University of Montana-is it right for my needs? (loans, transfer)

[alicareycat]

I am a junior in high school trying to figure out where I wanna apply. I have researched U of Montana and it just seems perfect for me. Unlike any other school, I can see myself going there.

I am interested in majoring in Biology, with a minor that has something to do with animals or something with nature. What is the science program like a U of Montana? I can't really find anything online.

[AT-AT28]

Biology and science overall is very popular here and from what i've heard, the study at UM is very good over all.

I suggest taking a tour of the campus with someone who works there and get an idea of what its like before committing ALOT of your money to the UM, its not cheap, especially outa state and it keeps going up every year. My tuition back on 02 was expensive enough just for staying at home, two year associates degree, I can't imagine doing it now.

[bongo403]

Wildlife biology, forestry, and environmental science are all popular at UM. If you're looking at veterinary or agriculture-related animal sciences, MSU would be a better fit.

[flyingcat2k]

I certainly would recommend visiting the school but only during fall or spring semester. I wanted to go to U of Colorado and was accepted. in 1995, out of state tuition is 26k a year. Montana State was 5.5k a year in state tuition so in-state I went. Looking back, I would have lasted 1 year at the school or possibly 1 semester due to my politics and morals being total opposite with the student body as a whole. I don't smoke dope. I think protesting is for losers (left and right causes). I think professors and classified employees deserve common decency and respect and should give me the same. After living in Denver for 3 years (about 5 years after graduating from MSU), I found that U of Colo. did none of those things but Colorado State did. I would have wound up transferring. I never visited the school when it was in session or I would have learned the student body is more about binge drinking, bong toking and meaningless protests rather than actual study.

Also remember that none of your athletic events at UM are free to students. You have to pay an athletic fee plus stand in line for hours to get a shot at 5,000 seats in a 24,000 seat stadium. The rest of the football stadium is for boosters and scalpers, most of whom never even attended one semester at UM. At least at MSU, you can get in to the game and sit with actual alumni but tickets are no longer free (and this alum feels that is a crock!).

UM also charges more tuition for Junior and Senior level classes than Freshman and Sophomore level classes and out of state tuition at both UM and MSU is going up 10% every 2 years which is oddly in line with in-state tuition.

Personally, if you are having to take loans out for a degree in Biology, do yourself a favor and stay in your state. Biology isn't that high of a paying field. It took a friend of mine more than 15 years post-grad to make more than 60K and had get other certifications. Even engineering degrees don't earn enough to really warrant paying an out-of-state tuition if you like a particular school and their programs are better than those in-state.