Visited August 12, 2013. After my family’s vacation in Wyoming this summer, I was anxious to visit the University of Montana and Montana State University. I had always heard that they were two very special universities, and I certainly was not disappointed!

Our drive from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Missoula, Montana took us through Yellowstone National Park. It was a seven-hour drive to Missoula, but the scenery made every mile worth our effort.

On the morning of August 12, I met with Deven Carpenter who is an admissions counselor at the University of Montana. I instantly felt the warmth and genuine hospitality that is evident in all aspects of this university. The town of Missoula is a quaint artsy town that reminded me of a smaller Seattle or Portland.

The University of Montana is a small flagship university; there are just under 15,000 undergraduates at the university. The student-faculty ratio is 19 to 1, and 73% of the classes have 20 students or less. The university has rolling admissions, and their turnaround to give the student an answer is within two to three weeks! To be admitted to the university, a student must have one of the following requirements: a gpa of 2.5, ACT 25, or an SAT of 1540.

This is a terrific university for the student who is looking for a mid-size, supportive university with incredible outdoor opportunities. Within an hour of the university there is outstanding skiing, fly fishing and hiking trails. What is not to love about that?