Campus activities: National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Phi Eta Sigma honors fraternity; intramural sports
Career goals: Attend graduate school, go into medical research
You want to go into medical research. What is this field?
I always liked science and wanted to explore how things happen in the body. When you understand how disease works in cells, you can work to fix it. People in my future career area are working on things like drugs for Alzheimer’s and cancer. I am going to do some undergraduate research this summer or next semester that should help me decide what kind of research I really want to do.
How was your transfer process?
It was smooth — almost all of my credits transferred easily. There was just one we were not sure about, but my advisor even helped me find a similar class description here and we were able to have it fulfill that requirement. When I got to campus I was shocked because my advisor had my credits organized and had suggestions for what to take. That was great; it left me time to focus on other things.
Are you glad you made the decision to transfer?
I am very glad. I really think Missouri State can be right for any type of person. You can find “your thing,” no matter what that is, because there are so many things going on. My roommate is even on the bass-fishing team! That’s not my thing, but it’s an example of how many clubs there are to join.
What would you tell potential transfer students about Missouri State?
It may seem like huge university, but when you get into your classes the school seems to shrink. You make friends and see people you know everywhere you go — it gets more personal. The campus is extremely friendly; students can lean on each other. Also, I was surprised at how easy it was to travel around. It is easy to walk or bike anywhere on campus, and Bear Line (the shuttle system) is great to take you to your downtown classes.
How did you make friends after your transfer?
I lived on campus my sophomore year. If just you leave your door open you will make friends! I made my closest friends in the classes related to my major — we all study together and help each other get through difficult concepts. It’s more productive to study in a group; you can study a lot longer.
Do you think Missouri State is a good value?
Financially, transferring has been a great decision. Missouri State is more affordable and my grants transferred as well.
What do you and your friends do for fun?
We play intramural sports, like basketball and Frisbee. We also bike around Springfield and on trails just out of town.
Was it easy to get acclimated to Springfield?
Yes — I like how a lot of things you need are within walking or biking distance from campus. You don’t necessarily have to have a car. There are things downtown like a grocery store, a library, coffee shops and nice restaurants for dates. It’s also easy to find convenient housing — whether you live on campus or not, it’s not a chore to find somewhere to live.
