Lee Raby—a Truman Psychology major and Missouri Bright Flight Scholarship winner.

Getting a scholarship can be elusive—even for the creme of the crop. You may have preserved a 4.0 GPA, loaded your schedule with extracurricular activities, and tamed the SAT/ACT, but that doesn't mean scholarships are a slam-dunk. When applying for scholarships at upper-echelon universities, the best are often squeezed out by the even better.

But at Truman, a nationally renowned liberal arts and sciences university, Missouri's finest students are given due reward. To recognize its brightest, the State of Missouri has developed the "Bright Flight" Scholarship Program. This merit-based program encourages top-ranked high school seniors to attend approved Missouri colleges. Missouri students who score in the top three percent on the ACT or SAT are awarded a $2000 renewable scholarship. "It's a streamlined process that doesn't require an application," states Melinda Wood, Director of Financial Aid. "Test scores are sent to the Missouri Department of Higher Education then the names of eligible students are transmitted to the Missouri colleges that the student designated on the test form. It is a seamless process that certifies enrollment and sends payment to the school for the student."

According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, Truman had a higher percentage of its student body—23 percent—receive the "Bright Flight" Scholarship than any other public or private degree-granting college or university in the state for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Brad Chambers, Co-Director of Admissions, states, "Truman's demonstrated quality attracts the best and brightest students in Missouri and across the nation. The high percentage of Truman students receiving the "Bright Flight" Scholarship is just one of many indicators that Truman students are achievers."

Talent like Lee Raby, majoring in psychology, might have been lost to another state university had it not been for the scholarship. Raby says, "Being offered the "Bright Flight" Scholarship made me feel special. It showed me how much my academic efforts were valued. It feels good to be wanted."

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Harvard Law School is a giant—as foreboding as Goliath or the ogre at the end of the beanstalk. But if you're a Truman student looking to apply, you don't need to shake in your boots. Instead, be confident, like John Hilton, a 2002 Truman graduate who majored in Political Science, minored in Russian Studies, and took on the best at Harvard Law School. In a recent interview, John shares why Truman students are just as prepared for post-graduate studies as any Ivy-leaguers.

Killer Skills
"The skills I learned at Truman definitely prepared me for success at Harvard Law School in the sense that there was a focus on writing and reading primary sources critically. In several of my upper-level political science courses, I was encouraged to dialogue with the professors, specifically, to answer questions about the readings and take a position and support it. And that's what law school is."

Tomes, Tomes, and More Tomes
"The amount of reading in law school is extreme. You have to read and digest a lot of material every day, and the same was true in my senior seminar courses in addition to other political science courses my final year at Truman."

You've Got the Right Stuff
"Truman students shouldn't lack any confidence when applying to top-tier law schools—they really can compete at the highest levels. Truman has given them an excellent education and has prepared them to compete against students from any other college or university in the nation."

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Homecoming week tops any other week, if using a measure of merriment and thrill. Rallies, concerts, carnivals, dances, parades, and, of course, the Big Game—they all add up to togetherness and pure fun. Truman Homecoming 2006 preserves this tradition. The week kicks off on Monday, October 16 with a coronation, cook-off, and scavenger hunt and culminates Saturday, October 21 with a showdown between the Bulldogs and Washburn University's Ichabods. Throughout the week, there's something for everyone—all which transcend the homecoming usual. Here are some of the don't-miss events:

• Field Day and Improv Night (10/17)
• Fire Hydrant Relay, Texas Hold 'Em & Truman Trivia (10/18)
• Sand Volleyball, Dancing with Faculty, and Memorial Service (10/19)
• Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament, Lip Sync Competition, Hall of Fame Banquet, Pep Rally, and Dance (10/20)
• 5K Run, Alumni Reunions, Carnival, Tailgate Picnic, Football Game, Step Show, and SAB Comedian (10/21)

Denise Smith, this year's homecoming activities coordinator, states, "Homecoming is an opportunity for students and alumni to come together and celebrate Truman traditions." And if you're a prospective student, it's a great time to visit because you experience the Spirit of Truman—a sense of enthusiasm and close-knit community. When you come to Truman, you see just what home can feel like.

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Ashley Rufus—Truman pre-med student featured in TIME magazine's (August 21, 2006) article "Who Needs Harvard?"

Only a dummy would turn down Harvard University, right? Hardly. Ashley Rufus, valedictorian of Illinois Valley Central High School, is no half-wit, and she said "No thanks" to the legend of academia.

In fact she had wit enough to see that Harvard was not the end-all of scholastic endeavors—especially, when it dangled a $30,000+ price tag. That's when she took a close look at Truman, a liberal arts college nationally recognized for its academic excellence.

As thrilling as it was to be accepted to Harvard, sense kicked in when Truman offered Ashley the prestigious General John J. Pershing Scholarship, (a full-ride scholarship that includes $4,000 for international study.) Ashley liked the idea of going into med school debt free.

What also appealed to Ashley was Truman's personal approach to education. She'd be in a class where the professor actually knew her name and would be willing to pursue research projects alongside her. Ashley says at Truman there's a high level of intimacy and attention and their graduates have an impressive rate into medical school.

Ashley is not alone in her seemingly incredulous dumping of Ivy League status. According to a recent TIME magazine article, "Who Needs Harvard," more and more college-bound students are choosing smaller more personal schools—which are often more affordable—over upper-crust universities, like Yale, Dartmouth, and Princeton. In fact, according to the TIME article, many advocates argue that smaller schools give students a sharper competitive edge.

Ironically, Ashley can't imagine any school being more competitive: "It goes at a speed that keeps me challenged."

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