Out-of-state students like me comprise roughly 30% of the University of Montana’s student population. From my experience, being an out-of-state student includes different challenges than being a Montana resident. It can be things like finding it harder to connect, feeling the long distance away from home and the increased cost of tuition.
Even with the difficulties of adjusting to living in a new state for the first time, I have found Montana to be a welcoming place where I’ve now met some of the best people in my life. Read on for some of my tips and experience as an out-of-state student.
Are You WUE?
One of the most daunting realities of being an out-of-state student is the cost of tuition. What really helped me is that the University of Montana is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), which lowers tuition for any out-of-state student residing in the Western U.S. taking at least 15 credits per semester.
Since I’m from Washington, I qualified for WUE, significantly lowering my out-of-state tuition. WUE also applies to students studying abroad, making study abroad a much more feasible option that I took advantage of when I studied abroad in France for a semester.
I was also able to obtain college credits before ever stepping foot on campus through AP courses in high school. This allowed me to start my first year as a sophomore in credit hours and thus save a bit of money on classes.(Read More: How I Saved with Dual Enrollment)
Making Friends at UM
I was nervous about going to college in a whole new environment with no social connections. I didn’t know anyone else from my high school who was going to UM, since it was out of state. But I quickly discovered that with events like the Big Sky Experience and tons of student clubs, it was remarkably easy to make new friends at UM.
My Big Sky Experience was a camp with the Grizzly Marching Band. But even before I started band my first year, I met one of my best friends when we were moving into our residence hall. We were both there early for band since we had to move in a few days before everyone else, and our parents made us meet each other since we were both in band. Since then, though, I’ve been able to make friends on my own just fine.
Read More: How to Make Friends at UM
Discovering My Independence
Being so far from home is a notable challenge as an out-of-state student. Going to college has been the first time I’ve been so far from my parents for an extended amount of time, and the transition has had its difficult moments. But UM has helped me out logistically, and maybe more importantly, with a community that helps me along.
UM has various resources for students for whatever they might need. For example, the University Center houses establishments such as a bank and ATM, a FedEx store and even a salon for haircuts. And while I don’t have a car, the university and the city of Missoula have made getting around without a car a breeze.
The most important thing about gaining newfound independence in college is knowing that you’re not alone. I have met so many amazing people, both fellow students and professors, who are there for me and can help me out. It was so comforting to know that I wasn’t the only one who was struggling to adjust to such a new way of life.
Traveling To and Back From Home
I have had my fair share of travel experience from flying home for winter or summer break. This has led to a few travel mishaps, like flights being canceled for no reason less than 24 hours before I was supposed to be on the plane. However, these experiences have made me a more confident traveler and allowed me to experience my own independence. Flying alone can be scary, but after you do it once, it’ll get easier.
For longer gaps away from UM, like summer break, I’ve used a storage unit for my things. Moving out of residence halls and hauling your stuff across state lines is such a hassle. I have found that keeping most things in storage makes the transition much smoother. There are off-campus storage units, but UM also offers student storage.
Exploring this New Place
One huge bonus of being an out-of-state student is that everything is new. I have gotten to explore Missoula and Montana practically from scratch. I’ve gone to the Farmers Market many times, floated down the Clark Fork, and I’ve visited Helena, Butte and went to Glacier National Park for the first time.
There are endless possibilities for exploration in Missoula, especially in such a vibrant and exciting community. There are always things to do, like attending the River City Roots Festival, or going to FreeCycles for a concert. Missoula has grown to be like a second home to me, and that has helped me feel like I belong at the University of Montana.
Read More: What to Do in Missoula
How Studying Abroad Affected My Outlook
Adjusting to different realities when I started attending UM helped me be more confident when I studied abroad in France for a semester. For example, having more plane/travel experience made me feel more comfortable traveling to France, and while I was abroad in other countries, surrounded by languages I didn’t speak.
However, being away for almost 6 months made me appreciate Missoula much more and realize how much of a home it had become for me. Now that I'm back from France, I’ve been taking advantage of all Missoula has to offer, attending more community events and spending time with friends while I still have the chance.
Read More: Things I Wish I Knew Before Studying Abroad
My First Year Compared to Now
My first year at UM, even with all the resources I mentioned, was still pretty difficult. I am a very introverted person, and going to social events or community events felt really scary and hard. But now that I’ve been here for three years, I’ve realized how welcoming Missoula’s community really is.
Even if I still get some anxiety or worry when going out to do an event, I push myself to get out there and have fun with my friends. There are so many different events happening in Missoula that I’ve learned to go to the ones I feel most comfortable with. Either that or I push myself to try new things, either works great!
Read More: Free & Fun Things to Do in Missoula
What I Would Tell My Freshman Self
Now that three years at UM have gone by with rapid speed, I would honestly tell my Freshman self to slow down and appreciate where she was in that moment. I was very forward-thinking, always planning ahead with things like my degree or career; the next semester was all I wanted to get to. But now, things are different.
I would tell myself to have more fun and spend less time cooped up in my dorm room. Don’t get me wrong, the residence halls at UM are some of the finest, but it doesn’t beat going outside, being with friends and meeting new people. I would tell my Freshman self to put my fear aside and try new things.
Read More: What to Expect Your First Year at UM
The Changes At Home
Another aspect of being an out-of-state student is how things change at home. Every time I go back home, things are different, either with the people there, like my friends who go to school there, or the city itself. When I see a new apartment building or coffee shop up in my hometown, I always feel sad that things have gone on without me.
This can be a difficult feeling to deal with, but I’ve learned that that’s the reality of not living at home anymore. I lived in my hometown for 18 years straight, and going from that to going three (maybe four) times a year for breaks is a really difficult transition. Even if I understand these changes, I still struggle with that feeling.
Madison Knapp is a student at the University of Montana, majoring in creative writing with a minor in French. She is an out-of-state student from Bellingham, Washington and has thoroughly enjoyed her time at UM. She is also a DHC student and a proud member of the Grizzly Marching Band.
