Montana's Top Students Choose MSU:

[wbtfg]

Mods: My apologies if this is the wrong forum.

Classes begin next week on Montana's college campuses, but less than half of the brightest students coming out of Montana's high schools last spring will be sitting in those classrooms.

For those top-tier high school graduates who do stay in Montana, a majority go to Montana State University.

"Of course, we want Montana to get more than its fair share of its best and brightest students," said Sheila Stearns, Montana commissioner of higher education. "We also recognize that students come in all stripes and flavors. They often want to try different places and we are in favor for whatever is the best fit for these students."

Montana's public universities and colleges capture around 38 percent of the state's graduating high school students who decide to seek college degrees. A vast majority take the ACT to gain admittance.

An analysis of ACT scores shows that in 2009, 5,960 Montana high school seniors took the standardized exam. Six percent, or 365 students, earned a cumulative score of 30 or higher. (A perfect score is 36.)

Montana's public colleges and universities attract less than half of those top-tier students. Of those who do decide Montana is a good fit, 60 percent go to Montana State University and 24 percent attend the University of Montana.

In fact, last year, Montana had four high school students earn perfect scores on the ACT. Two of them enrolled at MSU this fall.

***

Research shows that the high-schoolers who receive high scores on standardized tests also generally do well in math and science. These students are often drawn to fields like engineering, technology and science, which are areas that in Montana are considered strong academic programs at MSU. University officials at both schools agree that it boils down to the programs offered by the two flagship campuses.

"Montana State University's strong engineering presence over the decades has left many students to conclude that they may have a stronger academic undergraduate experience there," Stearns said. "I would say that's not factual, but it's an impression. It's a matter of picking the right major and you'll have an outstanding experience no matter where you go."

Standardized tests, however, are not the only measurement of Montana's best and brightest students, said James McKusick, dean of UM's Davidson Honors College. Those tests don't measure artistic flair. Some of UM's top students excel in dance, art and creative writing, he said.

"They may or may not fair well on the ACT, but we sure want them at the University of Montana," McKusick said.

And even though Montana loses more than half of its brightest high school graduates to out-of-state universities and colleges, it also gains other state's brightest students. The Davidson Honors College has a higher percentage of out-of-state students in its program than does the university as a whole, McKusick said.

Still, UM's 2010 presidential scholarships - which go to the brightest honors students at the university regardless of geographic location - went to 18 Montana students and six from other states.

***

Montana has made a push to attract more of the state's top students.

Eight years ago, the Montana Board of Regents beefed up its statewide scholarship program. The Montana University System honors scholarships are offered annually to around 250 Montana high school students. They are based on a combination of class rank and standardized test scores.

The benchmarks for the scholarships are high - unless a student earns a 4.0 grade point average in high school and scores higher than a 27 on the ACT, it is unlikely students will receive the four-year scholarship, which covers all of a student's tuition and fees.

Around 200 incoming freshman chose to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity. This year, 122 of those students picked MSU and 57 students are attending UM.

Both UM and MSU try to recruit these top students. That doesn't mean attending high school science fairs and tapping kids on the shoulder. But there is a concerted effort to get their message out about what the university offers.

"MSU has a reputation of providing students opportunities to conduct hands-on research with our top professors and in our best laboratories," said Tracy Ellig, MSU spokesperson. "We are consciously promoting hands-on research for undergraduates."

While Montana would love for more of its top high-schoolers to stay in state, putting all of their efforts into this small fraction of students goes against the university system's mission. They'll leave that to the Ivy League schools.

Rather, Montana's universities and colleges want to attract a diverse student body, Stearns said. That means students from all parts of the state, who excel in music, athletics and academics, and even students who received poor grades in high school but who have a desire to go to college.

The Montana University System's mission is as much about serving students as it is serving Montana communities and the economy, she said.

"It is important for our state university system to have a comprehensive approach," she said.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/articl ... 002e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CARDIAC_CATS]

Yep, pretty easy choice if you do your homework (which I suggest most smart students do! ). No Brainer over the dUMb.

[wbtfg]

My favorite quote:

Some of UM's top students excel in dance, art and creative writing

[CARDIAC_CATS]

My favorite quote:

Some of UM's top students excel in dance, art and creative writing

And then they finish up their career with dance moves behind the Mcdonald's counter

[jagur1]

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

[kmax]

First, I'm moving this to the hangout board.

Second....

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandrevie ... 1/state+MT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both MSU and UM ranked as Tier 1 schools.

Interestingly they are the only two Big Sky schools to fall into that category. NAU, PSU and NoCol all fall under Tier 2. The rest are unranked.

[coachouert]

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

Is that similar to UM grads deluding themselves into thinking UM is actually "The Harvard of the West?"

[3rdGenerationcat]

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

We have that, or do you mean Alumni that support the football team in a lucrative manor? Seems there should be a distinction there

[dcbeck]

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

We have that, or do you mean Alumni that support the football team in a lucrative manor? Seems there should be a distinction there

Exactly, that is why we have things like the new Animal Bioscience Building that is almost finished and will be completed debt free with 50% of the money coming from private donations. Of course football stadium upgrades are the only thing that count for alumni donations (note heavy sarcasm).

[wbtfg]

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

Wow...your post is so wrong on so many levels.

First off, US News changed up their Tier system, and both MSU and UM are now considered Tier 1 schools....Tiers 3 and 4 have been eliminated.

Secondly, I think a huge amount of credit should be given to President Gamble and other MSU administrators during his tenure. MSU has really gained a lot of national credibility (academically) over the past 10 years or so.

Thirdly, UM claims to be one of the top schools in the nation for pumping out Rhode's Scholars. UM hasn't had any Rhodes recipient in over 10 years, and MSU has had 2 or 3 in that time (not to mention Goldwater, Trumans, Udahl...etc).

Fouthly, how do you know we don't have rich alumni who support the school? Engineering and Agriculture recive 6 and 7 figure gifts pretty regularly.

Finally, MSU is ranked in the top 96 research schools in the nation by the Carnegie Foundation. The only school in our region to be able to boast this distinction.

[3rdGenerationcat]

actually "animal bioscience" is done they just got Hail damage on the roof so they are replacing the shingles. But they are moved into it and its done, its super nice the third floor labs are pretty spectacular

[HelenaCat95]

Secondly, I think a huge amount of credit should be given to President Gamble and other MSU administrators during his tenure. MSU has really gained a lot of national credibility (academically) over the past 10 years or so. .

Hey I graduated in 95, which means that I graduated (divide by two, carry the four, square root it)........hey, wait a second!!!

[CARDIAC_CATS]

Blah blah blah. Did you even read the article? Blah blah blah. It kills me how MSU grads have deluded themselves into thinking their third tier school is a tier one school. Blah Blah blah. For all of that top notch education you’d think it would translate into rich alumni that would support your school in a more lucrative manner.

Wow...your post is so wrong on so many levels.

First off, US News changed up their Tier system, and both MSU and UM are now considered Tier 1 schools....Tiers 3 and 4 have been eliminated.

Secondly, I think a huge amount of credit should be given to President Gamble and other MSU administrators during his tenure. MSU has really gained a lot of national credibility (academically) over the past 10 years or so.

Thirdly, UM claims to be one of the top schools in the nationion for pumping out Rhode's Scholars. UM hasn't had any Rhodes recipient in over 10 years, and MSU has had 2 or 3 in that time (not to mention Goldwater, Trumans, Udahl...etc).

Fouthly, how do you know we don't have rich alumni who support the school? Engineering and Agriculture recive 6 and 7 figure gifts pretty regularly.

Finally, MSU is ranked in the top 96 research schools in the nation by the Carnegie Foundation. The only school in our region to be able to boast this distinction.

PRETTY DARN IMPRESSIVE

[3rdGenerationcat]

Hey jagur1 you like apples?

[WolfPtCat]

"Montana State University's strong engineering presence over the decades has left many students to conclude that they may have a stronger academic undergraduate experience there," Stearns said. "I would say that's not factual, but it's an impression." Sheila Stearns, Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, when comparing MSU to other universities in MT (mainly UM)

I realize that Ms. Stearns has to play-up all the colleges in Montana.....but that quote seems "not factual". Especially considering all the data previously posted.

[dcbeck]

actually "animal bioscience" is done they just got Hail damage on the roof so they are replacing the shingles. But they are moved into it and its done, its super nice the third floor labs are pretty spectacular

Awesome, can't wait to get down there and get the tour on Ag Appreciation weekend.

[Billings_Griz]

Written my Missoulian reporter who probably graduated from UM.

[CelticCat]

Wow, that is the one of the biggest smackdowns I've seen on this board. Jag got owned right there haha.

[3rdGenerationcat]

actually "animal bioscience" is done they just got Hail damage on the roof so they are replacing the shingles. But they are moved into it and its done, its super nice the third floor labs are pretty spectacular

Awesome, can't wait to get down there and get the tour on Ag Appreciation weekend.

The barnwood wall in the first and second floor commons is pretty neat too i think its backwards though all the fancy stuff faces the married student housing instead of campus

[jagur1]

****** talking about drinking the koolaid. Non the less I hate all of the MSU chest pounding. I know they did away with Tiers and MSU is like 116 and U of M is like 121. My point being you're not Stanford and never will be, let it go. Just a couple of little old state schools that teach kids stop acting like your 80K salary from MSU in any way compares. The missed point on that article is the awesome amount of brain drain going on in Montana. A point that several posters on this site prove on a daily basis.