Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri--Rolla)

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Students Say - Academics
Formerly known as University of Missouri-Rolla, Missouri University of Science and Technology has undergone a name change, but its "reputation for academic excellence" has remained the same. Its focus on "challenging" academics ensures "the classes are tough," so "don't expect to walk right on through, but be glad that you aren't able to." Luckily, the school offers a "large number of assets" to students, including "lots of opportunities for students to lead" and professors who "really want the students to understand the material." Most students describe the professors as "very knowledgeable" and "willing to help students whenever they are in need of assistance." Some find them "varied," noting that "you have a good chance of getting an excellent professor, but then again some have thick accents, some have thick heads, and some just make you wonder if they really know and believe in what they're talking about." One thing nearly all students agree on is that the "extensive and very strong engineering and science programs" are the school's "biggest strength." "Missouri S&T does a lot of research and funds a lot of experiments and expeditions that give it an edge over other colleges," says one undergrad. They also appreciate Missouri S&T's "cheaper cost" than comparable colleges, as well as the fact their "tuition goes toward academics, not athletics." Opinions on the administration are mixed. Some find they "do a very good job at keeping the students informed about what is going on throughout the school" and "listen heavily to the students." Others aren't so positive, noting "administrators are completely unreachable."

Students Say - Campus Life
Classes, studying, and homework dominate the weeks at Missouri S&T, "so the weekends are when the campus comes alive." But "alive" can be a relative term. Some find life on campus is "great." "Most people get together in large groups and play outside sports for fun, work out together, or play video games in large groups," says one undergrad. "There is a great sense of community." On the other hand, when students are working so hard during the week, sometimes all they want to do with their free time is rest. "What I do for fun is sleep," explains one student, "because I'm always losing it." Either way the wind blows, "there's an organization for everyone" at Missouri S&T, with "fraternities and sororities being a very prominent part of residential life." There are also "a lot of social events that Residential Life puts on." Most agree the town of Rolla "doesn't offer a lot of entertainment." As one student puts it, "It's Rolla. Quarter Bowling night is the most fun thing to do." Many students "leave on the weekends," but most agree "part of that is that there are many different places to go within a three-hour drive." For those who stay, most "have fun with what they learn." While "pranking isn't as prevalent as it was in the past, it still happens." So expect the "normal college pastimes" of "potato cannons" and "siege machines" to take on a "more competitive level when students design equations or create programs to improve their designs."

Students Say - Student Body
The typical student here is described as "a Midwestern white boy" or, as one student puts it, "a white male, nerdy, who never sees the sun." Either way, one thing is clear, women are "very much in the minority" here. This is reflected on both sides of the gender coin, with guys noting "there aren't many girls here, which stinks," and girls sometimes feeling "harassed" or that they're being "treated differently" by their peers. That said, some say "what once was a huge gap in gender population is now becoming a more respectable margin" and "the ethnic makeup of the student population is quite diverse." Fundamentally, students here are "smart," "welcoming," and "open-minded." They "make their own fun," and a good deal of bonding is done with videogames: Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and World of Warcraft are "hugely popular" here.

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