rare places to make a good amount of money with a flexible schedule. It met some real good people working there. Furthermore, if you work a double shift or closing shift, you get to eat real good food for free. The college town vibe is there. It's no more evident than when the summer or winter breaks hit. The activity significantly drops. Its not a ghost town, but its quite noticeable. The administration is quite helpful and are there to be of service to you. Ms Morton of the history department is a badass adviser. She definitely helped my development in my academic life. The financial aid advisers are professionals and get a lot crap from students. They are like firemen, they only see you when you come by with a crisis. But they're good. The biggest controversy on campus was our student president getting caught being drunk at formal functions. At times there were racial controversy. I don't enough about though to speak of. The school pride is there and not. It's centered around football and basketball. The Greek culture supports the sports and much of the pride from other students develop after graduating. The unusual thing about Mizzou is the ability to obtain an elite education in the Midwest. I work and live in DC. My peers come from Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Stanford, and so on. I can say that Mizzou provide me the tools to compete against these folk out here. One experience I will always remember is my study aboard trip to Mexico. Mizzou has a robust program for international study aboard programs. Its most cherished experience. Students often complain about the Journalism school. It's very rigorous and weeds people out. Its method is almost dogmatic and sometimes inflexible. Another complaint is missing home. Although normal and expected, most adjust.

Dan

The best thing about MU is its size. It has some 28,000 students - a daunting number to some, an opportunity to others. This means that if something exists there is a group on campus to support it, and a chance for you to exploit it. My freshman year I decided that I wanted to ride in a boat. So I looked through the Student Organization database and saw that MU had a rowing team. A couple of emails and two weeks later I had joined MU Crew and was learning a sport I had never imagined doing. This experience can be extended to anything - music, activism, cooking, agriculture, etc. The more one gets involved, the easier it gets to find the niche of people at MU that you imagined being friends with in college. It is not uncommon for students to be part of the "I'd never say I'd go to Mizzou but here I am" group. As a high schooler in Missouri, MU is often a safety school. It is not particularly selective, and it's the biggest school in Missouri. Give it some time here and it quickly fades. It's easy to fall for MU because, in the end, it is still college and most people love that. While MU is huge, Columbia is not. MU makes Columbia what it is, though the town itself is growing. Sprawl is getting to be a problem, especially when talking with locals who chose the outskirts of town to be away from the traffic and closer to nature. I love the ability to drive for 15 minutes to explore caves, climb the Pinnacles, or take a scenic walk next to the Missouri River on the Katy Trail (which goes through the edge of campus). What I did not like is the lack of good shows coming to town. The Blue Note and Mojo's do their best to bring in good acts as well as MU's music committee, and they are getting better. Wilco, The Walkmen, TV On the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Nada Surf, and others have all come in the past two years. I feel that the administration of MU walks a tightrope with it's students and with it's curators. A recent "controversy" on campus is the condom initiative where multiple groups of students with the backing of the Student Health Center sought to install condom machines in dormitories (condoms are already free at the Health Center) for easier access. While this initiative saw overwhelming support from it's students, the administration was forced to slow the process because it's curators opposed it. In the end the condom machines will be installed. It is not uncommon for a curator to say something ridiculous (i.e. the constant questioning of the existence of the Women's and Gender Studies Dept., Black Studies, etc.).

Jordan

SIZE Mizzou is a large institution with an undergraduate body of over 20,000 students. Many people think that they cannot overcome the level of anonymity inherent to such a large body. Surprisingly, it is not difficult to quickly feel at home at the University. Joining a FIG (Freshman Interest Group) or a Greek Chapter can provide an immediate base of friends from which you can branch out mere days after your first hour at the University. Additionally, while many introductory level classes will have over one-hundred individuals in attendance, small classes are plentiful if one simply takes the time to thoroughly browse myZou. It's all about individual initiative. I have had a personal relationship with around 3/4 of the professors I have had at Mizzou (basically, any professor I have wished to meet), and all of the professors within my particular discipline. On a similar note, I have never had trouble learning in a large class, nor obtaining outside help from the professor if I found some facet of the class to be difficult. Especially after sophomore year, larger classes become less common. I have heard that many individuals are apprehensive about attending a "big school," but I think that many of their fears are generally unfounded. REPUTATION Mizzou commands a great deal of respect throughout the state of Missouri. Outside of perhaps Washington University in St. Louis, no other institution within Missouri can compete with Mizzou in essentially any aspect (and even when you include WashU, one must consider the urban setting, relative lack of athletics, and other items unbecoming to most individual's ideal of a college experience). As previously mentioned, many individuals from the state of Missouri tend to associate the University with academic excellence and some degree of financial security (not near the level of wealth associated with private institutions, but certainly above the regional institutions). Mizzou commands a fair amount of prestige at the regional level, with a mutual level of respect maintained among the other institutions of the Big 12 (Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Baylor) and other universities in the surrounding area (Illinois, Arkansas). Additionally, Mizzou maintains respect at the national level. Individuals from other areas of the nation are not in awe of Mizzou (it isn't Harvard or Yale), but they tend to recognize the University as a respectable institution. Outside of the Big 12, I have met individuals from across the nation, including the University of Southern California, the University of Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Pennsylvania State University, and all of them treated Mizzou with respect. While not generally considered a "national school," the University of Missouri is certainly one of the best institutions in the Midwest. COLUMBIA Columbia is an exemplary college town. With a population of less than 100,000, Columbia has retained much of its small town charm while meeting the needs of the college community. Columbia is home to several local restaurants of various taste and an active night life. Additionally, Columbia has consistently been rated among America's best places to live, and is roughly two hours away from St. Louis and Kansas City.

Maya

It's hard to sum up Mizzou without inaccurate generalizations. Some of the professors are great; some not so great. Some of the students are great; some not so great. In general, the atmosphere of the school is very friendly, and the academic programs are decent. Columbia, MO, is the quintessential college town. Liberal, medium-sized, relatively safe. The Mizzou campus isn't too ugly.

Jessie

One of the best feature about Mizzou is easiness to make friends on campus bacause there are many events to get known new people and most of freshman live in dormitory together.

Alisha

I love the location and size of Mizzou. I come from a town of 500 people so coming to Mizzou was a big change for me! However, I've loved every minute of it! Anybody I talk to is excited for me that I go to Mizzou. They feel like it has a lot to offer its students! I love Mizzou for their school pride because most students walking around on campus are wearing mizzou clothing pretty much everyday! They support their sports teams and get involved in many activities on campus! I feel that Mizzou doess have a lot to offer its students, however there are a few things I feel Mizzou could work on! For one...parking is rediculous! Hello...we have to pay a bunch of money already to go to this school, why should we have to pay to park what seems like a hundred miles away from the rest of campus!! There needs to be a better system there! Believe me, I love being on campus, but when it takes me forever to get to my car just to get off campus for awhile, its almost not worth it and its definitely not convient!!

Robin

Best thing: Opportunities. You can almost find any group on campus that meets what you want to do in life. Mizzou is large, but it gets smaller as the years progress. It depends on the person when I tell them that I go to Mizzou. Most of the time it's, "Great football at Mizzou." I spend most of my time in class and at the library and student centers. Columbia is a college town. I believe that the amount of violent crime on and around campus is the biggest controversy. Yes, there's tons of school pride, especially when sports teams are doing well. One experience... really too many. Most frequent complaints: "My advisor is a dumbass." "This department screwed me over and now I have to take more classes."

Alix

I think Mizzou is a great school. It is a large campus, but it offers a lot of different option to help decide what you want to do in the future. Everyone is great help. They have many things to do, with the rec center and organizations to join. I think this school is just right.

Erika

I love Mizzou. It's a great environment in a fun town. Since it's a small city centered around the school everything is very spirited. Football season is fantastic, there's so much energy, especially on big 12 games.