K-State Recognized As A Top University In The Nation By The Princeton Review

‘Opportunities always within an arm’s length’

By Malorie Sougéy
K‑State News and Communications Services

At Kansas State University, students grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Through world-class research opportunities, award-winning faculty instruction, experiential learning and leadership opportunities, and dedicated support throughout their journeys, K-State provides the foundation to help these future leaders flourish.

Whether new Wildcats are first-generation freshmen new to the college experience, legacy students excited for their time on campus, transfer scholars who are ready to take their learning to the next level, nontraditional students eager to advance in their careers or graduate students pursuing advanced knowledge and research, K-State provides resources to help them thrive.

Because of the university’s commitment to student support and resources, K-State has been recognized as one of the best schools in the nation by The Princeton Review.

Students at K-State thrive with support, top-tier quality of life

K-State provides students with the resources for holistic health through academic support, financial and legal resources, physical and mental health services, and student and campus support programs.

Once a student begins classes, they have many opportunities for individualized support through the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs, including its Student Belonging unit, the Academic Achievement Center and Wildcat One Stop.

ut K-State doesn’t wait until classes start to support its students; the university offers multiple programs for students to get a head start on connecting to resources and accelerating academic innovation. One program, Kompass, offers first-year freshmen an opportunity to connect with other new students and campus resources before their first semester even starts.

It’s services and resources like these that continue to place K-State in the top 10 in the nation for happiest students and best quality of life.

“As freshmen, we’re all nervous about those first few weeks of school,” said Jordyn Tombs, freshman in business administration. “There are so many different people, and finding community and friends can be intimidating. Kompass took away that anxiety because we were all doing it together as part of a smaller group. We were able to get to know each other quickly and find some of our closest friends.”

As part of the program, students spend three days getting to know one another, the campus and their majors. They also make industry connections and meet professionals and faculty who can serve as mentors throughout their college careers.

Tombs said Kompass provided valuable lessons about networking and introduced her to different on-campus organizations, including the Rise Up Scholars program that Tombs now participates in through the College of Business Administration.

For Tombs, the support didn’t stop at the conclusion of the Kompass program — she still sees her mentors on campus, and now they are also friends and peers. Program coordinators continue to check in on her and offer help.

“They truly put in work to continue pushing you to success, even if you don’t see them every day,” she said. “That is something that is truly priceless.”

Wildcats prepare for careers with applied learning, career development resources

Students connect what they learn in the classroom to what they’ll need for their careers through applied learning experiences, allowing them to get hands-on in their fields and hone the skills they’ve developed at K-State.

The university has prioritized providing students with these vital experiences.

Local Kansas communities play a part in providing these experiential learning opportunities for students, and thanks to a strong town-gown relationship, some students don’t have to go far to make those important connections.

Instrument repair students lend their expertise, practice their craft in local community

 Joshua Cook, instructor of band instrument repair, teaches future music educators and instrument technicians about the process of repairing instruments. Thanks to a grant from K-State’s Applied Learning Experiences team, Cook’s students are conducting individual instrument repair projects in the community, including restoring a crushed marching band mellophone to playing condition and overhauling a flute — replacing pads, straightening keys and fixing dents.

In addition to these individual projects, students also participate in group instrument repair projects in the community. Cook took a team of students to a local marching band festival to provide free on-site repairs for the schools. He and his students also partnered with the Manhattan Optimist Club during an instrument drive for local middle and high school students who might not have been able to afford an instrument of their own; the K-State instrument repair students cleaned, serviced and repaired the instruments.

This kind of experience in local communities lets students demonstrate their skills and learn close to home. It’s opportunities like this that land K-State in The Princeton Review’s top 15 schools in the nation for town-gown relations and career services.

Career development resources abound for K-State students

Experiential learning is a major step toward career preparation, and for additional career development support, there’s a wealth of career services throughout the university.

Serving all students, K-State’s Career Center works side-by-side with faculty members, academic advisors, student life staff and others throughout the campus community to promote career readiness. With personalized job search assistance, resume support services, a career closet, interview preparation, networking opportunities, and connections to campus, part-time and full-time jobs, and internships, the Career Center supports students every step of the way on their journeys to successful careers.

In the student survey for The Princeton Review, students said the center connects them to “leadership opportunities that are always within an arm’s length,” and helps them build skillsets to excel in their careers.

Students also praised the Career Center’s Handshake app — where they can find jobs and internships — and the direct engagement they get with employers during informational interviews, company visits to the classroom and even extracurriculars.

Tombs, who was connected to the Career Center during her Kompass experience, said she started utilizing the center’s services almost immediately.

“Within the first month of school, I needed business attire for a job interview,” she said. “Thanks to the Kompass program introducing me to the Career Center’s resources, I was able to get my resume looked over and pick up some amazing professional attire for free.”

Student experience the ‘Wildcat Way’

With so much academic, career and holistic health support available at the university, students can take full advantage of their K-State experiences. Whether that’s building community in on-campus housing, enjoying meals in award-winning dining centers or cheering on the ‘Cats from the front row at athletic events, K-State students have every opportunity to round out their educational experiences with culture, community and connection.

K-State’s Housing and Dining Services provides affordable, safe and engaging accommodations for residents while finding unique ways to support them in their academic pursuits. Whether students are in a residence hall, a campus apartment or any other campus living option, they’ll find an environment that fosters unique perspectives, leadership, academic success and personal growth.

Housing and Dining Services offers opportunities to meet new friends and be part of a dynamic and supportive community through:

• Two dining centers, 10 residence halls, a scholar community, an honors housing community and a large apartment community.
• An award-winning dining program that offers several meal plans and menu options.
• Many retail establishments, including convenience stores, two restaurants, a bakery and four coffee shops.
• Engaging activities and leadership programs that help students get involved and stay connected.

K-State ranks in the top 20 schools in the nation for best college dorms and students who love their colleges according to The Princeton Review, and there is likely connection between the two thanks to Housing and Dining Services’ foundational connection to a positive student experience.

Students face a number of transition challenges when coming to college, including being away from home, living on their own, attending classes, staying on top of academic work, making friends, and finding their place on campus and in the community, said Nick Lander, director of housing and residence life.

Many of these challenges, Lander said, are made easier for students who live on campus.

“Students who live on campus get their basic needs met so they can focus their energy on the academic and social changes, and we have great staff and programs in place to help students connect to each other and campus resources,” he said. “Living on campus provides a framework where students can thrive and create positive memories for life.”

In addition to living and eating on campus, students cheer on their favorite athletic teams from priority student seating. Student sections are full of energy and purple pride, as The Princeton Review ranks K-State in the top 20 schools in the nation whose students love their school teams.

Whether they’re cheering on Wildcat baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, rowing, soccer, tennis, track and field, or volleyball, K-State students show their school pride and support the university’s competitive Big 12 teams.

K-State’s Recreational Services unit offers plenty of ways for students to get involved in a team of their own through intramural sports, which thousands of students participate in every school year.

Students can also stay active and focus on their physical well-being at the Chester E. Peters Recreation complex, which features racquetball, squash, basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickleball courts; studios for group fitness and personal training; a climbing wall; weight rooms; tracks; cardio areas and more.

In The Princeton Review’s survey results, students praised K-State’s community mindset, abundant traditions and the general feeling of belonging and family they know as the ‘Wildcat Way.’

“We see that Wildcat and know we’re part of the same family,” students said in the survey. “This is a big school with a small-town feel, and everyone is exceedingly friendly and proud of the university.”