 |
| Drill Field at the Heart of MSU |
On Tuesday, November 24th, I took the chance to visit Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi with my family. What a great experience! We all came away from our visit easily understanding why MSU students and alumni hold in high esteem their beloved school and the quaint town of Starkville. "Hail State!" is more than just a battle cry, it is a designation of honor.
In 1878, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi was established by the Mississippi Legislature to provide training in "agriculture and the mechanical arts...without excluding other scientific and classical studies, including military tactics." This institution, located 35 miles over the Mississippi State line, eventually became known as Mississippi State University.
 |
| View of Water Tower on Campus |
21,000 students call this 4200 acre campus their educational home, where they have access to 100+ majors. MSU is a Teir 1 Research University, which roughly means that it boasts over 300 million dollars earmarked for research annually and hires highly qualified professors, 85% of which hold terminal degrees. This translates into great opportunities for students to explore, learn and maximize their employable skills.
Arriving on campus, one gets the sense that it sprawls out and is only accessible by long bus rides between classes. This is not the case, however, as academic buildings, dining halls, and
 |
| Davis-Wade Stadium |
dormitories are all centrally and conveniently located to each other. As with other major universities, especially in the SEC, the football stadium is at the heart of campus. Davis-Wade Stadium seats 61,337 and plays host to the MSU Bulldogs on Saturdays in the fall. The impact that athletic programs have on the experience campus life offers is undeniable. Cowbells ring proudly. Legend has it that a cow wondered out on the field during a football game in the early years on a day when the MSU football team was down to their rival. The cow served as a boost to the student body and to the football team. As a measure to continue the good luck, the school transported the cow to games, but soon realized that this was a bit cumbersome. The student body adopted ringing a cowbell as an easy substitute. Visiting football teams and fans will attest to the maddening nature that 50,000 cowbells ringing
 |
| Left Field at Dudy Noble Field |
simultaneously can produce. Football is not the only sport that holds a special place in the hearts of MSU alumni and students; the baseball team plays at Dudy Noble Field, a location with an eclectic assemblage of homemade, mobile bleachers that have been built atop a variety of vehicles in the left field pavilion. Attending a game here has been named a "must do" by ESPN. Also, basketball, which is played at the "Hump," Humphrey Coliseum, is a welcomed diversion for students during the winter months as well. Every MSU student will culminate their degrees with a trip across the stage at the Hump, where graduation is held.
In addition to the wonderful opportunities that students have as spectators of athletic events, they also
 |
| Perry Cafeteria |
have over 350 clubs and student organizations they can join, but only 20% of campus is affiliated with a greek organization. Study abroad programs, as they are with many schools, are an important feature of an MSU student's education. The Shackouls Honors Program can accent a student's education with small class sizes, preferred housing with other honors program students, and access to the type of treatment that says, "what do you want to do? We want to help you do it."
 |
| Chapel of Memories |
Specific opportunities that were presented on our visit were accomplishments like the EcoCar Team that designed a car that gets 118 miles to one gallon of gas. This accomplishment won them a national competition against teams from 17 other major universities. Another opportunity for business majors is the Center for Entrepreneurial Development where students find assistance with patents for inventions and innovations and financial assistance with new business start ups.
With the eight schools on campus, a vast variety of majors are available. Some specialty degrees that are offered are a business degree in Professional Golf Management (one of eighteen in the USA), Aerospace Engineering (along with many other engineering programs), which is offered through the Bagley College of Engineering, a Studio-Based Building Construction program (one of two in the USA), offered through the College of Architectural Design, and Fashion Design and Merchandising, which scores students internships with Michael Kors, Vera Wang and Marc Jacobs.
One aspect that I found particularly attractive as a parent was something that no one made a single
mention of in any presentation or tour. It was a sign that was displayed in one of the dormitories that addressed the honor code that my son or daughter will be expected to abide by as a student. This is exactly what I expect from my kids at home... why wouldn't I want that when they go off to school?
As with all college decisions, cost is a reality that must be taken into the decision. A misconception that I have had and have even spoken to families about is the incorrect belief that in-state tuition is granted for the sophomore, junior and senior years of college at MSU for out-of-state students. This is not the case. Out-of-State tuition, dormitory and meal plan will cost a family $29, 210. This is a lot more than most in-state schools with HOPE, but Mississippi State is very generous with scholarships based upon solid GPAs and nice ACT/SAT scores. Take a minute to see how high performance can truly make MSU an affordable option:
scholarships.msstate.edu. All things considered, it may only be slightly more expensive for your student to experience an education outside of the confines of the State of Georgia.
Tomorrow, we will visit Ole Miss. I encourage you to start your college visits. Not only does a visit to a campus spark the imagination of a student, it is a blast. These visits help students of any age to connect the dots with the hard work of high school with the great four years that await a student beyond. Your junior or senior will get two days excused absence this year to take a visit. A freshman or sophomore will get enough benefit from a visit to offset the absence that it will cost. Setting up visits is easy through the admissions office website. Let's get to it, Titans! Hope you are having a great Thanksgiving week off!
Mike Kulp
