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.