With the Admissions office closed this week, I saw that as my opportunity to plan a short vacation that was definitely much needed. My boyfriend, Brad, and I traveled to Fayetteville, AR, for the weekend to visit his dad who lives here.
I won’t be blogging about MSU Admissions this week, but I thought I would discuss two colleges I’ve visited while vacationing in this region.
On Saturday, the three of us actually made the two-hour ride to Branson, MO – a town that is definitely geared towards the typical tourist family. While touring the city, I spotted the College of the Ozarks. This is a small, Presbyterian liberal arts college that was founded in 1906 as School of the Ozarks. It transformed into a junior college in the 1950’s before it eventually became a four-year institution in 1965. This college has been nicknamed Hard Work U because they have a private work-study program where full-time students must work on campus in order to pay for their tuition. Loans are not possible here at CofU because the college does not participate in any governmental loan programs, and alcohol is prohibited on and off campus. It is truly amazing to compare this institution to MSU and see the outstanding differences.
In addition to College of the Ozarks, I was also able to see University of Arkansas for the second time. UA and MSU are both land-grant, research institutions but the culture seems much different. Even though I did not receive an official tour from a university representative, a few differences are evident just from traveling through the campus. For instance, it is extremely hard to distinguish where UA starts and the city of Fayetteville begins. The campus blends into the city making it feel like there isn’t really much an actual campus. It does not feel welcoming and “homey” like Mississippi State does.
Even though I wasn’t able to tour these campuses with a guide who would be able to answer my questions about the institutions’ cultures, traditions, and histories, I still earned a great amount of information just by witnessing the two distinct institutions. These two colleges just go to further exemplify how diverse higher education institutions really are and how each of us needs to know what institution type fits us best.
Megan
Megan,
ReplyDeleteGlad you found time to get away. Recognizing the need to slow down and find balance is another great part of learning to be a professional. I'm also happy to hear about your recognition of the value of institutional culture. Each university/college brings so much with it and yes, there are cultural aspects you can see just from the seat of your car! I look forward to hearing more about your experiences as you wrapped up your practicum.
Best,
Dr. H