My Campus Visit to Monsters University

Have you heard the hype surrounding this highly selective school? Since it has been in the media lately, I decided that it would be in the best interest of college bound families to visit Monsters University. Opened in 1313, this private, pan-educational 268 acre campus of over 12,000 undergraduates is located 2 hours from downtown Monstropolis.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Monsters University is considered a highly selective school that seeks only the most qualified applicants. To be considered for admission to MU, students need to submit the following:

·         A completed Monsters University application (MU is not a Common Application school).
·         Write a thorough answer to the following essay, "What I learned when I wasn't learning - the value of education outside of the classroom."
·         Submit their Monster Aptitude Test (MAT) score.

According to the school website, MU does not have a minimum MAT score; they review each student's application holistically. The median MAT score reported for accepted students is in the top quartile, with most students being Scaretorians of their high school.

Monsters University does offer academic scholarships and/or need-based financial assistance. According to their website, over half of the students who attend MU receive financial assistance. 

SCHOOL of SCARING

Students of every shape, size, color and texture can find their calling at Monsters University with 5 different schools. Most known for their School of Scaring, MU offers students the opportunity to craft their skills and prepare for careers as prestigious monsters. The rigorous coursework, along with renown faculty research has made MU the top rated school 143 years in a row, according to the annual "Scaring Edition" of Monster News & Report.

In this prestigious program, students will participate in a general curriculum that includes the theory of scaring, scaring training using classical techniques and the different approaches of fear. This rigorous coursework prepares students to become the most elite scarers in the world. MU also offers Master's and Doctoral level coursework in their School of Scaring.

ATHLETICS

The Monsters University Blue are an athletic force, consistently finishing atop the Monsters Athletic Conference (MAC). MU fields competitive teams in the following sports: football (with an annual game against rival Fear Tech), swimming, lacrosse (either as a competitor or used as a stick), ping pong (table tennis), cheer (with their famed Cheer-Amid) and chess. The most competitive and successful team at MU has been the crew/rowing. The Rowing Blue have been winners of 17 of the past 20 national titles. This program dominates the opposition in both the 1 monster 6 arm and 6 monster, 1 arm competition.

CAMPUS LIFE

At Monsters University, learning does not just take place inside the classroom. There are plenty of opportunities for the students to grow holistically. As MU is a mostly residential campus (84% of students live on campus), the school ensures there is a place for everyone to live, from aquatic to nocturnal students. MU students complete an entrance survey in order to appropriately match roommates.

Greek life is also a big aspect of MU. 18% of students belong to a house. This experience provides students the opportunity to bond with each other in the appropriate Greek community house. The twelve officially recognized Fraternity and Sorority houses along Greek Row on the campus of MU compete in the annual tradition of Scare Games.  

 

Of course Monsters University is not a real university. Unfortunately I did not visit this fictitious school, but the thought of walking the campus would be a most interesting experience! I hope you have been out visiting college campuses as I have. Keep following this blog to read more of my recent campus visits to Ohio and Indiana.

Information gathered for this blog post were found at the website for the Disney-Pixar motion picture, Monsters University (http://monstersuniversity.com/edu/).

Kent State University

Located on a vast 866 acre campus, Kent State University is home to over 22,000 undergraduate students. It is ranked as one of the top 75 public research universities on the Carnegie Scale. Best known for Aeronautics and Fashion Merchandising and Design, KSU serves students with varied interests with 12 colleges and schools and over 250 potential majors. Located in Kent, Ohio, Kent State is 45 minutes south of Cleveland and 15 minutes east of Akron.

Aeronautics Technology

If a student sets their sights a little higher at Kent State, they can focus on one of five concentrations within Aeronautics Technology. At Kent State, students can major in Air Traffic Control (ATC), one of 35 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved collegiate programs in the nation. These positions are readily available after graduation. Most current ATCs are of retirement age due to the fact that they were hired after President Reagan, in 1981, fired any ATC who went on strike because he felt they were creating a threat to public safety.

Other notable programs in this school are Flight Technology where students fly two hours a day and Aviation Management where students earn a business degree in aviation.

The Aeronautics Technology program is not to be confused with an Aeronautical Engineering program. At Kent State, the program is designed to be highly technical and of precise nature for aerospace design and manufacturing

The Fashion School

The Fashion School of Design and Merchandising at Kent State University is the 3^rd ranked program in the nation and 13^th in the world. The Fashion School has graduates highly sought after by many national companies. Their connections to many elite Ohio companies such as Joanne Fabrics, Abercrombrie & Fitch, Express and even the Cleveland Indians. These connections are important because an internship is required in the program. KSU provides an industry liaison to present updates on the job market and offer internship information.

At the end of program, students enroll in a Professional Seminar. Here, students gain practical information in the fashion industry. This final program course is designed to combine all the student’s coursework in order to create a catalog and a personal line of clothing. The student will then design marketing materials and a portfolio for future use in this industry. Most work done in this Senior Seminar helps in the design and staging of the annual program fashion show. Other unique courses students can take in the program are Buying, Event Production and Presentation.

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

This very intense, hands on 4+1 program (student will earn and undergraduate and graduate degree once completed) has a competitive admissions process, with ninety freshmen receiving direct entrance into the graduate program. All board reviewed applications must meet these minimum requirements: top 20% of high school class, SAT 1180+ or ACT 25 + (with Math and English both needed above 25) and at least a 3.0 high school GPA.

If admitted into to this competitive program, students will learn the fundamentals in architectural design, theory and history. As the coursework progresses, students will develop their skills in design and building technologies. Their program concludes in an Integrated Design Competition Studio. This program encompasses the knowledge acquired at KSU brought out in the studio experience.

Out of State Scholarships

Kent State University is currently addressing the geographic diversity of their campus by creating the University Award. This $3980 scholarship is available to all non-Ohio residents who meet the basic university entrance requirements. This generous scholarship reduces the cost of attendance for out-of-state students to approximately $22,000 a year. Other potential scholarships available for one-half of the out-of-state surcharge are the President Scholarship for higher academically earning students or the President Grant for a child or stepchild of a Kent State graduate. During the 2012-2013 school year, Kent State awarded up to $325 million respectively. 

If you are interested in learning more about Kent State University or have questions regarding the college process, do not hesitate to contact me at (224) 400-8692 or tjaworski@QuestCollegeConsulting.com.