University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO, USA

Reviews

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Jasmine from Kansas City, MO

a current student here
23 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Most teachers care about you learning, however sometimes don't expect you to know much since we aren't at Mizzou I guess so that offends me esp considering I could have went to Mizzou if I wanted.
Am enjoying being here
GET INVOLVED and live on or near campus
if not... your social life will suck!
Bang for the buck
Super cheap esp compared to other schools...
and there are plenty of scholarships (IF YOU ARE FROM the KC Area or even Missouri)
if you are from out of state... start looking for outside aid... NOW!
Tips for prospective students
1) Live on campus (MOST DEF your first year!)
2) Get involved in clubs/sports/greek life/etc.
3) Challenge the status quo
Great for these types of students
-KC Metro Area Students
-Independent Thinkers
-Non-Traditional Returning Students

Jerica from Florissant, MO

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am learning more at college than what I've learned from any of my Advanced Placement courses. The teachers cover broad topics and answer any questions the students have, especially through email or meetings. It also helps if you read about what your going over in class early, so you can get the full learning experience.
Am enjoying being here
I love UMKC, there are not too many distractions to keep me from my work, but there is always something to do on campus. It you are not interested in anything, the Plaza is in walking distance from both the dorms. Its only boring here if you make it boring, but still remember to study.
Bang for the buck
The food here is way better than what they gave us in high school. So you will never go hungry. The Recreation Center is great for that basketball game with your new friends, the indoor track helps for those who do not want to run in the sun or the cold, and the pool is tempting. The dorms are nice, especially if you decorate your own room.
Tips for prospective students
1-DO NO PROCASTINATE. Trust me, you will regret it. Its still college.
2-Seek help when in doubt. There is a math /science resource center and SI.
3-Just because you can find all your class material online doesn't mean not going to class. Attend as much as you possibly can.
4-Stay involved. Everyone needs something to do besides studying. Trust me, you'd go crazy just staying in your room.
5-Keep track of your grades, that way you can know if you need to pick up the pace, or you can relax.
Great for these types of students
Great for people who are not huge party people, but do not mind get togethers and one party every now and then. Also good for people who like walking, the school is on a hill. Also, the classes are smaller than the average huge university. There are still a lot of people, but it is not cramped.

Julie from O Fallon, MO

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It is the in-between of a large university and a small university. The professors are amazing. The campus is basically Kansas City.
Tips for prospective students
Live in the dorms first year and, if interested, apply for an RA position for paid housing and a great experience. The 113 steps of the stairs in front of the Student Union never get old; stay fit. Find a reliable buddy (preferably the same major) to help one another in classes. Always be prepared for rainy days or pure laziness to walk to the University Center Cafeteria. Check your email everyday!!
Academic Rigor
Science classes are the challenging ones, based on my experience. I am a Psychology Pre-Med major. Professors are very understanding of emergency situations regarding homework and such. There is always something to keep you studying for. What better thing to motivate you to go to the Miller-Nichols library are free Red-Bull drinks here and there!!
Dorm Life
Oak street is the popular one! It has more of a social feel to it. Granted the bathrooms are not up to par with Johnson's dorm, the bigger rooms make up for it. There are piano rooms in the basement for musicians. A very nice lobby with a big t.v and pool table and Foosball for socializing. Oak street is built encircling a courtyard in the middle for those who want to lie in the sun or play a little Frisbee. Johnson is the newly built dorm with also the same commodities as Oak. For those who mind, Johnson is not co-ed like Oak. Johnson is split into male and female wings. Johnson is smaller than Oak so bumping into a friend is not as likely as Oak. They both are great depending on personal preferences.
Food and Dining
Chic-Fil-a all the way!! Very convenient, always fresh, and never gets old! Try their fresh squeezed lemonade! Baja Fresh is also great if it seems Chipotle is a far walk. The cafeteria food is good on a regular basis. On special occasions, it is delicious; meal plan well spent!
What to do for fun
The Plaza! There is shopping and food and just to walk around to find interesting people passes time quite well! There is also Westport which is about a ten minute walk that also has food and local businesses. With a car, there are endless possibilities. Worlds of Fun, similar to Six Flags, is also a great place to have fun! Going to the Plaza on certain days there are events such as art shows, acrobatics, food trucks, etc.
Bang for the buck
Get a meal plan! Yes, it seems quite expensive at a first glance, but it pays off. There's nothing better than convenience. Chic-Fil-a is right around the corner and Einstein Bros. is in one of the main lecture buildings. After freshmen year, living at an apartment like Union Hill or Longfellow with other roommates is great!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The library attracts students of all kinds. The first floor is most interesting with its design and Red Bull girls come around every so often to pass out free drinks!
Clubs and Activities
Soccer soccer soccer! The Swinney Rec Center is also a great place to work out! Everyone is there! Everything you can name there is a place or equipment for it. My favorite is the rock climbing treadmill, intense workout!!
Campus Safety
There are campus police circling around campus all day and night. There are emergency buttons every corner. If one feels uneasy about walking to a late class or walking to their car, they can ask for a campus officer to escort them.

Rosita from Saint Louis, MO

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
There is so much information out there, you just have to go for it and take the classes! Step outside your bubble, but not too far, stay on track! Make it a great time!
Am enjoying being here
I absolutely love it here. There are so many groups and organizations to get involved in. The more you get involved, the more you get to know people, and then you have even more fun while getting your education.
Bang for the buck
I'm learning a lot and it's not too expensive. Yes, college is expensive, but UMKC is not as bad as other places!
Tips for prospective students
Get involved and live on campus! You will have more fun, meet more people and stay focused!
Great for these types of students
This school is challenging for Science majors, but they seem to learn a lot. Because the programs are so rigorous they end up being better students and candidates for their field.

Erika from Saint Charles, MO

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am a Freshman here at UMKC. So I am just taking mostly gen eds right now. You would think that most of your gen ed teachers don't care because everyone has to take their class and blah blah blah. But I love my teachers, every single one of them have a passion for what they teach, which as most people know, only makes the class more interesting for the student. So I am learning a lot and I am actually enjoying the pointless gen ed classes I am enrolled in.
Am enjoying being here
First semester was not near as fun as second semester is so far. Give any college you attend more time than you think is needed. You cant decide in one semester if you hate the school or not. College is a big adjustment, you just have to get used to it. But the best advice is to get involved. Find new people, new activities, anything to keep you busy! Even if its a Saturday night and you cant find anything to do, have a movie night, call all your friends, open you door (if you live in the dorms). As long as you are doing something with someone, then you will have fun!
Bang for the buck
I believe UMKC is a great price for what education and experiences I have received here. I am not only attending classes where I am learning a ton, I am enjoying them as well. I am thankful for the location of UMKC. I am right next to the plaza, which means I can walk to something exciting. We are so close to the city it is amazing, a city is full of many wondrous things, you just have to go out and find them!
Tips for prospective students
1. get involved with everything you can find!
2. meet new people every where you go! meet new people every day! Yes you are supposed to find you good group of friends, but new people introduce new things/ideas to you, that's what college us all about!
3. Don't get behind in your classes, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! procrastination will only make it worse!
4. Always study for your first exams much more than you think you should! You never know how that teacher tests, so it is better to be over prepared than under prepared!
3. LIVE ON CAMPUS your first year especially. it is a great way to meet new people and stay involved with them.
Great for these types of students
1. Adventurous- someone who is looking to meet all kinds of new people, and someone who is looking to do all kinds of new activities.
2. Hard-worker- almost every student here, is here for a reason. They are very dedicated and know exactly what they want to do with their life. It can be intimidating, but know yourself and your goals. You will be fine!

Charnell from Belleville, IL

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Great teachers and a lot of tutors/help for struggling students
Am enjoying being here
The campus is great and there are a lot of things to do, not only on campus but in Kansas City
Bang for the buck
Can be pricey but it is worth it. Who wouldn't want to have fun while learning and pursuing a career?
Tips for prospective students
Enjoy the school, there are many opportunities for you to meet new people so just have fun and keep your head in those books!
Great for these types of students
Outgoing and anti-social, book-smart or street smart...anyone can easily fit into this school it is very diverse.

UMKC student

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The diversity of University of Missouri-Kansas City is to die for! You make friends with new people almost everyday. There's a fair share of every ethnicity on this campus
Tips for prospective students
For the incoming students I recommend learning how to balance a social life with your school life. It will also be a good idea to make friends with someone in your courses. I know that making friends have been a life changer for my grades, I say this because everyone obtain information differently and having two brains work together is better than one.
Academic Rigor
My academic major is Biological science with an emphasis of clinical laboratory. UMKC have wonder programs to offer their students.
Dorm Life
I personally do not stay on campus, but I have friends that do. The dorm apartments are very adorable in the style of the layout.
Food and Dining
The food is my favorite about the campus! You have so many choices of food to choose from and even if you decide you don't want any of the food from the cafe it only takes 5 minutes to go to the plaza and grab a bite with some friends.
What to do for fun
On campus there are different events that you can do. This is why it is important to make friends. Advertisement about on-campus events are not very out in the open, but having friends from different groups can help spread the word of different activities. There are many events held but multiple organizations.
Campus Safety
Campus policy are always driving around on campus, but it is still a good choice to take the extra precaution to be aware of your surroundings. Young ladies should try to walk in the parking garage with friends at night or be aware of your surroundings.

Nat

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
UMKC is in the heart of the city, so there's lots to do nearby. There are tons of on-campus resources available. Campus itself has a great atmosphere, although a little quiet on weekends.
Tips for prospective students
Take advantage of all the campus resources- the gym, the writing studio, tutors, etc.
Academic Rigor
My classes have been fairly easy, but I always was a straight-A student in all differentiated classes in high school, so it could just be me. The difficulty varies from class to class and by professor.
Dorm Life
The dorm life is pretty stereotypical. The buildings are well maintained and the staff are nice. However, lots of kids go home on weekends, so it gets pretty quiet.
Food and Dining
Cafeteria food is average, nothing too special. There are a few places on campus to eat, such as Chick-fil-a in the union. Also there are a couple of awesome places just off campus (Pizza 51, Picklemans, Winsteads).
What to do for fun
The plaza is a few blocks away, so shopping, restaurants, and a movie theater are right there. The Nelson-Atkins Art Museum is also pretty close. There are several parks and trails nearby, which are pretty scenic.
Great for these types of students
UMKC is great for most types of students. Most of the student body is made up of commuter students, and the class schedules are very flexible, so you can tailor your classes to fit around work, taking care of kids, etc.
Clubs and Activities
There's a club for almost everything. There are intramural sports and quite a few campus events that happen every semester.
Campus Safety
Campus is pretty well lit and officers are always available for an escort.

Kathryn from Lees Summit, MO

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The program that I'm involved in (Conservatory) is fantastic. The faculty is clearly invested in our success. Overall, Greek life and Campus organized social events are few and far between.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you make a copy of every document you submit to the administration offices, they are horrible about keeping track of records and may say they've lost your information. Be prepared for a long arduous journey when working with them.
Academic Rigor
I can only speak for the Conservatory, but they make sure you are on track to get your degree and be the best in your field by offering difficult classes and encouraging you to challenge yourself.
Dorm Life
The dorms are nice but small. They are also on the opposite side of campus from most of the educational buildings. They are very secure, which is good because the area is known for not being the safest.
Food and Dining
There is only one campus dining hall, and the hours are not flexible. The food is okay but gets worse once you've been eating it for months. The other dining locations on campus also have weird hours. Most everything shuts down after classes are done. During weekends the dining hall only serves brunch and dinner.
What to do for fun
The campus itself doesn't have a lot of advertised activities but the area of the city is one of the best. Campus is really close to the Plaza, a nice shopping and dining district, the Nelson Atkins Art Museum, Brookside, the Crossroads, and Westport. It's about a 15 minute straight shot from downtown KC.

Claire from Parkville, MO

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
I absolutely love the campus and the professors. The class sizes are nice for both lectures and discussion sessions. It is big without making you feel like you aren't important.
Tips for prospective students
It is pricey, but well worth it. The dorms are bigger than most so keep that in consideration. The majors and programs here allow for several areas of emphasis. Don't be afraid to be very specific on what you want to do.
Academic Rigor
The classes can be difficult and I have a decent amount of homework. This is definitely a school for very determined and devoted students.
Dorm Life
Many fun activities to go to if you can find time.
Food and Dining
I love the food and the dining hall staff is very friendly. We have a wide variety of options including vegan and gluten-free options.
What to do for fun
The plaza, which is a shopping district in downtown Kansas City, is about a 5-10 minute walk. There are also all sorts of museums and theatres for concerts close by. As far as on campus, the student union and the conservatory always have fun events going on every week.
Bang for the buck
It is expensive, but you get what you pay for as far as dorm living, food, and academics. Parking is a little outrageous.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Not that I know of, but I am only a freshman.
Great for these types of students
This school is great for students who are devoted to their studies but still want a social life. It has a good balance of work and fun.
Clubs and Activities
We have all sorts of organizations for just about any type of activity you can think of. We also have intramural sports which are a lot of fun.
Greek Life
I am not currently involved in Greek Life, but I have heard amazing things about all of our sororities and fraternities.
Campus Safety
I always feel very safe. There is a police station a block away and there are officers usually present to patrol. We also have emergency poles where you can make a call to the police by pressing a button if you feel unsafe or want someone to come escort you back to the dorms.