Essay, Research Paper: College 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.