Michigan State University Top Questions

What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

Sarah

The stereotypes of students that are at my school is that we are all smarty pants but honestly you just have to be determine and willing to put in the time and effort to get all of your work done.

Joseph

MSU is known for having many Asians on campus, and in return the popular stereotype of bad Asian drivers is big. Also, due to the Ferguson events many African American students are known for being boisterous about not being treated fairly, even though they are. They just don't get involved as well as they should.

Amber

Some stereotypes are that we ware a party school so we lack in academics. That is not true we are very competitive not only with the other big ten schools in the nation but also competitive globally. Another stereotype is that there is not an immense amount of diversity. This is also not true because we represent over a 100 different nations and we have events and groups that specifically allow people to become exposed to these other cultures. Another stereotype is that we are sex crazed and are infested with sexual diseases. That is also another lie, we do condone safe sex and the RA's are supplied with condoms all the time and the whole sex crazed thing is associated with the party rumor so its bound to be blown way out of disproportion.

David

The typical stereotype of students at our school are students who do not go to class and party everyday of the week. While there are students like this, the large majority of students understand they are here to get an education.

Anna

Michigan State University has many diverse students here on campus. I would say we have a lot of sterotypes. We have the frat kids, jocks, and of course geeks. I could not pick just one because here there is always a different group. Jocks of course because this is a big ten school, geeks of course because there are scholars here and frat kids because there are many frat houses on campus.

Colby

Michigan State students are typically stereotyped as crazy partiers that go to school to drink until rowdy and then yell (not cheer) at some of the best athletic competition in the nation. There are definitely a group of students who fit this description. But a large majority of students are students as well (or even just students! Contrary to popular belief, you can find people who don't drink on campus). But, I think what most people find out about MSU is that the university isn't dominated by partying, though it is a solid part of the campus life. Instead, MSU is known by its students as a place with diverse opportunities and every club imagineable. At MSU you will find people who like to do the same stuff you do, you just have to look. There is something for everyone.

Klaudia

At MSU, the usual stereotype is that it's a "party school" and no one cares about their grades; from experience this is completely untrue! I came into MSU with that mindset but it completely changed. State wasn't my top choice, U of M was but after completing a semester at MSU's public affairs college (James Madison), I realized that there were other people like me here who were fully focused on their future. That isn't to say that there aren't time when you can go out and have fun; state is the perfect balance of studying and a good time.

Taylor

A common stereotype of students at Michigan State University is that the students are all crazy "partiers". I have to admit that I also was guilty of believing this when I first came here, but I have been proven wrong. Not everyone here goes to parties all of the time. Actually, I really do not think that the students at MSU "party" any more than those at other colleges. I do not go to parties very often, and I know quite a few people who are the same way. There are plenty of activities to entertain students who are not really interested in partying. No matter what, this is an exciting campus where boredom is hard to find.

Leann

The stereotype at MSU I would say is that it is a party school and that is all the students ever do here. I would say the students at MSU definitely like to party and have a good time, although that is only a percentage of the students. MSU has a lot of top rated programs which would not be top rated without the efforts and commitment of students focused on their education.

Lindsay

The stereotype of students at MSU is: diverse, dedicated, fun people who are on one campus for the cause of learning, interacting, and growing. With the many different types of people at MSU, you will find many different personalities and backgrounds. The common thing amongst all students, however, is that we are all here to gain an education through a positive, upbeat campus and atmosphere.

Kaela

Everyone thinks that MSU is a huge party school and that most of the students that attend are heavy partiers. This is not true at all. There are many students that do not participate in partying. The greek system is very popular on campus, but there are many other ways you can become involved.

Kevin

To be honest there isn't one common stereotype used to describe the students at Michigan State University. I see students with different backgrounds, values, and hobbies everyday. The best part about this school is that you can find a group that is specific to your own personal preferences. I guess if I had to choose one stereotype it would be jocks just because of our phenomenal athletics.

Yue

The stereotype at my school is we party a lot. That is not a very accurate statement.

Julia

MSU students are seen as bigger drinkers than U of M or other Michigan schools. I don't think there is much difference; most college kids drink in college! We are seen as less uptight than Michigan as well. And I guess we are supposed to have prettier girls.

Kailey

Michigan State University is so big that you can find any type of person here. In fact, if you look hard enough, you can also find any combination. I know people who study and get great grades and still hang out with their friends. There are also a variety of student groups that you can get involved in to find these people. From Greek life to clubs for specific majors to Ballroom Dancing, MSU has everything!

Kailey

Michigan State University is so big that you can find any type of person here. In fact, if you look hard enough, you can also find any combination. I know people who study and get great grades and still hang out with their friends. There are also a variety of student groups that you can get involved in to find these people. From Greek life to clubs for specific majors to Ballroom Dancing, MSU has everything!

Taylor

The stereotype of students at my school can be summed up in the simple phrase, "little brother." However, our school does not deserve this reputation because we are large school, very strong academically, athletically and in many other ways. MSU has thousands of different types of people and it is VERY easy to find a way to fit in!

Danielle

Our stereotype is that we weren't smart enough to get into the University of Michigan. However, I know many people that go to MSU and did get into UofM, they just chose to not to go.

Andrea

I think a typical stereotype for Michigan State is that it is a "party school" and that a majority of students come here to have a good time and "get by." As an out-of-state student, I initially had Michigan State as one of my bottom choices of schools to attend. However, when I came for my visit I absolutely fell in love with the campus and ended up choosing to come here. To my surprise, the majority of students in my classes would not fit the "party school" label. I studied abroad to New Zealand my freshman year and at least three of my classmates had perfect ACT scores. Even in my classes, we sometimes talk about our experiences in high school and I almost always hear a student talking about their AP classes. There are a lot of students who genuinely want a good education and I love the discussions we have in class. Of course, everyone does like to have fun but I would not say that partying hard is what defines a Spartan.

Brian

Some think that MSU students party too much and suffer academically. This is a pretty gross misrepresentation of the school. We have one of the largest student bodies in America and along with that comes a lot of activity. There is ALWAYS something to do. If you want to party Monday through Sunday it's entirely possible. On the other hand you will fail out quickly. However the rumor that we have a ton of beautiful girls is completely true. I don't think there is a better school in the Midwest for finding a mate. This school is absolutely loaded with talent!

Brian

Some think that MSU students party too much and suffer academically. This is a pretty gross misrepresentation of the school. We have one of the largest student bodies in America and along with that comes a lot of activity. There is ALWAYS something to do. If you want to party Monday through Sunday it's entirely possible. On the other hand you will fail out quickly. However the rumor that we have a ton of beautiful girls is completely true. I don't think there is a better school in the Midwest for finding a mate. I was able to find a great girlfriend within two months of my first semester and we're still going strong years later. Her parents also met at State. Parties have their positives!!!

Kristen

The stereotype of our school is that we work hard but play hard as well. I think you get a GREAT education at MSU. But the students here are also very down to earth and know how to enjoy themselves as well. It's a great experience socially and educationally. It's a win-win.

Randel

A common stereotype regarding Michigan State University is that it is as diverse as the United Nations. This stereotype is true for the most part. MSU has students from all 50 states and over 100 different countries. Additionally, students range vastly in terms of socioeconomic backgrounds. This is a great benefit as you get to meet people from all walks of life and learn many things through your daily experiences. You'll end up with friends from around the world.

Ashley

The student body here is primarily wealthy, and I would have to agree with our stereotype. We just are very hard workers and work for our money, therefore we need not let it go to waste.

Whitney

Michigan State University has over 47,000 undergraduate students. With a campus so large, we see all the stereotypes, jocks, frat kids, party school, etc., but also MSU is a campus of dedicated students who are passionate about their studies. Every college has stereotypes, you can't escape it. We do have many jocks, people in the greek community, and "geeks," but it isn't about what you fall under or if you fit any of these at all, it's about what school is the right fit for you. Michigan State is about finding your passion and following and succeeding in your career path throughout your life.

Amanda

Sports is a major thing here. We have a great basketball and football team in the Big 10. Parties, Riots you name it, it has happened. We have a website dedicated to riot status, (I kid you not). We are ranked very high in academics and have great programs.

Valerie

Over my three years at Michigan State I became increasingly intolerant of the overwhelming frat bro crush-your-beer-can-on-your-head atmosphere of Michigan State. I enjoy drinking, and occasionally drinking to excess, but what I don't enjoy is out-of-control pea-brained frat boys looking to punch any guy who looks at them the wrong way. This culture swings both sides of the gender spectrum of course, although the women are more likely to fall down in a gutter on their 7-inch heels and not get up, than to start a fight. Honestly, I can't say that I had one intelligent conversation with a Michigan State student the entire three years I was there. Let me qualify that by saying I wasn't the most social person while I was there (for reason: see above), however I DID go out at least once a week, and I spent two years in the MSU dorms. I guess the main issue for me at Michigan State was that it definitely lived up to its reputation as a less-than-academic party school, which is tragic. Michigan State as a school has a lot of really exciting things going on academically, and some of the professors I had while there were outstanding. It is too bad that most of the students who go there are more concerned with being hot, getting drunk and getting laid than they are with their education. Having said that, I haven't visited a lot of other undergraduate colleges, so I can't say whether Michigan State is unique in this point. My guess is that most undergraduate colleges have similar atmospheres, so maybe I shouldn't fault MSU's culture for being so unbearably frivolous and immature.