Missouri State Admission Counselors - Brett Gaines
E-mail: BrettGaines@MissouriState.edu
Phone: (417) 836-5517
Territory: Central and northern Missouri
Missouri Counties: Adair | Audrain | Benton | Boone | Callaway | Camden | Chariton | Clark | Cole | Cooper | Gasconade | Hickory | Howard | Knox | Lewis | Lincoln | Linn | Macon | Maries | Marion | Miller | Moniteau | Monroe | Montgomery | Morgan | Osage | Pettis | Pike | Pulaski | Putnam | Ralls | Randolph | Saline | Schuyler | Scotland | Shelby | Sullivan | Warren
About Brett: Brett joined Admissions in July 2010. He holds a B.S. in Finance and an MBA, both from Missouri State University. Brett’s responsibilities include working with high school students, visiting high schools, and assisting with other office projects.
Favorite thing about Missouri State: My favorite thing about Missouri State, well there are a couple. The first is John Q. Hammons Fountain in front of the library. When it gets turned on I know that spring is here. Walking by it always puts me in a great mood and makes the campus look absolutely amazing. My other favorite thing is all the faculty and staff. I’ve always gotten the sense that they are here for the students and seeing them succeed, and with that kind of support being provided you know that you can never fail.
What were you involved with at Missouri State: I was involved in Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi Social Fraternity, The Pride Marching Band, Relay for Life, Centennial Leaders Facilitator, Emerging Leaders Facilitator, Peer Leader, Play Fair Assistant, Into the Streets Volunteer.
Why Missouri State: I came from a small town in Mid-Missouri and I was looking for a change. I wanted a school in a place I had never been to before. I wanted something that no one else in my high school was doing. I had been on a few college campuses for camps and toured a few more but wasn’t really sold until I toured Missouri State. Springfield was easy to navigate, the city actually reminds me of driving around in Columbia and that was something I really liked. When coming from a town that only has 2 blinking stop lights you need something not too scary. The campus itself is nice and compact but still big, I wanted to feel like I was at college and that’s what I got. Seeing all the students and the buildings I just knew I found the place for me.
Something you wish you knew before going to college: Although college is different than high school, it’s not as scary as people make it out to seem. The professors cared about my success and understanding of the material. The staff wants to see students come back every year until they graduate and provide them with the guidance they need in order to be successful. On my first day of classes I was so afraid because of all the rumors and depictions I had seen in t.v. shows and movies, but that wasn’t how it was at all. I actually loved class and learning (I’m a nerd, but I’m okay with it).
My advice for students: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask anything and everything that comes to your mind. And this goes for any aspect of life not just college. Also get involved when you get here, the reason my time in college was so amazing was because I got involved and formed so many relationships, many of which I have maintained even though we’ve graduated and are hundreds of miles apart. College is a great time to discover who you are and what you care about and what type of person you want to be, take advantage and explore all that you can.