Truman State University

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School Says - General Information
Truman State University is Missouri's premier liberal arts and sciences university and the only highly selective public institution in the state. As one of the very few publicly funded liberal arts schools in the nation, Truman successfully combines affordability with the type of education and personal attention typically only offered at a private institution.

Truman has established an impeccable reputation in the Midwest and throughout the nation for the high-quality undergraduate programs offered. In fact, for the fourteenth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Truman State University as the number one master's level public institution in the Midwest. A commitment to student achievement and learning is the focus of the University.

School Says - Student Body
With approximately 270 student organizations to choose from, encompassing service, Greek, honorary, professional, religious, social, political and recreational influences, Truman students have tremendous opportunities to become involved on campus and in the Kirksville community. Truman student organizations sponsor a number of events throughout the year, such as Truman Live, International Idol, guest speakers, poetry slams, musical performances, dance recitals, volunteering events, and ever-popular food nights.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series also provides a variety of cultural programs that interest students throughout the year. Past programs have included brilliant performances by the Peking Acrobats, The 5 Browns, the Vienna Choir Boys, Canadian Brass, and Alvin Ailey II.

Truman's Student Activity Board sponsors a variety of entertainment events. Recent SAB concerts include CAKE, Dashboard Confessional, Regina Spektor, MXPX, and Ben Folds. Comedic acts like Tracy Morgan, Jim Gaffigan, and Demetri Martin have also come to Truman's campus in recent years.

Truman, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II member, offers 21 men's and women's sports. The NCAA and the University authorize a limited number of grants to outstanding athletes. The value of this aid may vary with each individual recipient.

School Says - Academics
Professional paths include but are not limited to dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and veterinary medicine.

The teaching degree at Truman is the Master of Arts in Education. Students wishing to pursue a teaching career first complete a bachelor's degree in an academic discipline and then apply for admission into professional study at the master's level. Master's programs in special education, elementary education, middle school education, and secondary education are available.

Truman also offers Master's level degrees in Accountancy (MA), Biology (MS), Communication Disorders (MA), Counseling (MA), English (MA) and Music (MA).

The Liberal Studies Program is the heart of Truman's curriculum and is intended to serve as a foundation for all major programs of study. The philosophy behind the Liberal Studies Program is based upon a commitment that Truman has made to provide students with essential skills needed for lifelong learning, breadth across the traditional liberal arts and sciences through exposure to various discipline-based modes of inquiry, and interconnecting perspectives that stress interdisciplinary thinking and integration as well as linkage to other cultures and experiences.

School Says - Admissions
Each applicant is evaluated for admission based upon academic and co-curricular record, ACT or SAT results, and the admission essay. Truman requires the following high school core: 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics (4 recommended), 3 units of social studies/history, 3 units of natural science, 1 unit of fine arts and 2 units of the same foreign language.

Students interested in being considered for all scholarships are encouraged to apply by December 1 of their senior year. The recommended final deadline to apply for the fall semester is March 1. There is no application fee. Students may apply online at the website listed below. For further information or to schedule a campus visit, students should contact:

Office of Admission
Truman State University
100 East Normal
Kirksville, Missouri 63501
Telephone: 660.785.4114 or 800.892.7792
Fax: 660.785.7456
E-mail: admissions@truman.edu
http://admissions.truman.edu

School Says - Campus Life
The Truman campus is beautifully situated on 140 acres in Kirksville, a town of approximately 17,000 located in the northeast corner of Missouri. The historic downtown area is within walking distance of the Truman campus and provides a connection to the Kirksville community with local restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

School Says - Cost Aid
Tuition for Missouri residents for the 2010-11 academic year is $6,458; out-of-state tuition is $11,856. The average room and board rate for both Missouri residents and nonresidents is $6,644. Additional fees include a one-time $305 freshman orientation fee, and annual fees including an $82 activities fee, a $100 athletic fee, a $52 Student Health Center fee, a $100 parking fee for those with a vehicle, and costs of books and personal expenses.Truman offers automatic scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000. Competitive scholarship awards vary from $500 up to full tuition, room and board, plus a $4,000 study-abroad stipend. The application for admission also serves as the application for the automatic and competitive scholarship programs, and it is free to apply.

A limited number of scholarships are awarded to students for excellence in fine arts, debate or foreign language. These scholarships are available for instrumental, or vocal music; acting or dramatic production; studio art or art history; speech or debate; and foreign languages offered at Truman. Of special interest to piano students is the Truman Piano Fellowship Competition, a February competition offering scholarships to top pianists.

Truman accepts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) and participates in all Federal Title IV financial aid programs. Financial aid estimates are available upon request.

Students Say - Academics
Truman students aren't shy about discussing their school's "extremely well deserved academic reputation," referring to it as "superior," "excellent," "the best public university in the state of Missouri," and even "the Harvard of the Midwest." Truman students are here to work, and many cite the school's financial aid and scholarships as allowing them to do so. "Truman State offers many scholarships that make getting a great education very affordable," says a freshman biology major, and a senior linguistics major says "they gave me scholarships that ended up essentially paying me to come here." Students enjoy Truman's focus on its study-abroad options, and they use the school's financial accessibility to participate. "I wanted to get a world-class education, but I didn't want the price of tuition to prevent me from exploring the world itself. I'm doing an internship in Tanzania this summer, which quite frankly would not have been financially possible" otherwise. Many Truman students choose to study English, business, and accounting, but as one junior told us "I wanted a school that was well-rounded so that, regardless of what I ended up majoring [in], I knew it would be a solid program." Students also appreciate the ability to take classes outside their majors, as one junior tells us, "Even though I am an exercise science major, I have taken many classes in other majors such as art and literature."

Students Say - Campus Life
Students almost unanimously love life at Truman State. "The campus is beautiful, and the atmosphere is very welcoming." However, at a school of Truman's caliber one can expect students to spend most of their time studying. "Many people here really care about their education, so they do schoolwork and study," and "the thing that stands out the most is how everyone here is pretty grade conscious." Students have noticed that other students "would rather go to class hung-over than miss lectures." Students do have reservations about hometown Kirksville; "there is not a lot to do. It really is a rural town, but people make fun things to do on campus." Some students participate in Greek life and "go to planned social events with fraternities and sororities. There are also a few bars in town that of-age students go to on a regular basis." But Truman's social scene is far from one-sided; "some people say there's nothing to do but drink, but from the amount of school organizations and activities, that's obviously not true. People make their own fun." "The trick to making life at Truman interesting is to find your niche, whether it's on a sports team...or in a musical ensemble...I got involved with the campus newspaper." Students also undertake social responsibility. "You can be a huge political advocate, involved in protests on the quad. You can become involved in community service locally and nation-wide."

Students Say - Student Body
All of the students at Truman are bonded by one thing; their respect for other students' academic abilities, and all students are here to study. Therefore, "it is easy to get to know other classmates and have study groups or friends to lean on in times of need." "Most people strive to excel here, so there is a healthy focus on academics within friends," and the "typical student is an over-achiever with big dreams and goals." Also, many are "from Missouri, specifically St. Louis, and a high proportion are from Catholic, private schools." As one student tells us, "The typical student can be described as the typical American...there is no distinct description to identify the typical person."

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