SO. MUCH. FOOD.

Coming to Mizzou, you will (probably) be overwhelmed with how many options there are for dining.  All of the residential locations are primarily there for students who are living on campus and have a meal plan. You should check all of those places out as a freshman, because they are dangerously expensive out-of-pocket. Non-residentail locations are normally in highly populated areas of campus that are frequented by visitors and older students. These locations accept cash, credit and EZ charge (optional "debit" account on your student ID) and are more moderately priced. The dining website will give you all of the information you need about daily menus, hours, and nutritional facts.  I'll give a small rundown of all the places that I have eaten on campus this year, and let you know about some of your options downtown for when you're tired of campus food.

Resdiential (Meal Plan)
Rollins (buffet style) - this is located in Rollins commons and is connected to Hudson and Gillett residence halls.  They have pizza, salad bar, deli, grill, and more homestyle entrees during meal time.  The deli here isn't that great, it's basically lunchmeat and bread that you put together yourself.  The grill is really great, but it isn't open flame so the grilled chicken here always tastes rubbery (don't get it!).  The entrees are generally really delicious.  If you like chicken pot pie, you'll like their chicken pot pie. Nothing is really weird tasting or eccentric here.
Plaza 900 (buffet style) - located fairly centrally.  They have deli, salad bar, grill, on stage (they cook in front of you) and entrees.  The deli here is delicious! It's sort of subway style where they make the sandwich in front of you and can toast it if you like.  The grill isn't anything special and most of the time the food has already been sitting there a while.  The entrees available at the station aren't as good as Rollins, but it depends on what is offered that day. On stage is delicious, but slow.  They usually have pasta or stir-fry, which are really popular, but they also run out of ingrediants a lot because of the popularity.
Dobbs - located by Laws, Lathrop and Jones residence halls.  They have a great grill here.  It's open-flame and everything tastes like a restaurant. They also have pasta and a deli available all of the time.  The entrees are really good here, too.  It's a bit of a walk but since it's close to the stadium, a lot of people come here on game days.
Emporium - grocery store type place.  They have pretty generic things that you can purchase with your meal plan and store in your dorm room like juice, milk, meals, cereal, etc.  This is a great place to come get rid of excess meals you might have or get some snacks for when you don't have time to go to a dining hall.
Sabai - located in Johnston residence hall. This is a "Southeast Asian" restaurant that has the same menu daily. Some things are very good, but others are not.  You should definitely talk to people and see what they think of it before you decide on an item.  I went here a lot last semester because it was in my dorm. Some items are very traditional Southeast Asian and don't taste much like what you would get at other Chinese restaurants.  It's a good place to go to because it isn't really that busy during lunch. Things to try: Sweet Chili Chicken or Rice Bowl.
Baja Grill - located in Bingham Commons by Schurz, College Ave, and Hatch residence halls.  This is a really delicious place to eat. Like Sabai, it has the same menu daily.  It's Mexican food like quesidillas, tacos, and nachos.  Sometimes things aren't cooked completely, which is a little bit of a setback, but it's generally pretty good.  This place is very busy around dinner time, but there isn't a line at all around 2-2:30. Things to try: Carne Asada, Grilled Caesar Salad, & Tropical Coolers

Non-Residential
Starbuck's - pretty self explainatory, but it's awesome that we have one on campus!
Infusion - sort of like starbucks, but they also have things like ice cream and shakes.
Kate & Emma's - Panera Bread type place. They have wraps and sandwiches.
Mort's - great burgers and waffle fries! try the buffalo chicken sandwich or the shack sauce
Wheatstone Bistro - another Panera type place
Subway - located in Mizzou Market in Pershing Commons!
There are more, but these are some of the more popular ones :)

Downtown - google any of their websites for more info!
Noodles & Company
Which wich? - sandwich shop
Ingrediant
Chipotle
The Heidleberg - kind of like Applebee's
Shakespeare's Pizza
Gumby's - cheap pizza, open late! Try the Clay-Fusion (half-pizza, half cheesy bread)
Subway
Flat Branch - delicious restaurant and if you're visiting with your parents, they're also a brewery with many unique drafts
Yogoluv - by the ounce frozen yogurt
Domino's pizza

In short, there is always somewhere to eat on campus and it's definitely worth your while to check out what downtown has to offer!

What the heck am I paying so much for?

So this question is probably one that pops up when you see how much tuition is at Mizzou.  Aside from awesome professors, the knowledge you recieve, and the beautiful campus that you call home for 4+ years, there are some pretty great things at Mizzou included in your tuition here.

First of all, my favorite of all of these great services is the Student Recreation Complex, affectionatly known as "The Rec."  Our rec center is really one of the best in the nation.  We have TONS of equipment that is free to use so long as you have a valid student ID. Click here to go to The Rec's website and see some awesome photos and get information on what is offered there.  For a discounted price, there is also a spa that does manicures, massages, etc and several classes like yoga and zumba that you can participate in.

The Student Success Center is also a great service to students. Their website will tell you about all of the services they give to students.  There are study sessions, tutoring sessions, and even a writing center that will help edit your reports for classes.  This center is vital in helping students of all grade levels have a successful academic career at Mizzou.

Ellis library is not only a traditonal library where you can check out books that interest you, it also has several databases that are available online through their website to MU students.  Some of the services offered at Ellis are reserving rooms for group projects, checking out overhead projectors, scanning systems and color printers.  While I'm on the subject of these things, first of all - they're all technically free.  There is a $35.00 printing quota available for MU students at the beginning of each year already paid for in your tuition. Black and white printouts will deduct 0.05 and color will deduct 0.15 from that quota.  I haven't gone over mine, but in the case that you do, all excess pages will be student charged to your account to be paid at the time of recieving a bill

STRIPES is an awesome service for MU students that is utilized probably the most on campus.  This is an awesome group of volunteers of drivers that pick up students on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to give them a safe ride home. All cars have one male and one female volunteer in them to make the student being picked up feel as comfortable as possible and it's a confidential service.  Although many students use this service to get a ride home after going to a party or the bars downtown, it is not a requirement to be drinking that night.  Several people use this service that rode a bus to campus and stayed until later in the evening that just need a ride back to their off-campus apartment. They're always looking for volunteers so it's also a great way to get involved at Mizzou!

Some other recources that you may find helpful during your stay at Mizzou:
MU Women's Center - basement of the student center with activities and comfy chairs..you don't have to be a woman to hang out here!
MU LGBTQ - Another Safe Space to hang out without judgment. LGBTQ students and "allies" hang out here to meet new people and feel comfortable at Mizzou.
Student Unions - student center with many student offices, rentable study rooms, food court, bookstore, and comfy chairs to hang out in!
RSVP Center - Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Center
Asian Affairs Center - awesome resource for students coming from countries in Asia to meet people who are in the same situation
Craft Studio & Art Gallery - students can purchase a membership here to suit their crafting needs or simply join in on one of the many free "crafternoons" they put on throughout the year!


I hope that knowing about some of these services will be helpful to you in your future endeavors at Mizzou. Feel free to check out any of those links and explore the websites a little more!

Sydney

Hey, All!

Somehow I've forgotten about this little blog I've been doing and decided I needed to keep up!  I'm working on an entry about some of the things that are included in your tuition that not many students know about or choose to utilize.  No, these aren't hidden fees that the university uses to make more money (you can find those on your own ;) ), these are all things to help you succeed and are some of the many benefits of going to a large university.
Get excited about coming to Mizzou! It's almost your turn.

Greek Life at Mizzou - it's not for everyone

Being Greek at Mizzou isn't for everyone, but like other things, you really do get what you put into it.  Formal Recruitment (often nicknamed "rush") is the process in which sororities pick their new members for the fall semester.  Men's Recruitment generally happens on certain Summer Welcome dates, which are posted on the Summer Welcome page closer to the event.

My experience thus far with being in a sorority has been amazing.  I belong to a beautiful sisterhood of amazing women, and have met so many people outside of my chapter that are so wonderful.  The Greek Community is a very big part of Mizzou Tradition with events in Greek Week, Homecoming, and Philanthropic Service.  I do encourage people to understand what Greek Life is like before bashing it or dismissing it completely.  It does come with financial responsibility, but the bonds you make, lives you touch, and legacy you create are well worth it. And when I say "financial responsibility" I don't mean "buying friendships." Chapters give a breakdown of where the money goes to before you even join, so fees like furnishings, events (basically you pay for fun stuff up front instead of every week!), meals, and parking at the Chapter's house.

Greek life really isn't for everyone, and it IS NOT necessary to have fun at Mizzou.  Almost all of my friends from home are independents and they are living up the college experience just as much as my Greek friends!  Greek Life isn't an exclusive club where members only talk to people like them - it's just a way to make campus smaller for some people.  There are tons of ways to get involved at Mizzou without joining a Sorority or Fraternity. You just have to find what's best for you!

Here are some links to get you started:
Mizzou Greek Life - all you need to know about Greek Life at Mizzou
Clubs and Organizations - get involved!
Stuff to Do - cool events that you can look forward to as an MU student!

If you have any questions about Greek Life or getting involved, shoot me a comment!

To Purchase Season Tickets..?

I wanted to talk a little bit about athletics here at Mizzou because they're one of the most exciting things about the university.  Almost all athletic events outside of men's football and basketball are free with an MU student ID.  In addition, MU students get great discounts for season tickets to basketball and football games.  I only purchased the football tickets because basketball isn't really my thing and here is where I tell you that was a bad idea.
BECAUSE

1. MU's inaugural SEC football season sucked.  I'm not a football expert, but I do know that the Tigers really weren't prepared for SEC football.  
2. Most tickets sell for dirt cheap the day of the game or are given away.  Don't buy the tickets unless you are a die-hard fan and you'll attend enough games to get your money's worth because selling them really isn't an option and you can just get them for free.
3. Tailgating is awesome. Let me repeat, tailgating is awesome.  It's probably the best part about game day.  The tailgating festivities go on all throughout the game and some even show the games on TV, so don't worry about missing out on any great plays.
4. Football in college is kind of boring in real life.  Games last forever and the student section NEVER sits down.  Most games are dark, rainy, and cold.

Ultimately the decision is up to you, but I'm not buying tickets next year.  As far as basketball, I've only been to a few games but they have always been fun and exciting.  Most basketball tickets go for about $5 a game right now, so if you're just in the mood to see a game and don't really care much for the big names in college bball, just buy tickets from people selling them the week of the game.  Don't worry, they'll be available.

My wonderful friends and I at the Mizzou vs Georgia game.

Go Tigers!

Packing

Okay so, I know that packing is totally out of your mind right now, but I just wanted to drop in a little resource that I used to help me know just what to bring on my venture to Mizzou.

This helps you remember to pack things you wouldn't normally think about (like dish soap and band-aids) and also give you the opportunity to take items off the list you don't think you'll need (like tampons if you're a dude) and add things that aren't on the list.  Also, I'm pretty sure they've developed a mobile app so you can save your list and take it shopping with you! It never hurts to start buying things like detergent, towels, and other things that have shelf-life - especially if you're on a budget. Click below!

Ultimate College Packing List

Sydney

Dorms from a Student Perspective (WARNING: Long!)

Hey, Guys!
So the first thing I have to talk about are the dorms.  Here at Mizzou, in order to make you feel more "at home" (whatever), we call our dormitories "Residence Halls."  Each hall has it's own unique environment, design, and atmosphere.

The people you will find within your halls to help you are:

• The Front Desk - These people will greet you on your way in, distribute mail, notify you of packages, send out important information on hall closing times, and work to give you a positive environment if you ever need anything.
• Your Community Advisors - These are students that live on your floor (1 guy, 1 gal) who assist you in keeping the residence hall running smoothly.  They are the ones that sort out roommate issues, disturbingly loud music, and can get you in a lot of trouble.  Most of them are cool and will let you go about your business as long as you don't bother anyone.
• Your Hall Coordinator - This is a live-in employee of the University that is in charge of your contract to the hall.  This person conducts activities and is basically who would be your "landlord" if you have an issue.
• The Maintenance Team - Nicest people ever.  They come in and fulfill your requests while you're in class. Be nice to them.
• The Janitorial Staff - Nicest people ever, again.  They clean community bathrooms daily, vacuum, mop, and keep up with the appearance of the community areas. Be VERY nice to them, they clean up after you.

I highly recommend living in a Residence Hall your first year at MU.  It's a great opportunity to get involved and make new friends.  The halls offer a ton of resources, like study groups and plan tons of events.  Here is a list of the Halls and some of their pros and cons.

Wolpers

Wolpers is one of the older residence halls.  It has a great location right next to the Student Recreation Complex (The Rec), The Student Center/Bookstore, Vida Coffee, The Black Culture Center, and two dining halls.  I think it's due for renovation soon, but I'd say it is a great hall to live in just because of the charm that the older residence halls have.  Wolpers has a game room downstairs and general hang out area, which is cool. The downside is that the rooms and furniture are outdated and it is right next to Johnston Hall which will be undergoing renovations in 2013-?.

Hudson/Gillet

These are two newly renovated halls that are connected by Rollins Commons.  They have electronic locks on the doors, all traditional style rooms (meaning you have a community bathroom), built-in shelving on the walls, alcove closets, and readily lofted beds.  Rollins Dining Hall is in this complex.  There is also a blacktop basketball court outside.  They are close to the agriculture building, Plaza Dining Hall, Wolpers, and very close to campus classrooms.  These are nice rooms and the community there is usually very friendly, but the rooms are small and there is not a lot of space for "stuff." I stayed in this dorm during Summer Welcome, but who knows if they will use it again.

Defoe-Graham, Galena, Dogwood

Only residence hall (besides Tiger Diggs) open over break.  This hall fills up quickly due to international students needing a place to stay over break.  The rooms are rather small but the community style is nice.  This was the dorm I toured when I first toured Mizzou, but I'm not too familiar with it.  The lounge areas are small in comparison to some of the other dorms.  It is close to The Rec, Vida Coffee, 24 Hour Mizzou Market that includes Subway, Stankowski Field (turf field for soccer and such), sand volleyball courts.

Discovery, Respect, Responsibility, Excellence

These halls offer exclusively suite style rooms (no community bathrooms!).  Suites are generally a little more expensive..you can look at the prices of the different room styles closer to when your housing preference comes up to see what is right for you and your budget.  I haven't been here, but the people I know that live in these halls really like them.  They are close to Plaza, Emporium (market that you can use your meal plan), basketball court, Black Culture Center, Hudson/Gillett, and the bridge that leads to Baja Grill.

Laws, Lathrop, Jones

These halls sort of look like hotels from the outside, but from what I've seen, they are great on the inside! They are the least expensive of all of the halls on campus, but seem to have the best community.  They are not close to classes at all, so if you choose one of these you will definitely have to wake up a little extra early to get to class in time.  They have large windows in every room, traditional style rooms, and large lounges that are shared by two floors.  They are close to the Sports complexes like Faurot Field, Mizzou Arena, and Hearnes Center.  They are also close to GreekTown, ROTC, Dobbs dining hall, Mizzou Market, and not too far from Stankowski.  These halls are great for girls planning on joining sororities because they are so close to the houses.

North, Center, South

These halls are suite style halls. They are far from EVERYTHING. They're spacious and nice, but sort of pricy.  A lot of Mizzou athletes live here because they are right across from Faurot Field and the Athletic Training complex.  You absolutely have to leave for class about 10 minutes before people in the other halls.  The distance may not seem terrible now, but walking that route every day is a different story.  These halls are also close to GreekTown, Mizzou Market and Dobbs dining hall.

McDavid and Mark Twain

Mark Twain is going through renovations and I don't think it will be done in time for the MU class of 2017 to live there so I'm just going to skip to McDavid.  McDavid is close to engineering buildings, geological science buildings, and the Francis Quadrangle (The Quad - where the columns are).  It's a much shorter distance to classes, but far away from most of the student life.

Schurz, Hatch, College Avenue

These halls are all suite style rooms.  They are all a part of Bingham's Commons which includes Baja Grill.  They are a tad bit farther from classes than the Rollins commons.  These Halls are newish and generally look a lot nicer than most of the halls now and they have great study rooms available.

I hope this helped you on your room search!  Leave me any questions you have in the comments!