The classes here are extremely informative. The information provided can sometimes be overwhelming, but I enjoy it because it gives me a chance to branch out into subjects I would never have considered. The course list is extremely expansive, allowing you to delve into nearly any topic you can think of.
As with any other university there are good and bad professors. So far I have been lucky and have had mostly good professors that enjoy teaching, which in turn makes it easier to pay attention and learn.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
For myself I could not have made a better choice for schooling. The students here are fantastic. I was extremely fortunate to be on the floor that I was assigned to because I made some of the best friends I could have asked for.
There are an unlimited amount of ways to occupy yourself when you aren't studying or in class. If you are the athletic type there are intramural leagues for just about any sport ranging from easy going to extremely competitive brackets. The are also a lot of trails to run and ride. The workout facilities are also top-notch. If you want to join a student club there are hundreds. You can even make your own with as little as seven members. Some examples are Latino Club, Fencing, the Cookie Eating Club (of which I happen to be an avid member), Tri-athalon, etc. There is something for everyone.
The university puts on a lot of events for the students such as: game nights where you can go compete for prizes, open mic-nights for those who are musically or poetically talented and want to get some recognition, free concerts, movie pre-screenings, etc. The list goes on, and they always provide a multitude of free items.
The campus is beautiful. You really get to enjoy it because of how large the campus is and how spread out the buildings are. From the Red Cedar running through the middle of campus to the vast array of trees and plants, the view of campus is fantastic.
The actual city of East Lansing is not very large, but it has everything you need. The food is fantastic (as is the food in the cafeteria surprisingly enough). There are a lot of small shops, as well as some bigger ones, on a or two long stretch across the north end of campus. Downtown East Lansing has the feeling of a really large outdoor strip mall. It is a really cool place to walk down on a nice day.
If you are into the Greek life it is fairly popular at MSU.
Of course if you are into sports, being a Big 10 school, MSU has a fantastic athletics. Some of the more notable exp...
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Being an out of state student makes it somewhat difficult to afford Michigan State. I cannot speak for the in-state students, but the tuition can be quite pricey. However, I have learned a lesson from someone very close to me. She told me that no matter the cost, your education is worth it. I completely agree with her now that I am experiencing it.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
If you are thinking about applying to MSU, do it. If you find yourself being drawn to a different school though, go there. Make the choice that will best suit you. It is important that you enjoy where you are in college.
-MSU Specific Tips:
As I said the campus is huge, bring a bike or get a bus pass (though that can get crowded).
It gets cold, be ready for the weather.
Books are EXPENSIVE. Talk to older students in your major to see if you can't cut a deal. Also half.com has some seriously cheap books. Also, find out from other students if you will even use your book in class (some professors will say they are required and will not even crack them open for the whole semester).
Get a campus map! They are extremely helpful, I use mine every semester to find the fastest ways to class.
Don't worry about looking like a freshman. So many freshman I met this year were so worried about looking like they knew what they were doing because they didn't want anyone to know they were a freshman. When I was a freshman I did not care if anybody knew. Nobody treats you any differently (this isn't high school). Other students were extremely helpful when I asked them questions.
Explore the campus. There are so many shortcuts and paths and buildings... it is easy to get lost. Map out your routes and walk them. I found a short cut that saves me 7 minutes walking time everyday like that.
Live on campus. The staff is wonderful. The experience is unbeatable. I lived on for the last two years.
Get to know your RM. They are one of the best resources you will have. They can be a great person for advice, just to go talk to, or someone who can help point you in the right direction.
Learn about the different dorms before you select which one you want to live in. Most freshman get put in the Brody Complex. Everybody complains because it is so far away, but a lot of people like it because everybody there is in the same boat. Nobody knows what is going on so they form a strong frie...
Which types of students will excel at your college?
MSU to me seems to be a great fit for anybody, because college is what you make of it.
Some things to remember:
In my opinion the most successful people will be those that have a well rounded experience. Yes college is when you learn about the field that you are going to be working it for the rest of your life. Yes, academics are the number one reason you are at school. However, it is important that you learn more than just the name of every bone in your body, or in my case the tensile strength of tempered steel at any given pressure or temperature. You must learn about yourself. Take in every experience you can. People that can adapt well, and who learn to work well in any situation will excel not only at college, but in life.
There are a lot of students here. I think keeping to yourself will only hurt your experience in the long run.
The campus is massive. You will have to get around, and sometimes it is not easy.
Time management is huge. You will have to learn how to balance school and fun. It is so easy to get caught up in your studies, but you need to relax and have fun. If that means breaking up your heavy schedule with a class like bowling or weight lifting, or running, do it. Maybe it better suits you to join a club, whatever it is, get involved.
The classes here are extremely informative. The information provided can sometimes be overwhelming, but I enjoy it because it gives me a chance to branch out into subjects I would never have considered. The course list is extremely expansive, allowing you to delve into nearly any topic you can think of. As with any other university there are good and bad professors. So far I have been lucky and have had mostly good professors that enjoy teaching, which in turn makes it easier to pay attention and learn.
For myself I could not have made a better choice for schooling. The students here are fantastic. I was extremely fortunate to be on the floor that I was assigned to because I made some of the best friends I could have asked for. There are an unlimited amount of ways to occupy yourself when you aren't studying or in class. If you are the athletic type there are intramural leagues for just about any sport ranging from easy going to extremely competitive brackets. The are also a lot of trails to run and ride. The workout facilities are also top-notch. If you want to join a student club there are hundreds. You can even make your own with as little as seven members. Some examples are Latino Club, Fencing, the Cookie Eating Club (of which I happen to be an avid member), Tri-athalon, etc. There is something for everyone. The university puts on a lot of events for the students such as: game nights where you can go compete for prizes, open mic-nights for those who are musically or poetically talented and want to get some recognition, free concerts, movie pre-screenings, etc. The list goes on, and they always provide a multitude of free items. The campus is beautiful. You really get to enjoy it because of how large the campus is and how spread out the buildings are. From the Red Cedar running through the middle of campus to the vast array of trees and plants, the view of campus is fantastic. The actual city of East Lansing is not very large, but it has everything you need. The food is fantastic (as is the food in the cafeteria surprisingly enough). There are a lot of small shops, as well as some bigger ones, on a or two long stretch across the north end of campus. Downtown East Lansing has the feeling of a really large outdoor strip mall. It is a really cool place to walk down on a nice day. If you are into the Greek life it is fairly popular at MSU. Of course if you are into sports, being a Big 10 school, MSU has a fantastic athletics. Some of the more notable exp...
Being an out of state student makes it somewhat difficult to afford Michigan State. I cannot speak for the in-state students, but the tuition can be quite pricey. However, I have learned a lesson from someone very close to me. She told me that no matter the cost, your education is worth it. I completely agree with her now that I am experiencing it.
If you are thinking about applying to MSU, do it. If you find yourself being drawn to a different school though, go there. Make the choice that will best suit you. It is important that you enjoy where you are in college. -MSU Specific Tips: As I said the campus is huge, bring a bike or get a bus pass (though that can get crowded). It gets cold, be ready for the weather. Books are EXPENSIVE. Talk to older students in your major to see if you can't cut a deal. Also half.com has some seriously cheap books. Also, find out from other students if you will even use your book in class (some professors will say they are required and will not even crack them open for the whole semester). Get a campus map! They are extremely helpful, I use mine every semester to find the fastest ways to class. Don't worry about looking like a freshman. So many freshman I met this year were so worried about looking like they knew what they were doing because they didn't want anyone to know they were a freshman. When I was a freshman I did not care if anybody knew. Nobody treats you any differently (this isn't high school). Other students were extremely helpful when I asked them questions. Explore the campus. There are so many shortcuts and paths and buildings... it is easy to get lost. Map out your routes and walk them. I found a short cut that saves me 7 minutes walking time everyday like that. Live on campus. The staff is wonderful. The experience is unbeatable. I lived on for the last two years. Get to know your RM. They are one of the best resources you will have. They can be a great person for advice, just to go talk to, or someone who can help point you in the right direction. Learn about the different dorms before you select which one you want to live in. Most freshman get put in the Brody Complex. Everybody complains because it is so far away, but a lot of people like it because everybody there is in the same boat. Nobody knows what is going on so they form a strong frie...
MSU to me seems to be a great fit for anybody, because college is what you make of it. Some things to remember: In my opinion the most successful people will be those that have a well rounded experience. Yes college is when you learn about the field that you are going to be working it for the rest of your life. Yes, academics are the number one reason you are at school. However, it is important that you learn more than just the name of every bone in your body, or in my case the tensile strength of tempered steel at any given pressure or temperature. You must learn about yourself. Take in every experience you can. People that can adapt well, and who learn to work well in any situation will excel not only at college, but in life. There are a lot of students here. I think keeping to yourself will only hurt your experience in the long run. The campus is massive. You will have to get around, and sometimes it is not easy. Time management is huge. You will have to learn how to balance school and fun. It is so easy to get caught up in your studies, but you need to relax and have fun. If that means breaking up your heavy schedule with a class like bowling or weight lifting, or running, do it. Maybe it better suits you to join a club, whatever it is, get involved.