Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP

What started as a joke for soon-to-be college freshman Taylor Baumstark turned into a .

Baumstark, who had been trying to decide between Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP and Missouri State University as her college of choice, tweeted for help. What happened next is the stuff of social media legends.

 

send help

— taylor baumstark (@taybaum9)

 

This first tweet by Taylor generated over 130 likes and 30 replies. Some by Missouri State University students, but the majority came from Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP students and faculty.

“I posted it as a joke because I had discussed the consideration of switching schools last second with all of my friends, but I never expected to get so much feedback,” Baumstark says. “I assumed that some of my friends would argue over it, just joking around. I was honestly shocked when Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPfavorited my pictures at first. I had to leave my phone after I saw the initial favorite to go to soccer practice, and when I came back after practice was over, my Twitter had completely blown up.”

One student replied to Baumstark that she didn’t regret choosing Maryville:

Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPhas so many perks and I’ve never met a community so nice! Will never regret choosing MU❤️

— Yang (@mellio15)

One student from California offered his viewpoint:

Being from California, the Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPcommunity made me feel at home a thousand miles away. I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything else.

— Thomas Blick (@tblick10)

Another tweeted about the dedication of Maryville’s life coaches to their students:

my life coach offered to drive me to Arkansas for a funeral this weekend… faculty cares about you here

— katelyn (@katelyncornell)

There was a post about Maryville’s national championship:

We got one thing they don’t have, and that’s a National Title

— Tyler Henson (@T_HensXC)

And even student organizations from Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPgot into the act:

there (P)ain’t no place like

— CONNECT (@CONNECT_MU)

Baumstark says the profusion of interaction and feedback from Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP students swayed her decision.

“I think the passion from some of the students and staff on Twitter gave me a little nudge in the direction of Maryville. I mean if all these people love it, I will too, right?” Baumstark says.

i’ve made a decision ❤🐶🖤

— taylor baumstark (@taybaum9)

To celebrate her decision, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPstudents threw her a surprise party the following day.

“I was told I was just coming to pick up some free Dan + Shay tickets I was offered when I went by campus to turn in some other documents to the admissions office. When I walked in, I saw a crowd of people walking by,” she says. “I assumed it was a tour group or something. I never thought they were there for me. I opened the door and they all started cheering and clapping. I didn’t know what to do.”

Welcome back to campus ! is ready for U!

— Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP (@MaryvilleU)