University of Missouri (Columbia, Rolla: fit in, house, dorms)

[Shoegal42]

University of Missouri is one of the few large public schools that offers my major. I like a lot of things about it but they are known to have a large Greek system and I have no interest in joining a sorority, I am afraid because of this I will not fit in. Should I still condsider it or just forget it.

[skrazzle]

Not joining a sorority will not make a difference...

[Inoxkeeper]

Originally Posted by Shoegal42

University of Missouri is one of the few large public schools that offers my major. I like a lot of things about it but they are known to have a large Greek system and I have no interest in joining a sorority, I am afraid because of this I will not fit in. Should I still condsider it or just forget it.

I would encourage you to at least attend rush week to see if you change your mind about the sororities. From what I have seen the kids who participate in the clubs make more friends and seem to feel more at home faster.

My daughter is a Theta, she loves it but she is also very outgoing and social. She is involved in her church group, the business school, is a nanny for a local family, etc. She seems to be happiest when very busy.

She has HS friends who aren't into Greek and they seemed to struggle a bit at first, they didn't feel "included" as much but that was their choice really. That seemed to be the case the 1st year. Most did make friends and/or joined "FIG's" (non Greek club for Freshman) and seem to be doing fine.

A couple decided Mizzou was too big for them and transferred. It is a big campus and some of the freshman classes are large. One friend spent way too much time at the rec center and flunked out.

Mizzou is a great school and applications are at an all time high so apply soon if you are going to go there.

[OA 5599]

I wouldn't worry too much about not fitting in if you aren't a member of a sorority. While I didn't go to Mizzou, I did go to Missouri-Rolla which has a huge greek population (almost 25% of the students are greeks). I wasn't a greek myself, never had any interest in being a greek, and still made a lot of friends.

I'm not a fan of the greek system myself...its really not for me at all. Then again, I like to do my own thing rather than have designated times for studying, socializing, and partying like a lot of fraternities and sororities impose on their members. Some people really like them though. While hazing is illegal it definitely does happen in modern fraternities and sororities...over two dozen organizations at the University of Texas where I go now have been found to have hazed their members, and many of them are greek organizations. Some of the things done to prospective members were mind-boggling, such as getting shocked with a cattle prod. I think if you attend Mizzou and live in the dorms for the first year or two, and join campus organizations and clubs for other things you are interested in, you'll make plenty of friends.

[Thepreacherswife]

You don't need to go greek to fit in at Mizzou - there's over 20,000 undergrads and even if you're not in a sorority, you're likely to find groups in whatever dorm you wind up in (they have over 20 on campus) or whatever major you choose.

[aragx6]

Mizzou is a huge school and the Greek community is actually a pretty small percentage of it. Smaller schools like Missouri State are actually much worse in this regard.

All Freshman have to live in the dorms, and you'll get placed based on what they call FIGs (Freshman Interest Groups) so your first year you'll live with and take classes with a group of kids based on your interests -- makes it easy to immediately meet up with people you have a lot in common with.

I wasn't in a sorority, I never really considered it, and I've never regretted it. I had friends that did rush (one is actually a Theta like Inoxkeeper's daughter) -- some liked it, others didn't. Whatever floats your boat. I just don't like living around that many girls honestly.

Oh and one thing that's important to remember: As a woman, you're always invited to the big frat parties whether you're in a sorority or not, and there are many non-Greek parties in East Campus all the time or out on Bearfield -- you'll learn quick enough I promise. Just watch out for that jungle juice . My point is, you can be a partier and not be in a sorority. I think that's a common misconception.

All in all, I wouldn't even say that Mizzou is a school known for it's large Greek system, and if they have the major you want, you'd be crazy not to go for it.

I lived in Columbia and went to school at Mizzou for four years so if you have more questions about anything at all, definitely feel free to ask.

[Shoegal42]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Mizzou is a huge school and the Greek community is actually a pretty small percentage of it. Smaller schools like Missouri State are actually much worse in this regard.

All Freshman have to live in the dorms, and you'll get placed based on what they call FIGs (Freshman Interest Groups) so your first year you'll live with and take classes with a group of kids based on your interests -- makes it easy to immediately meet up with people you have a lot in common with.

I wasn't in a sorority, I never really considered it, and I've never regretted it. I had friends that did rush (one is actually a Theta like Inoxkeeper's daughter) -- some liked it, others didn't. Whatever floats your boat. I just don't like living around that many girls honestly.

Oh and one thing that's important to remember: As a woman, you're always invited to the big frat parties whether you're in a sorority or not, and there are many non-Greek parties in East Campus all the time or out on Bearfield -- you'll learn quick enough I promise. Just watch out for that jungle juice . My point is, you can be a partier and not be in a sorority. I think that's a common misconception.

All in all, I wouldn't even say that Mizzou is a school known for it's large Greek system, and if they have the major you want, you'd be crazy not to go for it.

I lived in Columbia and went to school at Mizzou for four years so if you have more questions about anything at all, definitely feel free to ask.

Aragx6, thank you so much, that was extremely helpful! If you could just provide a little bit about your experience and how you liked the school in general it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

[aragx6]

I loved Mizzou, truly. People complain about big class sizes, but that's really only for big gen ed classes like Psych 1000 or Econ.

I was a journalism major and in my final year I think my biggest classes were probably in the 35 student range. I had several that were less than 15 -- and this is one of the most popular majors.

My SO was a physics major and he regularly had classes with less than 10 students in them.

I went to a large high school, so the notion of "just being a number" didn't really bother me. I had many professors who ended up knowing me quite well, but still many who wouldn't have recognized me on the street. I was OK with that.

I loved the idea of a big school because I liked meeting people from all over the place with vastly different interests.

The rec center they finished only a couple of years ago is fabulously beautiful. I lived in a crappy old dorm without A/C -- I believe they all have A/C now -- but I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I made some great friends and had some wild times.

Columbia itself is a nice little town, and depending on your interests there's really something for everyone from an indie movie theater to art shows to plays to theater to bars to great parks.

It's too small for my taste (I live in Chicago now) and there's too many darn Wal-Mart's (the town has ties to the Wal-Mart family even) and i've always gotten the impression that the town was a lot cooler 20 years ago before it got rather "sprawl-y" but it's a pretty good place to spend 4 years.

That's all I can really think to say at the moment, but if you have more specific questions, let 'em rip.

[luzianne]

I went to University of Kansas, not Mizzou, but Kansas also has a large Greek system. It makes no difference at all in fitting in. There are ALL KINDS of people attending college. If sorority isn't your thing, that's no big deal. You will fit in with people who are like you. There are so many groups and so many activities going on. Not being in a sorority won't make a bit of difference, and you will find the who share your interests.

[chicagogirl2009]

Hi. I went to Mizzou and was in a sorority for two years, spent a year as an exchange student, and didn't return to the sorority. Here's my take:

1) If you join a sorority, expect it to dominate your social life, especially if you move into a sorority house your soph year. Between mandatory activities (you're fined if you don't attend), school and work, I had very little time left. It was hard to keep up with non-Greek friends from my freshman year.

2) It's expensive to be Greek. Dues, t-shirts, etc. add up.

3) You will be invited to frat parties even if you aren't in a sorority.

4) If you don't join a sorority and some of your friends do, don't be offended if they spend less time with you due to the mandatory events, etc. No worries as there are plenty of things to do at Mizzou.