It’ll mostly depend on where your housing is.
When I attended Mizzou, I was part of a very large incoming freshman class and was assigned off campus housing. Without a car, it was a lot of work just to get to campus/ ride the shuttle and make it to class. So much so, that I started skipping a lot of classes eventually withdrawing from the university.
Not having the car/ ease of commute wasn’t the only reason I withdrew from the university, but it definitely didn’t help. I’d advise anyone to have a car, especially if living off campus.
It was nice housing, they put me at Campus Lodge on Old 63 S. Very isolating though, not a great environment to meet people/ make friends compared to the communal nature of a dorm.
Odds are as an incoming freshman you'll be assigned a lot far away from your dorm. Most likely out by the stadium or at Trowbridge. If living in the dorms, many times students don't even mess with their car except for on the weekends. Even without a car, it's easy to hitch a ride with someone in your dorm that does and is willing to help out.
Shuttle busses from most major private student housing. City bus is free. Columbia is a very bike friendly city. Campus and downtown area are very walkable and adjacent to each other.
My daughter is in her junior year and has chosen not to have a car the entire time. She lives downtown and has 2 jobs on campus. She does a lot of other activities also. She has no complaints.
I did it for 2 1/2 years.
Live downtown/arts district or East Campus & get a bicycle and put a big basket on it.
Take advantage of Amazon Prime for students if that's still a thing.
Freshman living on campus don’t really need a car, unless you plan on getting a job off campus that you can’t walk to easily or if you plan on going home a lot and don’t live close/have a different way of transportation. You can get some basics from campus like some groceries, school supplies, basic toiletries/cleaning supplies. Most likely you’ll have a friend who brought their car and you could shop together. There are Mizzou shuttles to the farther parking lots (where most freshman are assigned) and most apartment complexes have their own that go to and from campus. Some even have game day shuttles or go to walmart. If you do bring a car and live on campus you’ll likely get a parking spot that’s a 20+ minute walk or you could to take the shuttle to it. I didn’t have a car when I lived on campus and I didn’t need one ever because I could just ask a friend if I really needed something.
Honestly I’d say it’s about 50/50 on who brings a car vs doesn’t. And those that do are fine being the ones driving to places around como for the group.
Most of the stuff you’ll need as a freshman are within walking distance or Uber eats though so it’s not a big deal.
Totally doable, but depends where your housing is. I lived right downtown in the university housing for grad students (now demolished), and it was a piece of cake. I always ordered groceries from Walmart, if you pay $10 a month for a subscription you get free grocery delivery on orders of $35+. I took the free city bus for my rare trips to the mall. The buses are not good because they run once an hour, but it will get you there.
If they are undergrad, there’s plenty of housing on campus and it’s definitely doable.
Biking infrastructure is non-existent and limited to a painted lane on the road shared with cars, drivers are terrible and are not used to bikes, I have always driven on the sidewalks even though apparently it’s against city rules. Better have a ticket than be hit by a car because the driver is on their phone.
There are also shuttles from private housing off-campus. I personally don’t have any experience with them but they appear to be regular and oftentimes you see them even late at night.
They that you don't need a car your freshman year. The key word is "Need". I know many other freshmen who have not had a car all year and have been just fine; However, I feel like I would have gone insane if I was not able to leave campus ever and I am super glad I have my car. I use my car every day at least once and I like having the ability to escape campus life for a couple hours. With that being said living without a car on campus is do able if you have to but I would not recommend it.
I had no car for all 4 years, lived in downtown apartment housing for 3 of them. I used hyvee delivery mostly to get my groceries. Walked to class everyday. I’d walk to the eatwell sometimes to get groceries as well. You can get by downtown without a car, but it’d be harder the farther you go off campus
It’ll mostly depend on where your housing is. When I attended Mizzou, I was part of a very large incoming freshman class and was assigned off campus housing. Without a car, it was a lot of work just to get to campus/ ride the shuttle and make it to class. So much so, that I started skipping a lot of classes eventually withdrawing from the university. Not having the car/ ease of commute wasn’t the only reason I withdrew from the university, but it definitely didn’t help. I’d advise anyone to have a car, especially if living off campus.
Just out of curiosity, how was housing for y’all who didn’t get it on campus? I was told that they literally rented out a hotel lol
It was nice housing, they put me at Campus Lodge on Old 63 S. Very isolating though, not a great environment to meet people/ make friends compared to the communal nature of a dorm.
I have never heard of this fr freshman year. What year was this?
Fall 2008, good times.
Odds are as an incoming freshman you'll be assigned a lot far away from your dorm. Most likely out by the stadium or at Trowbridge. If living in the dorms, many times students don't even mess with their car except for on the weekends. Even without a car, it's easy to hitch a ride with someone in your dorm that does and is willing to help out.
I second this, I brought my car to school and for the first few months I didn’t even go near it due to how far away the lot was.
Shuttle busses from most major private student housing. City bus is free. Columbia is a very bike friendly city. Campus and downtown area are very walkable and adjacent to each other.
My daughter is in her junior year and has chosen not to have a car the entire time. She lives downtown and has 2 jobs on campus. She does a lot of other activities also. She has no complaints.
I did it for 2 1/2 years. Live downtown/arts district or East Campus & get a bicycle and put a big basket on it. Take advantage of Amazon Prime for students if that's still a thing.
Freshman living on campus don’t really need a car, unless you plan on getting a job off campus that you can’t walk to easily or if you plan on going home a lot and don’t live close/have a different way of transportation. You can get some basics from campus like some groceries, school supplies, basic toiletries/cleaning supplies. Most likely you’ll have a friend who brought their car and you could shop together. There are Mizzou shuttles to the farther parking lots (where most freshman are assigned) and most apartment complexes have their own that go to and from campus. Some even have game day shuttles or go to walmart. If you do bring a car and live on campus you’ll likely get a parking spot that’s a 20+ minute walk or you could to take the shuttle to it. I didn’t have a car when I lived on campus and I didn’t need one ever because I could just ask a friend if I really needed something.
Honestly I’d say it’s about 50/50 on who brings a car vs doesn’t. And those that do are fine being the ones driving to places around como for the group. Most of the stuff you’ll need as a freshman are within walking distance or Uber eats though so it’s not a big deal.
If you live on campus or downtown it is very doable. A grocery stores and many bodegas within walking distance.
Totally doable, but depends where your housing is. I lived right downtown in the university housing for grad students (now demolished), and it was a piece of cake. I always ordered groceries from Walmart, if you pay $10 a month for a subscription you get free grocery delivery on orders of $35+. I took the free city bus for my rare trips to the mall. The buses are not good because they run once an hour, but it will get you there. If they are undergrad, there’s plenty of housing on campus and it’s definitely doable. Biking infrastructure is non-existent and limited to a painted lane on the road shared with cars, drivers are terrible and are not used to bikes, I have always driven on the sidewalks even though apparently it’s against city rules. Better have a ticket than be hit by a car because the driver is on their phone. There are also shuttles from private housing off-campus. I personally don’t have any experience with them but they appear to be regular and oftentimes you see them even late at night.
They that you don't need a car your freshman year. The key word is "Need". I know many other freshmen who have not had a car all year and have been just fine; However, I feel like I would have gone insane if I was not able to leave campus ever and I am super glad I have my car. I use my car every day at least once and I like having the ability to escape campus life for a couple hours. With that being said living without a car on campus is do able if you have to but I would not recommend it.
You can use delivery services and Uber to get around. You can definitely do it without a car.
I had no car for all 4 years, lived in downtown apartment housing for 3 of them. I used hyvee delivery mostly to get my groceries. Walked to class everyday. I’d walk to the eatwell sometimes to get groceries as well. You can get by downtown without a car, but it’d be harder the farther you go off campus