College Spotlight: featuring The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
Get the inside scoop on Ole Miss.
The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, offers a unique blend of Southern tradition, academic and athletic energy, and a vibrant college town atmosphere. The beautiful campus is located in Oxford, Mississippi and is renowned for its picturesque architecture and the iconic Grove (a 10-acre park in the middle of campus), creating a quintessential collegiate experience. The surrounding community of Oxford, named “America’s Best College Town” by ESPN, boasts a charming town square, has a strong culinary and arts scene, and is considered a literary mecca, most notably as the longtime home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner.
Athletics are deeply ingrained in the Ole Miss identity, with the Rebels competing fiercely in the SEC. Football Saturdays, particularly the legendary tailgating in The Grove, are a cultural phenomenon, fostering unparalleled school spirit. Academically, undergraduate students are drawn to strong programs in areas like business, accountancy, pharmacy and engineering. This combination of tradition, community, and diverse academic offerings truly sets Ole Miss apart.
In today’s College Spotlight we speak with Peyton Spear, Senior Admissions Counselor at Ole Miss, who shares what makes the university unique– beyond the “guidebook.”
Q: What is your favorite part of campus and favorite tradition at Ole Miss?
Peyton: My favorite part of campus is “The Grove”. The Grove is a 10-acre area of land that sits in the middle campus and acts as a place of community for Ole Miss and the town of Oxford for a few reasons. It’s filled with oak, elm, and magnolia trees. The Grove acts as place for students to have lunch, meet between classes, throw a frisbee, and have class outside. Most notably, The Grove is where all fans tailgate before a home football game. On Saturdays, the land is covered in a sea of tents, filled with thousands of people sharing food and conversation before kickoff. Tailgating at Ole Miss is on a list of top 100 places to see and experience in your lifetime.
Q: What academic insights can you share? Is there anything that sets you apart academically?
Peyton: While we have many great majors and academic opportunities, we are an R-1 Research Institution for research purposes within our STEM majors. We have nationally ranked English and history programs. We have a top 5 School of Accountancy in the country. Through our Croft Institute for International Studies, we have flagship programs for Chinese and Arabic. Health related, we have the number two Health Professions Advising Office in the entire country. With engineering, we have a 10,000 square foot manufacturing facility on campus for students. We also have a nationally ranked Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College program and have the states top law school located on campus.
Application insights from The Nest:
Ole Miss is on the Common Application, offers a rolling application plan and non-residents are evaluated based on:
Either an ACT or SAT score (Optional for nonresident students with 3.2 unweighted cumulative GPA or higher and strongly recommended for nonresident students with less than a 3.2 unweighted cumulative GPA)
Rigor of high school curriculum
Availability of seats in the incoming class
The takeaway: Ole Miss is an top notch school where Southern charm meets academic and athletic excellence.
Helping you soar sooner,
Carrie
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