Choosing A College Essay, Research Paper

COLLEGE RESEARCH PAPER

Choosing a college during the final years of high school can be a long

strenuous process, full of many lifelong decisions. These decisions can be broken

down into six categories. The categories are cost, entrance requirements, location,

living arrangements, unique programs, and extracurricular activities. The

University of Missouri St. Louis and the University of Missouri, Columbia have

some similarities yet many more differences.

A major concern when deciding which college to attend is cost. Cost consists

of not only tuition but also books, room and board. If one would like to attend the

University of Missouri, Columbia for a residential student the composite cost for

tuition is four thousand three hundred twenty three dollars. The tuition cost is

relatively the same at the University of Missouri St. Louis. Their approximate

annual cost is four thousand seven hundred ninety five dollars and eighty cents.

Therefore tuition for the University of Missouri Columbia is four hundred seventy

dollars and eighty cents cheaper than the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

Colleges have entrance requirements so that the college receives the caliber of

students they want. This is important to a student because the requirements

actually make sure the students are all around the same intelligence level. This

makes college life more neutral. The University of Missouri Columbia and the

University of Missouri St. Louis are both on the University of Missouri system. This

system says a student must complete four units of English and mathematics, three

units of science and social studies, two units of the same foreign language, and one

unit fine arts. These are often called the seventeen core credits for college. This

system also requires an ACT score of at least seventeen but with this low of an ACT

score one needs to be in the top ninety-four percentile of their class. If one?s ACT

composite is twenty-four or higher then that applicant meets the minimum

requirement for admission.

The location of a college can be a major deciding factor when one plans

which college to go to. Is the college in and urban, suburban, or rural area. Is the

crime rate in the area very high or so low they don?t even have a sheriff for forty

miles. Is the college close to any points of interests for college students. Such as

movie theaters, amusement parks or bowling allies. The University of Missouri St.

Louis is seven miles from downtown St. Louis. St. Louis is a large city consisting of

250,000 to 499,999 people. It has many points of interests for a college student.

Besides the examples above St. Louis has four professional sports clubs.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ST. LOUIS also has an urban campus environment.

The University of Missouri Columbia is located in the small city of Columbia

Missouri. It has a population of 50,000-250,000. The University of Missouri

Columbia is located approximately 125 miles from Kansas City and St. Louis.

The living arrangements when attending a college can enlighten or destroy

your college experience. If one intends to go to the University of Missouri St. Louis

they have several options for housing. The residence hall, Mansion Hill

condominiums, and University Meadow Apartments. The residence halls are

conveniently located on campus. Smoking and the use of alcohol or drugs is not

permitted in the residence halls. Mansion Hill condominiums are on a private

wooded estate with all the luxury of home. The University Meadow apartments is a

apartment complex located just off campus. The University of Missouri Columbia

has coed dormitories, apartments for married students and fraternity/sorority

housing. All housing is located on campus besides some fraternity/sorority houses.

The options for incoming freshmen to the University of Missouri Columbia for

housing is limited to dorm life.

Unique programs are another apparatus to help one decide if the college they

want to attend has extracurricular activities wanted as well as academic programs.

The University of Missouri St. Louis has many academic programs which include

study abroad and the Pierre Laclede Honors College. This signifies a double major.

Studying abroad means one goes to a foreign country where the University of

Missouri St. Louis has set up a college. The Pierre Laclede Honors college is an

honors college for the exceptionally intelligent. Although it is part of the University

of Missouri St. Louis program it has its own campus, consisting of instructional,

residential, and recreational facilities. The University of Missouri Columbia has a

museum of art and archaeology, museum of anthropology, and a research center for

nuclear reactor.

Extracurricular activities serves a minor purpose in the decision to choose a

college. Both the University of Missouri Columbia and the University of Missouri

St. Louis have superb extracurricular activities provided for their students. They

both contain not only NCAA collegiate athletics but also intramural sports are

available for the less talented students that still enjoy to play sports. The only

difference between the collegiate level sports is the University of Missouri Columbia

has NCAA division one sports and the University of Missouri St. Louis has NCAA

division two sports. Both of these universities consist of sororities and fraternities

for anyone interested in becoming a member of one of the exceptional Ancient

Greek based organization. Other similar extracurricular activities proved by both

of these schools are student governments, radio stations, student newspaper, and

even pep bands. As for different extracurricular activities provided by the

universities none can be found at this period in time.

Both the University of Missouri Columbia and the University of Missouri St.

Louis have great educational and social programs for students attending their

school. In comparison and contrasting of these schools one could conclude that

these are both exceptional schools. A student living in Missouri would benefit not

only from the financially efficient costs but also the intellectual stimulation great

educational institutions provide to their students.