McMurry is a small university with a big name in the college town of Abilene. It has a very welcoming atmosphere, perfect for the nervous student afraid to leave home, and also great for those who would easily lose their way on a large, impersonal campus. The faculty and students are all very friendly and excited to help you build your new home at this great university.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Since McMurry is a United Methodist university, they are pretty active in their Religious Life group, a great group of people who are always doing something, whether it be lunch on a Thursday afternoon or going away on retreats. Everyone of all ages, genders, and social settings are welcome, and I recommend you join in as well, they'll change your college experience for the better!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
I am a Biomedical Science major with a Music minor, so I can speak for the science and music departments when I say that A's aren't going to be easy. Of course tests will count a lot towards your final grade, but be prepared for a pretty demanding homework load as well.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I stay in Martin, the all girls dorm on campus, and I can say that you are guaranteed to make friends with at least one girl in your hall, it's pretty impossible not to when so many cool and friendly girls are put in one building. The visiting hours for the opposite gender are from 12pm to 12am in all dorm, which are rather generous for a Christian university. Also, the RAs hold a program every month, and though not mandatory, these little get togethers can be pretty fun and range from movie nights to tie-dying to cooking lessons!
Describe the food and dining at your college.
McMurry has the Village Market, which serves as its regular cafeteria with a large buffet and salad bar with at least 3 choices of meals on weekdays (usually only 2 on weekends). There will always be pizza and hamburgers, but every day has a different dish ranging from pork chops to spaghetti to barbecue sandwiches. The breakfasts are great, featuring a big Belgian waffle maker and a sweet lady ready to take your order for breakfast burritos and omelets, among the other choices like donuts and cinnamon rolls. Also, it's great to have homemade desserts every day, not to mention a Blue Bell ice cream bar, with new flavors every week. The Sports Grille serves as a restaurant, with certain sandwiches and burgers you can order, and Java City is the university's personal coffee shop with frozen treats as well as warm, and bread and scones available for purchase.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There are so many fun clubs to join, from Religious Life, to Greek life, to intramural sports! Homecoming is a huge event, with a big tailgate and a huge university-wide party on the field. The university also has its own fitness center with treadmills, elliptical machines, and a weight room. There is also an activities gym, open for people to go swimming or play in racquetball tournaments.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Homecoming is a big event unlike any other at McMurry. With its old Indian roots, every year the school puts up Tipi Village, a huge circle of tipis all over one of the school's fields. Each social group has their own tipi, and the night before homecoming there is a race to see which group can put theirs up first. In the middle of the tipis, after the race and food, is a chili cookout and a big bonfire! Another option for freshman, a really cool tradition and opportunity is to beat the drum, a huge Native American drum that one can sign up for a slot to beat. It must remain beating the whole night leading up to the game, for good luck. There's a huge tailgate on game day, with food and booths for shopping, as well as big bounce houses set up behind the school. It's a fantastic time to be a war hawk, as the whole town is full of excitement.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
McMurry is great for all students I believe, but it is especially accommodating for the students who may feel nervous being on their own for their first time, and those who may feel dwarfed or suppressed by the impersonal, intimidating feel of a big state university.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
The clubs are very welcoming and excited to meet incoming students. They hold their members accountable, but are also very understanding of other time commitments and studies.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
I am a freshman about to go into my second semester so I am only just about to experience Greek Life! But I know it doesn't fit the stressful stereotypes that are found at bigger schools. There is definitely sisterhood and brotherhood, but at a smaller university there is less competition and therefore less pressure to do things that would put you outside of your comfort zone in a bad way.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Campus Security is constantly patrolling at night, making sure that things are going well and no danger is apparent. You may also call them for help with things that you may not have help otherwise with, and they are very gracious and helpful. Locked out of your car in the middle of the night? Call!
McMurry is a small university with a big name in the college town of Abilene. It has a very welcoming atmosphere, perfect for the nervous student afraid to leave home, and also great for those who would easily lose their way on a large, impersonal campus. The faculty and students are all very friendly and excited to help you build your new home at this great university.
Since McMurry is a United Methodist university, they are pretty active in their Religious Life group, a great group of people who are always doing something, whether it be lunch on a Thursday afternoon or going away on retreats. Everyone of all ages, genders, and social settings are welcome, and I recommend you join in as well, they'll change your college experience for the better!
I am a Biomedical Science major with a Music minor, so I can speak for the science and music departments when I say that A's aren't going to be easy. Of course tests will count a lot towards your final grade, but be prepared for a pretty demanding homework load as well.
I stay in Martin, the all girls dorm on campus, and I can say that you are guaranteed to make friends with at least one girl in your hall, it's pretty impossible not to when so many cool and friendly girls are put in one building. The visiting hours for the opposite gender are from 12pm to 12am in all dorm, which are rather generous for a Christian university. Also, the RAs hold a program every month, and though not mandatory, these little get togethers can be pretty fun and range from movie nights to tie-dying to cooking lessons!
McMurry has the Village Market, which serves as its regular cafeteria with a large buffet and salad bar with at least 3 choices of meals on weekdays (usually only 2 on weekends). There will always be pizza and hamburgers, but every day has a different dish ranging from pork chops to spaghetti to barbecue sandwiches. The breakfasts are great, featuring a big Belgian waffle maker and a sweet lady ready to take your order for breakfast burritos and omelets, among the other choices like donuts and cinnamon rolls. Also, it's great to have homemade desserts every day, not to mention a Blue Bell ice cream bar, with new flavors every week. The Sports Grille serves as a restaurant, with certain sandwiches and burgers you can order, and Java City is the university's personal coffee shop with frozen treats as well as warm, and bread and scones available for purchase.
There are so many fun clubs to join, from Religious Life, to Greek life, to intramural sports! Homecoming is a huge event, with a big tailgate and a huge university-wide party on the field. The university also has its own fitness center with treadmills, elliptical machines, and a weight room. There is also an activities gym, open for people to go swimming or play in racquetball tournaments.
Homecoming is a big event unlike any other at McMurry. With its old Indian roots, every year the school puts up Tipi Village, a huge circle of tipis all over one of the school's fields. Each social group has their own tipi, and the night before homecoming there is a race to see which group can put theirs up first. In the middle of the tipis, after the race and food, is a chili cookout and a big bonfire! Another option for freshman, a really cool tradition and opportunity is to beat the drum, a huge Native American drum that one can sign up for a slot to beat. It must remain beating the whole night leading up to the game, for good luck. There's a huge tailgate on game day, with food and booths for shopping, as well as big bounce houses set up behind the school. It's a fantastic time to be a war hawk, as the whole town is full of excitement.
McMurry is great for all students I believe, but it is especially accommodating for the students who may feel nervous being on their own for their first time, and those who may feel dwarfed or suppressed by the impersonal, intimidating feel of a big state university.
The clubs are very welcoming and excited to meet incoming students. They hold their members accountable, but are also very understanding of other time commitments and studies.
I am a freshman about to go into my second semester so I am only just about to experience Greek Life! But I know it doesn't fit the stressful stereotypes that are found at bigger schools. There is definitely sisterhood and brotherhood, but at a smaller university there is less competition and therefore less pressure to do things that would put you outside of your comfort zone in a bad way.
Campus Security is constantly patrolling at night, making sure that things are going well and no danger is apparent. You may also call them for help with things that you may not have help otherwise with, and they are very gracious and helpful. Locked out of your car in the middle of the night? Call!